Minimizing the kit and packing it efficiently

[007]

When putting together your kit, it is possible to utilize compact multipurpose items that are easily accessed and organized.

If done well, this zen like accomplishment fulfills your needs and wants, but leaves you uncluttered and relaxed.

So how have you minimized your kit and packed it efficiently? Share your battles. (or post your links)


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[007]

I'll start with my kitchen:

The following fits into a small action packer:
(lid doubles as a high lift base and it really has once, unit can be a stool or extra seat if needed.) Not too secure however.

Backpacking mess kit, a square flat skillet, and one sheathed knife for all the cooking.
Reason: Deletes redundant cookware/dinnerware and packs compactly, minimizes cleaning effort and water needs.

Neoprene six-pack bottle holder containing olive oil, vinegar, spices, sauces, and powders
Reason: protects bottles and compactly organizes just the cooking items.

One really thick walled and flat based aluminum mug
Reason: this can go on the stove directly for making coffee or tea which deletes cookware.

Universal wet wipes that can be used from hygiene to parts cleaning.
Reason: Deletes water requirements, bulky paper, multiple cleaners and scrubbers.

I currently cook on the fire or a two burner Coleman stove that runs on unleaded (no bottles)

Non-perishable food sits in an identical box, and perishables are in a 35qt fridge.

One gravity fed, 5 gallon jerry can style water jug secured, but tapped with a hose and spout to reach out.

The two metal boxes; one contains warm weather gear, and my backpack, the other is empty for the passengers items.

The tackle box is like the junk drawer
Ammo can for recovery gear
bedding stays in the tent
tools, jumper cables, chainsaw, funnel, flat repair kit in the tool box.

 

[overlander]

Chainsaw? Looking at that picture you posted, doesn't look like you are being minimalist. We'ren't you in the middle east?

I see you have Montana in your description now. I get the change, but highlighting the disconnect between load plan and picture.

BTW, I have grown to hate action packers. I have a few left, and working on replacing them all. they do not seal, and they can's support the weight of an adult. they all begin to collapse in the corners after being sat or stood on a few times. I have found that all containers must be durable as furniture and stools in my kit.

 

[007]

I wish that was the middle east!, Its the western U.S.

I heat my house with wood, and the dead fall is abundant on Montana roads so the chainsaw gets used for good reason

Like you say, the action packers leave somethings to be desired. A tight seal would be nice!

 

[Corey]

I used Action Packers in 2008 and 2009, and I do not care for them except for my dry food box.
Trying to stack the others did not work to good, they are slippery.

My solution was every expensive, I bought two cases from ECS that stack like big boy Legos.
http://www.transitcases.com/LMfootlocker.html
They are water/dust proof, and built to go the long haul.

I am trying to trim it down to just one, but the lantern and other stuff takes up room in a box 12" high.
I may spring later for one single 16" tall one.

I have used a lot of the light weight cook kits in the past too, and Paul Revere stainless steel cookware like I "use" to use at home.
I now use Lodge cast iron exclusively both at home and for camping.
Food tastes better to me, and cleanup is as easy as wiping out the cookware with a paper towel.
So the extra weight of bringing it along is worth it to me.

Using the cases has provided me with getting a lot of the loose stuff all packed together and more organized.
These do not stay in the rig all the time, only during the summer time and for camping trips.

The kitchen got all reorganized this year, I am now using a chuckbox to hold all of the cooking stuff, utensils, plates, and stove.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48746

Fit in the rig perfectly.

If I can cut back to just one of the ECS cases, that will be all much easier to load/unload the gear.

And for the record, I am not a minimalist, nor do I ever plan on going that route again, been there/done that.
Use to be long one ago when I backpacked and camped in the 70s and 80s.

I enjoy bringing "extra" stuff and having a good level of comfort when I go out now that I am nearing retirement age.

Leave the minimalist thing for the youngsters.

Another reason I do not mind spending some serious coin on my gear is that one day I am going to give it all away, and I want my sons to have good gear that will last them a long time too.

 

[Applejack]

The ECS cases are super pieces of equipment. I do a lot of work for them and they make a case for just about anything. However they are very expensive, but they do have "scratch and dent" pieces that can be had for cheaper or ones that were test units for the military or Fuji that didn't make that cut, but still very worthy for automotive expedition use. You just have to ask and maybe do a little arm twisting. http://www.transitcases.com/

Also I would add that though they are extremely well built they are quite heavy add that can be an issue for many.

 

[FourByLand]

I used Action Packers in 2008 and 2009, and I do not care for them except for my dry food box.
Trying to stack the others did not work to good, they are slippery.

My solution was every expensive, I bought two cases from ECS that stack like big boy Legos.
http://www.transitcases.com/LMfootlocker.html
They are water/dust proof, and built to go the long haul.

I am trying to trim it down to just one, but the lantern and other stuff takes up room in a box 12" high.
I may spring later for one single 16" tall one.

I have used a lot of the light weight cook kits in the past too, and Paul Revere stainless steel cookware like I "use" to use at home.
I now use Lodge cast iron exclusively both at home and for camping.
Food tastes better to me, and cleanup is as easy as wiping out the cookware with a paper towel.
So the extra weight of bringing it along is worth it to me.

