Nice! That's quite the long haul, but would be well worth it. What part of our lovely wild country did you come to? Is it all just top load storage, or drawers (sorry, I haven't gotten through the build post yet.)
How Minimalist Can You Get?
- Thread starter picklejuice
- Start date
Member III
British Columbia heading up to the Yukon. It is beautiful up there - I love western Canada.
The trailer is just top-loaded - no drawers or tailgate. Think of it as a big aluminum diamond plate toolbox with a hinged lid. In the shape of a WWII trailer vs. just a rectangle box with a hinged lid. The thread is long, but well worth the effort before you start building a little HF-based trailer. By the time you're done going through it, hopefully it will have answered any questions you might have had, and given you some things to think about you hadn't thought of.
USStrongman
Rank V
Influencer II
Getting older makes minimalism more challenging. Im at the point where comfort more often trumps minimalism.
Back in the day, three layers, two changes of under layers, food, fuel, bag, single burner, one pot, one Nalgene bottle, poles, snowshoes and dry food was good for a 3 day snowshoe/snow caving trip. Now Im pulling a trailer!
Back in the day, three layers, two changes of under layers, food, fuel, bag, single burner, one pot, one Nalgene bottle, poles, snowshoes and dry food was good for a 3 day snowshoe/snow caving trip. Now Im pulling a trailer!
Advocate I
True,. I know what you mean. I used to climb mountains by foot, now I got 4x4 to take me there :)
madcratebuilder
Rank V
Pathfinder I
Platform is at the top of the wheelwells, 12" according to Decked. It does give me a larger flat sleeping area, being just over 6' tall I have to sleep at a angle in the bed. I have a Slumberjack tent/cover so I can leave the tailgate down if I want. When I'm in the woods I get by on 6-8hrs sack time.
Gotcha. My platform sat on top of the wheel wells, had about 10" +/- clearance underneath for bins. Couldn't quite sit up straight when on top of the platform.Platform is at the top of the wheelwells, 12" according to Decked. It does give me a larger flat sleeping area, being just over 6' tall I have to sleep at a angle in the bed. I have a Slumberjack tent/cover so I can leave the tailgate down if I want. When I'm in the woods I get by on 6-8hrs sack time.
Member III
I use a normal tent, instead of a rooftop tent.
I have a basic ice cooler, will keep ice for about 3 to 5 days depending on the weather, so no in car fridge/freezer.
Most of the recovery and other camp stuff is secured to the roof rack.
My grill is about 10x12", very small and uses butane cans.
My folding table, is about the size of a small tent bag when folded.
I use the trasheroo to bring dog food, bowls, etc.
I have a basic ice cooler, will keep ice for about 3 to 5 days depending on the weather, so no in car fridge/freezer.
Most of the recovery and other camp stuff is secured to the roof rack.
My grill is about 10x12", very small and uses butane cans.
My folding table, is about the size of a small tent bag when folded.
I use the trasheroo to bring dog food, bowls, etc.
Being retired I don't do as many activities as before and since my wife prefers to stay home I only pack for 1.
If I did not use it last trip, it does not get packed this trip.
ZERO redundancy. ZERO spare parts..... with the exception of a spare tire.... and booster cables... plus the original jack.
Clothing, Footwear, same thing. Minimal stuff and if I run out of clean clothes, I find a laundramat.
Hikers are my daily shoes plus a pair of sandals soI can walk intothe lake.
I have no" storage tubs", everything is on shelves.... there is 1.... or in opencubbyholebins.... there are 4.
My menus are definitely minimalistic.
If I decide on cold cereal and milk for breakfast, that will be breakfast til it is gone. Then maybe a change to yogurt and granola.
Lunches are always cold, sandwiches or salads, or fruit.
Dinners, are often in restaurants. I love a cold draft beer at the end of the day with a hot meal.
I quit carrying a stove and fuel years ago. I buy coffee on the road.
Crackers, cheese, coldcuts, pickles, salza, get me thru evenings.
Scotch and water reduces the size of my bar.
My kitchen is a $10 Kooltron Cooler plus an old cooler for a dry box, plus a shelf to hold cutlery, the bar, toiletries, daily stuff.
Water, 2, old 2L pop bottles carry enough water for a few days.
I bet everything I pack would fit into one of those trasharoo things. And for garbage I use a plastic grocery bag.
Beyond that, my SquareDrop Trailer has a full size mattress plus 3 sleeping bags to layer on cold nights.
I love the bed, it is always ready. Need a nap, pull over. End of the day in the dark, park, roll into bed.
Rainy morning? Roll out of bed and drive away. Next night, the bed is still made up and dry.
There is never any need to setup camp or pack up the next day. Part of minimizing is eliminating wasted activities.
