Monday, May 16, 2011

Gearing Up

As we begin gearing up for our next adventure, friends have asked that we share some of our secrets to living on the road so simply for so long a period of time.  Our plan is to post a new segment every week until we leave.  Posts will include topics with more specifics on how to turn your SUV into a RV, how to live without a refrigerator, traveling with your pet, preparing for the Haul Road and Dempster, etc.  If you have any specific requests, please post a comment to let us know!

This week we began outfitting Ozzie, our Kamparoo 4x4 ultralight camper, for our next trip.  As most of you know, we purchased Oz while on the road last year (see our post for July 9, 2010, or visit kamparoo.com).  Because of that, we had very little opportunity to make any modifications.   For starters, we're adding a tent pole carrier, improving the kitchen, and adding some organization modules.

As gasoline prices continue to rise, we are obviously concerned about the cost of our upcoming trip.  As of today, gas prices in Canada and Alaska are approximately $5.55 per gallon, while gas prices in Texas hover around $3.90 per gallon.  When we left last year, gas prices in Texas averaged $2.50 per gallon, while Canada and Alaska ranged from $3.60 per gallon to $4.66 per gallon.

Cutting costs will be crucial to our staying on the road as long as we want.  On our last adventure, we spent nearly 30 percent of our nights in motels and more than we cared to in RV parks rather than remote camping areas, simply because we were needing/wanting hot showers.  As a result, this year's preparations will include finding a shower solution.

We're planning a shake-down trip in a few weeks.  We'll let you know how it goes!

No comments:

Post a Comment