Living and Camping in an SUV - Tips and Tricks
Does rent make it impossible for you to save a down payment for a home? Are utility bills such a burden that you can't put away money for the life you truly want? Does your spirit cry for freedom and adventure? While travelling cross country, I accidentally discovered how cheap it is to live in a vehicle for three months.
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This folding mattress by Milliard feels like home.
I could have purchased an air bed designed to fill out the back of my SUV, but those beds aren't very comfortable, and they leave no room to stash gear on the side.This Milliard tri-folding mattress feels more like home because it's technically not a camping item. It's a real foam mattress designed for folding beds. I don't have to carry air pumps or worry about punctures and leaks.The picture at left shows both of my tri-folding beds side by side.The Twin XL Milliard is 39 inches wide and 6 inches thick. I prefer the slimmer version that's 25 inches wide. It gives me plenty of room to stash my clothing and cookware bags beside my sleep area.
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Link to Milliard single sized mattress (75"L x 25"W x 4"Thick)
Be sure your sleeping bag is rated for zero degree weather.
A Camp Chef storage table serves as my nightstand.
A bedside table is so important! It gives me a place to set my lantern and cooling fan along with my water bottle and hand wipes. When I feel like cooking, I use the table to support my camp stove.
This comfortable folding toilet can hold up to 400 pounds.
This compact folding toilet can hold up to 400 pounds, and the seat sits 16 inches from the ground. According to my yard stick, that's only 1.5 inches lower than my toilet at home.That means my knees never get sore from squatting over typical travel toilets. Combine this with a cheap bucket filled with kitty litter, and you'll have a comfortable bathroom experience when you just can't wait for the next gas station or rest stop. When I'm not using my toilet, I store it on the floor in front of the passenger seat. That gives me easy access when I just can't wait for the next rest stop.
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The type of kitty litter you choose is very important.
This brand of kitty litter controls odor better than chemicals without the terrible smells and negative health effects. It's a great way to save money versus buying expensive commode liners filled with harmful chemical clumping materials. This clay cat litter is uniquely formulated combining heavy non tracking granules with medium grain. The result is an excellent clumping litter that prevents moisture from reaching the bottom of your camp toilet or litter box while providing a clump that will not break apart. SOME TIPS: I prefer to use garbage bags as commode liners because they're less expensive than commercial bucket liners. Just scoop a little kitty litter into the bag and cover your waste with another scoop of litter when you're done.
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A good privacy tent is a must.
Don't forget the foaming soap and baby wipes!
Back in the day, guys used to joke about having "camp ass," an itchy condition well known to woodsmen and hikers. I bow to the creators of Burt's Bees foaming baby wash. When it's not possible to clean intimate areas with traditional soap and washcloths, the convenient foam pump design allows travelers to stay fresh anywhere.
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A hot water bottle keeps me warm on cold nights.
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A heating pad is more reliable than a heated blanket.
Some facts I learned from buying the wrong things.
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These blanket hoodies are warmer than winter coats!
I love these sherpa lined sweat pants for men and women.
Tape emergency blankets to your ceiling!
Mylar blankets do an excellent job of reflecting heat back to us, thus trapping the body heat we generate inside the tent or vehicle. Since heat rises, a Mylar barrier will help stop the heat from floating up and out of your SUV. When temperatures drop, just unfold a mylar blanket and tape it to the ceiling of your vehicle!
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This shade cloth keeps cars and tents 20 degrees cooler inside.
This is how folks attending festivals in the desert are able to camp without dying! This magical reflective fabric can be draped over your car or tent to reflect 80% of the sun's light and heat away from you. It comes in a variety of sizes for large and small structures. When combined with a good tent fan, the effect is like air conditioning.This shade cloth is also great for covering plants, pet cages and vehicles.Greenhouse owners attest that this fabric can reduce indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.
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This rechargeable jobsite fan is powerful against mosquitoes.
