First Steps

[forever_frost]

I just traded my motorcycle for a 72 Airstream travel trailer that can run completely off 12volt. I figure stocking it with my food, water, water filters, ammo and weapons just to get off to a start. If I have to bug out, it'd be better than just a ruck stocked up, and if bad comes to worse, I can park it some place deep in the woods and camo it up with limbs and have a base camp so I don't have to worry about a roof above my head.

Next step is to figure out how to make it completely solar so I can run everything electronic that I enjoy without an external power source. I started VERY late getting ready and am trying to catch up, but it's one of those things that you're never as ready as you want. Never as prepared as you'd like.

The Infantry taught me one thing and one thing well. Survive at all costs. If I have to abandon it, so be it, but it's plan B. Once it can't hold any more supplies, I'll start on plan C.

[voodoo]

First let me say congrats on the very smart trade! Next, when stocking your trailer with supplies, be VERY careful about weight. 2 days ago I pulled my trailer from the Gulf, out to West TX, and boy, was it a slow go! When you pack for survival, things are heavy! Between the extra deep cycle batteries, propane tanks, ammo to take over a small country, 50 gallons of H2O and other liquids, plus food and basics for 2 for a year, I went 1100lbs OVER the maximum pulling capacity for my vehicle. When we started out Thursady night, things went smooth, until we hit the hills outside San Antonio. Went from 17mpg to 10, real fast. Guess thats why its the Hill Country! We stopped at a weigh station just because I had to know. Explained to the trooper my delema, and he agreed to weigh me. 1100lbs over explained the trouble my poor truck was having. A 9 hour trip took 11, and $80 more in fuel. Just some things to consider..

[oly]

Next step is to figure out how to make it completely solar so I can run everything electronic

here's some ideas

http://www.campingworld.com/category/solar-power/221

[Skyowl's Wife]

Have Skyowl weigh in on this one. We had solar panels on our first 5th wheel and it would give us enough power to last all night unless running the heater, in which case our batts were drained at about 0500, and then had to use generator-assist. Was awesome.

[forever_frost]

It's going to be interesting getting it back up. It has been used as storage for almost a decade so I have to figure out how to get things going the right way. Anyone have some time and want to help?

[herbalpagan]

Airstreams are the best! They even have clubs for them ...a word of warning about pulling into a forest and trying to cammo it, you might want to invest in a good camm net and some flat spray paint. Those beauties are very distinctive with their shiney silver! lol
Good luck with your plans, sounds like a great start!:)

[forever_frost]

A club hmm? Neat to know. I have 15 cans of flat black spraypaint and the camo netting we used at Ft. Hood to conceal the tanks. That took some doing to get. What I'd prefer happen is when it's time to bug out, to come across some people from here and have a little community going.

[unswydd]

Good for you forever! I hope you find a group close to you.

[forever_frost]

My wife thinks I'm insane, but she's in New Zealand working on her immigration papers to come here so I have carte blanche to stockpile till she gets here.

[lady_banjo]

Here's hoping that she comes to appreciate your efforts to prepare. It sure made a difference when my husband came around to thinking I'm nuts to I'm brilliant! Congrats on a good start and luck to you.

[forever_frost]

If she doesn't, I'll just keep stocking as I can. Either way, it doesn't slow me down, just changes if I can tell her what I'm doing. I bought 2 of those Gama Lids today and am going to get 2 5 gallon buckets tomorrow to start with rice and beans

[forever_frost]

Oh, and I checked out the Airstream clubs. It's almost 100 bucks a year to join. I could use that for supplies