After the weather calmed down on Friday at Crowder, I was able to sit outside with the dogs and ponder. Ahh…outdoors. It does do so much good for the soul.

As I was sitting there I started thinking about my Scotty Hilander trailer. I looked at my new trailer, thinking about the huge difference between the two and how much nicer my new trailer is for traveling.

I did think back about my mom, in hospital just diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer, wanting me to have the trailer and use it. I certainly honored her wishes.

I thought back about the thousands of miles of trips in it – going through Canada when moving to Washington, a near-disaster in the sand in Nebraska’s only National Forest, the trip to Crater Lake and a few trips to California and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in ND. And all points in between.

There were so many memories of that trailer that my mom loved so much. Great memories to have, and it’s good to remember, but we have to move on. No one can ever take away those memories but it’s time for new ones.

I’m now making memories in my new trailer and having a great time doing so. It’s certainly roomier than the Scotty and certainly more comfortable. Even though it’s a bigger trailer the same basic things still apply.

Living in a small space takes some work, and that’s speaking as a solo traveler. I should know; I have lived in some pretty small spaces since 2012, like a 10’x12’ cabin in the San Juan Islands or staying in my 15’ Scotty travel trailer several times in various places in the West. Not owning much helps, but you have to be organized and keep the things you have put up somewhere.

In a trailer or RV keeping organized is really important. I usually try to keep everything put away as much as possible. In a small space it’s much more noticeable than if your house is messy. But, it’s not about looking messy. For me it’s about being able to leave faster.

A big advantage is there’s less to do in preparing to leave the campsite. The morning of my last day somewhere I start slowly get things ready to leave as I have breakfast. If I chip away at it I am not in a hurry and I have time to go over my mental checklist for packing up. I am, after all, still on vacation. I’m not in that much of a hurry but do want to be ready.

It means I can get either home or to my next destination by leaving faster and earlier. If you’re out for a weekend chances are several thousand others have the same idea. That means most people are going somewhere Friday after work then heading home Sunday afternoon (being retired I have the luxury of avoiding those heavily-traveled days in the off-season).

I don’t wait for the last minute to leave with everybody else. Packing up and being ready to go gives you a jump on leaving and that can be handy on a long trip. You can be gone early or you can be leisurely until you see others starting to pack up; that’s when I head to the dump station if I need to dump.

But, if I’m headed to another campsite and the tanks are not full I just head to the next destination and will dump there if necessary. However, I won’t go more than two days – three days max – without dumping the tanks. This is dependent on usage, of course. I am a solo traveler so my usage is not the same as a couple or a family of four.

Along these lines, I think if your usage is higher and you’re staying in one place for a few days it’s probably worthwhile to get a full hookup site. Dave & Lori had four people so it was ideal for them to get their full-hookup site.

This is also a good strategy for an overnight if you’ve been primarily boondocking; get full hookups, shower, empty waste tanks and do everything you can that needs utilities. Next day, empty and rinse waste tanks, top off fresh water, and you’re good for a few more days of boondocking. Alternatively, if your not in a full-hookup site you could (and always should) conserve water as best as you can and use a portable wheeled sewer tank to dump without moving.

I think it’s worth constantly taking a serious look at what you are packing and if you really need it. Just because there’s room does not mean the space needs to be used. I equate it to backpack travel, be it in the forest or going to Europe; if it’s not something I will use often then it stays home. You wouldn’t carry more on your back than necessary so why not use that thinking in your camping travels? Stores are everywhere so you can always find what you need.

Same goes for food. Here in the States we are used to “stocking up” the pantry and having months of food in there so we can always be “ready for something”. Again, stores are everywhere so there’s no need to load up your RV with a cache of food. It is also fun to check out stores in other places.

Speaking of food, I posted before about preparing meals at home and freezing them in portions if your rig has freezer space to do so. After a day of travel, and perhaps you have an early departure next morning, it’s nice to have a good meal without cooking or doing too much cleanup. Meal prep helps make life on the road quite a bit easier, especially on consecutive travel days. On the first day of your trip, especially if it’s a weekender, you probably scramble after work to get going. You’ll probably arrive late so having a prepared meal is a good easy way to start your weekend.

