The post about vacuum sealers twigged my interest but also made me think where do we stop!
We're planning on going to WA in a few months so figured we MUST have a 50litre fridge/freezer, a CGear mat to keep sand etc from van, a largish radio for outside the van, leave aircon in van 'cause it might be hot as we will return via Darwin, spare hoses,leads etc., electric frypan, microwave, choofer, external 2 burner gas cooker, heaps of tinned food, 80W folding solar panels and HD leads for it, big battery for same, comfortable chairs that are not lightweight, extra 20l water, breadmaker and ingredients, pushbike, fishing gear. That's just what I can think of off the top of my head.
I'm thinking seriously it is overkill!! I'm currently building a mesh shelf to go under the front of the van to take a lot of this junk.
Now a vacuum sealer????? .....help!!!
What I think I'll do is put all this 'extra' stuff in one big pile - weigh it - think seriously - ditch stuff I paid good money for.
I know I'm not alone, but is there a solution?
Cloak said
07:34 PM Mar 3, 2014
lol.. Hako I reckon you can leave the vac sealer behind unless you are hard core remote 4WDing... Breadmaker, bike and frypan too.
However the Aircon and generator are not negotiable...
lol
jules47 said
07:42 PM Mar 3, 2014
Do you eat "heaps" of tinned food at home? Why eat it when you are camping or travelling - ok a couple of cans of soup - a steak and mushroom one mixed with a packet of shelf type Hokein Noodles (we use the thick ones- they do not need refrigeration (until opened), come two sachets in a pack) makes a sort of stroganoff.
We use the noodles for all sorts of things - a chicken fillet, marinated in ABC sweet soy sauce (or a sauce of your choice) with onion makes a great stirfry. Use instead of spaghetti when making spag bol. Stir fry some veges and add the noodles.
Our way is to replace what we use, so use a can of soup, buy another, or noodles, use, then replace etc. The things we make sure we have are coffee (I only like one brand, and buy it over time before trip), we like wraps and don't use bread, so buy them in bulk, they have a shelf life of a few months before opening ( the ones I just bought are good till June 2014)! Long life milk, some dry biscuits, we don't worry too much about sugar.
We always stock up at the larger towns.
I know some things are essential, but some things you just don't need - i.e. - do you really need a microwave?
Just my thoughts - it is of course, each to his own.
Dunmowin said
09:53 PM Mar 3, 2014
hako wrote:
heaps of tinned food,
???
They do have well stocked supermarkets here in WA. Better to buy as you need, rather than carry it unnecessarily. Only when we are going "remote" do I buy noodles, pasta and dried packet mixes, but even then, have not really needed to.
I do, however, carry a breadmaker and ingredients, some distant roadhouses only sell frozen bread, at around $6.00 per load, (Birdsville Sept 2011). Also recently bought some frozen bread in Jerrimungup, and found it was over two years old. (I am still waiting on an apology from IGA)
Baz421 said
10:51 PM Mar 3, 2014
Wants and Needs,, it's really easy,,lol.
1 Do you just want it??????
2 Do you need it?????
3 Do you really need it, based on when you will use it, and how many times will you use.
You need to be analytical.
WRITE ITEM DOWN AND WRITE WHY YOU NEED IT AND WHEN YOU WILL NEED IT.
If used,, you will self solve many issues.
Cheers Baz
Helena said
06:15 AM Mar 4, 2014
After first trip away packed to the hilt, came home with things that we never used so they didn't come on the next trip, have done this each time we have been away and eventually got down to what we do need rather than want. You will always find a shop around somewhere, unless of course you are way out bush. Did get caught out on the bread though so now I take the bread mix packets with me make a loaf of bread by hand and then put it in the Cobb to bake.
pubertyblues said
07:02 AM Mar 4, 2014
This is what I do now when I see very cheap markdowns. It works. Okay when I was working but found when I left I had so many pairs of every length jeans and so many tops that I gave them all away to charity. I never understand carrying a breadmaker though. I sold the one I owned when I had a house as it was a 'must have'. I can do without bread. My husband though is a big bread eater which is not good for his health. What happened to making up scones or a damper when stuck for bread? We stock up no matter where on the items we use all of the time such a cereal, long life milk, coffee and tea when it is on a good special. We always have tinned stuff especially tomatoes, beetroot and other things I use to cook. I use my microwave more than I do the stove as I do the frypan. While house sitting I have bought a very cheap blender. Will I use that on the road? Doubt it. My daughter offered me her does everything one yesterday but I told her I wouldn't use it. People tend to take what is free without having a use. We carried large bottles of plastic water all around Australia with my husband telling me it was for emergency only. I was buying cartons of bottle water as a lot of water in places is really bad to drink. Well the emergency water was really good after a year as they all leaked and went through everything under the bench where it was stored including my kids precious books on lend and CD's. I use my slow cooker and frypan often as I cook up a heap of meals for freezing when in one spot. Would not do without them. A part time Nomad informed me the other day that over 50yrs and we should not do that as frozen foods can kill you. Not dead yet. Anyone had a problem eating their frozen meals?
