Stan,
Once again you are a wealth of practical knowledge. Thanks for the tips to
us all.
William

> 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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