BoondockingAirstream

Canis lupus Dingo... an ancient lineage of dog found in Australia. Blue Heeler, Queensland Heeler, Australian Cattle Dog domesticated and life expectancy to 16 years. A Dog that can handle High Temperatures, travel Long Distances, Rough Terrain, Protective of their Pack and faithful to their owners and herd children, when necessary. Our Oliver is now... DINGO, who was over 16 years old before passing among previous Blue Heelers we have traveled with. If our used Oliver gives us half the pleasure our previous Blue Heelers over the last 30 years... the name DINGO will be well earned. Our longest living Blue Heeler, rests in peace, within 40 feet of our Oliver this morning. This makes our pain in losing our friend, with the thought we are still traveling and exploring with fond memories for years to come. Dingo would have approved of our choice of an Oliver.

Fellow Booner... lively discussions revive the soul. Some are offended if you disagree with how the Moon rotates, which it doesn't. The longer the post, the more possibilities of improper verbs, misspelled nouns causing conflict with one another, causing a rupture within the English Departments at major Universities. I have spent more evenings in my destitute youth, sleeping on picnic tables overnight, then the next morning spend sunrise to sunset hunting fossils on Ranches in western Nebraska. A tent took too much time to set up and when driving a 1956 and stepped up to a 1964 VW Bug... with myself and a passenger, and my brother as a third person in the back... there was not much room for things, other canned Tuna, and Doughnuts. The drive from Independence, Missouri to western Nebraska was 685 miles to campsite. No more tent camping for us. Still have my first tent and our last tent. Makes my first tent over 50 years old... and at one time this tent style were used on Mount Everest by climbers. I may have to revise my estimate number for postings to Under 200, since I do not have an Oliver II, yet. And it would be foolish for a Neanderthal to burn the rope, before getting using it. Chiggers... my new friend is the curse of all insects. Oklahoma is home to the best... be good. I cannot help myself.

Two out of two examples, 100%. Myself and my Wife. Did it when young. Did it again in 2018... after selling the 25 foot Airstream... and went to 27 feet and never looked back. My survey is also accurate. I did the survey myself. I would suggest that dewdev and topgun2 do a survey of their town or city with more to question. I did my survey. My community was 2 out of 2. If you could survey a small town of, lets say 15,000 citizens and get some percentage, I would accept that as being accurate and rest my case like Perry Mason. I have a feeling that some post on the Forum just to get those weekly posting counts up. When I have 999 posts on the Forum... I will quit posting. Is that a fair statement? I may adjust to less than 300 posts, quit and let others who need to fill space on a Thread fill it up. After 300 posts, I would be struggling to come up with anything of any value to say. Already I am running into critical editorial comments and may need to hire an Editor to Fake Check further material I find written on the walls at the Maverick Service Station toilet door. I can easily see who is posting the most. I have been here for, what? Three or four years? I woke up from hibernating and needed to refresh my typing skills. Many mega posters use their cell phones and make the messages short. I use a keyboard and even add photographs to show what I am discussing. Maybe others should post more interesting material and start some Threads that will provoke some curiosity and discussion. I tend to find the same critics gathering like vultures ready to pluck feathers, when they should be soaring like an Eagle and let some of us... toss out ideas.

