new & scared

[WheelEstate USA]

WalMart carries a blue, square water container that holds almost 7 gallons and has a spigot. It has about the same footprint as 4 one gallon jugs...and by inverting the spigot they can be stacked, as long as they are securely strapped a wall.
In the SW, especially, plan for 1 gallon daily for drinking, coffee and such. Bathing is an added factor to be determined by you, so figure the amount need based on that.

I constantly meet newcomers to the desert climate who complain of being tired and worn after activities, like hiking or sightseeing...DRINK MORE WATER!!!


My personal opinion

 

[Lucky mike]

Ditto: I carry 2 of those 7 gallon water jugs....great for backup or shower water when you need it

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Yup, we refill a 1 gal jug for ease of handling. A blue one sits securely on our bathroom counter, making jug refills easy. Our 70 gal fresh tank is never used for drinking, but an emergency could always change that.

 

[Starlight]

The large water containers must be fed through a hose that can often impart a rubber taste to the water -- water that comes from a well or from a city water system. Some RVers have water filters on their tanks. Some keep their drinking water separate from washing water.

I can lift gallon jugs and store them under and around in the van, and I can get free FILTERED water from 7-11 (if it has a sink) -- and other roadside stores may also filter their water -- which they use for their soft drink fountains. OR - I can buy filtered water from a store's water vending machine. This water usually has been filtered through several methods including reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis treats many contaminates that city and well water do not, including filtering radioactive fallout.

 

[SoulRaven]

Greetings!

I prefer the taller water jugs myself, you can get 2 of them in about the same footprint as one of the squarer ones. These are 7 gallon too.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

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Greetings!

Don't be scared, it's easier than it might seem.

When there is more than one person, one of the most important things is to have seating for each person. If only one person is up and moving about at a time, it is relatively easy.

Like others have mentioned, an EZ-UP or Quik Shade style canopy can be very nice. I prefer the straight leg design myself. I rigged up 3 layers of outside walls to mine, one layer of clear plastic, one of bug screen, and one of solid tarp. Each is raised or lowered in the same fashion as the old bamboo shades, just pull a cord. This way I am covered for any type of weather conditions. Do make sure that you stake it down good so the wind can't get hold of it. I use the corkscrew style, pet tie out jobbers, very secure. I got mine at a dollar store.

My van is about 20' long, so I got one similar to the one below. I have a astro-turf style rug that I put down on the ground. This is a neat set-up if you're away from the city, because you can leave your camp set-up to come home to. This gives you a large comfortable space to enjoy without weather worries.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[akrvbob]

The best solution for light is to install an LED attached to your house battery. Here is a post I did that gives detailed instructions on installing one and which one I recommend
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/basic-12-volt-wiring-how-to-install-a-led-light-fixture/

If you don't have a house battery then I'd recommend the solar lantern and a headlamp. A headlamp is hands-free and puts the light just where you want it. Most have different power settings so you can choose the one that works best.
Bob

 

[decodancer]

Maybe you get what you pay for but every easy up I've ever had has been easy down within a few weeks. The joints break, the metal bends and the duct tape repairs finally become too much of an eyesore. Campers are always leaving them here after a holiday as they have no place to store them in their NYC apartments. I snag a new one put it up, first rain, they're history. Is there a specific brand that will hold up to an average rainstorm? Any ideas on tethering them when the ground is solid rock? I can't even get a garden flag in the ground here, it resides in a potted plant.

 

[Lucky mike]

the best EZ-UP is one that comes with the brand name" EZ-Up".....get the commercial model and your good to go.....in bad weather release the top velcro's so if it fills with water or the wind catches it it will fold the top fabice back without stessing the frame....to hold it down for most applications 5 gallon pails with water,sand or rocks...

I just bought a new one and gave my last away....had it for 5 years and used it every weekend for markets and shows...no problems...

 

[SoulRaven]

Greetings!

Re: EZ-UP's

I don't have a brand preference, but I do have a top preference... If you get one with a wind proof top, the wind won't bother it so much, because it is vented. The secret to tying them down is to run your tie down ropes all the way to the top of each corner pole, and run your rope out diagonally to keep the whole works taught. That will keep the rain from collecting on them too.

These corkscrews will penetrate darn near anything, but if not, I have 2 x 7 gallon water jugs + 2 x 7 gallon kerosene jugs that will work in a pinch.

I've had mine for about 10 years I think, and while it doesn't get used often, it does get used. I've had it up here for 3+ weeks in rain & wind with no problems. Took it down & put it back up 3 times while up here due to required moves.

RE: Lighting

I really don't like built in lighting, the portable solar lighting, that also has a hand crank & 12v +USB charge ports seem to be a better way to go because you can take the light where you need it, and you need portable lights anyway, so why duplicate. Headlamps and hat lights do come in handy too. I have a Panther Eyes cap with built in LED lighting that I love. The only drawback is that it requires button cell batteries which can be difficult to find. They do last about a yeaar though.

I do keep my two old fashioned railroad style kerosene lamps for emergency backup, or romantic ambiance too though. Better safe than sorry.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[Starlight]

@bob
great wiring tutorial -- thanks so much

As for the screen tents --
my brother had just suggested those screw-anchor posts, and is really a great idea
Being a hopelessly recycling-type person -- I was going to find a toss-out screen tent and adapt it -- or regular tent and adapt -- to fashion a tent that will have wind/rain blocking abilities. I was going to use PVC pipe to make a frame that has some supporting strength to it -- maybe a cross-bar corner to corner on two sides and the top -- and then use a strapping tie attached to the screw anchors. I'm hoping to get the most strength from the most light-weight materials that I can, as I'll have to lift it onto the van luggage rack.

