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Date:         Mon, 3 May 2010 08:56:57 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: hookups ........
Comments: To: B <oddstray@ODDSTRAY.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <A7265FE8-2F76-4A66-8C30-1D8EC7FB8EA6@oddstray.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

...... and I do know that the young have an altogether different meaning for this word.

---- B <oddstray@ODDSTRAY.COM> wrote: > We've found we can do without the water hookup under any circumstances, but the electric hookup ... > > Even when we camped with a water hookup, the only thing we really used it for was to fill the kettle for the morning coffee/tea. The Westy sink is so small that it's easier to wash dishes in a 2.5-gallon bucket and rinse at the outside tap.

And if we need to fill the water tank in the Westy, we still only used it for the morning kettle. So we stopped using any water hookup! We just fill the kettle the night before from whatever outside tap is available. > > But electrickery ... ummm ... being of age, we *will* be crawling out of the bedding during the night to use the facilities*. And if the night is chilly, we're increasing intolerant of the chill. We currently have a lower limit of 42 degrees F for camping without additional heating. > > Which means that my next pet project for 'Esme' is to install a proper propex furnace. Because I'd love to be able to go anywhere, anytime, even during the SoCal winter (as we currently do during the SoCal summer) :-D > > *Another 2.5 gallon bucket which serves as our chamber pot. > > B&S > '87 Westy 'Esmerelda Blanc' > SoCal

Most of the places we go have no tap of any kind. Water is either carried in, or taken from a creek, spring, or whatever. When we do camp where there is a tap, if a clear water source like a spring or creek is available, we prefer that for cooking, washing up and so on. We do make it a point to carry a couple of 5-gallon containers of water besides the camper supply if we plan to be out longer than a weekend, and the local water may be suspect. We do treat surface water with bleach (two drops per gallon) for drinking or storage. We don't treat it for cooking or washing. So far as electric hookup, that is just another thing that attracts more people to the campground and provides no benefit for us.

When we visit a national forest we haven't been to before, and we want a developed campground, we check for the ones that list no water or flush toilets. We find them to be quieter and more private than the ones with more facilities.

We are old enough that we have to get up during the night, too. So far, we have resisted a container in the camper. We also have no supplemental heat, but again, so far, have managed without it. We do winter camping, and I am considering a Propex, but haven't decided yet. We only got the camper a year ago, and getting everything mechanically trustworthy has entailed expense and trouble (more than a little bit, lol!). Comfort has had to be last on the list. Right now, I am in the process of getting and installing a new gas tank (someone, probably with a lift, dinged the tank reducing capacity), and a jump seat so we can take another passenger.

DMc

> On May 2, 2010, at 4:21 PM, Dave Mcneely wrote: > > > > BTW, we stayed at a state park with hookups last week, for the first time since we got the camper a year ago last month. Guess what, we didn't use enough electricity to justify hooking up, only having a light on for a couple hours total time the whole four nights we were there (we used a drop lamp). We did keep the dometic on AC power, but the amount of propane we saved was minimal. And we are unlikely to be anywhere we could hook up again for another year. Our main use of AC power since having the van has been to precool the dometic before departure. > > > > David McNeely

-- David McNeely


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