hako said
08:42 AM Mar 4, 2014
Thanks for all the replies - a lot to think about there. I think what we'll do is heed the words of Baz:
"WRITE ITEM DOWN AND WRITE WHY YOU NEED IT AND WHEN YOU WILL NEED IT."
Then with that pile, do the same again. Tough luck if we need something along the way - there's always a shop.
Thanks again.
Regards
dorian said
08:49 AM Mar 4, 2014
pubertyblues wrote:
Anyone had a problem eating their frozen meals?
They break my teeth.
Dougwe said
09:02 AM Mar 4, 2014
Denis, maybe you could just stop eating as that would save on heaps of space. Maybe I should do that too.
Sometimes I reckon we should just go back to the caveman days, chuck a beasty on the fire and eat it with the fingers. Would save on washing up as well.
Rip and Rosie said
09:02 AM Mar 4, 2014
We need to cook, that's a given, so the pantry has basics like flour, noodles, few cans like beetroot, soup, capsicum, tomato paste, herbs and spices, longlife milk and fruit juice. .... basics.
The kitchen the same.... 2 saucepans (large and small), frying pan, whistling kettle, and an electric skillet for when we are on power.
That's it.................we use camp kitchens or BBQs when we can.
Of course we get away and I say "I wish I had the xxxx with me" but we manage without.
We carry 2 bath towels each, 2 sets of sheets, doonas and a blanket each, and half a dozen tea towels, couple of beach towels and dog towels.
Don't even carry the TV anymore, as we use the ipads for everything these days.
We do carry water containers, but only fill them when we need to. Also carry a small butane stove (but rarely use it), camp shower and a shower tent and a variety of rechargable lanterns "just in case".
We have 2 chairs only and 1 folding table, and these days even my fishing rods fold up.
No slow cooker, breadmaker or coffee machine! No vacuum cleaner or washing machine!
jules47 said
09:25 AM Mar 4, 2014
I'm with you there Rosie - the basics - no breadmaker, slow cooker, coffee machine - and a vacuum cleaner??!!! No way. Same for washing machine - mine is a paint stirrer and a 20l bucket!!!!!
native pepper said
09:35 AM Mar 4, 2014
Over the years, we've developed an on road lifestyle which works, is not expensive and we have all we need. The only things we carry frozen are home grown or caught seafood and our homemade non dairy fruit gelati. We buy all our food on the road, over the years we know where to buy fresh locally grown fruit, veggies and grains. Most op shops have a fruit and veggie section, local food is always cheaper, plus helps the small communities survive, unlike buying from the expensive multinationals.
For cooking we have a 2 burner gas stove/oven and 2 portable induction hot plates which live in slots hanging on a cupboard wall, they are brilliant, light, use very little power, heat exceptionally fast and can't burn you. We use stainless steel and cast iron cookware and don't eat meats, dairies or processed foods. So at our age are very healthy and fit, plus it's so much cheaper than buying poisonous junk packaged stuff. Also have a small bag less 12v vacum cleaner which is great but noisy and a small ceramic heater. That's it really, except for the virtual workshop, fuel processor in the back of the bus, our little wood heater we carry during winter and music gear, add lifepo4 batteries and we live very cheaply and comfortably on the road. We actually save money when we travel and live on a pension, when we work or gig, we earn money, which make life even easier and with no medical or drug bills, life's an enjoyable adventure.
-- Edited by native pepper on Tuesday 4th of March 2014 09:38:01 AM
kandagal said
10:04 AM Mar 4, 2014
I used to carry my breadmaker with us but found if you buy the ingredients in a large pack, as you travel the vibration makes the contents settle & separate. Bread does not come out so good.
hako said
12:11 PM Mar 4, 2014
More good points - but, and I caution that I do not mean this in a smart-ass way, the lists of what people carry mentioned in some of the above posts are just as bad as my list!
I feel much better now - I think that I'm actually about average as regards to 'junk' carrying.
I'm still going to reconsider every item.
