attending music fests

[Reenieanne]

I am 5'3" inches tall. I will be (minimally) outfitting my Dodge Grand Caravan for attending music fests this summer. For those of you that build your bed 'width-wise' is it adequate? Also...I'd like to buy a short camp cot...but a mattress on it and use the area under the cot for storage.

I am buying a porta potty. I don't need a camp stove. Will just stop at convenience stores for sandwiches, salads, etc. Am trying to figure out how to make coffee without a camp stove. How about my cigarette lighter power outlets? Too wimpy?

We lived in a 38 ft. Dutch Star motor home many years ago so this is bare boning it to say the least.

I am a 77 year old woman. Thinking I'll carry wasp spray.....thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Reenieanne!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips, Tricks and Rules" post lists some helpful information to get you started.

Most of our rules boil down to two simple over-riding principles: 1) What you post should provide good information (like your introductory post), and 2) Any response to someone else's post should make them feel glad they are part of this forum community.

We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[HotSpringsCyclist]

Welcome, Reenleanne!

I have done the music festival scene in my ,71 VW campervan.  It was wonderful!  I'm sure you're going to have many great adventures!

I'm 5-2".  I enjoy my 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan by simply plopping my memory foam mattress in the middle of the floor lenghwise, and have all my items in small totes and backpacks spread around me.  I like having more headspace, and while I've considered a bed with storage underneith it, I just find myself on the floor again and again whatever I set up.  But most people do what you do!  Just consider how much shuffling around and setup you'll want to do before you go to bed.  I want to do the bare minimum.  When I'm tired, I'm TIRED so I just wanna lay down.

I've never had a vehicle with working cigarette lighter power outlets.  I use a soda can stove for my morning coffee.  There are some great, sturdy, cheap $7 ones on Amazon, that you use with denatured alcohol.  Any standard small aluminum pot will sit on top.  Once the water is boiling, I pour it over the coffee cone with a mesh washable filter.  All three items are teeny-tiny and ultralight... I find I use this the most when I am alone.  It easily goes into my daypack when I want coffee or tea on a walk.  When I travel with others, I enjoy the Coleman 1-burner and make large one-pot meals. 

I have a small container I use for the potty and just toss - or an empty plastic or glass food container and either dump #1 in the woods, or do #2 in a cathole or bag and tie it off and toss it in the garbage.

An effective wasp spray is just plain old blue Dawn Dishsoap.  Get a good quality spray bottle, fill it with water, and leave about an inch at the top for the soap.  It ruins the exoskelleton of the wasp and gums up the works, and they die.  No need for toxic wasp spray.  Another bonus is, this is also your dishwashing liquid.  So, if you find yourself with dishes, pack em in to the nearest convenience store bathroom along with the spray bottle, spritz and scrub, and then just pack all your dishes back into your backpack and leave.  Stealth!

For personal protection, I carry bear spray.

Happy trails!

Angie  
HotSpringsCyclist

 

[GypsyJan]

Welcome, Reenieanne!

For coffee, I use a heat immersion coil I got at a truck stop store ($13). I use a copper cup so not to worry about the heat melting it. I can then either use a Stanley French press tumbler or just add hot cocoa or Cafe Vienna powder to the cup of hot water. Works like a charm and only takes a few minutes. Another hack I use is to heat water in the cup, then pour it over maple & brown sugar instant oatmeal in a metal bowl, then toss in a couple of spoonfuls of trail mix (cranberries, almonds, sunflower kernals, 2 types of raisins) and stir....gourmet breakfast! I also carry Ramen instant soup bowls to add hot water to (a tiny can of chicken breast or tuna added makes for a good meal).

I have a cot in my RAV4 and don't feel too close to the ceiling. I like having the storage space underneath. I got a large Sterlight bin that fits there and can be slid like a drawer either to the inside of the car or out the passenger door. I sort my wardrobe into various sizes of zip lock bags, so I can grap undies, sox, t-shirts...whatever I need. I like to keep 2 larger bags with a complete outfit in each, so I can just grab one for my tote when I visit a rest room and can clean up and have fresh clothes for the day.