I've been in the pest control industry for 14 years. No spray product on the market will perform better against mosquitoes than a well-placed fan. Mosquitoes are weak fliers.They can't fly against a good air current.
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Instant Air Conditioning + Instant Spray Bath + Instant Deodorant
When I need to drop my body temperature fast, I put mouthwash in a spray bottle, mist my body and sit in from of the fan. Here are some reasons why I don't travel without a few bottles of cool mint Listerine.
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Quick dry moisture wicking T-shirts make a big difference.
Moisture wicking T-shirts won't just keep you feeling more cool and dry on hot days.They work well under bulky layers of clothing when temperatures drop. Winter hiking enthusiasts commonly pay more than $100 for moisture wicking thermal underwear sets that keep sweat from building under multiple layers of clothing.These shirts accomplish the same effect for pennies on the dollar.The beautifully engineered fabric doesn't fade or develop fabric balls. While most of my T-shirts look like they've been through war, these colors have remained fresh and bright for years. LIFE HACK: I stopped carrying pajamas to save space in my travel bags. I often go to sleep in these T-shirts and wake up fully dressed for the day. It's so much easier than struggling to get dressed inside an SUV each morning. I like to take a spray bath at night and put on the clothing I intend to wear the next morning.
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Anti-chafing underwear keep me cool and dry on long hikes.
I learned about anti-chafing shorts in my Disney chat group. Folks often complained that heat rashes from excessive walking ruined their trips.I'm happy to report that these cool, moisture-wicking underwear by Adidas solve the problem quite nicely.Once I tested my first pack of underwear, I went back for several more packs. I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity to hike along lakes and rivers without painful leg chafing. LIFE HACK: Bring enough underwear to travel for two or three weeks without stopping at a laundry mat.The same goes for T-shirts. A life spent washing and folding clothes on the road is no fun at all.
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This extra sturdy chair can support up to 400 pounds.
I love the look of these King Camp chairs, but above all, I love the fact that they can support 400 pounds. I'm closer to the 200 pound range, but I've found that chairs designed for big and tall people are more well constructed than basic camp chairs. You can plop down or treat them any way you like.The seats never sag, and the frame never tips or wobbles.
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This camp table folds down to the size of a briefcase.
I love my Coleman camp stove, but...
I cringe every time I must buy propane fuel!
My folding notebook grill is more versatile and economical.
Now here's one of the best travel purchases I've ever made! My old grill was nice enough, but the bulky square design took up too much room in the back of my SUV, and it took a whole lot of charcoal to fill that grill. This notebook grill folds down tight and slides anywhere I need it to go. Best of all, I can fill this grill with chopped wood when I run out of charcoal. I can't stress this enough. NEVER BE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT UPON FUEL. Always carry an ax and a decent wood burning container, even if it's just a folding grill or cheap metal backpacking stove.
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Lump charcoal burns longer and doesn't run out as fast.
Some prefer hardwood lump charcoal because of the taste and the absence of chemical additives that leach into food.I prefer lump charcoal because it burns about four times longer than regular briquettes. I try to snuff out my fires immediately after cooking so that I can collect the lumps and save them in a metal storage container.This process helps me double the lifespan of a typical bag of charcoal and keeps me from stopping at endless stores to replenish my cooking supplies.
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This cooler boasts ten day ice retention.
Like the famous YETI Cooler, ENGEL coolers provide ten day ice retention.The only difference is the cost. Wander over to YouTube, and you'll find videos by campers who've tested lower priced ENGEL coolers against ultra expensive YETI coolers.There's no reason to spend more! I like to insert frozen water bottles throughout the cooler to ensure that cold foods stay cold for as long as possible. When the ice thaws, I simply drink the water. BONUS: No matter how much you weigh, you can stand upon this sturdy cooler to cast fishing lines into the water. I stand on my cooler when I need to access items from the storage bag strapped to the roof of my SUV. It eliminates the need to bring a step ladder.
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This full sized cookware set packs down into one pot.