Keeping things clean is important as well. It doesn’t have to be ready for surgery, but you want to keep things clean to avoid unwanted pests. I also sweep the floor to keep dirt and sand from tearing up the flooring and keep the air cleaner.

As you probably have gathered by now I’m not much on living a regimented lifestyle, but I try to do things the same way each trip I take. I don’t do this because I’m obsessive; I do it because it’s easier to do the same routine and not miss doing a step along the way. The rest of the trip I can be in the moment.

I have used checklists on my phone, especially when this was all new to me. I think they are a great idea and a useful tool so don’t hesitate to use them. I don’t use them much anymore because I still do things the same way each time – I just don’t need to check a box now. I think that whatever you do that helps you is good, but don’t stress out and overthink it. Once you develop a routine you’ll know you skipped a step.

Weather is challenging for camping with pets since they have to “go out” several times a day and that’s challenging on weekends like our trip this past weekend. You have to worry about not only rain but also heat. You can’t leave them in a car when it’s hot out so that can greatly affect your travel plans. These things are amongst the many other things you have to consider when traveling but still need to consider in your plans.

When choosing a campsite you should think about what you want or DON’T want from the experience. Sometimes people want to be close to bathrooms/showerhouses, the pool, or playgrounds. Some people (like myself) avoid being anywhere near those places. I want quiet solitude and to be left alone so it’s why I prefer public lands where I can disperse camp, and that’s usually free. There are trade offs with campgrounds, and I can usually manage okay in them since I choose sites away from others. I can get by with boondocking in a primitive campsite if need be to be left alone. Other people you camp with may have different needs so that is another consideration.

I have full facilities in my trailer so I don’t need a toilet or shower. I know people use the public toilets/showers instead of their own bathroom to avoid dumping, but I don’t really get it. I’d rather use my own bathroom and it’s why I bought a trailer with one.

After you return home it’s time to finish your trip. I get my groceries out of the trailer. Some things are perishable, but I don’t like to leave food in there for a few reasons. First, I’m gonna eat it at home. Second, I don’t want leave food in there in the heat and cold. Third, it cuts down on pests.

I get my dirty clothes out and get them washed and put away. I have clothes I leave in the trailer and clothes I have for home and that is very convenient. More on that in a minute.

I do any maintenance that needs done. If I see issues I usually take care of those things when I find them. If I can’t I make notes and do it when I get home unless it’s a necessary fix.

Last thing, I do any final cleaning, sweeping, and mopping the floors.

The more you can leave in your rig the more ready you are to go at a moment’s notice. I have been known to get home from work and decide on a weekend trip after I got there. Having things like clothes, toiletries, towels, cleaning supplies in the trailer is a few steps closer to leaving sooner. These things won’t go bad and can be left in during your travel season.

Propane is another thing. Fill those tanks after returning and have them ready for the next trip. I have two tanks and the trailer is equipped with an auto-swap regulator. I keep one of my new trailer tanks at home and one on the trailer. The empty spot on the trailer is taken by a tank I can exchange; I’m not giving them my new tank. I use the exchange tank first, then my new tank. If I need propane I can exchange for a full one. Exchange is also a great way to get rid of uncertified tanks.

Of course, there’s being practical in organization and storage. Storage is sometimes not where we think it should be, but putting things where they are most usable (if possible) is a good idea.

One last thing I’ll put out there is this: if I am traveling every day, I stop to get anything I need like groceries and such before parking for the night, including topping off the fuel. When I leave in the morning to go someplace I don’t want to have to stop a few minutes after leaving. I want to get on the road and get some miles or hours behind me before stopping again (unless there’s something to see!).

I have found these things work for me but everyone has different preferences. Play around with various methods and find what works for you.

Until next time…

Shawn