Heading South for the Winter.......Packing 3.0

 

      Our favorite time of the year, pretty foliage, cool, and getting ready to head south.  Once the weather turns colder, rain falls with a hint of snow, and leaves are falling we are ready.  Of course, there are a few things left to do to get the house winterized, but machinery/vehicles have already been stowed in the barn, but packing the RV for 6 months is the big task.  This year will be our biggest challenge as our new RV is 5' shorter than our previous unit and with that comes a completely different storage setup.  It was a challenge for my wife and me.  She, however, is the "Logistics Master".  

      The outside tool storage was easier this year.  Since we didn't want the exterior kitchen option, we have plenty of outside storage, a huge compartment.  It holds tools, supplies, hunting clothing, boots and everything for maintenance we'll need.  

Outside storage

      The bedroom has no slide out room for a 'side to side' fit, so the bedroom has narrower aisles than our last unit.  The underbed storage is very nice.  It holds extra shoes, pet food, and golf clubs. A new addition this year for boondocking is the Jackery Unit.  This is a portable, rechargeable power source for anything requiring 120 VAC while boondocking.  It will be primarily used for my CPAP and lasts up to 6 hours over night.  I can recharge it via generator, USB, or even solar; both on the road and off. 

Under bed storage and Lithium Battery Access

Part of bedroom storage

      The bathroom is much smaller, yet the shower is a significant improvement with semi-circular easy-slide doors, and the cabinets/wardrobe hold quite a bit.  The clothing wardrobes are also smaller, but sufficient for us.  

 

Bathroom Wardrobe

Bathroom Storage pt 2

Snack, staple storage

      Now to the kitchen, dining, living room area, the 'coup de gras'.  Barb has always been a logistical wizard of space packing, be it my bags for a long USAF deployment to the groceries in the truck to the RVs.  This would include a full fridge/freezer, another freezer, and staples, spices, and stores for an extended road trip.  It did require a bit of trimming on our part, but my wife is excellent planner/packer.  There are, of course, the usual below bathroom sink and several overhead compartments like any other RV.  

Part of kitchen pantry

Engel Portable Extra Freezer 120VAC or 12VDC

      In the end Barb made it all fit.  Everything we'll need and most of what we want.  Sometimes you can't stock enough ahead as you would like.  For us it was space available.  This unit will weigh more, but we'll compensate some by leaving all the water tanks empty till we arrive.   We depart in a couple of days now, ready for the adventure.  We're planning on THE BIG CIRCLE this year: Michigan for 4 months > Texas> Washington> Montana>Michigan. 

 

"And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and fill my soul" 

John Muir

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