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I live full time in a converted military truck to ‘escape the system’ – the cost of living crisis doesn’t affect me
Paul doesn't have to pay council tax or electric and gets his water for free
A MAN who made the bold move to live life in a van said he loves the freedom of going off-grid - and escaping the cost of living crisis.
Paul, aka, The Off Grid Nomad, was fed up being left with just £100 to play with at the end of every month amid soaring bills.
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The proud "lorry life" community member now travels across the British countryside in his ex-military converted truck.
"Knowing you're off-grid, especially when you're watching the news and all the heating bills going up and I'm living in this - I'm paying none of it," Paul told YouTube series .
"LGF commercial reached out to me and gave me some rough quotes for how much it would cost to build one, this was pre-Covid, and I thought it was doable, about £50,000 total.
"I sold my boat and we started building it. This is an ex-military DAF T44, the box is custom built, the rest is straight from the Army. I bought it from an Army charity in Norfolk."
He explained how he stripped the heavy duty vehicle and sent it to LGF, where they transformed it into the lightweight camper.
Bars on the roof protect the Army grade truck from branches above, while six gas bottles last Paul around six months.
A big safari window in the living area offers the happy camper a stunning view of the rolling hills he explores, and makes an excellent viewing perch for rescue pup Roxy.
Underneath the van, a 250 litre water tank can see Paul through about a month if he uses the supply wisely.
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The Lincolnshire Community Assistance Team volunteer also has access to WiFi and 1,000 watts of solar energy on the roof.
In addition, a small terrace area offers the perfect place to catch some rays or watch festivals.
"We put an inflatable sofa up there to watch event and the kids love that," added Paul.
Meanwhile a huge four meter awning provides shade and shelter to sit outside and enjoy a family BBQ when his children come to stay.
Paul explained he is able to park up in a settled spot when he works three days a week.
"I live full time in this and work three days a week and then on my days off I travel in it," he said.
"If I'm trying to save fuel I will say local and chill out. I'm pretty lucky, I have a base to go back to, empty the toilet and re-fill on water.
"The reason I live this way is because I absolutely love the freedom. And the community - the van life. We have the lorry life tag now. It's a big community of people escaping the system."
Paul added they live by the rule campers should "leave no trace" where they settle, and never "overstay" their welcome.
"I usually stay somewhere for two days, and I will do litter picking in the area while I'm there," he continued.
'I'm a lot better off'
The Off Grid Nomad explained a combination of bills and a divorce made him realise he would be better off financially in the camper.
After selling his boat and making the plunge into van life, Paul said he would never go back.
"It's a lot cheaper, I decided to live in the van after I got divorced, I don't have to pay council tax, I've not got electric to pay for, water I can get for free," he said.
"When I did have my house, I only had about £100 in my pocket as play money every month.
"Now, I'm a lot better off and I can afford little treats."
Inside the monster army lorry, Paul has transformed the living space into a cosy sanctuary.
He has three wardrobes fitted, a king sized bed in the master bedroom and a second 6ftx4ft sleeping space in the lounge area.
A dining and seating space in front of the giant safari window can fold down at night to reveal the extra bed.
Meanwhile, the kitchen boasts an oven, cooker, grill, 80 litre fridge and freezer.
There is a shower room which doubles as a storage area with washing machine, and a separate toilet room.
STIGMA
Despite all the positives Paul has found since joining the increasingly popular van live movement, he said there is a downside.
"The only thing is the stigma still. When I had my old van, people used to walk past and look at you like you were a real piece of c**p.
"But, now in this people wait to see and talk to me."
Paul also gave some important advice to anyone considering making the same lifestyle change.
"You have to get your main things like your DVLA licence, you have to have a registered address, use family, and everything else gets sent to work," he explained.
"If you're an Amazon customer you can get things sent to lockers.
"The big things are banks, licence, and insurance all need to have a registered address.
"If you're gonna go this lifestyle you still need a digital imprint on the financial system to keep a good credit score if you ever need a loan."
Paul suggested taking out zero per cent interest loans and paying them back in small amounts over several years to do this.
This comes as one ferocious off-road campervan has been dubbed one of the world's most hardcore with Army-grade accessories.
'The Hilt' combines one of the most popular pick-up trucks in the United States - a Ram 5500 ute - with a lavish £365,000 glamping pod.
Meanwhile, a luxurious EV camper van that boasts three rooms plus a touchscreen command centre and a hidden TV has been shared.
A Bristol-based vehicle manufacturer has created the elite new motorhome.
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Plus, take a look inside this 'spaceship' motorhome with a built in wine fridge, massage chairs and a garage - but it will cost you.
This mega 39.4ft long plush property on wheels will set you back an eye-watering £1.2million.
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