Before I discovered camp nesting sets, my odd collection of pans filled an entire storage tub! This inexpensive, ultra high quality nesting set from Stansport is thicker and more durable than the pricey stainless steel pots I use in my home kitchen.That's because it's designed to withstand the abuse of open fire cooking.
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I love telescoping utensils that pack down into small spaces.
I finally broke down and bought a camp tableware set.
I fill spray bottles with vinegar to clean dishes.
It's not always possible to fill a dish tub with water, especially when stuck in the tent on rainy days. To solve the problem, I fill spray bottles with vinegar and rinse water. Most of my sandwich plates can be wiped clean with a paper towel. Sticky bowls can be sprayed with vinegar and set aside to soak.
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I added a wind resistant fire starting system.
Stormproof matches are still a must.
When my Zippo lighter runs out of fuel, I turn to my tube of windproof, waterproof matches. When travelling to remote locations, it's extra important to bring different types of fire starting tools. My camp knives have ferro rods stored in their pouches. My cooking bags are filled with Bic lighters and cheap match boxes from the dollar store. When weather conditions are mild, I use the cheap matches to avoid wasting my expensive waterproof matches.
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I just found the best survival knives I've ever owned!
After watching endless videos made by skilled woodsmen who rely upon their knives to live off the land, I came to the conclusion that my ordinary camp knives were junk. I wanted budget friendly, full tang construction knives that are good enough for skilled survivalists, and the Schrade brand name was well reviewed by all. I may never need to skin a squirrel or split a giant log without an ax, but it's nice to know that I could do these things if necessary.
The smaller Schrade SCHF59 is sharp and precise for pairing veggies, carving wood or skinning fish.
The heavy Schrade SCHF36 Frontier 10.4 inch knife is great for chopping, splitting and batoning wood, but it will also skin a fish or chop vegetables.
I added more Fiskars chopping tools for speed and convenience.
A multi-level tool box is a great place for odds and ends.
Here's a quick list of stuff I keep in my supply box:
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I can fit two weeks' worth of emergency food in this picnic bag.
You're looking at two week's worth of emergency dinners packed into a small picnic cooler. Extra boxes of rice are hidden at the bottom. No,I don't always eat Rice-A-Roni with freeze dried beef and chicken. I prefer fresh meat and veggies from my cooler, but this little treasure box saves me when I'm boondocking in the wilderness with no stores close at hand. NEVER EMBARK ON A ROAD TRIP WITHOUT AN EMERGENCY FOOD KIT. You're just one flat tire away from getting stuck in the wilderness, and cell phones rarely work in heavily forested areas.
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This water filter removes 99% of all bacteria from lake sources.
An emergency water filter is crucial when travelling to remote wilderness locations. The Sawyer Water Filtration system is the most powerful travel filter on the market. It removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, including salmonella, cholera, and E.coli. It also removes 99.9999% of all protozoa like giardia and cryptosporidium. You'll never waste money on cartridges because this single filter can purify up to 100,000 gallons. A simple flush with the included syringe will keep it clean. The kit pictured below comes with three BPA-free collapsible pouches (16-, 32-, and 64-ounce) that roll up tightly for easy packing.
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Don't get caught without a container to store filtered water.
I normally fill my water storage cubes with gallons of purified water purchased from stores, but it's nice to know that I can store filtered lake water in the event of an emergency. If your life on the road revolves around boondocking, never leave without a Sawyer water filter and a proper storage container.
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This shower head pumps water from a bucket!
I love my quick spray baths, but we all have to take a proper shower sometime, and this pump allows me to do that wherever I go. I decided upon this brand when I learned that the shower head has more holes than similar shower heads, creating a more powerful and effective stream of water to rinse the shampoo out of my hair. In the deep wilderness, where public showers don't exist, this device is a life saver. It's also great to have around when public shower facilities don't meet my standards of cleanliness. It's faster for me to wash my hair at camp than to walk all the way to public shower facilities.
