About 9 months ago I decided that I
would try being a snowbird next winter. And now, it's almost time to fly south. In the process of preparing, I've found that I need to change some of what I bring and how I pack.
When it comes to traveling, I've thought
of my Prius like a backpack. I figured if thru-hikers can
go long distances, for months at a time with only what's on their
back, I certainly can live out of my Prius long term. Over the
past 5 years of travel, my Prius has performed admirably as both my
backpack and hard-sided tent.
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| My Prius in the desert SW last winter, in travel mode. Photo taken by Bob Wells, January 2014 Rubber Tramp Rendezvous |
But, being a snowbird is different. I'll be staying in the same locale for months at a time; only going into town every 10 days for supplies, laundry and to dump garbage. Being a snowbird is more analogous to staying in a campground than being a thru-hiker. So, I began to re-think my preparations for this coming snowbird season.
Some options I considered includes
using our 20' Class C, getting a used van, or buying a solar panel
system with house batteries. As a snowbird camper, I will live
without hook ups (water, electricity, sewer). I want to do that as
simply, frugally and comfortably as possible.
I decided against the Class C for being
too big, consuming too much gas, and having too many large items that I
don't use (frig/freezer, microwave, tanks, oven, forced-air heater, etc.). I also decided
against buying a van until I know if being a snowbird is a good fit for me, as well
as for when I can save enough for something very reliable.
Similarly, for the same reasons, I will wait to purchase a full-blown
solar panel/battery system. But, until then, I will to try a
combination of other methods to both conserve and supply my
electrical needs.
My computing needs are my greatest draw
on electricity. Since my laptop was ready to be replaced, I
chose to get a tablet with a keyboard* to conserve energy. My other
electronics include a smart phone* and data hotspot*. For lighting I
use (mostly) rechargeable batteries. My methods for both cooking and keeping produce cool do not use electricity
So, with my minimal needs for
electricity, I'm taking a multi-faceted approach. First, I got a
small 7w solar panel*. I'm hoping it will keep my smart
phone, hot spot and some AA batteries charged. Second, I purchased a battery jump starter* with a 12v port for recharging my electronics. Not only can
this item provide a jump start, but also has other
built in functions – inverter for 120v, LED worklight, and an air compressor – all of which I've no plans to use,
but nice to have just in case. My third power source is my trusty
Prius. When recharging my electronics in the past, my
Prius' engine runs for about 5 minutes every half hour to
maintain it's own battery. To save gas this winter, I'll keep the
Prius off for as long as possible while recharging electronics.
I'll monitor the Prius' accessory battery with a low-voltage alarm
and start the car to recharge when it gets low.
I've always said that I live out
of my Prius, not in it. While being a snowbird, that will be more
true than ever. The desert back country will be my front yard, back
yard and home for four months. So, I wanted my snowbird camp to have
a few more niceties than when I'm traveling like a thru-hiker. I'm
bringing a 4x6' mat*, an umbrella* for shade, and a
collapsible camp kitchen* table. Finally, I've added a small pop up tent* for bathroom and storage. A big factor for all these homey
extras is that they can be put away fast and easy when the desert
winds blow. After adding a camp chair I'll be ready to kick back and
enjoy!
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| In this photo I'm using the camp kitchen and umbrella that I'll be bringing to snowbird. Camping with family, using our old teardrop trailer in 2009. |
In the desert, water is a big deal. I
need at least one gallon per day. If I only go into town every 10
days, then that's 10 gallons to have on hand. But, I've only
carried a maximum of four gallons in the past. And, with all of the
additional stuff I'm bringing to set up camp, I certainly did not
have any additional room for six more jugs. For this
challenge, I turned again to a backpacking solution. I got four 10-liter bladders* that lay flat when empty. Problem
solved.
I'm also changing where I pack supplies and gear in my car. In the past I've camped in
bear country. So, I've kept anything that smells (food, water,
toiletries) in my front passenger seat to easily transfer into a bear
box. But, bears don't live in the desert SW; so, instead I focused on
function and moved my food under the hatch with my cooking
gear. Also, I'm not storing kitchen and food items in duffle
bags, as usual; instead I put them in a couple of plastic storage boxes* that
will also serve as work surfaces when moved outside. The new large
items (umbrella, table, jump starter) will travel in the front
passenger seat area.
Other needs, like cooking, bathroom, sleeping, and safety will be solved the same way as when I'm traveling.
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| Bed setup in the Prius. In preparation for my first test trip in October 2009. Bed setup remains the same. |
The Prius may not be the best vehicle for boondocking long term, but I trust that it will continue to serve me well during this winter's snowbird test.
* Links provided to items similar to what I will be using. Not to be considered an endorsement.