Regards
Vic41 said
12:20 PM Mar 4, 2014
I must admit Hako that when on power I prefer to cook with a microwave than anything else, so that would be the last thing to go for me.
NeilandRaine said
01:12 PM Mar 4, 2014
Maybe I am not a good caravaner, I like my creature comforts, and if I like I take. When you are on the road full time you can't take something home
Dunmowin said
01:28 PM Mar 4, 2014
ditto
grahos said
02:23 PM Mar 4, 2014
On our last trip I took a heap of tools and emergency fixings like wire,lots of rope,chains etc and heaps of tools.
I was mocked about carrying all that stuff we didn't need but guess what????yes they rescued the situation more than once.
Bunkerbob said
05:18 PM Mar 4, 2014
There are some who use the label method. When you first stock your van, place a sticker on it and when you use it remove the sticker. After 12-18 months, remember to go through the van and everything that still has a sticker probably hasn't been used, was used but in a seniors moment you didn't remove the sticker or it will probably never be used. Put those pieces in a pile and rethink the need to have them.
Didn't work for us as we haven't got to that 18 month mark yet.
As for a washing machine, we have a 5kg LG and you would need to make SWMBO unconscious with little chance of recovery before she would let you take it out.
Bob
pawsoz said
07:43 PM Mar 4, 2014
I always have basics, pasta, rice, a couple of sauces, and baked beans, other than that I buy as I need. I have done WA and NT and they are really quite civilised over there you know! They do have shops and supermarkets at quite regular intervals really!
Enjoy the trip
Annie
moamajohn said
08:47 PM Mar 4, 2014
Hako put a sticker on everything you take and remove said sticker when you use it .If the sticker is still on it when you get home ..... A@#hole it !
Gerty Dancer said
10:37 PM Mar 4, 2014
We have a lot less in our van now than we packed for our first trip. But one item is new, and its worked really well... a small George Foreman grill. It replaced the electric frypan which took up heaps of space and always made a splatter when we used it outside. I ended up cleaning the grease off the side of the caravan regularly. The George, as we call it, cooks without oil or fat and no splatter.
Of course if camping without 240 power its back to the public BBQ, or the gas cooker outside.
Another pair of items we use every day are folding backrests so we can sit up in bed reading/watching tv/whatever. When folded they travel on the bed.
The dog lady said
01:16 AM Mar 5, 2014
I confess I brought home quite a few cans & packets at the end of my last trip, but I always like to have enough non-perishable "backup" food for myself and the dogs for at least 7 days just in case I like a place and want to stay longer than planned. Most places I camp are well away from towns so in order to be flexible about when to move I need to be able to feed the dogs without shopping too often. I could probably survive on water and the extra stored on my body for a few weeks, but the dogs can't.
As for appliances, the only thing I don't want to do without is a fridge. I lived without electricity for years in FNQ, and the only things I really missed were fridge and vacuum cleaner, but I find with a campervan the vac isn't so crucial as the space is much smaller than a house and a scrubbing brush makes a good carpet sweeper.
But everyone is different, and I think you can't be sure of what is really important to you until you've been travelling for a while. For those who sell up their home and live permanently on the road it must be difficult at the start, but I guess if you take it and haven't used it after 6 months you could give it away
hako said
07:52 PM Mar 5, 2014
Gerty Dancer wrote:
SNIP
Another pair of items we use every day are folding backrests so we can sit up in bed reading/watching tv/whatever. When folded they travel on the bed.
Gerty - can you illuminate please....sounds interesting
Regards
oldbobsbus said
08:14 PM Mar 5, 2014
hako wrote:
Gerty Dancer wrote:
SNIP
Another pair of items we use every day are folding backrests so we can sit up in bed reading/watching tv/whatever. When folded they travel on the bed.
Gerty - can you illuminate please....sounds interesting
Regards
TELL HIM NOTHING Gerty, He already has too much jung onboard.
You will have to chuck something out for every new thing you add Hako!
hako said
10:15 PM Mar 5, 2014
oldbobsbus wrote:
SNIP
TELL HIM NOTHING Gerty, He already has too much jung onboard.
Whoops Bob, slipped up there
EDIT - Gerty, thanks for the link and there is no way we'd have room - I was thinking more along the lines of a hinged piece of plywood...maybe I'll make one.
Thanks.
-- Edited by hako on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 10:19:01 PM
oldbobsbus said
08:21 AM Mar 6, 2014
hako wrote:
oldbobsbus wrote:
SNIP
TELL HIM NOTHING Gerty, He already has too much jung onboard.
