The Bug OUt Caravan

[Mortblanc]

I have spent months living in caravans, freezing my @$$ off in winter and sweltering in summer. Lived in them on the construction sites while I was building both of my houses. I had a 20' model, 32' and there is a 25' trailer in the back yard right now.

Your #1 and #9 go together because you are going to run out of propane. Two bottles will last you a week =10 days if you are heating with the propane furnace. They are highly inefficient.

#6 and #8 go together to a degree. I would not waste my time worrying about TV, all you would get is propaganda and lies anyway. Same with all those coms. You are just making noise and telling them where you are at. Massive waste of power!

#7 You don't need a 12v generator. You have one in the vehicle you used to drag the caravan out to the woods. Most rigs have a charge port to top off the batteries as you tow the caravan incorporated in the electrical plug that works the brake and tail lights. I used to keep the deep cycle 12v battery in the back of my truck and charge it as I drove to work (45 minutes one way), then plug into the caravan when I got home.

#2 and #3 also go together. One battery and the one in your vehicle will be plenty if you have all LED lighting. You will not need more than 400w of solar to keep up with lighting needs if you stay off that high draw ham radio and turn off the satellite TV.

#4 is up to you and how big the caravan happens to be. A caravan will only hold so much and I have yet to find one that is rodent/pest proof. How many tins and plastic buckets can you cram in there?

#5 is already in place. You will have a 40-50 gallon water tank in the unit. After you dispense with that and go to raw stream water you do not need to filter every drop, just what you drink. I suggest switching to a good single malt, you are going to need it.

What have you forgotten???

A piece of land to park the caravan on thereby avoiding an inevitable removal by force.

A most indispensable item for the caravan dweller. You will need a hand cart to move the sewage in your holding tanks away from the caravan to a safe place of disposal.

Along the same vein you might need a water cart to maintain a water supply from the nearest stream/spring. It can be a food grade barrel in the back of the car. Whatever works. I had a barrel and a pickup that allowed me to gravity fill my tanks.

You will also need to install a small wood stove and purchase a chainsaw, because you are going to run out of fuel before you run out of "event". The one we are in has lasted for a year.