Stocking items for barter

[travel]

This is kind of a cross between vandwelling, survivalist prepping/bugging out and just a plain old back up plan when money, or stores (or both), are not available. I've been thinking of keeping a few items on hand for barter with others in the event I run out of money, or run out of something important, a natural disaster, or in the event stores run out of stuff and aren't replenished for whatever reason. Being able to barter could be very useful. Even with limited space in a van, there should be room for a few small items.<br><br>In reading some survivalist prepper type books, it's suggested to have some items on hand to barter, especially "vices" like cigarettes, candy and hard liquor. Theory being, at least from a survivalist prepper mentality, you might be able to trade a pack of cigarettes for a few cases of water, in the event that there's a catastrophic economic breakdown or natural disaster and stores are empty. But, could this work under more normal, non-emergency circumstances with other vandwellers? Of course, it would probably work in times of crisis too. In times of crises, people may be willing to give up something for much less than it's real value, like trading $25 worth of food for a pack of smokes. Not that I want to take advantage of people, but I've heard of this happening.<br><br>I would probably not be tempted to touch any alcohol or cigarettes, but I might have a weakness for candy, so I would not carry any candy. Of course in a van, space is limited, so it needs to be something small and valuable. You may even be able to get the better end of the trade if you have the "vice" type goods. But I think everyday essentials could also be bartered, like cans of baked beans, meat, veggies, pasta, soup, dehydrated foods, soda, maybe even fresh perishable produce?&nbsp;<br><br>Any thoughts on this?

 

[AltTransBikes]

Seriously?

 

[travel]

Seriously?

<br><br>Yes! Why not? Is it the bartering itself, or the prepper/survivalist aspect that seems weird?

 

[Scott_1776]

Here's a list I found, some are do able for a vandweller, other not so much:<br><strong>FOOD</strong><br>1. Bread<br>2. Butter<br>3. Cereal<br>4. Coffee<br>5. Eggs<br>6. Flour<br>7. Fruit, canned and fresh<br>8. Honey<br>9. Meats, canned<br>10. Milk<br>11. Peanut butter<br>12. Pet food<br>13. Salt<br>14. Sugar<br>15. Vegetables, canned and root vegetables<br>16. Water<p><strong>POWER AND LIGHT</strong><br>17. Batteries<br>18. Candles<br>19. Charcoal<br>20. Coolers<br>21. Flashlights<br>22. Gasoline<br>23. Generators<br>24. Glow sticks<br>25. Ice<br>26. Lamp oil and oil lanterns<br>27. Lighter fluid<br>28. Matches<br>29. Propane, propane stoves</p><p><strong>FUN</strong><br>30. Alcohol, drinking<br>31. Beer<br>32. Cigarettes<br>33. Condoms</p><p><strong>FIRST AID</strong><br>34. Alcohol, rubbing<br>35. Antiseptic<br>36. Aspirin/pain relievers<br>37. Cold medicine<br>38. First aid kits</p><p><strong>HYGIENE</strong><br>39. Feminine hygiene products<br>40. Paper plates/napkins<br>41. Shampoo<br>42. Soap<br>43. Toilet paper</p><p><strong>BABIES</strong><br>44. Baby food/formula<br>45. Diapers</p><p><strong>IMPROVISATION</strong><br>46. Duct tape<br>47. Plastic bags<br>48. Plywood<br>49. Radios<br>50. Rope</p>

 

[Zil]

<span id="post_message_1277664318"> in the event that there's a catastrophic economic breakdown or natural disaster and stores are empty<br><br>That is to assume everyone will be polite and willing to just trade.<br></span>

 

[user 423]

There are all kinds of potential disasters and Murphy's law will make sure that what you have packed away wouldn't be what's needed for the one that comes your way...LOL.&nbsp; I'd just make sure I had backup food,water and fuel but in a van the amounts have to be limited. So in a few days or a week you'll be in the same boat with everyone else.

 

[AltTransBikes]

<span id="post_message_1277670818">"in a van the amounts have to be limited"<br><br>Exactly. To me the very nature of vandwelling means limited space and traveling light.<br></span>

 

[owl]

&nbsp; I have been in parts of the world when, because of war, the conditions you describe happened. The people who had anything lost it to the stronger ones. The breakdown of society happens with blinding speed. That is one of the reasons people band together, loners stand out and quickly become targets.

 

[twokniveskatie]

i think the nature of vandwelling is individuality. &nbsp;<span style="font-size: 13px;">my "light" may be your "heavy".&nbsp;</span><br><br>i carry excess of several items, including foods, matches, utensils... i carry them primarily with the intention of sharing with tribe members that i am camped with....when in any sort of group, we always seem to have what we need amongst us.<br><br>i also carry some items in ziplock bags. easy to hand out on the fly. bags might contain fast food plastic silverware, nuts, chocolate, vienna sausages, condiments, and crackers. i can't count how many i have given out. some of the most valuable real estate in my rig.&nbsp;<br><br>i love the tribal economy that we have going which encompasses sharing, bartering, selling and gifting. i will always carry a few dry bags with extra goods. i can use it or share it or make some gas money. ive sold many a hat on the roadside or in walmart parking lots. most people wouldnt dream of wasting space with the yarn and spindles and wool i carry. works for me!!!<br><br><br>

 

[travel]

Thanks for your insight everyone! And that's a great list of things, Scott. A few things I hadn't thought of. I've copied the list for quick and easy reference. As mentioned, being in a van, space is limited. So, I might stockpile a few smaller, but more expensive items. This could be to barter in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, or just in case I run out of money and need something that someone else has. And that person needs or would like what I have, and we make a mutual exchange. <br><br>From a survivalist/prepper standpoint... in the event of a more serious disaster, you're right, the preppers could be mugged by the more powerful people or groups who were unprepared. Unless we're by ourselves, out in the middle of nowhere, and nobody knows what we've got.<br><br>I've contemplated renting a small storage unit, in a geographic area in, or somewhat close to where I'll be spending my time. I'd put up shelves, stock it with non-perishable food, bottled water, and anything else worth stocking up on, but that won't fit in the van. Then I'd secure the storage unit with a high quality lock. Even if it takes a few hours, or few days to get there (or maybe longer due to roads being blocked), it could still be worth driving back, as long as it's within one gas tank's range, so probably 400 or 450 miles away, at most. Or have a couple of storage units like this. But then that kind of goes against simplifying things - not to mention the cost! Even at $50 a month to rent a small storage unit, that's $600 per year. And if I had two such storage units... $1200 a year. That could buy a lot of food and gas. And I run the risk that it could get broken into and cleaned out, or if there was a natural disaster, the building could damaged, exposing the contents of my locker where looters could take my stuff, or it would be damaged/swept away by the elements.&nbsp;<br><br>A cheaper option would be to stock a few things at my parents' place, or a friend's place, where I'm sure I could put up a shelf or two in their basement or garage for free. But I plan on being far away - out west, and they're out east. And I'd have to run the risk that they could use up my stock. Oh well, if it's an emergency and they need it, that's fine. As long as they replenish it later, when they are able to. I've just started getting into the survivalist/prepper mentality in the last few months, and I'm definitely not hard core. But, vandwelling itself is very much in line with that. A livable van with at least a few days or weeks of supplies is an excellent bug out vehicle.

 

[ShesJustJodi]

I think that mentality just makes sense in the world we live in. Living in Florida, I have several gallons of fresh water under my bed and a nice little stockpile of food in the linen closet. LOL My biggest worry when I get my rig is having enough room to stay stocked. I am willing to downsize on anything else.<BR><BR>I would really like to keep discussion going about prepping with the van dwelling/small rig lifestyle.

