Ten Consecutive Years Living in Cars : Living, Traveling, Camping, Attending College, and Performing Surveillance in Cars----and Loving It! [Plastic Comb]

Craig S. Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999

Craig S. Roberts shares all the knowledge gained from his 10 years car living experience. Whether living, traveling, camping, attending college, or performing surveillance in cars, in Craig's color illustrated book he discloses how to make car living a comfortable, enjoyable, fulfilling, and somewhat exciting experience.

Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 218 pages
• Publisher: Extreme Productions (November 1, 1999)
• ISBN-10: 0967624800
• ISBN-13: 978-0967624808
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,803,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Successful alternate lifestyle, July 29, 2000

By 

Sharon Slay (St. Louis, Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ten Consecutive Years Living in Cars : Living, Traveling, Camping, Attending College, and Performing Surveillance in Cars----and Loving It! (Plastic Comb)

Craig S. Roberts book: Ten Consecutive Years Living in Cars: is and absolute how to book written for the person who is either already in the process of living in a vehicle or is seriously contemplating it as a lifestyle. He has complete ideas on everything from: privacy, insulation and comfort, showering or bathing, toileting, drinking water retrival, storing your stuff, where to park, successful police encounters, electrical power needs, and finally critical car maintenance. Craig gives you detailed information on each subject, along with his personal observations and experience, and many other options that he has used and thought about. It is the most comprehensive well written book about car living that I've read. I also have lived in my car by choice and find his book a valuable wealth of information. I particularly appreciated his: parking recommendations, how to bath in your car or out of your car in any weather, and how to privatize your car, so no one knows you're in there. I have read Craig's book three times each time gleaning new information.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Practical, with quality tips and tricks for car survival., May 27, 2006

By 

Jason M. Chapman "Spammers must pay a $550.00... (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ten Consecutive Years Living in Cars : Living, Traveling, Camping, Attending College, and Performing Surveillance in Cars----and Loving It! (Plastic Comb)

I've read this book and re-read it a few times now. Initially it occurred to me that the writer, Craig S Roberts, did seem to be a little paranoid, and rants a bit about government invasions of privacy, however, the information in the book is still good and valid.

This book really reads like it is from someone who has been there and done that. The book is obviously self published, and comes in a printed or photocopied format with a plastic binding comb. So presentation is lacking, but the quantity and quality of information is really there. The book covers how to keep warm in your car very well. It also covers ways to keep cool in hot weather, where to obtain and store water, how to go to the toilet in your car, how to wash up in your car, cooking in cars (with safety advice for using a camp stove) places to park your car, even what sort of containers are most practical to use in your car. There is good advice on what electrical appliances can be ran from an inverter from your car's battery which tends to match advice I have read else where.

You can of course view the table of contents for this book here on Amazon. While many of the chapters are only a few pages long, the content is there. Some of it is common sense, but a lot is ideas and knowledge that you would only gain from a book like this. Craig writes well and to the point. He rarely repeats himself, so the book has not been padded out. He appears to have researched his methods and advice. He does contradict himself once about solar cells, saying at one point they are of little benefit, but he later goes on to explain they have their uses and gives good details about how to use them.

His advice on police encounters is amusing. His "I am not an enemy of the United States" comments are likely to cause you more trouble than they save you. You might want to take much of that chapter with a grain of salt. However advice on not telling police that you live in your car is valid.

Over all, if you are going to live in your car, this is the book to buy on it. Forget A Jane Heim / Archer's books. They don't have a 10th of the information in this book. This book reads a little paranoid, but the practical information you need to survive while living in your car is here. The cold and hot weather survival tips alone make this book worth it.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the money, May 8, 2006

By 

Cham Green (Merryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ten Consecutive Years Living in Cars : Living, Traveling, Camping, Attending College, and Performing Surveillance in Cars----and Loving It! (Plastic Comb)

I read Craig's book 2 years ago, and put many of his suggestions into practice. Although I don't live full time in my minivan, I like to travel on weekends while I hike, bike and sightsee. With the escalating costs of fuel and hotels, and most of us driving large sleepable cars, it is well worth it to take the time to read this book. The author has practicle experience and shares his thoughts willingly. While implementing his suggestions I have never had a problem even in the most remote and problematic locations.

Update: In 2007 I spent 3 months living in my minivan traveling the US. I slept in forests, neighborhoods and Wal-Mart parking lots. During my trip I spent a total of $21 on camping fees, only because I had to buy permits in some National Parks for backpacking. Reading Craig's book before I left and practicing some of his methods on weekends made me knowledgeable enough so that my extended trip worked out very smoothly. I will probably never stay in a hotel ever again.