How long can you realistically dry camp?

jefe,

Those Cooper tires have been phenomenal on both my converted Dodge 250 van years ago, and now on my current 4X4 Z71 GMC. I'm on my 2nd set in at least 12 years on the Z71 - they wear like iron. The 1st pickup set went at least 10 years - no sidewall cracking, either, sitting around in the CA sun all those years. I was running over-stock diameter LT285's on it for the 1st set of Coopers, as I needed the diameter for higher clearance on rough roads doing volunteer work in the backcountry of Henry Coe SP. I did this with the good old GMC 350 CI gasser grunting along, some of the time of course in low range when having to twist the big tires up steep grades. For what it's worth, Rancho sent me at no cost a new full set of their 9K shocks after my first 5K set failed prematurely on the GMC. I can't figure out what setting to use on 9K's though ... the GMC rides like a bucking bronco when empty regardless of which number I use.

If I'm reading your signature correct .... you're running only a 3.54:1 differential. Even though your mill is a CTD, couldn't your long climbs at high altitude benefit from a bit better pulling ratio - especially after adding those way larger than stock diameter tires?

Keep up the great Dream Trip postings! :)

Phil, we do carry two spares. The narrower one goes in the normal place behind the rear axle. The wide one stands up behind the Dodge's center console. All my O.D.'s are the same no matter the width. Soon, I'm ordering 5 new steel power wagon wheels for the XTC from Stockton Wheel. They have been in business making wheels since the 1800's when they made wagon wheels. I'm going to slightly larger tires, so I thought it time to rethink the whole wheel thing. The new tires are Cooper Discoverer LT315/75R16: load range E, 12.5" wide, O.D.: 34.45": max load: 3860 pounds. In massaging the super single concept I'm now thinking of going with 16x10" wheels, with a 6.25" backspacing for the 2 front wheels. They have a 1/2" solid steel center for expedition use. I'll order 3 of these. The rears will be a pair of 16x11" wheels with the same 6.25" back spacing. In a pinch, the 3rd/spare 10" wide wheel/tire can be used on front or rear.
Ryan, if one is afraid of heights, this is not a good place to be.

That's the one and only Whazoo in the foreground showing the immensity of the surroundings on the way up to Imogene.

jefe

Jefe 4x4 wrote:
On the way up the jeep road to crest and camp near 13, 600 foot Imogene Pass in the San Juans

That would a unsettling drive. No safety fence

Jeff,

Where do you carry the two spare tires for your two different front/rear tire sizes?

It is good to read each of your stories and solutions on dry camping survival. Knowing the tank capacities would be a plus. I believe our XTC is the smallest tanked RV to chime in here with 18 fresh, 14 black, and 12 grey. But that's only part of the story. We carry an additional 6, one gallon HD plastic jugs for coffee, tea, and cooking from our well. If the trip includes more than just Jeanie and I, I can carry another couple 2.5 gallon water jugs, and if push comes to shove, I have a 25 gallon plastic pickle jug. We use paper plates and wash any utensils in a plastic tub in the sink. The grey agua then waters the outdoor plants. Our biggest limitation is the black tank.
We can get around everything else, like food, power, and G. I. showers but the black has a definite end date without a dump.
Unless you are 4WD equipped like us to handle being really way out there, there is usually some kind of water dispensary around. You've had much good advice with the above posters, so I can only add: just get out dry camping and make your own mistakes. We did a 9K mi. trip to AK in 2003 and started out with what we thought we would need to dry camp most of the time. We wound up using campgrounds more than we thought because many had a laundry room and we only took 10 days worth of clothes on our 32 day trip. It was also nice to plug into the cable for our tiny TV to get the news and weather report.
The sad fact is the party is over after 5 days. So much of this has to do with traveling style. We dry camp, boondock, use NF, Fisheries, Wildlife, COE camps, State, County, City campgrounds, some of which are very good, and also enjoy the challenge of Layovering in big cities. It's a cousin to stealth camping, because there is no camping involved: just a layover. It's a whole different topic. But, our TC is not very big and does not change shape. Recently, I've been using a right size aluminum step ladder instead of the scissor steps, which I hang on the rear ladder when we're in for the night. With the shades drawn, and nothing outside the camper, it looks like no one is home.
We move almost every day while on the road. We're into the traveling part, not the camping in one place part. All LED lighting. We carry a Honda 2k genset for an off time we may stay more than 2 days, as the 3 group 31 batteries will drop to 12.2v. in about 3-4 days if using the furnace in the morning. Our whole rig is 20 feet long, 10' 3" tall, and weighs 10,400 pounds loaded. 7200 pounds are truck.
On the way up the jeep road to crest and camp near 13, 600 foot Imogene Pass in the San Juans:

regards, jefe

If the heater is ducted it takes more power to force the air through the ducts - thus a bigger fan is required and can pull over 7 amps. Smaller trailers normally are not ducted and thus require a smaller blower, usually about 3.5 amps.

I have solar on both my 17' foot TT and my 35' 5th Wheel. It's main job is to recharge the batteries the next day after a night or 2 of the heater cycling.

tonymull wrote:
.... The limiting factor becomes how much food you can pack.

How true that is.

We have plenty of interior room and excess weight carrying capacity in our Class C for unrefrigerated food storage for at least 2-3 weeks ... probably even longer. Our big food problem is we like to (still) eat healthy while out and about in our rig whether in campgrounds or the boondocks. Carrying along a large enough supply of refrigerated fresh fruits and vegetables is our problem. We take a Blendtec with us and keeping it fed with fresh items can be a problem. :)

tonymull wrote:
I dry camped for 4 months in Alaska and again for 3 months...in a tent. I had a solar shower and plenty of lake or river water which could also be filtered to drink. Took a grocery run every two weeks. With solar I'm sure I could do it easily in a camper. It really just depends on how many conveniences you are willing to do without. In BC the rec sites even though they have no water or garbage, have outhouses, eliminating that chore. Making it the two weeks you can stay in one before moving little trouble at all. The limiting factor become how much food you can pack.

If you have a proper Off Road Motorhome, you can go 6 months in Australia or travel across places like Africa, Asia or Siberia. It depends on your setup and what you want. Luckily the " Great Outdoors" allows you to escape from Cabin Fever. Yes tenting is another cheaper option

I too am water limited. Probably some of it due to bad habits on my part. I have 50 plus fresh water and can go a week without too much trouble. Electric power is no problem with 300 watts solar and 300 amp hours AGM plus the generator as backup. LED lighting, efficient computer- often full charge by lunch on the solar if in sunny spot.

I've actually measured the draw from my furnace with a multimeter, and tpi is exactly right -- less than 4 amps. But with a 110 amph hour battery, the available juice is about half of that -- they say we are not supposed to draw it down below 12.1 volts, or 50 percent state of charge. So 4 amps for a couple of hours would make a big dent. Plus there is the noise of the furnace coming on every so often -- with all that noise, it makes it harder for my poor wife to hear me snore. ;)