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These collapsible buckets are great for outdoor showering.
This brand of shampoo and conditioner won't kill fish.
I'm ashamed to admit that I spent a lifetime using regular shampoos and conditioners near lakes and rivers. I never knew that rinsing my soapy hair with water bottles near the riverbank was bad for marine life. Even if you don't actually get the shampoo into the river, it seeps into ground water and ends up poisoning the water supply. For this reason, I try to carry the proper biodegradable shampoo for those moments when I'm boondocking far away from campground shower facilities.
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This tool bag is perfect for my toiletries and first aid supplies.
None of the shower caddies online had enough pockets to keep my stuff organized properly, so I went with this water resistant tool bag by TICONN. I love that the rubber bottom keeps the bag from getting dirty when I set it upon the ground. Most of all, I love having outside packets to stash things like razors, nail clippers, Band-Aids, essential oils, cough drops and various medications.
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This giant backpack on wheels fits all of my clothing!
This monstrosity is too heavy for distance hiking, but it sure holds enough clothing to get me through a few weeks without hitting the laundry mat. When I'm tenting, this rolling backpack stands straight up on its own, which helps eliminate the back strain associated with bending to the floor to dig around for clothes. The wheels save me from carrying heavy bags from the car to the tent. When I'm not camping, this bag is easy to drag through motels and airports.
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Here's a look at my backpack laying on its side.
Items on My Wish List
I have my eye on this awesome SUV awning!
A food dehydrator will help me make my own freeze dried meat.
Freeze dried meat has always been expensive, and the cost of emergency survival food keeps going up. I'd rather make my own freeze dried chicken and beef for pennies on the dollar. I dream of purchasing this unit and updating my blogs with pictures of the meals I'm able to preserve and store for extended road trips.
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The Jackery is more powerful than my current power station
The power station I bought back in 2019 is good enough to run my husband's sleep apnea machine all night, but who doesn't need more power? I want to run things like electric kettles to heat water in my tent when rainy conditions prevent me from boiling water over the campfire. I want to do all the things that YouTube testers brag about doing! If you currently own a Jackery, please tell me how you enjoy using it.
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I'm in the market for an expandable roof bag.
My old roof bag has served me well since 2019, but this one expands to create extra space. Roof bags are great for bulky items like extra blankets, cases of bottled water, paper towels and giant packs of toilet paper. I try to stay loaded with supplies so that I don't have to spend my life running to gas stations and convenience stores. That's a good way to go broke!
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A big cargo basket would be nice!
More Tips for Living on the Road
1. Get a Cheap Gym Membership for Shower Access.
You won't always be boondocking in the wilderness. A cheap gym membership is worth its weight in gold. It will give you a place to hang out, and you'll never wonder where your next shower is coming from. As of this writing, Planet Fitness is offering memberships for as low as $10 a month.
2. Park Overnight at all Walmart or Cracker Barrel Locations.
Parking at Walmart overnight is free and easy, with no reservation required, which is why it's my favorite quick-stop option when traveling long distances.Cracker Barrel is a great place to park as well, if you can get past the urge to drop too much money in the restaurant and gift shop.
3. Park in Apartment Complexes and 24 Hour Stores.
For a less public overnight experience, investigate local apartment complexes and townhouse communities. With so many cars crammed into expansive lots, you'll likely go unnoticed. For added security, switch your resting spot often and don't park in the same community for days on end. Avoid communities with security guard shacks at the entrance.
4. Visit Dollar Shows or Buy Cheap Movie Passes.
According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day. If entertainment and relaxation are two of your top priorities, you'll be happy to know that thousands of theaters across the country still run dollar shows.
5. Get your Exercise at Shopping Malls.
When the weather won't allow you to take a nice walk outside, head to the mall for a little exercise. A day of browsing and exploring is good for the soul.
6. Explore New Parks and Beaches.
Talk about freedom! Cook meals, watch the sunset and relax with your toes in the sand.