SCADAMAN29325
Clinton, SC
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Joined: 10/18/2022
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Thanks to all, and for the input.
Didn't think about killing the grass, a very good point! Don't want to be THAT guy. We should have already gotten doormats. They are on the list now. Been web surfing for what I need to know and saw that a lot of them had large carpets, but didn't notice the environment they were in. I'll chalk that up to "that's the way they did it on the internet, so it MUST be something that I need". I've been tempering my OCD, but somethings just slip by me.
As for the water meter, I'm just curious as to how much water we are using. I want see how much we're using, so I'll know for any boondocking. Like how many gallons for 3 days and 2 showers...
Rule of three's, I've seen it referenced a few times with various factors, but yeah, even 3 nights seem too short, but it didn't occur to me till we were in the heat of the moment with just 2 nights scheduled that it wasn't going to work at all. We will know better next time.
I see y'all have been on this forum for a good while and I really do appreciate your seasoned viewpoints.
We're now freshly showered and enjoying the familiar surroundings from a different perspective now.
TTYL
THANKS! Phil and LuAnn
1st timers, brought it home 2022-10-19.
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dedmiston
Coast to Coast
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SCADAMAN29325 wrote:As for the water meter, I'm just curious as to how much water we are using. I want see how much we're using, so I'll know for any boondocking. Like how many gallons for 3 days and 2 showers...
There's certainly no harm in this, and it would be good data to know just from a curiosity standpoint.
I use a meter on my fresh water hose when I fill our tanks because it eliminates the guesswork. I've been doing this long enough to be able to estimate that one trip should be a 50 gallon trip when it's just my wife and I for a few days vs. a 120 gallon trip when the kids are all with us for a longer stay.
I miss the dump valve on our old trailer. It was a big 3" valve and I could empty the fresh tanks in 15-20 minutes. It was nice to start at zero and add exactly how much water we'll need. On our current rig I have to think back to the past few trips: "Well, I added 60 gallons last month and 50 a few weeks ago, but then we came home early and we probably only need another 40 for this trip..."
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Veebyes
Bermuda & Maryland Eastern Shore
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I am also at a loss for the need of a water meter. It does not take long to learn how many 'people nights' the holding tanks will last, gauges working or not.
Everyone has a slightly different way of doing things. We draw from our onboard tank 100% of the time. We dump very 3-4 days but we can go 7 days with 100% water needs coming from our tank. That is 14 person nights drawing a little under 10gal per person per day.
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JimK-NY
NY
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SCADAMAN29325 wrote:
As for the water meter, I'm just curious as to how much water we are using. I want see how much we're using, so I'll know for any boondocking. Like how many gallons for 3 days and 2 showers...
You can use as much or as little water as you like. When I am in the desert SW away from amenities, I get by with 3 gallons of water a day. That is cooking, drinking, and a daily shower. When my wife is along the daily is about 5 gallons a day. Instead of a gallon of water for a shower, she needs to rinse out long hair and uses another half gallon for that. If you try to continue to live as you do at home, the consumption can easily be 30 gallons a day.
Regarding all the misc items, I leave my RV stocked with misc at all times. That includes items such as cleaning supplies, basic cooking staples, bedding, spare bedding, towels, toothbrushes/paste, laundry soap, etc, etc. My permanent RV stuff includes basic 3 seasons clothing, raingear, flip flops, swimsuit, hats, extra boots, charging cables, bug repellent, sunscreen, basic tools, extension cord, etc, etc. I supplement based on the season and specific trip that is planned but I always have the basics. If you do not keep the basics in the RV, for each trip you will need a huge checklist, lots of time to plan and load and lots to carry to the RV. Regardless of experience, you will always forget some essentials and most of those will be inconvenient or difficult to replace.
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mdcamping
CT
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SCADAMAN29325 wrote:Thanks to all, and for the input.
Didn't think about killing the grass, a very good point! Don't want to be THAT guy. We should have already gotten doormats. They are on the list now. Been web surfing for what I need to know and saw that a lot of them had large carpets, but didn't notice the environment they were in.
TTYL
The large carpets are light, dry out fast when wet and fold up easy for storage. As mentioned, I agree about the carpets and grass but I think they do come in handy when on sand, packed dirt or crushed stone. (crushed stone is tough on bare feet)
Mike
2022 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost 4X4 Supercrew GCWR 19,500 157WB
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StirCrazy
Kamloops, BC, Canada
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Joined: 07/16/2003
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SCADAMAN29325 wrote:Thanks to all, and for the input.
Didn't think about killing the grass, a very good point! Don't want to be THAT guy. We should have already gotten doormats. They are on the list now. Been web surfing for what I need to know and saw that a lot of them had large carpets, but didn't notice the environment they were in. I'll chalk that up to "that's the way they did it on the internet, so it MUST be something that I need". I've been tempering my OCD, but somethings just slip by me.
As for the water meter, I'm just curious as to how much water we are using. I want see how much we're using, so I'll know for any boondocking. Like how many gallons for 3 days and 2 showers...
