Weather or not you ever need to Bug Out in your rig, or just end up camping in the side yard, an RV is made for living off the grid. You can always find a deal on a used one. Most rigs have

1. 12V Power (deep cycle 12V batteries, charged by the alternator, converter and/or generator) 2. 12V Lighting 3. 12V Fans/Appliances 4. 12V Water Pump with on-board freshwater tanks. (keep filled, carry extra 3-5gal water jugs!) Note: Try to fill tanks with city water for long term storage. 5. Water Heater (uses propane!) 6. Furnace (uses propane!) 7. Refrigerator (propane and 12V powered, in one unit!) 8. Generator (propane powered!) 9. Power Inverters/Converters ( most have a converter only = 110V AC to 12V DC ) 10. Air Conditioning (powered by the generator or 110V AC) 11. TV/Radio Antennas (good quality crank-up units) 12. Bathroom, with separate gray-water and sewage holding tanks. 13. Some rigs are built with insulation and heated water systems including the holding tanks! (this is highly recommended for any climate) The above list is just the basics, the skies the limit from herestart with a solar panel!

One 500# tank of propane will run the refrigerator, furnace, hot water heater, generator (running the generator long enough each day to keep the batteries topped off) for months! You can also buy propane cylinders, from 1# to 20# like your BBQ grill tank, on up to 100#(any size will work with the proper adapter). I expect a shortage of propane cylinders by fall so grab some over the summer.

Look for a smaller rig no matter what you buy, as they are much easier to tow, heat etc. I do not like pop-up tent campers because they have a big moisture problem if you ever have to use the furnace. I have an 11= foot slide-in truck camper (with all the toys, including a queen-size bed!) sitting on a > ton 4x4 diesel (for this size camper I wish I would have bought a 1 ton dually). This type of rig is the easiest to handle in most situations (mother has one too, she loves it!) Happy camping or?

A RV or Marine supply dealer is a gold mine for 12V water pumps, fans, appliances, lighting, and propane powered refrigerators, furnaces, water heaters and generators. Any of these could be adapted for home use as well and is easy to get locally.

-- BiGG (supersite@acronet.net), June 13, 1999

Answers

You got it!! We have a class c parked next to the barn and a fifth- wheel parked on the other side. Solar panels for batteries ($600) and set up, waiting for family!!! Love my family....especially when under their OWN roofs!!

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 13, 1999.

We too are all set up. 30 ft trailer with solar power and lots of propane. Its for a just in case family or maybe bug out for us. We plan on parking it outside the kitchen door so we can use the refrigerator.

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie @aol.com), June 13, 1999.

There are online clasiifieds to search for bargins such as

RV Trader http://www.traderonline.com/rv/index.shtml

and the Recycler www.recycler.com

-- jjbeck (jjbeck@recycler.com), June 13, 1999.

Class "C" rig sitting on a pad right beside our driveway. Have used it with comfort in 0 degree weather.

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), June 13, 1999.

Our bug out camper on 4X4 dulie 1 ton is a great source of comfort to myself & mother who just can't take the cold here in the Northwest. If we have to leave the home to live in it, OK, otherwise we park it in front of the front door & use it to conserve on propane heat (instead of heating big house) & extra tanks for cooking. It is small enough that you can use the lamp oil heat from lanterns to keep it a confortable temperature, we test tried it many times. This is our home away from home.

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0@hotmail.com), June 13, 1999.