Whoops Bob, slipped up there
This blinkin' keyboard can't spell for nuts
barina said
09:26 AM Mar 6, 2014
At home I sleep on one of these with a flat kids pillow on top as I have nasal issues and find it better to sleep propped up. I have not taken in the van yet but will when I do some longer trips.
The post about vacuum sealers twigged my interest but also made me think where do we stop!
We're planning on going to WA in a few months so figured we MUST have a 50litre fridge/freezer, a CGear mat to keep sand etc from van, a largish radio for outside the van, leave aircon in van 'cause it might be hot as we will return via Darwin, spare hoses,leads etc., electric frypan, microwave, choofer, external 2 burner gas cooker, heaps of tinned food, 80W folding solar panels and HD leads for it, big battery for same, comfortable chairs that are not lightweight, extra 20l water, breadmaker and ingredients, pushbike, fishing gear. That's just what I can think of off the top of my head.
I'm thinking seriously it is overkill!! I'm currently building a mesh shelf to go under the front of the van to take a lot of this junk.
Now a vacuum sealer????? .....help!!!
What I think I'll do is put all this 'extra' stuff in one big pile - weigh it - think seriously - ditch stuff I paid good money for.
I know I'm not alone, but is there a solution?
However the Aircon and generator are not negotiable...
lol
We use the noodles for all sorts of things - a chicken fillet, marinated in ABC sweet soy sauce (or a sauce of your choice) with onion makes a great stirfry. Use instead of spaghetti when making spag bol. Stir fry some veges and add the noodles.
Our way is to replace what we use, so use a can of soup, buy another, or noodles, use, then replace etc. The things we make sure we have are coffee (I only like one brand, and buy it over time before trip), we like wraps and don't use bread, so buy them in bulk, they have a shelf life of a few months before opening ( the ones I just bought are good till June 2014)! Long life milk, some dry biscuits, we don't worry too much about sugar.
We always stock up at the larger towns.
I know some things are essential, but some things you just don't need - i.e. - do you really need a microwave?
Just my thoughts - it is of course, each to his own.
???
They do have well stocked supermarkets here in WA. Better to buy as you need, rather than carry it unnecessarily. Only when we are going "remote" do I buy noodles, pasta and dried packet mixes, but even then, have not really needed to.
I do, however, carry a breadmaker and ingredients, some distant roadhouses only sell frozen bread, at around $6.00 per load, (Birdsville Sept 2011). Also recently bought some frozen bread in Jerrimungup, and found it was over two years old. (I am still waiting on an apology from IGA)
Wants and Needs,, it's really easy,,lol.
1 Do you just want it??????
2 Do you need it?????
3 Do you really need it, based on when you will use it, and how many times will you use.
You need to be analytical.
WRITE ITEM DOWN AND WRITE WHY YOU NEED IT AND WHEN YOU WILL NEED IT.
If used,, you will self solve many issues.
Cheers Baz
This is what I do now when I see very cheap markdowns. It works. Okay when I was working but found when I left I had so many pairs of every length jeans and so many tops that I gave them all away to charity.
I never understand carrying a breadmaker though. I sold the one I owned when I had a house as it was a 'must have'. I can do without bread. My husband though is a big bread eater which is not good for his health. What happened to making up scones or a damper when stuck for bread?
We stock up no matter where on the items we use all of the time such a cereal, long life milk, coffee and tea when it is on a good special. We always have tinned stuff especially tomatoes, beetroot and other things I use to cook.
I use my microwave more than I do the stove as I do the frypan.
While house sitting I have bought a very cheap blender. Will I use that on the road? Doubt it. My daughter offered me her does everything one yesterday but I told her I wouldn't use it.
People tend to take what is free without having a use.
We carried large bottles of plastic water all around Australia with my husband telling me it was for emergency only. I was buying cartons of bottle water as a lot of water in places is really bad to drink. Well the emergency water was really good after a year as they all leaked and went through everything under the bench where it was stored including my kids precious books on lend and CD's.
I use my slow cooker and frypan often as I cook up a heap of meals for freezing when in one spot. Would not do without them.
A part time Nomad informed me the other day that over 50yrs and we should not do that as frozen foods can kill you. Not dead yet. Anyone had a problem eating their frozen meals?
"WRITE ITEM DOWN AND WRITE WHY YOU NEED IT AND WHEN YOU WILL NEED IT."
Then with that pile, do the same again. Tough luck if we need something along the way - there's always a shop.
Thanks again.
Regards
They break my teeth.
