Hi Harold,

Thanks for this!  Very thoughtful of you to pull all of these items
together and post separately from the trip report.  Hoping my
long-term-project-in-the-garage turns back into a camper Real Soon Now and
I can try some of these ideas out.

mike

On Fri, Dec 14, 2012 at 9:22 AM, Harold Teer <teer.vanagon@gmail.com> wrote:

> Below are a few observations about those issues from our recently completed
> Virginia to Alaska trip of almost 3 months and 14,500 miles  The full trip
> report is in another email.
>
> For a long trip to areas you have never been, I highly recommend a road
> atlas or paper maps of some kind to supplement a GPS.  While we normally
> carry a road atlas, on this trip I foolishly decided to do without that
> extra baggage and rely only on my GPS but soon had to stop and purchase an
> atlas.  A road atlas allowed me to see the "big picture" and just makes
> traveling and planning more fun for us.  For navigating in BC, Yukon, and
> Alaska we also carried "The Milepost"---heavy and very detailed, but really
> helped in determining miles between gas stations, camping areas, points of
> interest, etc.
>
> We carried a Garmin GPS in addition to a Verizon 4G enabled iPad.
> Advantage of Garmin is that it worked in areas where we did not have phone
> service.  However, once we left Edmonton headed toward BC, Yukon and Alaska
> we put the Garmin away and the Milepost maps sufficed for our needs until
> we neared Vancouver on our way home.
>
> Since we only have a US plan with Verizon, the iPad was to be used in
> conjunction with Skype for communicating with family when we found a WiFi
> hotspot in Canada or one in Alaska where we did not have Verizon service
> (most places).  Since we also wanted the iPad to work with a cellular
> network in Canada, I called Rogers in Canada before we left home.  I
> explained that I was from Virginia and exactly what I wanted to do and they
> said "no problem" and explained what to do at a Rogers store in Canada to
> purchase a short term plan.  Being a little paranoid, I called them again
> and spoke to another person who confirmed I could do that.  Being super
> paranoid, I then called a Rogers store in Canada where I thought we would
> stop and again was told "no problem".   Unfortunately, when we arrived in
> Canada and I tried to activate a plan, I was told I needed a Canadian home
> address before they could activate a plan for me.  I even had the stores
> (tried two stores) call Rogers supervisors and they would not activate a
> plan for me since I live in Virginia.  What a bummer---so we had a WiFi
> only iPad in Canada.   WiFi in parts of BC and Yukon were found only in
> libraries (Whitehorse library limits you to 1 hour a day).
>
> We try to stay at state parks, provincial parks, forest areas, and
> unimproved sites where appropriate and only stay at commercial campgrounds
> when absolutely necessary--like in Valdez when we had an early ferry to
> catch.
>
> We used many different methods to find camping areas.  On the iPad, we used
> an app "Camp & RV -- Tenting to RV Parks" and on the Garmin we had
> downloaded some state park and free camping POI's from "POI Factory".  Our
> road atlas listed national parks, state parks with camping, and forest
> service camping.  The Milepost listed all improved camping areas, we picked
> up provincial camping lists at welcome centers throughout Canada and picked
> up a BLM campground directory in Eagle, Alaska which was most helpful.
>
> Over the years, we have made a few changes to the van which make it more
> livable for us on longer trips like this one.
>
> We bought a commercial floor mat for the rear area.  It is one like you
> find inside or outside office/store doors. It reaches from the cabinet area
> to the sliding door with only about 1/2 unprotected space and I cut a
> little off of one end so it completely covers the area from the rear bench
> to the back of the front seat area.  It keeps mud, dirt, water from the
> floor and makes for easy cleanup with a small whisk broom or a good
> shaking.
>
> Years ago, I replaced the original over sink light with two Thinlights and
> also put a Thinlight over the bed area for night time reading. Of course,
> now I need to think about replacing those with LED lights.
>
> Replaced the original faucet with a SHURflo faucet and my wife says this is
> one of the best modifications we have done to the van.
>
> Installed a fan (Caframo Bora 748) to the left of the stove by the light.
> Multipurpose uses---exhaust fan, cooling fan, hair dryer, etc.  Really a
> nice thing to have.
>
> Since we never hang clothes in the closet, I put a wire shelf about 12�
> from the top and we keep our toiletries, and other items that we want to
> find easily.
>
> Removed the table stand bracket from behind the driver�s seat and use that
> spot to put a 2.5 gallon water container for our drinking water.   Our
> faucet water is used for everything but drinking.
>
> Porta-poti behind the passenger seat---can't imagine not having this or
> something like it for a long trip.
>
> Installed an inverter on the wall between the sink and the driver�s seat to
> recharge stuff when the cigarette lighter is being used for other things.
>
> Many years ago, I ordered and Installed a Propex heater from the original
> list group purchase before there were distributors in the US.  We used it
> in the mornings when we wanted to take the chill off.  It is under the rear
> seat with a wire rack on top of it to separate it from our clothes.
>
> A canvas bag made especially for the Vanagon luggage rack.  What is stored
> there is dictated by the trip but on this trip, we had oil filters, oil,
> anti freeze, extra food, extra drinking water, folding chairs, etc.  Some
> items were also in a dry bag since the canvas is water resistant and not
> entirely waterproof.
>
> We used a bra to help protect the front of the van.  We drove on many
> gravel roads and I am certain the bra saved us from some pretty good rock
> chip damage on the front.  After having lost a headlight in 2005 on the
> gravel road to Atlin, BC (drop dead gorgeous place) I purchased stick-on
> XPEL headlight protectors from Steve at Eurocampers and could not be more
> pleased.
>
> Hope this helps
>
> Harold
> __________
> Harold and Faye Teer
> 1991 Westy
> Harrisonburg, VA
>