Crashpad Alternatives

poser765

poser765

Well-Known Member
Does anyone out there have any experience with less than traditional crashpads? I'm based in LA and my drive to my crashpad takes me by lot E and I see all the campers there and think that's not a bad idea. Right now I'm paying for a crashpad where the rent is 50% of the price for my mortgage. It's frustrating. I'm paying hundreds of dollars a month for a space I don't really take advantage of.

Unfortunately I can't afford an RV, but I could probably pay cash for an old, used conversion van and since it's not an RV or camper I could probably park it in the employee lot...maybe.

Pros/Cons?

OK idea? Stupid idea?
 
poser765 said:
Does anyone out there have any experience with less than traditional crashpads? I'm based in LA and my drive to my crashpad takes me by lot E and I see all the campers there and think that's not a bad idea. Right now I'm paying for a crashpad where the rent is 50% of the price for my mortgage. It's frustrating. I'm paying hundreds of dollars a month for a space I don't really take advantage of.

Unfortunately I can't afford an RV, but I could probably pay cash for an old, used conversion van and since it's not an RV or camper I could probably park it in the employee lot...maybe.

Pros/Cons?

OK idea? Stupid idea?
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You could move to base.
 
jtrain609 said:
You could move to base.
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Not even remotely an option. I don't want to LIVE in LA...I just want a cheap place to spend a night or two while not on an overnight.

I have seen the NY Times piece. It's kind of melancholy and depressing. I get the feeling a lot of those people in video are living in Lot E. This all started when i was talking to someone in the crew room who told me they just sleep in their car in the employee lot when they are on ready reserve. I've even thought a bout sleeping in my car when I get done late and have to be back in the morning for a early AM commute home. Why not just do it more often?

Right now I am sitting in my crashpad, which is great and I've got a hell of a deal. My own room, for normal LA crashpad rates. I'm looking at my room and thinking I don't need this much space. I've got an overnight bag, a flight bag, and a laptop. That's it. It's a waste of space...and a waste of money.
 
poser765 said:
Not even remotely an option. I don't want to LIVE in LA...I just want a cheap place to spend a night or two while not on an overnight.

I have seen the NY Times piece. It's kind of melancholy and depressing. I get the feeling a lot of those people in video are living in Lot E. This all started when i was talking to someone in the crew room who told me they just sleep in their car in the employee lot when they are on ready reserve. I've even thought a bout sleeping in my car when I get done late and have to be back in the morning for a early AM commute home. Why not just do it more often?

Right now I am sitting in my crashpad, which is great and I've got a hell of a deal. My own room, for normal LA crashpad rates. I'm looking at my room and thinking I don't need this much space. I've got an overnight bag, a flight bag, and a laptop. That's it. It's a waste of space...and a waste of money.
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Cheap and LA don't really mix. As far as crashpads and commuter hotels go, it's the most expensive base I've ever dealt with.

I think we could get a room in Newark for $55 a night, Chicago was $45. LAX has nothing of the sort, unfortunately.
 
jtrain609 said:
Cheap and LA don't really mix. As far as crashpads and commuter hotels go, it's the most expensive base I've ever dealt with.

I think we could get a room in Newark for $55 a night, Chicago was $45. LAX has nothing of the sort, unfortunately.
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Exactly why I am kicking around the idea of sleeping in a van...
 
poser765 said:
Not even remotely an option. I don't want to LIVE in LA...I just want a cheap place to spend a night or two while not on an overnight.

I have seen the NY Times piece. It's kind of melancholy and depressing. I get the feeling a lot of those people in video are living in Lot E. This all started when i was talking to someone in the crew room who told me they just sleep in their car in the employee lot when they are on ready reserve. I've even thought a bout sleeping in my car when I get done late and have to be back in the morning for a early AM commute home. Why not just do it more often?

Right now I am sitting in my crashpad, which is great and I've got a hell of a deal. My own room, for normal LA crashpad rates. I'm looking at my room and thinking I don't need this much space. I've got an overnight bag, a flight bag, and a laptop. That's it. It's a waste of space...and a waste of money.
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How many nights a month? Hotel? Airbnb?

I'll be out there in July and not looking forward to the expense of it but tired of commuting east. The van idea is interesting, but umm...what if you gotta drop the kids off at 2am?
 
Ok, who wants to come out with some elbow grease - I'll convert it into a few bunks and Airbnb it ;)

00h0h_cAkN4LpNYlR_600x450.jpg


https://boulder.craigslist.org/cto/6101129626.html
 
bike21 said:
How many nights a month? Hotel? Airbnb?

I'll be out there in July and not looking forward to the expense of it but tired of commuting east. The van idea is interesting, but umm...what if you gotta drop the kids off at 2am?
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Hotels and Airbnb would probably be more than my crash pad...and that's counting my 4 company paid commuter hotel rooms a month. Say 12 nights a month?

Also, I was thinking either get a club membership with an airline, or a gym membership to take care of showers. Beyond that...piss bottles and the airport is open 24 hours...

bike21 said:
I mean, all these people make it look way rad ;)

https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/vanlife/?hl=en
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Ugh, hippies. Yeah, I've been trying to find stuff on the internet and this is all I can find. I'm not making a lifestyle choice, and espousing some social commentary on materialism. Lol, i don't want to LIVE in a van...just sleep in it a couple of nights a week.

ppragman said:
Ok - totally ridiculous idea...but sailboat?
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Talked to a couple of guys who do this. Slip space is expensive, and hard to get.
 
poser765 said:
Hotels and Airbnb would probably be more than my crash pad...and that's counting my 4 company paid commuter hotel rooms a month. Say 12 nights a month?

Also, I was thinking either get a club membership with an airline, or a gym membership to take care of showers. Beyond that...piss bottles and the airport is open 24 hours...

Ugh, hippies. Yeah, I've been trying to find stuff on the internet and this is all I can find. I'm not making a lifestyle choice, and espousing some social commentary on materialism. Lol, i don't want to LIVE in a van...just sleep in it a couple of nights a week.

Talked to a couple of guys who do this. Slip space is expensive, and hard to get.
Click to expand...

Right...but sailboat? I mean, LA sucks - but...having a sailboat would mean you could leave LA at a moments notice. Plus, sailboat?
 
Dphoenix said:


Change "down by the river" to "somewhere in El Segundo"
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Dude, that's me. I had a 19' class B motorhome and said I "live in a van down by the ocean". Parked it on the streets of El Segundo at night while on reserve and drove to ONT if they called me. That van was less than 10K. You see old RV's parked on the side streets of ES and it's no big deal. Dump station at Dockweiler was like $5 every few days and you could fill up on water. Definitely doable. Don't buy one in LA but look around your home area for a class B motorhome (van conversion). You can also find good deals on class C's or class A's but they are bigger.
 
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