Preparing for an expedition

I am going to discuss this from a general perspective and also from the perspective of trying to do this out of a D90 with or, yes, without a roof rack(I have yet to have a roof rack or trailer).

10 gallons would last me and Susan and my Dog about a week. depending on exursion level and aridness of the climate.
But as you state below Big time trade offs. I rough it, and always look to camp near a water source or head towards one sooner or later to re-fill my cans from which I use a hand filter to fill canteens.

We each have one knife fork and Spoon, and Shorsha, the four paw drive Doggie, has a stainless mess kit. We use VERY litle water for washing. On rationing trips we scour with sand. We tend to try and eat out of the pot we cook in or if in the early days cook meats we cook over a fire on a hand held grill that sandwiches the meat. After we set over the fire for 10 minutes to clean and destroy any bacteria. If we do have paper plates(we relly almost never do) we burn them.

Only meat and cans with food residue makes garbage. We keep this to a minimum, trim all fats from meats that we will not eat. But for the majority of anything but a wekend trip we live on things like ramen noodles with creative spices. But we do not use the recommended water. I use just enough to make them moist, not soupy. We carry homeade trail mix of course. We keep lots of peanuts and other nuts in the rig. We avoid garbage. If the container is not burnable I don't want it. Zip lock baggies being the exception as they seal up and take up no room. If water will be available, and many times you can plan your trip so you camp near water, we use natural water for washing and then do not mind some canned goods and just wash and crush the cans, then seal in a bag in a bag. For using natural water for washing dishes we boil it for8 minutes(5 is all thats needed) befoe using.

Bathing is the big water waster. We use Baby wipes unless water is available fo the Sun shower. We never use carried water for this purpose. You will be amazed how clean you can stay using baby wipes. In Alaska we used them constantly for 3 months with only once a week using water to wash our hair(you just gotta at this point).

Real Hot arrid areas are tough. like the desert. It is good to ASSUME 3 gallons/day but you could get by with one if you do not exert yourself too much. I am a BIg guy and I use about one gallon in the desert if I am not hiking with a pack. But safety would dictate planning on 3. with the caveate do what I say not what I do, I usually only have 5 gallons of water when offroading when I plan my own trip with water sources in mind, I would take ten if I was going with a group and I did not plan it and it was short. If I was going to travle the outback one end to the other I would bring atleast 5 Gerry cans of water, and 10 of Fuel. Good thing this is pretty level running. This would be knowing where reliable water sources are going to be along my route.

It is exteremely impractical to plan on carrying all the water you will need on a extended 30 day or more expedition.

Keep in mind water weighs approximately 8lbs/gallon plus the can.

Fuel is another pain in the butt. less with a diesel. But just make sure you have more than enough to get where you are going.`I keep strict MPG records when traveling. I use this rounded DOWN with mileage planned rounded UP. I use worst mileage and always ad miles to the trip. Then carry more than needed. I figire 10MPG on my petrol D90. Thats 50 miles per Gerry can, and 150 for the tank. This is very conservative, and has never let me down.

Planning is of paramount importance.

Now to go into trying this out of a D90. I have been asked to do this and never got around to it, so I will discuss what I did in my D90 while traveling the country for 2 years, carrying EVERYTHING For Susan, My Dog, and myself.

The first thing you nee is a sence of adventure. Second me a little screwy in the head. I qualify on both counts. ;^)

Safe storage was my first concern. I decided bth for security(leaving the vehicle for hikes) and for possible mishap lock boxes where the way to go. Then LARGEST loxk boxes I could find to fit without paying for a custom job. Large because I find it most practicle to have a fixed cargo area that can be filled with all sizes and shapes of items, and yet lmiting where they exist. I wanted to keep it low. Heavy stuff very low. I researched Lock boxes(pick up truck ones withoiut the overhang) that could be ordered locally for 200.00 a piece. I decided having 2 one acessed from the front of the vehicle and one in the back most practicle. the back one was full length and could house the shot guns(I don't go anywhere without them) the front one had to allow the lid to clear the sloping roll cage braces and thus was smaller/ The boxes extended 3-4" above the top of the bed rails and spaned the wheel wells. This provided 2 secure mounted boxes that filled the cargo area, storage under the lock boxes on the floor, and some space on the sides and infornt of the lock boxes.

tricks:
1) spare parts, tools, emergency stuff is loaded in the front box. Less needed. All daily use(camping gear) in the rear lock box(easy access).