Those who Tent Camped in their youth are less likely to move into a RV or Trailer. They most likely put a camper on the back of the Pickup Truck... and lived in comfort. Those who spend more time Off the Grid... immediately recognize the benefits of a Trailer. An RV... limits your options for Off the Grid Boondocking. A Trailer up to 30 feet... can go to many places for those with driving skills, that most have none to brag about. We went from tent, 23 foot Airstream, 25 foot Airstream and stopped with a 27 foot Airstream, which is 28 feet long. If you tend to back into things, cannot judge the height of tree branch clearances, depth of ruts or pot holes in a NFS or BLM dirt road, width of a road, sage brush and Aspen leaning onto the sides of the 1.5 wide lane... etc... Stick with the camper on the pickup. The 25 foot Airstream Safari was a perfect length. After one season Tent Camping... photos... no more Tent Camping for the Blue Heelers. Waking up in the middle of the night with various parts of a Blue Heeler in your face... is an experience. That is why an Oliver II is an attractive length and if we find one used... as it has to be ONLY Propane and Solar Independent. Plugging into anything for power is OK as long as it a 'Rock or the side of a Tree'. Those who want to argue the point... start your own Thread. You probably have never OTG Boondocked with us, before. If once, probably not a second time. We are like Star Trek trailer towers... 'Go where Human Beans do not Dare'. The majority of Campers... are social Human Beans. They live to have company and chatter about things that many find... unusual... like their previous illnesses and why their hair has turned... purple. But that is another story, or lie... you chose. I recall when the Tent was optional. As long as you could find your 4x4 vehicle... things were good. Modern GPS has fixed that issue. What is your story? If you never tent camped... start your own Thread. You have no clue what we are discussing. Two daughters were results of... tent camping. One big reason we went to an Airstream. ...and if you are posting... photographs are proof that you are not reading a National Geographic and cutting out illustrations. I offered to fly the National Geographic flag when I was 16 years old, collecting fossil mammal fossils in the Badlands of Nebraska. They did reply. No flag... I did it anyways for many years.

Paper Plates, paper napkins, stainless steel flatware and no complaints. Personally, I like to discourage neighbors from inviting themselves to have any Meal with us. My wife is an excellent cook. I am an excellent eater. Since I have a high activity metabolism... I can eat at will, never gain weight and drink 60 ounces of water a day. If I am swimming in a lake... maybe twice as much. That is... Will I eat this or that? You Betcha... This is good. That is not... kind of eater. Neighbors: Be Aware... We have two Blue Heelers. Uninvited guests get to see our Blue Heelers clean off our plates with the 'Canine Licking Sterilization Process' and then they are stacked neatly, onto the kitchen counter. The Heelers already lick my face, so why not our paper plates, as well?

West of Albuquerque, New Mexico is the Space Alien dropping off point. Often 18 wheelers and Trailers in Tow spend the evening. If you are not looking... you will miss the exit. I hate to disappoint anyone. Nothing happened after Sunset or Sunrise to wake us up and the Blue Heelers. Another disappointment near Meteor Crater, which is further west from here.

Excellent and interesting signs. This sign is posted in a small town in Nevada, across from a Casino and a Denny's where we spend the evening at the large gravel lot to the East. There is a RV Park with trees a bit north and this sign is to persuade 'campers' to squeeze into a small space, if possible. No facilities, truckers find it convenient, as well. The Double Cheeseburger and Fries is good for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner or a 'snack' for those of us who burn the calories wandering the canyons, mesas, mountains and have a wrist GPS in the event we get lost. The GPS gives us direction to go, distance and if it were not for the canyon walls... the one mile short cut... is closer to 4 miles to access our camp.

I know. You and a few others have a good Sense of Humor. A rare commodity today. Do you always fill your Scuba tanks with 'hot air' or laughing gas? Or just a rumor? ******* Now... seriously things WE DO when away from our trailer. Your TRAILER is the most valuable item left at a campsite. Remember that. It will cost $1,000's if a typical thief uses a crow bar for access into your trailer to take your hot dog buns and a six pack of beer. We leave our front door unlocked. We leave our outside storage door unlocked. We always retract our AWNING when no in or near the Trailer. A Secure Locking assembly on your Hitch. I like the ACE lock mechanism. If a thief damages any locking mechanism, it is going to cost you money to have it cut off and replace... but it did it job. Made stealing your Oliver and everything within. If it is ever recovered... it will be stripped of anything of value. At a Campground... lock it up. Others notice someone wandering with a spring steel nail remover in hand. This is the 99% most likely place for problems. (Yes... you can say you have never, ever... had a problem. Great. But you have not Rolled Over your Oliver, either. Takes a good alert experienced driver... 🙂 Between Grand Junction, Colorado and Ouray, Colorado is this roll over Airstream. The highway coming into Ouray from the South... is a real hum dinger.

My break time is over Sorting Thousands of Casino Dice... but had these signs to add. Montana Forest Service, Zion National Park when you are towing OUT at the South End and pay $15, Nevada (NO Fish at Fish Lake... These are for Lithium Evaporation Ponds and create Sink Holes in the process when drawing the salt brine from deep underground.