Sometimes I reckon we should just go back to the caveman days, chuck a beasty on the fire and eat it with the fingers. Would save on washing up as well.
The kitchen the same.... 2 saucepans (large and small), frying pan, whistling kettle, and an electric skillet for when we are on power.
That's it.................we use camp kitchens or BBQs when we can.
Of course we get away and I say "I wish I had the xxxx with me" but we manage without.
We carry 2 bath towels each, 2 sets of sheets, doonas and a blanket each, and half a dozen tea towels, couple of beach towels and dog towels.
Don't even carry the TV anymore, as we use the ipads for everything these days.
We do carry water containers, but only fill them when we need to. Also carry a small butane stove (but rarely use it), camp shower and a shower tent and a variety of rechargable lanterns "just in case".
We have 2 chairs only and 1 folding table, and these days even my fishing rods fold up.
No slow cooker, breadmaker or coffee machine! No vacuum cleaner or washing machine!
Over the years, we've developed an on road lifestyle which works, is not expensive and we have all we need. The only things we carry frozen are home grown or caught seafood and our homemade non dairy fruit gelati. We buy all our food on the road, over the years we know where to buy fresh locally grown fruit, veggies and grains. Most op shops have a fruit and veggie section, local food is always cheaper, plus helps the small communities survive, unlike buying from the expensive multinationals.
For cooking we have a 2 burner gas stove/oven and 2 portable induction hot plates which live in slots hanging on a cupboard wall, they are brilliant, light, use very little power, heat exceptionally fast and can't burn you. We use stainless steel and cast iron cookware and don't eat meats, dairies or processed foods. So at our age are very healthy and fit, plus it's so much cheaper than buying poisonous junk packaged stuff. Also have a small bag less 12v vacum cleaner which is great but noisy and a small ceramic heater. That's it really, except for the virtual workshop, fuel processor in the back of the bus, our little wood heater we carry during winter and music gear, add lifepo4 batteries and we live very cheaply and comfortably on the road. We actually save money when we travel and live on a pension, when we work or gig, we earn money, which make life even easier and with no medical or drug bills, life's an enjoyable adventure.
-- Edited by native pepper on Tuesday 4th of March 2014 09:38:01 AM
I feel much better now - I think that I'm actually about average as regards to 'junk' carrying.
I'm still going to reconsider every item.
Regards
I must admit Hako that when on power I prefer to cook with a microwave than anything else, so that would be the last thing to go for me.
ditto
I was mocked about carrying all that stuff we didn't need but guess what????yes they rescued the situation more than once.
Didn't work for us as we haven't got to that 18 month mark yet.
As for a washing machine, we have a 5kg LG and you would need to make SWMBO unconscious with little chance of recovery before she would let you take it out.
Bob
Of course if camping without 240 power its back to the public BBQ, or the gas cooker outside.
Another pair of items we use every day are folding backrests so we can sit up in bed reading/watching tv/whatever. When folded they travel on the bed.
I confess I brought home quite a few cans & packets at the end of my last trip, but I always like to have enough non-perishable "backup" food for myself and the dogs for at least 7 days just in case I like a place and want to stay longer than planned. Most places I camp are well away from towns so in order to be flexible about when to move I need to be able to feed the dogs without shopping too often. I could probably survive on water and the extra stored on my body for a few weeks, but the dogs can't
.
As for appliances, the only thing I don't want to do without is a fridge. I lived without electricity for years in FNQ, and the only things I really missed were fridge and vacuum cleaner, but I find with a campervan the vac isn't so crucial as the space is much smaller than a house and a scrubbing brush makes a good carpet sweeper.
But everyone is different, and I think you can't be sure of what is really important to you until you've been travelling for a while. For those who sell up their home and live permanently on the road it must be difficult at the start, but I guess if you take it and haven't used it after 6 months you could give it away
Gerty - can you illuminate please....sounds interesting
Regards
TELL HIM NOTHING Gerty, He already has too much jung onboard.
Sheba posted a photo on here the same as ours.
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t54288080/bed-backrest-arm-cushions/
You will have to chuck something out for every new thing you add Hako!
Whoops Bob, slipped up there
EDIT - Gerty, thanks for the link and there is no way we'd have room - I was thinking more along the lines of a hinged piece of plywood...maybe I'll make one.
Thanks.
-- Edited by hako on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 10:19:01 PM
At home I sleep on one of these with a flat kids pillow on top as I have nasal issues and find it better to sleep propped up. I have not taken in the van yet but will when I do some longer trips.
http://www.clarkrubber.com.au/clark-care-bed-wedge.html