Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 10:27:34 -0500
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Living in a van
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I never use dishes ........ I use paper or recycled plastic dished from
Staufers, Marie Callendar or Healthy Choice frozen meals that I've eaten
at home.
A portable toilet would be a handy thing to have but requires storage
space that is at a premium. I use a bicycle to get to and from campground
bathrooms and in case of an emergency I've used my trusty five gallon
plastic bucket with a plastic kitchen bag (2 times in seven years).
I collect a few mustard, mayonnaise, Horsey Sauce, Ketchup, single
jellies, honey, and butter cups and those candy flavored coffee enhances
as I progress through my normal eat and run existence and use them on
camping trips. I use olive oil and wine vinegar as salad dressings (won't
go bad like the expensive stuff).
I never drink the water from campgrounds or from my holding tank; why
take the risk?
I use a charcoal fire starter by Bic to light my stove, if you get the
quartz type it will light your LP even if its dead because the spark is
at the end of it.
I keep a miniature holder for about twelve regular kitchen matches and
use kelly forceps to hold my paper matches when lighting my Coleman
(gasoline/lantern fuel) not LP canisters.
I clean my windows every day that I camp and unburden the interior of the
Westy completely so it looks like it is on a showroom floor. You'll be
surprised how much you grow to hate that between the seats junk box with
the cup holders you built. I use a 4 man tent to store all my floating
junk boxes etc.
I use a 12 inch florescent under the cabinet light on 120v that I can
move around anywhere when I have the 120v. It runs cool and can be tucked
into lots of locations next to your canvass.
I use a 5" Portable Color 12v/Battery/120v TV/VCR combination that has a
removable rabbit ear setup for better reception.
I take books that are worth reading twice, you make your choices here.
I have a hang on 120v 5000btu Air Conditioner for use if I know I'm going
to have 120v and the evening temps are going to justify carrying it.
http://williamwareagency.com/forsale/stanvan/ac_unit.htm
If you're going to be fishing regularly take some baking soda to wash
your hands and sprinkle on your dirty clothes bag. Use a net type clothes
bag and dry garments before you put them in.
Cleanliness is next to Godliness when it comes to attracting insects.
If your campsite has flies or insects when you get there, change
locations ....... you are what they've been waiting for. The Coleman
lanterns burning 40 or 50 feet away at night are a big help in drawing
them away from your space.
Don't feed the deer, farrow cats, opossums, raccoons, birds or anything
else, they become dependants very quickly.
Never take laxatives, use brand cereal (Cracklin Oats is like candy and
doesn't require milk) use fresh fruits or dried prunes or canned pinto
beans to stay on schedule. Try to drink at least two quarts of water a
day and lay off the beer and soft drinks with high sugar content.
If you're really roughing it; never do you number 2s near your campsite
........ use your trusty folding shovel and dig a hole to be covered. If
you can see where you just did it when you get back to your Westy ......
that was too close.
Never sleep in your clothes. You can get good long use out of them if you
hang then every night to freshen.
I'm not talking through my tush here, I've spent many weeks living in my
Westy clearing trees and brush from my 87 acre farm (Ha! Nothing there
but one tiny stripper oil well.)
Avoid potential hazards of machetes, hatchets and knives ....... if you
need a walking stick; take it with you.
If you're going to be hiking off into wilderness take a couple of Road
Flare, Boat Horn on CO2 can, a water treatment kit, rain suit, you know
the routine.
Stan
On Thu, 23 May 2002 10:07:34 -0400 lvb <lvb@ALLTEL.NET> writes:
> Interesting article. Only thing I would add would be about not
> rinsing dishes.
> Might be ok with one drop of soap, but most would use more, and not
> rinsing is
> a major cause of dysentery, not very comfortable in a Westy with no
> toilet.
> Thanks. Larry
>
> Rob Gunter wrote:
>
> > I didn't live in a Westy, but I spent 18 months traveling in my
> Ford Van and
> > can give some good tips.
> >
> > Cleaning dishes: Boil water and put into a deep dish plastic tray
> with a
> > small drop of soap. Wash the dishes, dry and put away without
> rinsing.
> >
> > Pots and Pans: Have 2 pots (1 for boiling water), and a fry pan.