Traveling can be an adventure and sometimes even worse. Signs are put along side the road to WARN or ADVISE those who are new to the area. Like YOU and Myself! I take photographs of some that are interesting. Here are a few. Do you have some 'special signs' as well? Utah, New Mexico, Montana, Nevada

We travel with two Blue Heelers. They travel in Pet Porters on the back seat, with a blanket folded on the seat to protect wear and tear. When loading our Heelers, I extend the Petstep to their Pet Porter and each Heeler is happy to walk up the ramp and into their Pet Porter. The Petstep is also convenient to use for access in and out of our trailer. We raised our trailer with a 3 inch lift and swapped out from the stock 15 inch tires to 16 inch Michelins. This raised the first step higher and the Petstep is good for Human Beans, as well. The Petstep was purchased some years ago, so you will need to search the Internet. It is 72 inches long unfolded, 36 inches folded at the hinge and 17 inches wide. I keep it in the back of the tow vehicle and pull it out at Service Station stops and anytime have traveled some time and we all need to get out and stretch our 8 legs. It will take a few prompts to push the back of your dog to get the idea... and they catch on quickly. I did, myself when adapted the ramp into our trailer. When using the Petstep as a ramp access to your Oliver, I place a small footstool support near the middle of the ramp to reinforce it. If you dog(s) jump out of the Pet Porter, they will step onto the edge of the door frame, first. Then quickly go forward with their front paws to the ground. We do not want to injure the shoulders of either of our 'working dogs'. We may walk miles when we hike to explore areas we chose on a map as a 'places of interest'. Your Dog will quickly adapt and it even works for us. You may notice we have two Solar Panels mounted on the roof of the trailer and I added a portable from Costco (100 watt with Controller included for $99.00) for EXTRA charging. When our AGM Interstate batteries are fully charged, the remote shuts off the power to the batteries... all... by itself. Just a FYI. I am posting this for your Dog. This is not some kind of advertisement. Your dog will lick you when you least expect it... and a ramp.

Thank you Mike and Carol for such a positive statement. My "heart soars like a bird'... Little Big Man film. Boondocking is a choice, not the only option for using one's tent, RV or Trailer. I have walked the Oregon Trail in Wyoming and except for some exceptions... only the wind survived what erosion could not.

I am more curious how YOU Off the Grid Boondock, as would others with Olivers. Yellowstone Park and the Grand Tetons to many at a RV Park is primitive camping and do not mind bumper to bumper traffic. Most people do not buy their Trailers to enjoy Nature... tent campers do. Trailer owners prefer the comforts of their Trailer over primitive Tent Camping. I have hiked and we did not use Tents at high elevations. I am well versed in Archaeology, Geology, Paleontology, Mineralogy, Hydrology, Underground Water Supplies and other outdoor activities. Man left footprints on the Moon. Without an atmosphere, they may be there for centuries. With the Hydrology Cycle of Water on the Earth's surface... footprints are temporary. Ask the Anasazi Indians... which spent a long time throwing trash, which are now illegal to pickup today and countless footprints that no longer are to be found. I love to debate any issue I have experience. If many are offended, I apologize, and will depart as quickly as I arrived. My intent is to provide some information that is otherwise, not discussed on a Forum of this nature. If people are offended, I understand and would advise that the Moderators discuss my intrusions and eagerness to add to topics I am familiar. If the consensus is that I am too focused on the Outdoors... that is because I spent most of my life... outdoors. Please tell me I am stepping over my welcome and I shall take the... proverbial hike, and happy to do so.

Nope... all directed towards Oliver Trailer owners. I get an idea to present and go for it. I have a 27 foot Airstream currently. This is my third since 2006. This is the maximum length for Off the Grid Boondocking for me. The 25 foot was the best, but none on the Dealer's Lot for sale, other than some longer Airstreams in 2020. Posted a WANT on the Oliver Wants for an Oliver II 2018 to 2020. Will see how that develops. If you go to the Airstream Forum... you will pick out 'my style' of posting. I find Oliver Trailers to be 'kissing cousins' and BOTH are Tied for Number ONE for OTG Boondocking. Once I own an Oliver... I will know it inside and out, as I know Airstreams. The 2019 may be the last of the Propane / Solar / 12 volt models that work for me.