2) I put all loose items that could be joined together in some kind of sence in bags.
Emergency
assorted Corrective materials
Electrical
spare parts/fastners
tools

Why bags? Because bags conform to what is inside and grow and shrink with what is inside. this limits wasted space. Boxes end up with air space inside.

remember you need to carry everything you can, incae something goes wrong.
then practice packing helps a ton. you really need to get bused to thinking how everything can go into the storage area the most efficient way. It is an art believe me.

Under the lock boxes my Nato(yes they do not leak or allow fumes)gerry cans of Gas. I carried 3 as a rule. but 4 will fit. I also put my winch kit in a bag under there and anything eles I could fit really including my ax.

I tied my Water can (they leak) on the back tire using 2 ratchet straps. This will rub a mark on your alloy rims if yuou don't put some soft cloth betwen(like glued to the can). I didn't care. I usually carried only 5 Gallons.(plan on camping near water)

In front of the boxes behind the seats I had all manner of things but the most important was the Jack-all. it fits nicely accross the wheel well straped behind the roll bar cross member. This keeps it out of the dirt and elements when the top is on, and I never had to lube it.

On top of the boxes went our 2 back packs of clothing(use whatever bags you like that fit. mine had to take up only the back half of the boxes because Shorsha the four-paw-drive-doggie sat on the front one(yes this is dangerous if you get in an accident as I put up no guard. you should.

On the front wings I had my shovel and pick ax head mounted. To them I tied our camp chairs(A must for me as I have a horrible back).

When we first started we had 2 waterproof bags(the ones kyackers use. big ones) tied to each side of the external roll cage.

wrenches assorted stuff and jack under the passenger seat. you get the idea, utilise every square inch of space.

Dual Deep cycle starter batteries. run them off a switch, so you can run on one at a time, or both only for winching. This way one goes you have the other.

Remember to be always thinking about weight. I tried to keep everything back packer lite. We carried a back packer stove(whisper lite), and they work great. Much better than propane) and a can of white gas(lasts forever)

Do your research. act like your going t have to carry it. even being super conscience of weight I ended up with my 3500lb D90 weighing it at over 6100lbs! Good news is that it has a 1.5 ton axle. and it can take it. I have yet to break an axle( this is 2000) with over 100K on the truck.

I always keep 2 weeks worth of emergency food in the rig at all times(lite low space stuff) Again everything think bags within boxes. organiztion is key in this kind of endevour.

Communication:
we carried a cell phone(not activated. it still works you just get a roaming opperator) Sometimes you et a signal sometimes you don't.

A Single Side Band C.B with a 72" whip antenna. you get 12 watts SSB as appossed to 4 watts AM CB. Plus you can get skip. This may or may not work.

We will now carry one of those e-mail pagers as well(again hit or miss)

and I am looking into getting my Ham licence all the way to HF. Redundency is important.

Unlike me try and let someone know where you are going with a trip plan and when you plan on returning. in case something does happen someone will come looking for you.

I never know how long I am going to be anywhere for the most part.

Navigation:
I recommend HIGHLY you take a map reading course with backwods navigation.

GPS(don't rely on it a good tool though I should get one) Spare batteries

i used a compass and delorme gazzete maps. Delormes are not that good, but buying the Geological Survey maps 750:1 would cost a fortune!
But I have an unusually good sence of direction.

Get some survival training. even if it is reading a few good books(not only one when researching anything) and books on camping. If your going to do winter camping get books that talk about gear and problems associated with same.

Be prepared for the environment. Do not rely on anything in your vehicle to warm or cool you. Things go wrong.

If anyone has any questions feel free to contact me on or off line. I am sure I left something out.

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