Comments by "freedom dove" (@freedomdove) on "Glorious Life On Wheels"
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Great advice, Carol. I drove 3400 miles in the shoulder season to pick up my rig and bring it back here to build it out (1700 miles each way--no build in either vehicle). It took me 11 nights and 12 days, and I drove 400-600 miles every day. It was a new camping spot every night except when I stayed for two nights at Honey's Park in Arco, Idaho after picking up my rig in Twin Falls. I slept in the driver's seat in the rental and the passenger seat in my Suboverland. I knew this wasn't going to be how I lived but that's how it was when I took that trip. I did have a fridge and a couple power stations with me, plus everything else I could think of that I would need.
My biggest downfall was not having good window coverings. That meant I couldn't comfortably overnight in store parking lots--not that I want to really do that, if possible. I had some rather sheer (but colorful) sarongs that I put in the windows but they blocked almost nothing at night when I had a light inside the cabin area. I had to utilize public lands, campgrounds (paid and unpaid), and even a night in a motel. Thankfully, it was after the camping season, so I didn't have a lot of people around me. [That did mean that I was cold at night sometimes, and I wasn't really prepared for that.]
The lack of proper window coverings is a serious hindrance to being nomadic. I didn't have any on that trip because it's hard to make them to fit two totally different vehicles. I have made them by now, of course. That was a whole other story, and not a pretty one. But at least it's done. Lol.
Because I was in such a hurry and was driving so much each day (and I'm a late starter), I found myself trying to locate camp at night several times. I absolutely hated that. I even knew approximately where I wanted to go (and I had 3 choices for each night because it was a well-planned trip), but it didn't really help. If at all possible, one should find camp before it gets dark--especially if you don't have perfect vision and you're somewhere unfamiliar.
I had to rely on the kindness of a local in Iowa to find my way one night (my first night of the trip, actually). I knew I had passed up my destination, so I pulled into the nearest gas station. It was pitch black out and I was surrounded by forests on the back roads. I went in and asked the young clerk for help figuring out my exact location. Her friend was there chatting with her (small town/rural behavior--lol) and so she offered to escort me where I needed to go. I happily followed her lead. (Yes, I could vibe that they were good kids and not psychotic...) She took me right into the campground of the state park I was seeking. Thank goodness! [The signage was hard to spot from the road, so it was no wonder I didn't see it at night.] But even then, I ended up parking in a site with electrical hookups instead of the primitive spots because it was so dark that I couldn't really see much. The next day, the ranger had to come along and request the extra money it costs for an upgraded site. Lol.
On the way there in my rental, I didn't have anywhere to even pee in a jar. Thankfully, I had my pop-up shower tent with me to utilize. My Suburban had enough floor space for me to use my Reliance toilet in there (it came with me on the trip to Idaho but I couldn't use it in that small rental).
That one trip taught me many things. It gave me a good idea of what I need and don't need. I knew I wanted to do everything from inside my rig in case I can't get out of my truck for whatever reason (bad weather, etc.). I want to be able to sleep, have food available, go to the bathroom, and change my clothes in there. After much thought and designing, I was able to come up with a build that suits me and checks all the boxes. I still have some ironing out to do, but that's because I'm not a minimalist. Lol.
I've literally been living in our unfinished garage for a decade or longer. I go into the house to "work" and take a shower once a week. I long ago had to learn how to live without a toilet or running water. I went through the gamut of alternative loos. I think I've found the right system for me in my situation when I'm on the road. I'm interested in the Trellino (sp?), when I can afford it.
I added up my costs for the trip, including food. I've also calculated all my expected monthly expenses, in general. Unfortunately, the cost of my fuel back when I took that trip in 2020 and the cost now is substantially different. 😔
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