Boondocking Off the Grid: We do not Wash Dishes... we use disposable paper plates and paper bowls. Dixie 10 1/16" Paper Plates- 186 pack for $19.09 Dixie Ultra 20 ounce bowls 135 count, Costco $14.19. (As examples for prices delivered.) Coffee Cups: I use my US Army cup since 1969 and my wife the second cup. I suspect the cups are now 70 years old... when made for GI's. Water is precious when Off the Grid. Paper plates can be wiped clean, depending on what was put upon them. We have never become ill, food poisoned nor disappointed in using disposable plates. They can also be used to start a campfire if you are among the campfire users. We are not campfire campers, but do not object to others who are. Hot water is using the Cook Top propane for the amount to wash stainless flat ware and cooking pots and pans. Cold rinse or whatever is left of the hot water. Never fire up the five/six gallon hot water tank. Those Off the Grid campers who like to shower everyday... may eventually camp for days and wash up when leaving the campsite. It is easier to use the cook top to heat water, wash up and rinse. Everyone may have a variant method to keeping the Cooking and Bathing to their comfort levels. A fresh running creek or edge of a river is a Jump In, linger a bit and Run out to dry off. Ahhhhhh. Refreshing and... an eye opener on a hot day. Get a bowl of hard water, soap up on shore, rinse off in the running river. Your hair will be stiff with hard water... so maybe had just left that out of the washing routine. No... your washing will not kill fish nor poison the water supply down stream... Our routine is... if we start the morning clean... after two hours hiking... wasted effort to leave clean each day. Hats maintain hair maintenance and wildness. Fresh water into the face....aaaaahhh and dry. Fill the Dog's water bowl. Not bowel... they take care of that themselves in the Forest or empty Prairie. We have found some, RV Campers, who need to shower every day OTG at least once, maybe more often. They are always needing to fill their fresh water tanks, propane tanks and looking for Dump Stations in... nowhere USA and hauling excess weight in the process. We manage to dry camp for weeks, much like serious Tent Campers who hike the mountain trails for days or weeks. We were tent campers up to 2006 with our first trailer. This was a dramatic change. But our conservation habits have remained. Water is for drinking... First. We follow National Forest guidelines for Cat Holes solid waste in the wilderness. Showering using the outside Shower is great. If you prefer some modesty... a Shower Tent next to the trailer. We used the tent one season. Never since. No pickup truck accidents in the area we showered in the buff... but we keep our fingers crossed. If any of this makes you 'queasy' (unpleasant nervous or doubtful feeling) do not go Off the Grid with us. If you have ever been at a Hunter's Campsite... you know. If you think a RV Park without hot showers and flushing toilets is primitive for your standards... do not go Off the Grid with us. What are your Off the Grid survival options? Obviously many never lived in a Cabin in the National Forest without running water, interior plumbing and maybe had some electricity for appliances. As a kid... I did not realize that sinks in the kitchen had a pipe that drained the sink out through the wall. That is why the grass was greener and taller. The outhouse... a Sears catalog was great for browsing and an unlimited paper supply. I have been accused as having a mind of a Neanderthal. It is true... not only the mind of... We all have our quirks. Myself... I am just getting started. But... when things begin to fall apart... I am ready to take on anything. Wyoming Yaaaaaa Hooooo.

Sorry... five letters. The 'n' was added when it was returned by the thief, making it six letters. 🙂

(Various versions of the song exist. These are some examples of the lyrics:) Beans, beans, the musical fruit The more you eat, the more you toot The more you toot, the better you feel So we have beans at every meal!1 or Beans, beans, they're good for your heart The more you eat, the more you fart The more you fart, the happier/better you feel So let's eat beans with every meal1 or Beans, beans, they're good for your heart The more you eat, the more you fart The more you fart, the more you eat The more you sit on the toilet seat or Beans, beans, they give you gas They make you fart, and burn your ass The more you eat, the more it hurts So slow down your eating to stop the squirts Beans, beans, the magical fruit the more you eat the more you toot 1This line can also be replaced with: "So eat them beans at every meal" or Beans, beans, they're good for your heart the more you eat the more you fart the more you fart the better you feel beans, beans for every meal. This line can also be replaced with: "So eat your beans with every meal" Even a grown man has the boy within.

