Packing for Travel Days and Boondocks

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As of the time of writing this, several places around the world have seen truck convoys criss-cross their respective countries. In a way, they're doing their own version of travel and boondock. In the RV world, this is a way of life going from place to place, and our ways aren't that much different, especially after lessons learned.

There are two incredibly important consumables when on the road or out in the wild. The first, and probably most important, is water. It's required for the body to function properly, and is the main culprit for these sorts of events ending prematurely. Under general circumstances, you want to plan for one gallon of drinking water per person, per day. You'll have a little wiggle room for hot and muggy weather, where you'll consume at least double what you normally do, but a few extra gallons wouldn't hurt should those days be in the forecast. Remember that water is relatively weighty, so keep this in mind when positioning everything. Also keep in mind that this is on top of any water in your "potable" tank that you carry, and would use for boiling, dishwashing, cleaning, and other applications you may take for granted. You might not use much during strict travel days, but always good to have and not need, than not have and need.

The second most important consumable is an obvious one, and that's fuel. Stories came during the aforementioned convoy activities about providing diesel to those participating. When in the RV, propane is one of the most important fuels, but also gasoline and, in some cases, diesel fuel. Sure, you'll need to power a truck or motorcoach, but what about a generator for appliances? Not everything runs off 12-volt direct current, and batteries only last so long. Maybe carry an extra tank or two with you. Also remember, when traveling, you use more fuel when you have to pull more behind you, so keep that in your plans, and also have that reserve, using it only if you're stuck in the middle of nowhere.

There's one other "consumable" to keep in mind, especially when traveling, but it's not exactly something you directly pack. It's the energy within your own physical body. Travel takes its toll on every person, whether you're driving the rig, sitting next to the driver thumbing through large books of maps, or kicking from the back seat shouting, "Are we there yet?!" Really figure out not only how much you can do in a day, but how many consecutive days you can do that. When you're boondocking, consider what you'll be doing during the day. How much energy will that take out of you? Can you fit in a sort of "rest day"? Finding your limits can take practice, and you probably won't get it right the first couple of times, but eventually you learn your needs and can plan around them.

When following your internal compass, be prepared for what you consume, and what you wish to use. Never take anything for granted, plan for more than what you think you need, and be ready for the adventure that awaits you.


WRITTEN Mar 06, 2022 at 09:05 AM
TAGS: travel, rv living
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