Yes, you can convert them to propane. Several on this forum have. I don't have the link handy, but you can do a search for the topic using the search feature in the blue bar above and you should be able to find some examples and links to companies that carry them or at least can convert them for you.
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2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821
Like Tin Sista, my wife and I arrived here after years of backpacking. We're slowly modifying our Globetrotter to be happy for longer periods in the outback as a base camp. After all our tent years, the basic comforts of our AS still amaze me. Get up (out of a bed!) in the morning and:
1. You can stand up
2. Turn on the *heater*
3. Make coffee on the *stove*
4. Get milk out of the *reefer*
As you know, the list goes on and on. I find it just amazing. And, with no hookup, out where the woodbine twineth, quite luxurious!
Craig
Craig and Tin Sista,
My husband and I fit into your category, as well! We backpacked and tent camped for years, until my husband just couldn't deal with sleeping on the ground any more. We bought the Airstream....but, we never actually used "full hook-ups" until we went on an AirstreamForums-organized rally .
We still eat and cook outside often....even hauling along a Coleman gas grill (affectionately called the "Roadkill Grill") that can be hooked up to our propane tanks. If restrooms are present and clean in the campgrounds where we go, we use those. The thing we REALLY have jumped into that we didn't do while tenting is setting up the ole DirecTV dish to watch things like the Tour de France one year at Lassen Volcanic National Park (every tenter in the campground somehow knew we were watching it and came by routinely to ask how Lance did that day!).
It is truly amazing to me when I can get out of my Airstream bed and turn on a heater on those cold mornings....
Thanks, jd.....I like this factory installation better than a retrofit!
I checked out some of the old threads on this subject of generators, and I guess most folks aren't concerned about carrying around gasoline-filled containers....I am just not one of them!
I was puzzled at first what in the world "boondocking" was. Now I realize that I have been doing it for years.
We are antique dealers and do a lot of out of state outdoors shows and sleep in our 14' box truck. We bring a porta potty, bed, sleeping bags, and coleman stove. We use the Wal-mart water in gallons for everything from hair washing to "bird baths" using buckets. We also like the handi wipes for quick hand washes.
Yes! I love this thread! Like the "list" thread, it's a gold-mine for newbies who have no idea...We've also morphed over the years from backpack tent-camping, to drive in tent-camping with kids, to tent-camping with futons, to not camping at all--to Airstream life! Hooray! And our kids can join us with their backpacks and tents and all will be cozy, with as much comfort as we decide we need.
Thanks for the hot tips. I feel like such a forum leech! Can't wait to be experienced enough to give back a little.
Janet
forgot to ask: What kinds of biodegradable soaps/shampoos/dishsoap do you use when you employ the "gopher hole" gray-water disposal technique? Not worried about the gophers--I'm a Macabee gal--but don't want to harm the lovely environment we're visiting...
I just spent 7 full days boondocking on a game preserve. I brought 7.5 gallons of freshwater rather than filling my main tank (all systems winterized already) and utilized a 25 watt solar panel for 4 hours per day. I ran a Yamaha 3000iSEB generator for 2 hours per day in order to keep the one 115 amp hr battery charged. Since the temps were mid 30's to low 40's at night, I ran the furnace and a 2000 BTU Coleman catalytic heater during the night to keep the inside temp around 60 degrees. I slept in my heavy sleeping bag and was comfortable each night.
I took spit baths each day and sprayed down with Scent Killer to neutralize body odor. The first 6 days I didn't have a problem living with myself but on the 7th day, temps got up to 75 and I really broke a sweat. Extra spraying was necessary. I've never gone this long without taking a real shower or bath so it was quite an experience. I'll not go into details concerning body waste but let's just say that you won't step into any of it as you walk in the woods.
When doing dishes, all gray water went into a plastic hospital pan placed in the sink. Gray water was placed on the ground away from the trailers.
Obviously, these are drastic actions taken in wooded surroundings and do not normally reflect my boondocking in other public areas. If the trailer had not been winterized then the black tank would have shown less than a quarter tank.
__________________ Craig
AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
I just spent 7 full days boondocking on a game preserve. I brought 7.5 gallons of freshwater rather than filling my main tank (all systems winterized already) and utilized a 25 watt solar panel for 4 hours per day. I ran a Yamaha 3000iSEB generator for 2 hours per day in order to keep the one 115 amp hr battery charged. Since the temps were mid 30's to low 40's at night, I ran the furnace and a 2000 BTU Coleman catalytic heater during the night to keep the inside temp around 60 degrees. I slept in my heavy sleeping bag and was comfortable each night.