Just a real surprise to us. When we bought our first Airstream, Cousin to Oliver, in 2006 we began at a RV Park in Boulder City, Nevada. The RV Park in Boulder City was NOT the big surprise. What we FOUND to be a quirk in International Travel Trailer rentals and having this RV Park as their last stop, was a surprise. When the content travelers returned,from their USA Adventure... with the Rental RV needed to be left clean and empty... they had, also, purchased all the other necessary supplies and hardware for their time spent camping. So far, so good? Good for us. The surprise was made when I was taking a bag of Trailer Trash to the dumpster.... there was all this 'good stuff' siting around the dumpster. Left as the foreign traveler's could not haul it TO the USA, nor haul it OUT of the USA on an Airplane. I am never embarrassed. My wife, maybe... but I am sly and often the trash hauler to the dumpster, anyways. Even a Tent. Propane Grill. Cylinders for the Grill. If you liked Easter Egg Hunts... you and I are among company. As I am an opportunist when it comes to finding "one man's trash is another man's Treasure"

We found inexpensive Costco $99 100 watt panels an easy upgrade to Solar Power when Boondocking. When purchasing our last Airstream, a cousin to the Oliver, we had two 80watt panels installed on the roof and a pair a AGM Interstate batteries that have worked perfectly since 2016. Five years is nothing. We had factory Solar on a 2006 and the AGM Batteries were fine when we sold it in 2014. The Solar Panel sold at Costco cost $99 and come with the Controller and Wiring directly to my AGM Batteries. I wire the + on one battery positive terminal and the - on the negative battery terminal. I am not an Electrician, but it works and made sense to run the wiring among both batteries. It worked in 2019 and still working when the portable panel is brought out, plugged into the, already set up connection from Airstream with connecting plug on the external Battery Box. The controller is wired within the battery compartment. I put the controller into a plastic bag, and seal it from water, dust and vibration against the batteries. We did this in our 2014 Airstream that had NO Solar. It was expensive to add by the Dealer. For $99, wired up the 100 Watt panel and... never had any 12 volt problems and kept fully charged with plugging in the Solar Panel once parked. The panel I would move with the Sun when sitting around the trailer. When hiking... set it with some idea of the direction of the Sun. (Yes... we are not City Slickers lost without Common Sense.) Two Panels.... 200 watts for $200. The Costco Panels are heavy duty standard panels... and the included Controller makes it all... WORK. I show some examples of how a Milk Crate with some rocks in it works. You can also make a portable stand. I use the milk crates to store a five gallon water jug in the back of the tow vehicle. The Solar Panel has a + and a -. You have to keep that in mind when wiring onto the Controller. It has a Green Light diode glowing for fully charged and a Yellow when charging. The wires seem thin, but obviously work from the Controller to each battery terminal. I can have the trailer in the RV Garage and have a long cord for the Solar Panel, lean it into the Sun... and Presto... charging. Also charging using the electrical outlet. Write your name in Magic Marker on ALL SIDES and the BACK of the panel. The panel is of no value, without the Controller for a Thief. We often park Off the Grid and hike from the campsite. The tow vehicle is attached... only for convenience. This works. Your inside monitoring system will show the charge and the Controller will be glowing yellow when the batteries need... some.... Zap. This is not for those using AC, Television and 110 volt appliances. Boondocking. We have not used our AC's. Our televisions. Works great for 12v radio. Spend $100 or $1200 for a roof panel setup... and if you double your panels... $200 for saving $1000 and more? I may be old... but even anyone older than 14 years old can figure this one out. I used an orange extension cord the first time for the older Airstream. Used the Male and Female plug for wiring and fifteen feet of orange cord attached to the panel. It worked. Someone may have more to add. I am not complaining. It is my hard saved money... and you may feel the same. Cousin Airstream may be different... but we all share a common thread. Using our trailers to the best of our ability.

