The past 3 years on the road.

We Didn't Buy It To Live In It.
Matt Monthei
@thevanwithnoplan

"My brother and i were just 17 and 20 when we moved away from moms house in Montana, and into a 1 bedroom apartment just outside of Sacramento California."  

Those who knew us personally would agree that we had a hard time focusing all of our attention to one thing in particular, and were known to have a different job every couple of weeks to keep the rent paid. We went through a loop of many different gigs including working mall kiosks, home shows, Door to Door sales, 3 different auto-glass companies, and more, and earned nicknames such as "The Smash Bros" and "Dream Team" for always over-shooting the quota when working together, no matter what we were selling. After getting the insight from all these different companies that were ran poorly, we knew It wasn't long before we would break off and do our own thing, whatever that would be. In early 2011, we easily found an investor to put 20,000 into us and we officially started our own Auto-Glass business specializing in repairing chips and cracks in peoples windshields before they spread into a crack. We set up multipe contracts with local gas stations and car washes in order to set up a tent & banner explaining what we were doing to "pull in" business, and quickly had over 10 different sites. This business became really lucrative for us, and even more so after we started hiring others to work to sites for us. We built up quite a crew after the first year, and needed a way to haul them around to the different sites we had them working, 

which led us to buy this van,

$600 1992 Ford Econoline. Nov 2012 - Sep 2013

When we first left in this van, we had no idea where we wanted to go, or how long we would be gone. At this time we didn't really think about things like taking pictures, social media, or traveling with a purpose. We were just skateboarders with a good running van and an empty schedule, and im proud to say we still are! This van took us across 32 states, to experience things like New Years in Times Square, Working at Universal Studios in Orlando FL, Duck Dynasty in Monroe LA, Sailing in Yachts in Seattle WA, and countless more. It's a shame we didn't document our travels in the first van, but how would we of known that van, and those experiences was the foundation on which we would build a life for ourselves? During or travels through Oregon, and after moving our mom there,  We connected with a guy off of Craigslist, and traded our van for it, just like that. It happened so fast. since the bus was worth more than our van we agreed to do 5 weeks of labor on this old mans property doing things like roofing, landscaping, etc) to make up the difference. We spent 6 months converting and fixing on the Oregon Coast because of how many problems we encountered with it.
 

custom duct tape mirror.

26 ft. 1992 Ford E-350 diesel shuttle bus 

We outfitted it with two beds, ( L shaped bunk beds), and all the bells and whistles in order to live in it. We loved it, and so did others.  We even painted the outside of it with chalkboard paint and had everybody who wanted to sign it, or put a quote on the outside. The only thing was that this bus had a replaced engine, and more problems than what we can keep up with. As we took the whole west coast in it, we broke down 3 times along the way and bad mechanic experiences were included. When that poor bus finally made it back up to Oregon we fixed her up once again and traded it bus straight across for a 2002 Sprinter van.

 Another Craigslist find. thanks Craig. After building out the sprinter, we soon realized that even this very large sprinter is small. it was tall and long and thats for sure, but very narrow which made it difficult to sleep sideways. 'We then traded our bus straight across for this van, and spent a couple of weeks in Eugene Oregon installing overhead storage, futon, flooring beds and cabinets.

sprinter set-up >>

2002 Freightliner Sprinter

We then unexpectedly sold that Sprinter to Cyrus Sutton ( a well known pro surfer and film-maker) after having it for only 4 months. We never expected, or planned to sell it that quickly, but after meeting him in the desert we told him we're going to Las Vegas for my 21st birthday, and if you wanted to buy it you'll have to meet us there, and he did! So as were going over the details at the first roulette table i've ever sat at, he had it tested and bought it the next day. With way too much money in our possession in Vegas, we left quickly in a Uhaul and headed straight to Phoenix AZ. to pick up our new home.

 23 ft. 2008 ford E-350 turbo diesel. When we first saw this bus on the guys property we we're working for, we knew that we had to get it, he wasn't doing anything with it and we saw potential.

But our most recent trade is the best one yet!
After traveling together in one vehicle for the past 3 years, Josh and I decided that we want to get our own vans, and have some awesome ideas for them. we didnt plan on getting them this quickly however, and definately didnt expect for us to be getting astro vans!
we traded our 2008 Ford shuttle bus that we took across the country twice and went over 14,000 miles. not to mention that this is the bus we did the LA to NY longboarding trip for charity in. we went 50 miles a day for 3 months on a skateboard from Los Angeles to New York City

My new 1990 Astro Tiger Provan!

Joshs new 1987 Astro Allegro RV!

This all just happened within the last few weeks, so we're still new to the vans, but we couldnt be happier with them. We reconnected with Matt & Lorae ( who we met in the desert at the same place we met Cyrus who bough our sprinter!) when we were working in Portland Oregon. After posting on Instagram that we were going to Poler for their PolerXPendleton release party, they commented that they would be there too, and we had no idea they were in PDX. After catching up and talking we told them of our idea to get two vans and they brought up their Astro vans, which didn't sound appealing until we saw pictures of them. When things are meant to happen, they fall into pace. this was one of hose things. I called dibs the pop-top!

  I was blessed to have lived the traditional 9-5 lifestyle a young age and experience the feeling of accomplishment you get when you work to have a place to call your own, and work to afford anything that comes you way. Blessed to have found out so early that this is not how i wanted to live my life. I was young, self-sufficient, and proud of it, even though most of my days were spent working to afford the house we leave vacant all day to do so, and it wasn't until we left for an unplanned "road-trip" that i realized what it is i do want to do, and how to get the most out of life. 

That same feeling could be accomplished on a smaller scale, without rent, utilities, and other things you don't need to have. :) You might not either, which is why i share my stories. because right now i would be doing just that if it was n't for the insight that this "road-trip" I've been on for 3 years has given me.When i come back to places like Sacramento, (where my journey started) ,it all hits me how much of an impact and how educational this has been to me. I feel as if i can tell you exactly where i would be and what i would be doing with my life if i never left, and how comfortable and content i would feel doing it. Instead, this life i have been living has molded me into the person that can hopefully bring some much needed attention to learning and living through traveling.

--------Anyway that you want to live can be lived---------, but you have to persue it. You might not ever know the life you we're meant to live if your not optimistic about new things or opportunities that come your way, you CAN miss them. so take things as they come and never get ahead of yourself.. or behind! --Matt Monthei questions? comments?