Enjoy your festivals!

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forums

My first Van had a camp cot set across the rear end and I use card board boxes under the cot to stow towels, clothes, bedding, etc
in them and some gear.  The cot was aluminum tubing with green canvas stretched over it.  (photos of the Van in my Profile)  I found when I folded the legs on the end I could  bend the cot up some in the middle and then bend it back down and it fit across the back end just fine.  Only thing I had to do was cut a couple of 2x4's to fit over the rear wheel wells  so that the cot wouldn't rock. (like a playground see saw) 

I had an upholstery shop to build me a 3" thick foam mattress to fit it and cover it with suitable fabric.  Over that I have used a sleeping bag and quilts and always stayed warm.  I'm 5' 10" and sleep fine on mine. 

There are a number of 12 volt appliance stores on line including Amazon.  You can find 12 volt coffee pots or water heaters (if you can drink instant)

12 Volt Appliance Store


A book you may want to know about is titled:


Manifold Destiny:  the one and only guide to cooking on your car engine. (actually there are other books)

https://www.amazon.com/Manifold-Destiny-Guide-Cooking-Engine/dp/1416596232 

You could purchase a metal water bottle and with it filled nearly full of water and placed by the radiator under the hood 
to heat water for instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate, instant soups, or oatmeal etc.  Other foods can be wrapped in aluminum foil and heated on the engine. 

I have one of those $50 dollar Thetford RV toilets and find that cheap thin toilet tissue from Walmart works just fine compared to special tissue sold for chemical toilets. Some friends who are week end Van RVer's told me about it. 

One of those Igloo Playmate ice chest with the folding top could be carried into a fast food with you and if you buy the largest soft drink cup,  you could use it to get ice at the fountain and top off your ice chest. (one Super Size cup at a time)  Just sit close to the fountain.  4 to 6 cups should do it.     

Also the Pilot Truck Stops often stock a lot of 12 volt products that plug into your cigarette lighter socket. 

you can live large while living small.

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome to the CRVL Forums

My first Van had a camp cot set across the rear end and I use card board boxes under the cot to stow towels, clothes, bedding, etcin them and some gear.  The cot was aluminum tubing with green canvas stretched over it.  (photos of the Van in my Profile)  I found when I folded the legs on the end I could  bend the cot up some in the middle and then bend it back down and it fit across the back end just fine.  Only thing I had to do was cut a couple of 2x4's to fit over the rear wheel wells  so that the cot wouldn't rock. (like a playground see saw) 

I had an upholstery shop to build me a 3" thick foam mattress to fit it and cover it with suitable fabric.  Over that I have used a sleeping bag and quilts and always stayed warm.  I'm 5' 10" and sleep fine on mine. 

There are a number of 12 volt appliance stores on line including Amazon.  You can find 12 volt coffee pots or water heaters (if you can drink instant)

12 Volt Appliance Store


A book you may want to know about is titled:


Manifold Destiny:  the one and only guide to cooking on your car engine. (actually there are other books)

https://www.amazon.com/Manifold-Destiny-Guide-Cooking-Engine/dp/1416596232 

You could purchase a metal water bottle and with it filled nearly full of water and placed by the radiator under the hood 
to heat water for instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate, instant soups, or oatmeal etc.  Other foods can be wrapped in aluminum foil and heated on the engine. 

I have one of those $50 dollar Thetford RV toilets and find that cheap thin toilet tissue from Walmart works just fine compared to special tissue sold for chemical toilets. Some friends who are week end Van RVer's told me about it. 

One of those Igloo Playmate ice chest with the folding top could be carried into a fast food with you and if you buy the largest soft drink cup,  you could use it to get ice at the fountain and top off your ice chest. (one Super Size cup at a time)  Just sit close to the fountain.  4 to 6 cups should do it.     

Also the Pilot Truck Stops often stock a lot of 12 volt products that plug into your cigarette lighter socket. 

you can live large while living small.