Using the cases has provided me with getting a lot of the loose stuff all packed together and more organized.
These do not stay in the rig all the time, only during the summer time and for camping trips.

The kitchen got all reorganized this year, I am now using a chuckbox to hold all of the cooking stuff, utensils, plates, and stove.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48746

Fit in the rig perfectly.

If I can cut back to just one of the ECS cases, that will be all much easier to load/unload the gear.

And for the record, I am not a minimalist, nor do I ever plan on going that route again, been there/done that.
Use to be long one ago when I backpacked and camped in the 70s and 80s.

I enjoy bringing "extra" stuff and having a good level of comfort when I go out now that I am nearing retirement age.

Leave the minimalist thing for the youngsters.

Another reason I do not mind spending some serious coin on my gear is that one day I am going to give it all away, and I want my sons to have good gear that will last them a long time too.

Don't you travel solo?

 

[Corey]

Thanks for the tip Applejack.
I will have to call them up sometime to inquire about a 16" tall footlocker that may be used.
I like the footlocker ones better since they have the trays on top.
Easier to organize the smaller stuff.

 

[007]

How do you pack those cases in there Corey?

 

[Corey]

How do you pack those cases in there Corey?

They are not to awkward at:
Exterior dimensions: 33.4 x 20.8 x 12 inches
Case weight: 33 lbs

I figure there is not more than 40 lb or so in each case, maybe not even that much.

I put the passenger seat all the way forward and lift the case in, pretty easy.
That have nice big handles on them which makes it fairly easy too.

Yeah, I would really like to trim it down to just one of the big cases.
Before I had my solar setup and Pett toilet in the cases, those are now out and will go behind the drivers seat ahead of the ARB fridge.
Those two items took up a lot of room in the cases.

Going to mess around with them this weekend to see if I can get down to one case, then maybe hit the mountains next weekend.

 

[007]

Those are probably overkill for an inside storage, but nothing wrong with that!

Have you thought about selling the powertank and installing a compressor under the hood? That would save some space and weight I would think.

 

[Corey]

Those are probably overkill for an inside storage, but nothing wrong with that!

Have you thought about selling the Powertank and installing a compressor under the hood? That would save some space and weight I would think.

Actually I take all of the cases out of the rig and set them on the ground.
The Action Packers being not completely watertight is why I wanted these.

Not much room under the hood with my dual battery setup, and this is my second Powertank.
I had a black 10 lb one in my '91 4Runner long ago.

Bought the new yellow one a few months before I took delivery of my FJ.
I like the ease and fast fillups of the Powertank.
18 PSI to 40 PSI in a matter of seconds with it cranked up past 200 PSI.

A few of the guy's I have wheeled with have nice compressor setups with a storage tank, but they are still airing back up when I am a friend have already done our eight tires.

The Powertank though could be moved off to the side with Springtails Solutions hardware.
http://www.springtailsolutions.com/

They started out making stuff for Jeeps, then got into the FJ Cruiser market a few years ago.
I have his setup on my rear door that hold packs that are held on with Molle fasteners.
Holds enough grub and a stove to feed me for three days or more.
Kind of a bugout kit I guess.
Mainly if I get stuck at work during a huge snowstorm.
I am on the snow removal crew, so I pretty much have to make it in to work, and if it gets nastier, I am spending a night or so at work.
We are in for a bad winter they are predicting here too.
If we lost power at work, the cafeteria food would spoil very fast, and they recommend we carry our own food and water for a situation like this.

Anyways, got sidetracked on that, he makes a bracket for the sides of the FJ in the rear where some have mounted a Powertank to it to to get them off to the side.
The owner of the company is a vendor over at the FJ Cruiser forum, and had a thread with some pics of a Powertank off to the side.
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/springtail-solutions/57579-presale-m-pac-side-rack-combo.html

I could probably get away with just using my current fire extinguisher bracket that holds the Powertank and mount it to the side back there and skip his rack.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I have a full size truck and a Jumping Jack camper.... I don't do minimalist very well....lol. I have the room...therefore I must use it all...lol

 

[alia176]

Just a couple of ideas:
- I try not to carry dead air space - every container is packed full and organized.
- I hate emptying out my vehicle every night for sleeping inside so I try to pack accordingly and sleep on top and around stuff.
- water is heavy, so it's in the middle of the vehicle, between the axles
- cargo barrier and lots of straps and ropes for load management.
- large containers can get very heavy as it's too easy to pack the crap out of them so I use medium size units.
- lunch, snacks and quick fixings are on top shelf of the fridge. Mustard/mayo in a single squeeze container (mix your own ratio, I do half/half), paper plates, plastic ware in the fridge cover pocket.
- propane 5 lb refillable bottle for a two burner stove.
- lantern - battery powered. One set of batts last for two+ years, always works, no mantles, fuel to worry about.
- having a large roof top cargo box helps keeping all the fluffy, bulky stuff contained, dry and secure.

Hope this helps!

 

[off-roader]

I've simplified/reduced the number of tools I bring by only taking what can be used. Sockets (Std & deep) are reduced to the sizes I have on my rig (including nuts/bolts added via mods). All tools are packed in canvas tool wraps/bags instead of bulky hard cases. This has cut down the space req. to store them significantly. I highly recommend this method over a hard tool box.

HTH.:smiley_drive: