What 3 most important items to start

[Reno]

Before you get all fancy...
Just pack some clothes, water, personals, and head out.
Stores with everything you need will be everywhere.
Wait and see what you really use and need.
No refrigeration- eat simple
No lights- go to bed
You will acquire what you want.  Just enjoy yourself.

This makes the more sense than the other stuff I've been reading here. I've  been doing this full-time now for 4 years and haven't found any need for: solar panels, 5-gallon buckets /luggable loo (too big, no room!), coolers (a real PIA).

Stuff I've found handy (if not always essential) include water storage (7 Gal), foldable camper toilet with a supply of WalMart shopping bags, propane heater, propane single burner stove, headlamp, smartphone.

Cold \hot food and drinks are cheap and ubiquitous as are libraries, laundromats, wi-fi, and public restrooms.

Yes, I'm an urban camper and I understand your needs may be different from mine if you want to live in the woods for long periods. But even the BLM campers I know make frequent runs to town.

We've had an influx of newbies and wannabes who have gotten the impression that a lot of complicated, costly stuff is needed to "join the tribe"

William Least-Heat Moon threw a mattress into the back of a Ford van and called it "good". He then proceeded to travel round the country writing "Blue Highways".

No need to overthink it. My opinion!

 

[ArmorAbby]

Toilet... that has been the thing Ive been most grateful for... umm... I recently got My little cup that plugs into a cigarette type outlet... heats the water to 140*+ and I now have coffee.. love that thing, Paid $3 at Goodwill still in the packaging brand new... I used to have to boil my water in a pan in my road pro...
So, My portapotty #1
My hot cup, #2
aside from bigger purchases, Id say thats it... everything else is regular house stuff.. oh wait..
#3 BUNGEE CORDS!!! and zip ties!!
Inertia can be a pain in the arse


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[RV-Hopeful]

Great ideas one and all, thanks!

 

[jonyjoe303]

swampcooler is the only essential for me, everything else is a luxury. With the swampcooler It also solves the water issue since I always carry gallons of water which I can drink in an emergency. 

Without the swampcooler I couldnt spend anytime in my van when the sun is out, parking in the shade is not an option for me. The cool air from my small swampcooler beats my fantastic fan no matter what the humidity.

Fridge is a luxury, I got rid of mine, it took up too much space and heated up my van. I only had it to keep my soda cold, I learn to drink hot soda, but now mostly drink water.

 

[wagoneer]

An open mind guts and wanderlust

 

[tx2sturgis]

^^^^^^
Everything up there above this is optional!  



Three things you GOTTA have (other than the vehicle itself):

• Money (Credit or ATM card, or cash).
• Ignition key.
• Gasoline (or diesel).
  
  

Or so it seems to me. 

 

[TxLady]

Comfortable Bed
Toilet (for night time use)
Food/Water

Everything else is extraneous; with a good night's sleep and a full tummy all other problems can be overcome.

 

[Putts]

^^^I'd go along with that for starters.


I like to sleep, eat, and poop.

 

[CautionToTheWind]

^^^LMAO

 

[hausmutti]

Always carry
a spare set of keys..
raingear
a wide brim hat

I took a trip cross country last December in my minivan with a puppy.  One thing I do when I travel far outside my home area is have a key chain around my neck with spare key in case I lock myself out and a tag with information on it.  Name, emergency contact, etc.  I had a foam mattress, stored water, Grayl water filter, single burner camp stove mainly for tea, ice chest and food box.  I never ate fast food.

 

[squatting dog]

too easy.  
1- money. 
2- good internet access
3-money
Now, let me explain.
 Money to buy any other thing you think is essential.
internet to google any problem you run into
money,  so you can solve the problem you ran into. :shy:

 

[RV-Hopeful]

swampcooler is the only essential for me, everything else is a luxury. With the swampcooler It also solves the water issue since I always carry gallons of water which I can drink in an emergency. 

Yes a swampcooler!  The A/C in my van is broken and too expensive to fix.  I've been looking at swamps but find them pricey and I see your's looks perhaps homemade?  I'd be interested in checking out your design. I've seen several homemade ones here and on youtube.

 

[RV-Hopeful]

ass,grass and gas

did i win???

chuckle

 

[RV-Hopeful]

An open mind guts and wanderlust

I have those three in the bag now!

 

[trailsailor]

Install the 'Yelp' app on your phone. It's very useful in towns you're not familiar with to find just about anything and includes customer's reviews. I used it to find a mechanic in Idaho and had a lot more confidence doing so with this app. It also ties in with Google maps for directions.

 

[duckwonder]

Beyond what has been mentioned, I would say Reflectix for the windows and dash to help regulate temperature year round.  I just got a roll on Amazon, very reasonably priced.  Best to you!

 

[GypsySpirit]

The more I read these forums, the less crap I find I need. You guys rock!

 

[hausmutti]

The more I read these forums, the less crap I find I need.   You guys rock!

I think it's kind of like having babies.  Society says you need tons of stuff but I've traveled with babies and not much more than a set of breasts, diapers and a baby carrier to wear.  I even went cross country and used cloth diapers.  Once I visited my grandmother who was boondocking in Death Valley and decided to stay longer so I just washed out diapers and baby clothes and hung them to dry(fast LOL).  
Not sure if this goes in a food thread, but this is one thing I did to make things super easy.  Before we left, I made a big batch of granola and mixed powdered milk into it once it cooled.  That way we had a bowl of granola for breakfast on the road and just added some water.  Baby's food didn't need refrigeration and the rest of us didn't need to try to keep milk refrigerated on the road.

 

[GypsySpirit]

The more I read the more envious I become of the van dwellers, too.

 

[Gypsy Clipper]

Battery jump starter, a small air compressor and a couple cans of fix a flat. Getting stranded with no help is possibly the scariest thing for me.

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