I originally wanted to have a tarp that covered the van, too, so if I do that it would tie onto the PVC and down to the anchors -- which would give more shade to the screen tent. If I had the money I'd be doing it yesterday.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I'm a fan of patio shadecloth, since moisture isn't as big an issue out this way, but shade is needed. I have some hooks that slide into the awning track (no awning) near the roof. They sorta lock into position. A couple collapsible alum paint poles (cheap ones) and ropes/stakes....instant shade.
In rocky , sandy ground sand bags made of old jean legs can be filled with sand/rock...stack more rocks if needed in winds. Better yet, take down any "sails" if she blows.

I plan on a roof rack in my van plan. Till I can find one (cheap), I'd simply run lines up and over, secured on the other side, sometimes adding more shade there too.

I don't want the bulk of a framework.

A PVC "monkey hut" isn't very expensive to build if you're willing to carry the 10' lengths on top.

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If you come out for RTR next winter you can forget using those doggie corkscrew anchors. Lots of sand, but imbedded with rocks rocks rocks.
That's why coyotes don't bury their poop

We like solar yard lights. Found some el cheapos for a buck each 2 years ago, still using them...nice if you gotta answer the call at night. Wouldn't wanna step on a rattler

 

[flying kurbmaster]

Speaking of awnings, this is my set up, I can't remember what I paid for the awning less then 40.00 I think. I bought it at a surplus store, it's a replacement for a house roll up awning. I stuck some gromets on it for the polls and tie down. I found the polls in someone's garbage.If it gets buggy I hang my 8.00 mosquito net over my chair.
I sometimes use the small tarp for a scooter carport or sometimes as a wind break or a privacy shield on the side of my awning. Works for me.

 

[Starlight]

Nice setup, kurbmaster.

Wondering what might work to brace a structure on a hard surface--
I wonder if attaching a brace or pipe end under the vehicle (wouldn't need to be welded) -- screwed or tightly lodged into a metal strip, wrapped around anything underneath -- and running metal tubing (do it in sections perhaps that fit into each other) -- with just two poles from the car brace to the outside edge of the structure --
I WONDER -- if that would be strong enough to support a structure w/o stakes

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Would this be an electrical hazard if it touched the ground or metal poles -- instead of PVC... which would ground the car and make an antenna out of it?

 

[WheelEstate USA]

If you're talking about at a 45, like RV awnings, I would still use tie-downs.

 

[Starlight]

I'm thinking the metal poles would be the strength that stabilizes the poles simply by the strength of the metal. It would not bend upwards, which stakes serve the purpose of. If the frame of the structure was solid and the holding underneath the car was solid... it would be part of the frame, but stabilized... at least as stable as sand bags... holding the bottom taut.

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Or was your idea of packing jeans legs with sand -- as not using the weight of the bags, but using the bags as something to drive stakes into --- ?

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decodancer's problem of bracing an awning on cement or hard ground is an interesting problem -- after some research I found these videos on bracing a tent without stakes, but I don't think it solves the problem for her

tent staking without stakes

tie tent cord to a large limb, stack rocks on top; can use longer limb for two stakes along the side of the tent

tent bracing

tie cord around a good size log, drive sticks into the ground in front of the log to prevent the log from moving -- he said this works well in windy conditions

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The concept of these is that with a 3 foot long limb the combined weight of the rocks work together to weigh down the cord itself -- which is attached to the limb.

 

[akrvbob]

Rebar stakes are available at Quartszite that can be driven through anything. If you hit a rock you just keep pounding until the rock breaks. I've been through some horrendous winds there and seen many things blown away and destroyed, but I've never seen one of those stakes pulled up.

But, they can be very hard to get out of the ground. I routinely plan on just digging a hole around the stake to get it out. One time I drove one into a big rock under ground and it would have taken me hours to dig it out. I just left it there and covered it with rocks so no one else would trip over it.

Sand is actually a bigger problem than rocks but you can buy special sand stakes that do a good job.
Bob

 

[SoulRaven]

Greetings!

With a large enough cross bar for leverage, I've never had a problem screwing a corkscrew anchor in yet. Their points are very sharp, and when combined with leverage, you've got a lot of both pushing and twisting power.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Starlight....rope or tie down would be tied to the sand bag as a weight. When packing up, dump bags and stow.

Rebar steaks do work very well. Almost too well, as Bob noted.
In Quartzsite you can find any thing you can imagine to build shade tops, tarp/screen rooms And the gear to hold them on the ground. Pretty stiff winds out there quite a bit of the time.
Back in the day when bumper jacks were common, we'd use a length of chain with one to pull rebar stakes.

 

[SoulRaven]

Rebar stakes are available at Quartszite that can be driven through anything. If you hit a rock you just keep pounding until the rock breaks. I've been through some horrendous winds there and seen many things blown away and destroyed, but I've never seen one of those stakes pulled up.

But, they can be very hard to get out of the ground. I routinely plan on just digging a hole around the stake to get it out. One time I drove one into a big rock under ground and it would have taken me hours to dig it out. I just left it there and covered it with rocks so no one else would trip over it.

Sand is actually a bigger problem than rocks but you can buy special sand stakes that do a good job.
Bob

Greetings Bob!

So far I've had good luck with the corkscrews at the beach, black rock, Quartzite, and Slab City. I have had a few times where they started out straight and wound up a pretty steep angle, but they still held. Maybe the corkscrew action works them around many of the rocks.

One time at Burning Man, I was the only person in a good sized area that wasn't chasing my stuff across the desert.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

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Greetings Kurbmaster!

Nice looking setup. I'd get some of those magnetic screen doors for your rig though. If it's aluminum, you can run a stripe of magnetic tape for the magnetic screen to stick to.

I've got some for all my windows and for my side & back doors. If you're boon docking they sure can be nice.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[blkjak]

welcome from s.w. florida .... blkjak