Essential Items for Extended Free Camping

Words by Mike O’Neil Photography by Caravan & Motorhome on Tour

Two weeks doesn’t seem all that long for a bush or beach free-camp jaunt but when you consider that you are leaving behind ready access to a well-stocked pantry, water on tap and power at the flick of a switch, it takes on a different perspective.

Whether camping for one week, one month or one year, the essentials are water, food, refrigeration power and.

But the first step to any extended camp is to choose your destination and determine what facilities, if any, are available, so you know what you have to take along.

WATER AND FOOD

The length of time spent at the one camp is determined by the availability of water, which no doubt explains why the most popular extended camp spots are beside creeks, dams or rivers.

You need an average of two litres of water per person per day for personal consumption (not including cooking), more if you are involved in physical activity, particularly in hot, humid areas. While you can carry enough drinking water for considerable periods, it doesn’t last long if you are using it for washing up, showering and general tasks.

Camping next to a waterhole, creek, river or dam provides access to water for such mundane uses – a small submersible 12v bilge pump (around $20 from any marine store) attached to a hose and fed to a bucket will get the job done. If using creek/river water for consumption, precautions (boiling or water treatments) should be taken to avoid gastro illnesses.

The type and quantity of food needed for a two-week stay is determined by your appetite and tastes. If you enjoy simple, light meals then you won’t have a problem. Me, well I like two soft eggs and a couple of bacon rashers on a thick slice of toast garnished with a fat sausage and lamb chop… and that’s just for brekkie! Yep, I have problems carting enough food. The best method is to plan your meals ahead of time so you know how much you’ll need to take and how often you’ll need to head out to town.

POWER AND GAS

Later model RVs come with everything 12 volt, except the microwave and air-conditioner. Lights, pumps, television, radios all work from the RV’s battery system. Solar panels either mounted on the RV roof or as stand-alone fold-up units are the preferred method of keeping your battery power supply in good order.

Ideally you will also have a generator for those lengthy periods when the sun hides. With this you can power your RV and charge up your battery at the same time. Make sure you purchase a generator capable of running your microwave and air-conditioner – 2kva and over should do the trick, but check the start-up current needed for appliances to be certain.

Assuming you are a couple and your RV has a three-way fridge, one 9kg gas bottle should be sufficient for your needs (for two weeks), even allowing for an outside barbecue, such as a Baby Webber Q or two burners under a hotplate. However, it depends on usage.

REFRIGERATION

While your RV will have a fridge/freezer installed, a second fridge certainly makes extended camps more enjoyable. While three-way camp fridges give you more power choices, they are really best run on gas for any length of time. This means you need to rethink the amount of LPG you carry (and use).

More popular as a back-up or ancillary fridge are the compressor motor types powered by 12/240volts. These can be run through your RV’s power supply when linked to a dual battery system or run separately from a stand-alone battery recharged through solar panels or generator.

COMMUNICATION

Outside communication can be a problem when free-camping. There are add-ons for a Telstra mobiles and mobile broadband modems that enhance those units’ range, allowing a higher level of signal, making it possible to send emails and use your phone. There are a few different systems available so you need to talk to an electronics dealer to decide what is best for you. For those that can afford it, a sat phone is the ultimate – they start around $800.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

If your van is not fitted with toilet/shower, you will need to provide an alternative, and while some think a shovel and roll of toilet paper is adequate, more appropriate is a porta loo. A small shower tent, 12 volt submersible pump, shower rose and bucket will facilitate all your personal hygiene needs.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Don’t forget to take along a comprehensive first-aid kit and, if needed, enough medication for the duration of your stay… include an emergency supply in case you get rained in or for some reason have to stay longer.

If on any prescribed medications, ensure you have a supply to cover the free-camping period, take copies of your prescriptions.

FREE-CAMPING TIPS FROM C&M FORUM MEMBERS:

Surfing the Caravan and Motorhome Forum offers a wealth of free-camping information. Replies to a post I placed returned many pearls of wisdom:

This from Frank and Brenda out of Aldinga Beach SA: “You’ll need somewhere to cook your food. If you have the room and funds, the Webber Baby Q seems to be the choice of many, or if you are a handyman, you can make a choofer – we have cooked bread, roasts, stews, and used the frypan as a barbecue plate on ours.”

Jay and Dee say: “The first thing you must do is buy the ‘Camp 6’ book. With our van we enjoy all the comforts of home with a generator, solar panels, satellite dish with Foxtel, portable washing machine (twin tub) which saves us heaps of dollars, portable fridge/freezer 12 and 240 volt, fishing gear (a must) and opera nets for red claw. We have an ensuite-van so we are now very self-sufficient and set up for free-camping.”