Rule of three's, I've seen it referenced a few times with various factors, but yeah, even 3 nights seem too short, but it didn't occur to me till we were in the heat of the moment with just 2 nights scheduled that it wasn't going to work at all. We will know better next time.
I see y'all have been on this forum for a good while and I really do appreciate your seasoned viewpoints.
We're now freshly showered and enjoying the familiar surroundings from a different perspective now.
TTYL
get a woven carpet that lets water through, I have camped a week and it hasnt killed the grass, most of the time your setting it up on sand or gravel anyways if they build the camp site right. that rules of three are just someones preference. I for example try to finish driving for the day about 4 to 5pm and I take brakes when I need one. if I am going to a farther destination I may drive up to 14 hours if I want to get there in one day, or I may pull over and sleep in a road side pull out if I decide to do it in two days.
I think if your curious about water usage get one of the cheep ones you can atach to a hose so you can see how many gal you put in. myself I just go buy how much my take level indicator says, not exact but close enough.
Steve
2014 F350 6.7 Platinum
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bukhrn
Lanexa, Va
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mdcamping wrote:SCADAMAN29325 wrote:Thanks to all, and for the input.
Didn't think about killing the grass, a very good point! Don't want to be THAT guy. We should have already gotten doormats. They are on the list now. Been web surfing for what I need to know and saw that a lot of them had large carpets, but didn't notice the environment they were in.
TTYL
The large carpets are light, dry out fast when wet and fold up easy for storage. As mentioned, I agree about the carpets and grass but I think they do come in handy when on sand, packed dirt or crushed stone. (crushed stone is tough on bare feet)
Mike Putting an Awning mat on grass, is a variable, I've used mine on grass for 4-5 days, it did Not kill the grass, it Did turn it yellow, but it came back nice and green in a few days, if you leave it out for a week or more, you may very well have a mud pit.
They do come in Very handy in places without manicured grass, like National Forest and Parks, COE parks, State parks, generally places with dirt, Pea gravel, sand, pine needles (and pine gum).
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K3WE
Missouri
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Joined: 05/24/2005
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SCADAMAN29325 wrote:
Rule of three's, I've seen it referenced a few times with various factors, but yeah, even 3 nights seem too short, but it didn't occur to me till we were in the heat of the moment with just 2 nights scheduled that it wasn't going to work at all. We will know better next time.
Here's my $0.02. There's a number of good RULES OF THUMB, which are also OK to bend or even not follow.
We often "drive hard" to get to our destination (800 miles). Yes, we are tired. Other times, we drive less and "enjoy the journey". It all DEPENDS. How much time do we have, are there really neat things to see on the way, or do we just "get on with it?"
Also, "just to keep a handle on water consumption", consider using your water tank. Fill it up and see how it empties. Using this method has given me a good insight into water consumption- which guess what- varies greatly.
We sometimes "dry camp" and can easily make our water tank last longer. If you have water available- "Shower-on", rinse dishes liberally. And, even used a 6-gallon tote tank this year to get us a valuable extra day of water.
It's not too hard to get estimates of your water use after a short while.
Fun stuff!
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Tvov
CT
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Joined: 07/19/2003
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Pretty much agree with everything! lol, driveway camping is always a good start.
I have heard the "rule of 3" referenced many times on these forums. Funny thing, the more I towed my camper around, the more I found myself just following the rule of 3 naturally!
2 night stays are very common for us - leave Friday afternoon to get to the campground, do stuff on Saturday, lazy breakfast on Sunday then pack up and go home. I do not like going on one night stays. Usually not worth the effort, one of the few times I prefer a hotel.
Outdoor carpeting under the awning - absolutely! Keeps the camper much cleaner and provides a nice place to sit under the awning. The only campgrounds that I have seen outdoor carpeting cause a problem with grass is where week long and seasonal stays are common. Most private campgrounds have separate areas for "weekenders" and seasonals. The dead grass areas in the seasonal areas are usually where awnings and carpeting would be normally, so it just becomes part of the campsite. Actually, I remember only one campground where it was a prominent part of the rules not allowing carpet on grass.
Biggest water use for us - showers. Learn how to do the "Navy shower" - quick wet down, shut off water, soap up, turn on water, rinse off as fast as you can. You will be surprised how little water you actually need to get clean.
Related to showers - filling up the grey tank. You will fill up grey far faster than black tank. Keep this in mind.
Dish washing - again, we use as little water as possible (throw away paper plates helps a LOT!), and also use small buckets in the sink to catch dirty dishwater... then empty that into the toilet. Does two things - keeps you from filling up the grey tank quickly and adds soapy water to the black tank to help keep it cleaner.
Lots of tips and tricks to figure out. Take all the advice (which people are always willing to provide) and mush it all together to create your own way of doing things.
Have fun!
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SoonDockin
Oklahoma
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We always make lists. After the first shake down run we had a number of items that we deemed worthy of addition. Now a decade later its all second nature. We keep our RV stocked with everything needed. Just stock the fridge and hit the road.
2022 Ram Laramie 5500 60" CA New pic soon
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