Boonter Jeff.... now we are on a roll. Hot or cold rolls, who cares when hunger is growling? What about the 'Desert'? Baked Beans? Dinty/Spam as the 'meat' portion of a healthy meal. Bush's Original Baked Beans. One big Watermelon. Under five pounds is not a Big Watermelon. OK? ... at breakfast... Half of a one pound Apple Fritter. Of course this is not what you eat at home. This is Boondocking and better yet... Off the Grid where even stale bread is... OK. Cowboys sitting around a campfire in the movies is REAL Faces Baked in the Sun and having a large cast iron pot of Baked Beans stewing. "Blazing Saddles" comes to mind with an Oliver Trailer for the Cook. Oh yes. Real Boondockers know the difference. Singing and tooting... along with company. Even an Airstream works for us. Watch Real Boondockers on Videos of Blazing Saddles with Campfire... If you cannot beat them, join them.

Ahhhh Yes. Another living on the Edge of Civilization. Fried Spam... just the smell will bring out the Grizzley, Brown and Black Bear at Yellowstone and Glacial Park. For the Tame and less risky personalities... how about Dinty Moore? Put a Sterno Cooker underneath either Spam or Dinty and... enjoy life. Possibly a belly ache the first time, but it sure goes down.... ahhhhh.

Spam use to be something put in between slices of thick bread. It was great camping meals when doing a 'hit and run' short camping stop, coffee and some healthy doughnuts as a teenager. Three traveling in a 1964 VW Bug on a camping trip to the Badlands of western Nebraska Badlands to hunt fossils. Tuna in a can was also loaded with protein and lasted most of the day. Yummy. Tuna and a Soda was enough energy to keep one going until early afternoon climbing the gullies and hill tops looking for fossils washing out of the soft silty hillsides. Having a package of Tootsie Roll Pops, except chocolate..., were good energy boosters in between 'meals in a can or a bag'. Potato chips for salt. Fresh water in a canteen. A Candy Bar stuffed into a shirt pocket when feeling weak... a Baby Ruth use to be 1/4 pound and now is just a fraction of that, today. This mixing of good, bad and some apples or oranges provided vitamins to counter act all of the... other menu items that were convenient and portable. Spam has taken a bad rap today. Multiple meanings. To post Spam and to eat Spam are not the same. Yet, my wife will not purchase Spam at a Grocery Store, nor dig into a can with the convenient Key to twirl to open the sterile container. Spam... now considered inappropriate to be sent, digested or applied to a sandwich. Does anyone recall feasting on Spam while camping? How about the 1/4 pound 'BABY' Ruth candy bar for Five Cents? Another example of Spam being applied to a hiker's options of easy energy access. Our Tents on Wheels... have ruined our Diets. We have been Spammed with so many options that we live better... on the road and off the Civilized World with our food selections and options to sleep in a comfortable bed, on a couch with some discomfort or just slumped over onto the table, while sitting on a comfortable sofa. What has become of US? C Rations in the US Army in 1969 varied with the contents. The dry chocolate was not too bad. The cookies, as well. There use to be good stuff in a Can. I still yearn for a freshly opened can of Tuna... when rock hunting and climbing around rock exposures. Puncture the can, drain the Tuna Juice onto some surface and enjoy. No doubt late at night the Coyote, the Bear, the Badger or some other Tuna lovers would lick what they could as a treat for themselves. Spam in a Can... not on the Internet... was a common sight. Today... I have not seen a full or empty can anywhere. Spam has been taken off the Menu? What do you miss? The Tootsie Roll Pop snacking late in a long hike into and out of... nowhere? A Butter Finger, shared? These were the 'health foods' we as youngsters could afford and easily digest. Healthy food has ruined our choices... or have you found options? What, may I ask... are your substitutes? Baloney and mustard on a Bun? That is ancient history as well. A 10 pound watermelon eaten entirely by three individuals under 20 years old? Ancient history, gone. Please tell me I am not alone. I miss the smell of a hot dog, smothered with mustard... raw and burnt on a campfire before catching on fire... as Ahhhhhh. No wonder I am so healthy. I survived my youth... by living on the Edge.