Always on a budget, I built the OSB BOX on the trailer for $800. And the trailer new cost less than an RTT.
Some guys spend more than that on storage boxes.
When I need a shower, I look for one of these..
If I did not use it last trip, it does not get packed this trip.
ZERO redundancy. ZERO spare parts..... with the exception of a spare tire.... and booster cables... plus the original jack.
Clothing, Footwear, same thing. Minimal stuff and if I run out of clean clothes, I find a laundramat.
Hikers are my daily shoes plus a pair of sandals soI can walk intothe lake.
I have no" storage tubs", everything is on shelves.... there is 1.... or in opencubbyholebins.... there are 4.
My menus are definitely minimalistic.
If I decide on cold cereal and milk for breakfast, that will be breakfast til it is gone. Then maybe a change to yogurt and granola.
Lunches are always cold, sandwiches or salads, or fruit.
Dinners, are often in restaurants. I love a cold draft beer at the end of the day with a hot meal.
I quit carrying a stove and fuel years ago. I buy coffee on the road.
Crackers, cheese, coldcuts, pickles, salza, get me thru evenings.
Scotch and water reduces the size of my bar.
My kitchen is a $10 Kooltron Cooler plus an old cooler for a dry box, plus a shelf to hold cutlery, the bar, toiletries, daily stuff.
Water, 2, old 2L pop bottles carry enough water for a few days.
I bet everything I pack would fit into one of those trasharoo things. And for garbage I use a plastic grocery bag.
Beyond that, my SquareDrop Trailer has a full size mattress plus 3 sleeping bags to layer on cold nights.
I love the bed, it is always ready. Need a nap, pull over. End of the day in the dark, park, roll into bed.
Rainy morning? Roll out of bed and drive away. Next night, the bed is still made up and dry.
There is never any need to setup camp or pack up the next day. Part of minimizing is eliminating wasted activities.
Always on a budget, I built the OSB BOX on the trailer for $800. And the trailer new cost less than an RTT.
Some guys spend more than that on storage boxes.
When I need a shower, I look for one of these..
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Member III
Member III
Now It's only the way to categorize what is in which part...
For me the can of beer is in survive necessity
I do like your approach... And I MOSTLY agree, though obviously necessity is relative to the person. I think that we very often classify things as "Essentials" that are very much luxuries, and as a whole, we tend to want to over pack things because of the "What If's"...
-If you are venturing on your own into the deep woods, then Yes, maybe you require a few more of certain supplies. If you tend to stick to highways and "Civilized areas" then less is probably required as there are amenities and services available.
The most key element, in my opinion though, is experience. The more you go, the more you will know what you actually NEED, and then can decide on what extras you want.
Love your style. Simple but works.
Influencer III
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My approach is to focus on the trip, not the gear. I always say, "less gear, more experience", which can be taken a few different ways. But - they are all accurate. I usually wither pull a trailer or use a ground tent I repurposed from backpacking. If I'm alone, I will sometimes camp in the truck. For me, no matter which way I go, the camp is the same. All my gear fits into 2 trunks in the truck and it acts as a warehouse. The tent or trailer is for sleeping. The kitchen trunk is set up as an outdoor kitchen. The extras I carry, which I am willing to pay the price for, are: 2 folding chairs, full-up rigid, A two-burner old school Coleman stove, and a dining fly for shade and rain protection. My entire camp goes up in 15 minutes, and packs away about the same.
Agreed, I add a chainsaw when venturing deep into the woods. I sold my gaz Husky last fall and will buy a cordless electric the spring...
likely another Husky.
Influencer III
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Same. Right now I carry a corded electric saw and run it off my inverter.Yeah, a cordless electric chain saw is in my near future!
Member III
I usually don't bring beer.. but there is always a flask of whiskey to nip under the stars.Now It's only the way to categorize what is in which part...
For me the can of beer is in survive necessity
Member III
But if you minimalist how will you take the perfect instagram photo of your pull out kitchen with sink and running water , rtt with the annex and awnings that go all the way around your rig with led lights shining down making your camp look like a perfectly lit parking lot and that road shower setup for that really long weekend trip or maybe even a week out on the trail . How will people know your a overlander without all that gear !?!?!! ITS IMPOSSIBLE !!!!
Does anyone do extreme cold/winter overlanding with outdoor kitchen? How well do you find that works with minimalistic gear? I can't even really say I have seen that many reports of people doing that even with super duty setups and high-tech gear. As a Canadian, Winter is a fact of life that is unavoidable... And I often see that most people tend to overland in warmer climates, such as California, Arizona etc. where more minimal gear could probably go a longer way. Here, in winter, a SOL bivvy and a blanket is not going to cut it wen it is -40 C outside at night.
