Anyone can be uncomfortable while Vanagon camping.� The real art is to be comfortable, and at the same time being some what of a minamalist.� This is a balance.� When you wish the company of others, such as children, spouses, significant others, you are best to err on the side of comfort.� If you do not want them to ever come again, then by all means make it uncomfortable.� There is a reason when marketing camping, you always see advertisements with wine glasses, nice plates and real knifes and forks.� They do not show wearing extra wool hats, eating out of aluminium military plates with a swiss army knife set.� I have done my share of wilderness camping, drilling holes in tooth brushes to cut down on weight, and seeking out tents and sleeping bags that can withstand getting wet.� This is not why one goes camping in a Vanagon.
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I had been speaking to my wife about the Propex heaters and the various options people had been talking about.� She then said that if we wanted to do more camping in September/October, that the Propex heater sounded like the best choice.� Hmmmmmm� what should I do?� Sounds like I will be getting a Propex heater.....�� The same goes for interior�LED lighting.... to accommodate my wife's passion for reading.��
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The main advantage that I see of the Vanagon, is the ability to do comfortable travel camping.� It's size and age means you have to be some what of a minimalist, and�keep the weight down.� You can also have the vehicle loaded with most of your kit, and then make a quick decision to go camping.� Hard wired kit such as the Propex heater, LED lights and other improvements means one less thing to hunt for, when getting ready to go camping.� No looking for the 20 pound propane tank, hoses, adapters, boiling water and loading 20 L plastic containers.�� Just turn it on when you need it.� 
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I agree that items such as the Buddy heaters are useful for occasional use.� The same with military sleeping bags, wool hats and cold weather kit.� Once you decide this is something that you will be doing on a regular basis, and you want to extend your camping season and range, then some sort of off the grid heating is a good option.� This is very important when others are also coming that may not share your prepper outlook on camping.
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Thanks to all the members on the list for the various perspectives.� It really comes down to a personal choice, but often in that personal choice, you have to think about the others in your life that you wish to share your adventures.� Their needs have to be accommodated as well.� What you are looking for is a win-win situation, that fits your budget.� At different phases of life, the win-win will change.
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Cheers!
Stuart

________________________________
From: Harry Hoffman <hhoffman@IP-SOLUTIONS.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
Sent: Tuesday, November 5, 2013 8:49:41 AM
Subject: Re: Propex alternative?

And therein lies the reasoning for all of the mods to the van! Otherwise
I'd be out backpacking with just a bivouac.

Having the family along and *not* miserable is worth quite a bit :-)

Cheers,
Harry