For those possessing a bit of 'Trust' and a bit of 'Skepticism / Scepticism' of fellow man... is why insurance companies exist. The Insurance Industry covers that Middle Ground of making one whole and the other, the premium payer, more whole. Spelling differs depending on what kind of Skeptic or Sceptic hemisphere you are from. So can you... Insurance using a Magic Marker. A Camp Thief will avoid any item(s) with a NAME, permanently printed onto an object of some value... if the name is not the same as his. You cannot sell a lot of items at a Garage Sale in town, if everything has different names. You can not identify your folding chair without positive identification. Even if you are sitting on the chair and recognize the big dent on the side from a strong wind tossing it onto the side of a large rock. Spell your last name correctly. Print so anyone can read the letters. The Greek Alphabet and Roman may not agree in North America. Make it so the name you apply is visible. You can use DINGO as long as you can remember that everything was marked DINGO and have at least one photograph as an example. It can be your last name, like Smith...? Or Jones? Maybe Ford? We had a gift when we purchased our First Travel Trailer. Two pink Flamingos. When our friends were going to meet us later in the day at an Off the Grid campsite in NW Colorado, we planted one Pink Flamingo just off the road, for the turn to the campsite. A car slowed down, plucked our Flamingo out of the ground and drove off. We saw the dust and the departure of the vehicle and Flamingo. The second Flamingo had our NAME on both sides... written in black magic marker. Problem Solved. We do not wear Jewelry when Off the Grid or camping or fishing or rock climbing or rock hunting or.... you are catching on. DON'T or avoid wearing jewelry Off the Grid. I have a metal detector. I find what you will lose. An old Tent Camping site with some rusted tin cans was the first sign. I looked to see where I would place a tent for afternoon shade and morning Sun. Took out my metal detector. Something detected at aluminum. It was a 14k gold woman's size wedding band in Nowhere Utah. That was 12 years ago. Still have the ring... in a small carton in a drawer at home. Do not swim with rings or a necklace in a lake or swimming beach. As metal detectors can be put onto a FLOAT of styrofoam and lost objects are easily discovered under one to five feet of water. Ignore these thoughts if you will. If you lose something.... valuable that should have been stowed away safely... bring a metal detector. I do. I have even found Paper Currency while metal detecting... it is interesting what you can find when looking. Safe and Wise are four letters. So is Lost. Important letters. Stolen... five letters. Be SMART... another five letters. ...and Happy Campers you will be.

I see some Threads about where to store or hide your 'VALUABLES" when OliverDocking. Worried about losing your Tow Vehicle? Your Trailer? What are you considering... valuable. Your... clothing, shoes, sheets on the bed, Dometic Refer, Cook Top, Microwave, Tires and Wheels... the $1,000,000 in Cash kept in a coffee can in the Pantry? Your sweat pants? Even crooks have standards... clothing is not among their choices. Ask your Insurance Agent what issues has he had reported about Trailers and Losses. Probably: Portable propane cooking outdoor unit. Bicycles. Ice Chest. Weight lifting set? Credit Cards are cash. Cash is optional, but some needed according to YOUR experience. Worried about a thief taking your loose Rolex watch? Gucci Purse? Gold coins laying around on the kitchen table? Stacks of cash left on the couch? What are you concerned about losing when camped in Remote Locations? This is a City Problem... not a Rural Problem. A City Newspaper content is not like the Kemmerer, Wyoming newspaper content. Don't confuse the two or three... or the National Forest Service warnings about leaving trash outside for Bear and Coyotes to leave scattered across the field. We have never had a single item missing, taken, evaporated, beamed up into a Spacecraft, had visitors drop in for Dinner uninvited or anything else when camped Off the Grid. Newbies... have an imagination that Alfred Hitchcock can manipulate... on the home television. Those programs are made up to get your attention. They are fake stories, not real. They are intended to get your attention, so you will watch the long series of Commercials selling makeup and loose fitting underwear and better razor blades. A Honda Generator sitting outside, under a tree... is a "TAKE THIS HOME" invitation to the one Thief driving by on the 'main road'. When not in use... put it into your tow vehicle. If you need a Generator, you probably should not be OliverDocking, anyways. We figured that out the first year. A SOLAR SYSTEM is far superior... and harder to steal, since thieves do not carry tall ladders around in their junker mini pickup. Think like a... Thief. If you are driving around the Forest or Prairie in the Rocky Mountains and see an isolated Trailer sitting in the trees... what would you want to... steal? Really. Are you looking at the tires and wheels, which would not fit their compact car. How about the mattress... yuck. Used. What then? Leave the door unlocked in the forest. Are you going to break into the trailer and then look for... bacon and bean soup cans? Ice cubes. Valuable gold jewelry? A television worth about $25 fenced in town to an undercover policeman? What? There is nothing in our trailer I would want to steal, break into or worry about being taken. I may not even notice it missing after two or three trips. TOOLS are hot items. Chainsaws. Honda generator. Overpriced Ice Chests, Propane cooking units... sitting outside. Can't hide them... so when leaving a campsite, put them in the back of your tow vehicle OR on the side of the trailer where they cannot be seen by someone driving by... which could be YOU... if the mythical thief is browsing visually. If at a campground... after Sunset... now you have something to consider. During the day at a campground... some risk, but your neighbors are watching for unusual activity... like YOUR walking around with your Dog, looking harmless and not browsing the wildlife eating off the picnic table of cold hot dogs and buns. Just relax. We could afford to lose some junk. Better yet... leave that stuff at home. Stuff has weight and your tow vehicle is already at MAX. Camping and having stuff laying around like a Garage Sale is not a good idea. Have Fun. Do not Worry about what will probably never happen to you. If it does... let us know. What have you lost? Me... my memory.

