Weekender plus
a vanlife spectrum
dreaming ← most people are here
weekending / recreational camping
weekending in a rig that is capable of longer outings. ← what this article is about
traveling for months - practically indistinguisable from fulltiming since it presents many of the same challenges: power, water, food, etc. The only things missing are exposure to both summer and winter, and the sobering realization that this is home and there is no other home to return to.
fulltiming
increasing your options
Building a rig for weekend camping is fun. Building a rig for weekend camping that can do more is fun and can be highly valuable. Consider the following scenarios:
road trip - a more capable rig can save you money on hotel and campground fees
power or water outage - a more capable rig can save you stress by having backup resources
losing a lease or a house - a more capable rig can save you stress by ensuring you won't be sleeping on the streets
natural disasters like wildfire or hurricane - a more capable rig can save your life by allowing you to leave earlier and stay away longer
preparedness
The rig needs to be prepared before the emergency. The water container doesn't necessarily have to be filled and carried around 24/7, but it does have to be available.
The vehicle needs to be in serviceable condition with sufficient fuel in the tank.
checklist
Reminder: practice with all gear beforehand and rotate perishable stocks.
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food
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power enough to charge phones, run LED lights, and fans at least