I took spit baths each day and sprayed down with Scent Killer to neutralize body odor. The first 6 days I didn't have a problem living with myself but on the 7th day, temps got up to 75 and I really broke a sweat. Extra spraying was necessary. I've never gone this long without taking a real shower or bath so it was quite an experience. I'll not go into details concerning body waste but let's just say that you won't step into any of it as you walk in the woods.
When doing dishes, all gray water went into a plastic hospital pan placed in the sink. Gray water was placed on the ground away from the trailers.
Obviously, these are drastic actions taken in wooded surroundings and do not normally reflect my boondocking in other public areas. If the trailer had not been winterized then the black tank would have shown less than a quarter tank.
I appreciate the lack of detail.
This does show how little water you can get by with, but I don't plan on ever trying your method out. I like my shower. 7 days?? Eeeuuwww...
I've enjoyed reading this thread. Do I notice a pattern? It seems that many of us who have done backpacking or tent camping have a natural bent towards boondocking. Having been a backpacker and tent camper for years, I'm right there with you. Don't get me wrong, if I'm in a campground anyway and full hook-ups are an option, I'm there. But if I'm able to find a beautiful spot in nature, legally accessable, away from the hustle, nothing would stop me from using my Airstream as a grand aluminum tent. Even my older trailer is like the Ritz-Carlton after carrying everything on my back for a week of living.
I haven't had the opportunity to boondock yet and still have a few to-do's before boondocking with full amenities. But amenities or not I'm looking for the perfect chance. It boils down to location, location, location. Boondocking or not, I do use the biodegradable products. Right now I'm into Mrs. Meyer's (http://www.mrsmeyers.com/) and EO (http://www.eoproducts.com/). But I also use Dr. Bonner's, a throwback from my backpacking days. Its a great all-in-one clean anything soap, a little goes a long way, but my hair tangles when I use it for shampoo. Baby wipes for "bathing" are a great option when water conservation gets serious. I have a backpacker's water filter/purifier in the TW in case potable water becomes an issue.
I want to ask something about waste. When backpacking, we just find a tree when nature calls and dig a cat hole for the solids. And as long as we are using biodegradable soaps, bathing and dishwashing is done where ever you are, graywater goes to ground. Pretty much like david71 just described. But graywater and such seems to be a touchy problem depending on state. Can someone explain why this becomes a big issue when RV'ing but not with backpacking? Given one doesn't just dump their high volume tanks where they please, of course.
But graywater and such seems to be a touchy problem depending on state. Can someone explain why this becomes a big issue when RV'ing but not with backpacking? Given one doesn't just dump their high volume tanks where they please, of course
I can only guess that part of the reason may be that RV's tend to be in closer proximety to each other, more concentrated. That however, doesn't explain why you shouldn't be able to dump grey water in the boonies. I've had the same question.
I would think the gray water issue with RVs is the sheer volume of it. An RV can carry a lot more water than a backpacker, and RVs are the majority. Dare I say backpackers tend to be conscious of their environment? Opening up a tank and having gallons rush out has a lot more impact. Are there more irresponsible rvers than backpackers?Close proximity as mentioned too has to be considered. I don't want to stand in the mud or holes my neighbor or previous camper made emptying his tank. I think with rules it's a lot easier to give a blanket NO than to have to pick and choose and monitor the results.
Carol, I agree. I feel that no RV should be able to dump graywater anywhere they please. And proximity to civilization should be considered. Your points are right on. I believe in low impact camping and choose to be kind to the environment. So I guess I'm looking at things from a backpacker's point of view and few RVers do. If boondocking, I would expect to produce minimal graywater because I have this preconceived notion that boodocking is like backpacking. I'm camping in the wilderness, roughing it, no one else around, and have minimal expendable resources. The only difference is my backpack is is one big silver container on wheels. I may be able to carry more fresh water, but would I use it? So if I produce no more graywater then I would backpacking, could I not treat graywater the same as I do backpacking?
That being said, I haven't had the chance to boondock yet. If I have more resources available, I may have a tendency to use more. So I guess I need to wait and see how it goes. I certainly wouldn't want to do anything that would negatively impact neighbors or the environment. I'll be taking the Blue Boy first time out.
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forgot to ask: What kinds of biodegradable soaps/shampoos/dishsoap do you use when you employ the "gopher hole" gray-water disposal technique? Not worried about the gophers--I'm a Macabee gal--but don't want to harm the lovely environment we're visiting...
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