An Oliver is 100% capable to Tent Camp. An Airstream is 100% capable to Tent Camp. A Tent is NOT 100% capable to Oliver or Airstream Boondocking. Everything your trailer has... a tent camper... has NOT. We have never used our microwave with Power access or without Power. We remove the microwave always and use the empty space to store loaves of Bread and Doughnuts. Ahhhhh. Apple fritters, blueberry doughnuts... you know. Camping "Health Foods". We added a sliding curtain over the opening and webbing to keep things from bouncing out onto the floor. Works. If you do not need the space, leave the microwave where it is. Store things inside of it. Much easier. If you can manage to Tent Camp just one season or five years... you will be able to OllieDock. You have a home on wheels. Your tow vehicle is independent, once the trailer is detached from the trailer. Find a convenient camping site, detach and explore with your Tow Vehicle. Secure the hitch with a locking unit is your important 'protection'. We never LOCK the front door of our trailer(s). If someone wants to steal the... microwave... OK. Just do not mess up the front door or break window to gain entry. A thief may discover your clothes do not fit. The microwave is too small. The hats support the wrong sport... What do you think a Thief wants to take from your Trailer, anyways. Probably tools. Most likely the... doughnuts and Apple Fritters. The damage on your thief entering... will exceed the value of your hats and screwdrivers. So many trailer owners are nervous about camping all... alone. You live and leave your HOME every day, don't you? How often is your Home Missing Anything? Rarely. It is even safer isolated Off the Grid Boondocking at remote locations. Why? Because people who are also camping or live in the area... wonder what YOU are doing there. Everyone is watching the other... by choice. The 'bad guy' is even more nervous as anyone who is camped in the 'Boonies' may be armed, have a dog or two... or has a bad attitude when a person is wandering around the area. We have never had our Tent broken into by a human. Field mice, yes. They will eat into your tent if they sense edible food within. Yep... don't leave food in your TENT. We have never had our Trailer broken into by a human... or Bear... or Field Mouse... or Snake... or a Human Being. This is overblown expectations made by those at Commercial Campsites and having a bicycle sitting outside overnight. Big problem... but not where you Boondock. Our bicycles are worth about $25, heavy and a bit beat. Good tires, though. What CAN You Live Without... when away from civilization? Are you a bit nervous being out in strange places? Do you imagine furry animals wanting you as a quick meal? Afraid of a Rattlesnake climbing the front steps to curl up with you... in bed... to keep warm at night? The 'Boogieman' was what we imagined was in the closet when young... waiting to... GET You. Have a Walking Stick... made from a Beaver Dam Lodge that is about five feet long and large enough diameter to hold comfortably in your hand. Carve you name onto the top, in case you forget your first name. Everything in the Forest or Desert is more afraid of YOU, than you are of THEM. Heck... I am keeping my distance from YOU. That is how it works in No Place, No Where. It is safer than parked on a City Street, anytime. Anyone who Boondocks is assumed to have experience, afraid of nothing, chases Brown and Black Bear away with a pot and pan banging together... while eating a Blueberry Doughnut. ...and no one messes with a woman with a five foot club... Makes camping with your trailer wonderful. My sweetheart can take care of herself and I know who is Boss. You will too.