JWR;
I am surprised that more people are not considering recreational vehicle (RVs), specifically Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheel Trailers, as important prepping tools They can provide many advantages, backups, and a natural training environment for TEOTWAWKI. Here are a few more:
- Add a military surplus M1950 stove with a few parts from the hardware store to safely run the chimney through the standard RV ceiling vent [and insure proper ventilation] and you could live in an RV all winter. We keep these parts tucked away in our at all times.
- Add a 12 volt powered water purification system and you can refill your onboard potable water daily. We use ours on almost every trip.
- Adding several larger solar panels and an inverter will not only provide you with ample electricity but can serve as a backup to provide electricity to your current home or bugout location.
- When bugging out you may not only bring a your living quarters with you but consider that it is a heavy duty trailer that can potentially haul several thousand pounds of food, water, weapons, and other gear along with you at the same time. If our family has 24 hours’ notice to a disaster we could load out our 32 foot travel trailer to effectively live for a 6 – 12 months without outside assistance. This assumes wood for fuel and access to a relatively clean fresh water supply for purification and the ability to get to the location.
It can be pre-positioned before things get really bad. - A distant relative may be more likely to take you in if you have brought your own living quarters.
- Once at your bug out location an RV can becomes a potential secondary location if the primary is threatened.
- Bug out Bags and tents can be carried within it to provide even more redundancy or as gear to share.
- The knowledge developed while providing electricity, heat, cooling, water, cooking, living in relatively tight quarters, plumbing, and waste disposal will give you knowledge that most do not have.
- It is great for a family to vacation in one of these as it forces everyone to cease from the distractions of normal living and focus on each other (from proximity of other family members alone).
Off grid camping with your RV is great fun and is a great way to train for a worst case scenario without anyone questioning it.
While not perfect solution to all prepping problems, an RV is an excellent way to provide flexibility to your existing bug out plan.
Troy V. in Minnesota