New Overlander looking for advice

[Warywoodsman]

Hello,

I’m new to overlanding. I have camped all my life, but being from Texas never had the opportunity to overland. My family and I are planning on re-tracing Lifestyle Overland’s Enchanted Rockies Trail this summer. Looking for any advice people are willing to give to first time overlanders.

One question I have is what do you do with your trash bags when full? Can you go to a forest service park and use their dumpster? We were planning on going in late June, is that to early in the season?

Any other advice is welcome.

 

[MOAK]

One thing I notice that new folks do is that they tend to create too much trash. My wife & I can be out and about for a week or more and come nowhere close to filling up our Trasharoo. Last trip out we had 5 adults & 2 teenagers. I had the unpleasant task of being the trash nazi. After the second day I’d had enough and announced that everyone be responsible for their own trash and to stop using our trasharoo as it was filling up fast. After day 5 we headed into town for more supplies and I know the newbies were a bit more careful about choices made and how much trash is created by those choices. Prime example- I love bacon. However we never eat bacon while overlanding. Why? Well, bears are attracted to the smell and just what does one do with the bacon grease? These are things to think about.

Cereals, oatmeal, pancake mix, eggs, etc etc all gets moved into Tupperware containers, or reusable veggie bags. The containers, boxes and packaging everything is purchased in all gets tossed at the grocery store. Bottled water? No way. Our trash generally consists of vegetable cuttings, tea bags, coffee grounds, yogurt cups, beer cans, ice tea jugs & disposable poop bags. Fortunately we don’t change much up when at home. We just don’t buy a lot of pre packaged foodstuffs in the first place and we use our own grocery and vegetable bags. Bottom line? Think about what you are supplying up with and how much trash it will create.

 

[Road]

,
I would echo most everything @MOAK said.

As he wrote, and you'll find out, one of the big things is to get rid of as much pre-packaging before you put things in your fridge, camp box, or vehicle. Styrofoam trays and the weird absorbtion pads under meats, cello wraps, cartons, cardboard, get rid of it all AT the market, not at camp. Same with bags and packaging en route when you stop for snacks/meals to go; leave as much of the trash AT the place you bought it and don't drag it into the vehicle.

The main thing to realize, I believe, is that you're in a vehicle, not a house, and simply cannot handle trash and waste the same way. If you try to, you will be frustrated and have a lousy time. Adapt to the circumstances and lighten the load. DON'T take trash with you, and you won't have to haul it back out.

I wrote an extensive post HERE a couple months ago with a lot of suggestions and tips.
,

 

[grubworm]

Trash shouldn't be that big a deal since you are doing a trail and will be moving a lot. Get a plastic grocery bag and put your trash in it and when you stop for fuel, throw the bag in the trash. There are also a lot of historical markers and rest stops that have trashcans. If you were sitting in one spot for a while, you will generate a lot of trash that might be difficult to dispose of, but moving a lot, you shouldn't generate that much between stops and a small bag is a lot more easy to dispose of.

We just got back from 2 weeks in that area and trash disposal was not a problem. I did make sure to stay topped off with fuel and any time I stopped, I would just top off even if I was just down a quarter. The Rockies Trail does have you going thru civilization, so you will be passing thru towns that have stores in case you forgot anything. I would be a bit more concerned with things if I was going to be remote and offgrid for a while, but you're going to be going thru populated areas, so there shouldn't be any problems you can't handle. It will be bright and hot that time of year, so get a good pair of sunglasses and stay hydrated.

 

[rgallant]

Crush everything cans in particular if you can. Grease and grey water can be a problem, but I keep to can a large on for grey water and small on for grease. Cans get filled and go on edge of the fire to boil off.

No fire then grey water gets boiled off on the stove, grease gets wiped up with a paper towel then into a used zip lock and added to a trash bag I get rid for when I gas up.

The best advice is to get rid of excess packaging there is an amazing amount of it on every day items.

Final nag stop buying bottled water get a filter and filter your own. The number 1 thing I see and pick up on every trip are plastic water bottle they out number beer and pop cans buy a huge margin. Cans well break down eventually plastics last damm near forever.

 

[MOAK]

Trash shouldn't be that big a deal since you are doing a trail and will be moving a lot. Get a plastic grocery bag and put your trash in it and when you stop for fuel, throw the bag in the trash. There are also a lot of historical markers and rest stops that have trashcans. If you were sitting in one spot for a while, you will generate a lot of trash that might be difficult to dispose of, but moving a lot, you shouldn't generate that much between stops and a small bag is a lot more easy to dispose of.

We just got back from 2 weeks in that area and trash disposal was not a problem. I did make sure to stay topped off with fuel and any time I stopped, I would just top off even if I was just down a quarter. The Rockies Trail does have you going thru civilization, so you will be passing thru towns that have stores in case you forgot anything. I would be a bit more concerned with things if I was going to be remote and offgrid for a while, but you're going to be going thru populated areas, so there shouldn't be any problems you can't handle. It will be bright and hot that time of year, so get a good pair of sunglasses and stay hydrated.

Hmmm, I take it then that Lifestyle Overland’s utube channel wouldn’t exactly be my cup of tea? Hmmmm, thought not. LOL

 

[Biker Eagle]

Water...have more than you think you'll need. Tires...LT rated all terrains or mud terrains. Extraction gear...at least some MAxTrax and a shovel. Maps...for when your GPS fail you. And a Spot or some other emergency communication device. Personal protection, meds and first aid kit.
Oh, don't forget the cold adult beverages.

If there's a burn ban, then a propane fire pit might be nice.

 

[bamakojon]

For carrying water, my wife and I have really liked the 7 gallon aquatainer water containers from Walmart. They're not expensive and have a neat little water spout thing that allows you to dispense like a regular water cooler, but will stow away when needed but isn't fragile. You can check them out here: Reliance Aqua-Tainer Water Container 7G - Walmart.com I think we have three!