What is on your Top Five List?

[Gigi]

Okay, you are starting out for the first time.  You have your van/car/rv and it has a bed and and stove.  What would be on your top five must haves to start out with for your first month?  

:heart:

 

[JesseTrue]

Potty (cartridge)
Heating source
200W solar setup
Water canisters/Buckets/plan
Off-road Bike/Motorbike

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[FinallyFree]

Full tank of gas!

 

[AbuelaLoca]

1. Solar power
2. Some sort of potty
3. Propane tank and setup
4. Water and setup (like a pump or something)
5. Food

I'm in demolition mode so I'm sure I'm missing something that was on my list of must haves that I've given myself a year to obtain...

 

[MrNoodly]

Just go. What YOU really need will become apparent. I know people who are doing just fine without solar, without cooking, without heat... They're essentially backpackers on wheels. And I know some people in huge RVs that seem to never have enough necessities because they haul utility trailers behind them. What YOU need also depends on where you'll be going and what you'll be doing.

 

[Ballenxj]

Okay, you are starting out for the first time.  You have your van/car/rv and it has a bed and and stove.  What would be on your top five must haves to start out with for your first month?  

:heart:

5. Toilet facilities.
4. 200 watts of Solar with 2 100 watt each deep cycle batteries all wired including charge controller.
3. A good sound system to play traveling road music.
2. Good tires.
1. A wallet fat enough to handle anything else thrown at me.

 

[Gigi]

 
1. A wallet fat enough to handle anything else thrown at me.

I like this idea!  

 

[Gigi]

Just go. What YOU really need will become apparent. I know people who are doing just fine without solar, without cooking, without heat... They're essentially backpackers on wheels. And I know some people in huge RVs that seem to never have enough necessities because they haul utility trailers behind them. What YOU need also depends on where you'll be going and what you'll be doing.

I have my list--Mr Noodly--- I guess I should have added that so everyone would know this was just a fun thread!  

So my top five will be--
  
1.  My dogs (I have 2 but I will count that as 1 since they are little!)  
2.  A pottie
3.  My Phone
4.  Phone Charger
5.  Coffee Maker

 

[Gary68]

food
water
fire
knife
a nice bag of weed

 

[Queen]

I have my list--Mr Noodly--- I guess I should have added that so everyone would know this was just a fun thread!  

So my top five will be--
  
1.  My dogs (I have 2 but I will count that as 1 since they are little!)  
2.  A pottie
3.  My Phone
4.  Phone Charger
5.  Coffee Maker

Wise woman! 

 

[John61CT]

Oh yes, wise woman! That should be on the top of every van dweller's list.

Can be a bit hard to find one though, that doesn't mind living with the likes of us, and out of a van to boot .

 

[eDJ_]

For me it would depend on whether I was going out to Tour or to Camp (for an extended period) 

For Both:

1 Cell with Internet/Data

2 For touring my Tablet (mobility)  Laptop (camping/boondocking)

3 Lots of water containers  and cooking equipment (if boondocking) 
If Touring,  more & varied clothing membership card to Planet Fitness
(I'd be eating out and cleaning up at the Gym)

4 My Tool Box (touring or camping)

5 Weather Radio with Alert (touring or camping)

I see my Van as a steel tent, where all that is sheltering me from the elements is a 50 thousandths of an inch thick piece of sheet metal bent into the shape of a Van. Living outdoors in it puts me at the mercy of the weather & the elements. If I'm camping/boondocking I can dig and built a latrine for myself and use a blue plastic tarp as a privacy blind. I carry a Foxhole shovel as part of the equipment in my rig.

 

[JesseTrue]

Hot water + Medaglia D'Oro

I assumed (incorrectly) that food and drink was included with the stove. Likewise, any vehicle would naturally (in my mind) include phone connectivity and charging capabilities.

This outlines differences in world views.

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[ArtW]

Stove
water
food and drink
sleeping bag
M Sobakawa pillow. I can't sleep on any other kind

 

[Gigi]

 Likewise, any vehicle would naturally (in my mind) include phone connectivity and charging capabilities.

Unless it's my vehicle... :blush:

 

[Ballenxj]

Unless it's my vehicle... :blush:

They sell USB adapters that plug into your cigarette lighter just about everywhere. Charge your phone while you're driving.
Charge your laptop or pad the same way.

 

[WalkaboutTed]

My husband and I aren't yet on this current new journey, but we've spent cumulatively over three years on the road, tenting and camping in both our minivan and Aliner. So these are my top five necessities:

A good bed
Refrigeration of some sort
Kindle
Coffee with milk (hence the need for refrigeration)
Porta-potty

 

[SternWake]

I'll answer the question like I just landed in a foreign country with a backpack and a surfboard, for 6+ months.

1. Find mechanically sound reliable legal vehicle whose registration was valid for at least 5 months, and had a front seat which at least folded pretty flat.

2. Cooler with plastic wastebasket secured inside so it could not float. Cutting board.

3. Steering wheel lock, anti theft strong box/lock box

4. Sleeping bag

5. Music

Now, after having done that 3 times long ago,

1. mechanically sound vehicle with good stereo
2. 200 watts of solar and refrigeration
3. Laptop Phone DSLR camera
4. 3 surfboards and lots of music
5. 7 gallon water tank filtered on demand water.

 

[Gigi]

They sell USB adapters that plug into your cigarette lighter just about everywhere. Charge your phone while you're driving.
Charge your laptop or pad the same way.

Am checking those out now.  Thank you!  I just got my first smartphone last summer so when it comes to tech savvy...I lack!  

 

[waldenbound]

Hmmm. ok the question said, you have a bed and a stove. You are new and in your first month. What are your top 5 must haves?

Let's see...
1. lots of ice, (I'll be cooler-ing it for awhile.)
2. Food and water
3. iGadgets
4. I won't have solar until I make it south, so I need lots of batteries for lighting.
5. Emergency money.

In reality, I've been preparing for this like I was going on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The packing list those two had, holy crap!