> 1 or 2
> > plates extra. Good bowls. 2 sets of silver No more.
> >
> > If you have other than a propane fridge: give it up.
> >
> > Paying for camping: Don't do that!! When transiting stay at
> Safeway and
> > Wal-Mart National Park. Master the art of Guerilla camping (free
> camping on
> > the sly). National Forests are good too.
> >
> > Saving money: Stop moving
> >
> > Email: Libraries are free (usually).
> >
> > Laptops: Only if you REALLY need them. They will drain your
> batteries
> > fast.
> >
> > Solar Cell: Good idea for a 5-10W.
> >
> > Propane: Gods Gas.
> >
> > Awning: EXCELLENT
> >
> > Folding lawn chair: Needed
> >
> > Outdoor lights: Use candles, less bugs. Sleep with the sun.
> >
> > Showers: Natl parks, community pools.
> >
> > Bicycles: Good if you will be visiting cities.
> >
> > Valuables: Don't take any with you or you will live in fear of
> losing
> > (stolen) them.
> >
> > Fishing gear: Light tackle.
> >
> > Cash: Travelers checks in emergency stash, ATM otherwise.
> >
> > Dry goods: Lots of in bulk. Oat meal is amazingly good.
> >
> > Dry milk: Mix with a small amount of water to make a thin paste
> then add
> > the rest.
> >
> > Flashlight: get an LED one.
> >
> > What to do with your time: Allow lots of free time to think.
> >
> > Mixing with locals: Do.
> >
> > Washing clothes: Keep a 5 gal bucket with a tight lid. Put
> clothes in with
> > soap, drive, rinse, hang up.
> >
> > Type of clothes: Fast drying, nice looking, Salvation Army good.
> >
> > Anything else: Make sure it has more than one use. If you don't
> use it in
> > 2 weeks, pitch it.
> >
> > Feather Comforter: Never leave home without it!!
> >
> > Good luck!
> >
> > Rob G.
> >
> > http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/PassportPl/gunter01/
> >
> > for a few months while travelling
> >
> > I'd be interested in hearing how folks fare on extended traveling
> trips
> > in these vehicles.
> >
> > things like :
> >
> > Cooking and cleaning dishes with these tiny kitchens ?
> > do you use supplemental equipment ?
> >
> > portable toilets ?
> >
> > Showers ? do you use a portable setup or stop someplace that has
> > showers ?
> >
> > Cold... do you use some kind of portable heat or just dress warmly
> ?
> >
> > Sitting through storms with the top up... ? the canvas doesnt
> look
> > water proof.. ? is it ?
> >
> > Tents, how many folks use tents along the side for this stuff ?
> >
> > any thing related to these issues would be appreciated.
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 00:07:45 -0400
> > From: "Russell, William" <william.russell@UW-INC.COM>
> > Subject: Re: living in a westy or weekender for a few months
> while
> > travelling
> >
> > I can tell you that I've sat through a viscous storm on the north
> shore
> > of Lake Superior and was nice and dry. The wind was blowing so
> hard
> > that I could barely face into it when I walked to the edge of the
> water.
> > The vehicle felt more stable then I used to feel in my father's
> 1971
> > Lionel Crank-Up Camper during a storm.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On
> Behalf
> > Of Clay Moore
> > Sent: May 23, 2002 00:01
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: living in a westy or weekender for a few months while
> > travelling
> >
> > I'd be interested in hearing how folks fare on extended traveling
> trips
> > in these vehicles.
> >
> > things like :
> >
> > Cooking and cleaning dishes with these tiny kitchens ?
> > do you use supplemental equipment ?
> >
> > portable toilets ?
> >
> > Showers ? do you use a portable setup or stop someplace that has
> > showers ?
> >
> > Cold... do you use some kind of portable heat or just dress warmly
> ?
> >
> > Sitting through storms with the top up... ? the canvas doesnt
> look
> > water proof.. ? is it ?
> >
> > Tents, how many folks use tents along the side for this stuff ?
> >
> > any thing related to these issues would be appreciated.
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > End of vanagon Digest - 22 May 2002 (#2002-629)
> > ***********************************************
>
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