 

[Scott_1776]

Travel- Instead of storage unit that might be in an area that's not convenient or close, why not geo-chache some small amount of supplies in more remote areas, that way no matter where you traveling you can fall back on those locations and on the upside save yourself a ton of money on storage.&nbsp; Then again, who wants to dig a big hole in the desert or woods <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif">

 

[travel]

It's great to know there are other people here who agree with this kind of thinking. Some people are indifferent, others think it's silly. And there are some who are more than just serious and get totally carried away with it. I think it's good to strike a balance between those. Water is probably the most important thing to stock up on, because we can't last long without it. Unfortunately it takes up a lot of space and weighs a lot. And there's a lot of food that can be stockpiled too, some of which isn't too heavy or that takes up a lot of space.

Yeah, I've heard of geo-caching. Maybe I'm being overly paranoid, but I'm worried about either forgetting or not being able to find the exact spot again, or that someone else finds it (that happens), or that whatever I bury gets ruined by the elements. Not to mention, like you said, having to dig a big hole in the desert or woods. But, it's a free storage method!

 

[owl]

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Stockpile toilet paper. You can trade that for anything. Better than gold.<IMG class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/cool.gif">

 

[akrvbob]

Pre-1964 U.S. nickels, dimes, quarter are a high percentage of silver. They will hold their value&nbsp;because&nbsp;of the silver so they are perfect for prepping. Beyond that, in the long run silver is just going to go up so unlike nearly everything else you can do, even if the stuff never hits the fan, you will still be glad you have them. It's a win-win.<br>Bob

 

[cleanheart]

I think Scott is right and I plan on doing just that! I have many 5 gal. buckets that can be sealed and buried. I used mylar to make individual meal packs and placed them inside. I tried to make it a variety of items so I wouldn't only have just rice and beans. ha! I'm looking forward to doing this and making a map of where I bury my buckets! I used to live in Death Valley and the Mojave Desert so I know of some very nice "out of the way" spots.&nbsp;<br>As for bartering out of the Van, I don't know. I'll barely have room for me and Thor!&nbsp;

 

[highdesertranger]

it's always good to be prepared.&nbsp; any amount of preparedness above zero is good.&nbsp; 1 thing that I didn't see posted is ammo for use or barter.&nbsp; silver is good to doesn't take up allot of space.&nbsp; but I have to disagree with bob, I believe that nickels were silver for only 1 or 2 years during wwII.&nbsp; about burying be careful.&nbsp; choose location very well.&nbsp; don't bury in an area were someone with a metal detector might be detecting they will find your stash.&nbsp; in my younger days we used to stash hard liquor. we did this&nbsp;all over the west.&nbsp; well one spot we went back to, went though environmental restoration they brought in heavy equipment and totally ripped the placed up.&nbsp; don't know how this was restoration but to the end result was our bottle of seagrams was gone.&nbsp; I hope that they found it and enjoyed it&nbsp;intact and just didn't smash it with their d9.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[sparky1]

stocking Things;<BR>&nbsp; lets say you are in NC near the coast,-?--if there is a Member near that area, why not "Ask" if you could visit,in return for helping them, &amp; possibly store Non Illegal things,in case of??,but never be a burden to them. but there are many here who want to NEVER say where they are. When&nbsp;I travel,I like knowing I can call or E-mail friends---drop by,Take them out for coffee/burger,whatever &amp; have a night or 2 of friendship, &amp; return the Favor.I have things here that are stored for friends.always great incase you have a breakdown,&amp; need help too./ my 2 cents.<BR>sparky1.<BR><BR>

 

[travel]

Hmmm... I can't seem to edit my post now so I'll have to reply again. Here's the 5 piece set of Lodge cast iron cookware I got at Bass Pro yesterday:<br><br>http://www.basspro.com/Lodge-Logic-5Piece-Cast-Iron-Cookware-Set/product/10230807/<br><br>It's got a 10.5" round griddle (should be good for pancakes, though I would have preferred a rectangular one), an 8" skillet, a 10.25" skillet and a 5 quart Dutch oven. The lid from the Dutch oven also fits the larger pan. The older Lodge pan may dad gave me is smaller. I think 6".

 

[TALLMAN]

In survivalist situation the first thing to go would be gas. If it happens you are going to e stranded.