A Wannabe that is Solo - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Spirit_Moves · RV-Dreams Community Member

A Wannabe that is Solo

cejones4210 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Spirit,
We don't fulltime yet, just weekends and vacations. Also, we have a vintage Airstream. So in that background, when we are out more than a couple days (our longest time out has been 3 weeks), we do take a cooler. It helps a lot with storage and I have a place for my required ice cubes! :)

Best Wishes!
Candy

Spirit_Moves · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi Candy,

Thanks for input. I have done part-timing several years ago. One in a pop-up to Alaska and we did the ice thing and then I did Lance Truck Camper which with short trips I was able to use the refrig. I just figure I don't want to use all the propane if I am out in National Forest for a week.

Airstreams last forever so think you made a good choice..I am unable to do the hooking and unhooking trailers these days that is why elected 5th wheel..

Have a great day whatever you choose.. smile

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

In just a week the propane use for the frig would be minimal. The frig uses a burner that is about the size of a pilot light on a stove top. We use the frig whether on electric or boondocking. We tend to treat boondocking just like if we were hooked up. Cook just like we want to.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

We shop weekly and try not to have leftovers. However there is a lot of room in the newer (1990s on) RV refrigerators used in 5th wheels. Our refrigerator and freezer will get pretty full from time to time. But we've never had to get rid of food because there just wasn't enough room.

There are freezer/refrigerator units you can buy that a lot of fulltimers keep in their storage comparments. These run off of 110V but don't use a lot of power. They are the size of a large ice chest. Some of the smaller units will also run off of 12V. These extra freezers allow for more home like meal planning options.

Overall, we find we actually eat less when we are out in the RV. We do more snacking type meals rather than full blown sit down meals.

Spirit_Moves · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you to all for your replies. It is good to know refrig will not take so much propane. I figure boondocking would only be a week at a time..
Happy Easter

rvingft · RV-Dreams Family Member

There is a solo boondocking female blogger who is such an inspiration to me. Search for her under RV Sue and Canine Crew on Wordpress. She makes their home in a 17' Casita pulled by a cargo van. It's her first RV! and she's from the east coast, so her discoveries of the west have been fun to read. Her blog has become so popular she spends much of her day reading, responding and updating to her followers.

Spirit_Moves · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you I found her website..I will check it out I thought about a Casita but think it is too small for me...Again Thank you!

nessiekatt · RV-Dreams Family Member

I don't cook very much, as I can't eat large meals. Even when I go out I only eat a third and take the rest home. I then divide it up and put it in snack or sandwich size bags, get all the air out when sealing and then put the small bags in a quart size Freezer Bag and then freeze. It is then easy to take out exactly what and how much I want for a meal and I can also mix and match. When I do cook for may self, I do the same thing. I can save quite a bit of money by not wasting food.

I also have an extra freezer when I want to stock up things to freeze like fruit for smoothies in the summer.

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our first trailer was a 16' T@b - it didn't have a fridge at all. We used an ice chest. Basically, anything fresh we bought, was pretty much intended for use that day. Everything else, was shelf stable. Thank goodness we only did that for 7 months (mostly boondocking) - because eating canned, packaged food, onions, cabbage and potatoes got pretty old, and not exactly a healthy diet.

Our second trailer was a 17' Oliver (similar to the Casita). We full timed in that for 3 year with lots of boondocking. Amazing amount of storage space. It has a small fridge/freezer unit that we were able to comfortably store enough food for 7-10 days at a time in if we crammed it - without resorting to as much packaged stuff.

Now we have a 35' vintage bus with a 6 cu ft fridge/freeze that seems huge to us. We're about to replace it this week with a marine electric fridge that will be slightly larger in volume. In preparation, we've avoided the grocery store for last week or two and have been trying to clear it out - as we may have a day or two with no fridge in the process. That thing can hold a lot of food, I tell ya!

I'd say we grocery shop every 7-10 days or so. Sometimes more if it's nearby, as we do love fresh veggies - but prefer small local produce stands for that if we can find them.

- Cherie

Spirit_Moves · RV-Dreams Community Member

I am like that too! Often for one person I don't cook alot. Sometimes I put a chicken breast in a rice cooker(works same as crock pot) usually enough for two days. Cooking I do when with other people of course have lots of campfire recipes but when alone just do a little. Not a breakfast person so peanut butter works in the A.M. Thanks for you input..

Spirit_Moves · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you for your "site" on RV Sue I am really enjoying the blog. Have a neighbor down the street from me that has a Casita. Think I will knock on the door this week or weekend and see if he would mine showing off his Casita. After reading RvSue's blog I may consider it since I already have the tow vehicle mine is rated at 3,000lbs. I can so relate to her in so many ways. I have been in the forest camping in SUV)( close enough to civilization and ran upon a homeless man. I rather think he was a freedom man. It was a good encounter.

Question I have a back up camera above my license plate in the back would I be able to use to back up a trailer technically speaking?

Again thanks for sharing..

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

I don't think your backup camera will be of much help. The best way to back is to use your mirrors on each side of you tow vehicle. This will give you a much better view of the trailer.

Spirit_Moves · RV-Dreams Community Member

Gd Morning beautiful day in Co., thank you for your response to my question. It is one of cameras that show the street and perhaps it will help when backing up and hitching. Most the time I don't use it. It takes time to get use to distance but it can be helpful. I will just have to practice practice a bit dyslexic so you know how that goes. I have heard several ways of backing up in parking lots and the such.

Again thank you for the input..

Be safe!

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Keep in mind the longer the trailer the easier it is to back up. Really short trailers can be a pain. I had a small trailer that held 2 personal water craft and sometimes it would give me fits.

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Oh it's a beautiful day in So. Cal. as well, highs sould be in the low 80's and not a cloud in the sky.

Happy Prospector · RV-Dreams Community Member

As a solo RV'er have have left overs all the time and they keep in the fridge (which is set to propane). I boondock 11 months of the year, so it gets used alot. AS far as rv cams, people use them all the time. Here are a couple of web sites and I am sure there are others (google is you friend), try this one or maybe this one.
Read the different RV forums and you will pickup good tips from them all.

Good Luck, Kevin