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06-07-2020, 08:03 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Somewhere in the Ozarks...
Posts: 1,133
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How Long Can We Last?!?
Looking for some experienced advice, and I'm pretty sure this is where to get it. Here's the scenario: there are 2 of us- my wife and myself- we have 43 gal. of fresh water, 76 gal. grey water capacity, and 38 gal. black water holding tanks. We can take GI showers every 2-3 days, we have 2 gennies for power when needed, plenty of gas for them, we don't watch much TV, maybe a movie once in a while, but we do have satellite. Don't use the micro, and do most of our cooking outdoors on camp stoves or BBQs. Fridge can run on propane; same with water heater. 2 20 gal. propane tanks. I don't think we want to stay out much more than a week. By then it will be laundry time, re-stock, etc. We won't go anywhere where the weather is extreme- hot or cold. But we've been through many storms and inclement weather, and that's not a concern. I think I have all the tools I will need; my toolbox is pretty full. Compressor, hoses, full set of tools. Tire repair stuff. I can't think of much more at the moment. Soooooo.....what do you guys think? Are we good for a week? We've camped all our lives, but never boondocked with a fiver. Thanks for any replies!
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2015 Forest River Rockwood Signature Series Ultra Lite 8289WS w/Diamond pkg.
2014 RAM CTD 6.7 Tradesman 4WD Auto Crew Cab Long Bed
Honda eu2200i generators
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06-07-2020, 08:19 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Deer Park, WA
Posts: 313
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Your number one limiting factor will be fresh water. Our 60 gal tank will last the two of us (and one dog) four nights with conservation. We do use our trailer to it’s fullest, showers, toilet, coffee pot, etc. Just got back from a five night trip and I added 20 gallons of FW using portable water jugs.
You should have no problem with your holding tanks and propane.
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2023 Forester 2851 SLE
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06-07-2020, 08:22 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 167
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You are good for at least a week, but the depends on your black water tank. Take extra fresh water, maybe 20-30 gallons more. We have a 40 gal black water tank, we (2 of us) can last at least 10 days.
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Ed & Laureen
2005 F-250 4X4 SD 6.0 Powerstroke
2009 Cherokee Wolf Pack 285wp (the side door ramp toy hauler)
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06-07-2020, 08:22 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,724
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Quote:
we don't watch much TV, maybe a movie once in a while, but we do have satellite.
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so the satellite is NOT TV?
You do not mention your battery power... I would think a minimum of two 12V or 2-6 volt for power when you aren't running the genny would be necessary and an added battery power display would be nice to monitor that battery power.
__________________
"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
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06-07-2020, 08:38 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: TEXAS
Posts: 9,097
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I also believe that fresh water may be your limiting factor. It depends a lot on how you use it. If you use a lot of water for cooking and cleaning up, that will limit you. Showers you can postpone for a day. Keeping hydrated is not an option. As mentioned, you can always supplement with jugs of water.
You're not really going to know what your limiting factor is till you try it.
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2015 Dynamax REV 24TB class C
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06-07-2020, 09:03 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,505
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We boondock in the backwoods most of the time. The longest we have been out is three weeks.
We have a basic setup for power. 2 series 27 batteries and Honda generators that we run 3-5 hours a day. I usually carry 11 gallons of fuel plus what is in the generators. No issues there. If we will need the a/c more than usual I will throw in an extra 5gal fuel can.
Propane (2 - 30lb tanks) has never been a factor, even when running the heater. But I do carry a 20lb tank for the grill that we could use for the RV if necessary.
50gal black tank lasts easily three weeks, with me using a tree for #1 most of the time.
We have 100gal of gray tanks, but we usually water a tree with that. And yes, where we are at, it's fine to do so.
The limiting resource is usually fresh water. We have a 60 gallon fresh tank and carry an extra 30 gallons in five 6 gallon containers. If we really watch our water usage, we can get by on 45 gallons a week. And that is showering daily for both of us using a Shower Miser during our navy type showers. Our average weekly usage is 70 gallons. We can usually drive the truck out once a week for refill of water cans at a ranger station or rancher friends home if needed.
Beer is also a limiting factor. It seems to disappear faster in the mountains
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Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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06-07-2020, 09:34 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
We boondock in the backwoods most of the time. The longest we have been out is three weeks.
We have a basic setup for power. 2 series 27 batteries and Honda generators that we run 3-5 hours a day. I usually carry 11 gallons of fuel plus what is in the generators. No issues there. If we will need the a/c more than usual I will throw in an extra 5gal fuel can.
Propane (2 - 30lb tanks) has never been a factor, even when running the heater. But I do carry a 20lb tank for the grill that we could use for the RV if necessary.
50gal black tank lasts easily three weeks, with me using a tree for #1 most of the time.
We have 100gal of gray tanks, but we usually water a tree with that. And yes, where we are at, it's fine to do so.
The limiting resource is usually fresh water. We have a 60 gallon fresh tank and carry an extra 30 gallons in five 6 gallon containers. If we really watch our water usage, we can get by on 45 gallons a week. And that is showering daily for both of us using a Shower Miser during our navy type showers. Our average weekly usage is 70 gallons. We can usually drive the truck out once a week for refill of water cans at a ranger station or rancher friends home if needed.
Beer is also a limiting factor. It seems to disappear faster in the mountains
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But think of all those happy trees
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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06-07-2020, 09:43 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Southern California
Posts: 595
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Agreed, fresh water is the limiting factor. (Note to NMWildcat - if beer is EVER your limiting factor, you need to adjust your cargo priorities! "Those who fail to plan, plan to fail" )
There are a number of threads on the Forum about the collapsible bladders carried in the truck bed hooked up with a simple 12V pump - as long as you have the payload capacity.
Enjoy!
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2015 Berkshire 34QS
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06-07-2020, 10:17 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Somewhere in the Ozarks...
Posts: 1,133
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Thanks everyone! Just as I thought- tons of useful info.
__________________
2015 Forest River Rockwood Signature Series Ultra Lite 8289WS w/Diamond pkg.
2014 RAM CTD 6.7 Tradesman 4WD Auto Crew Cab Long Bed
Honda eu2200i generators
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06-07-2020, 12:40 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 528
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HOW LONG?
We have been camping since 1974. Now, its just the 2 of us. We often dry camp, and have found we can easily stay out 6 to 7 days with no problem. If a camp ground has a water faucet, I can fill my 5 gallon can and pour it into the fresh water tank. And in a National Park, we can "water" the nearby trees with grey water using a hose from the tank. So we can stretch to maybe 8 or 9 days. Yes, we also take along a 2000 W generator.
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06-07-2020, 02:13 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,832
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Agree with almost everything said above. You don't mention battery bank...inverter for AC power use or air conditioning use so those could change some calculations about how Many amp hours you'll be drawing from batts to MAKE A/C power for AC, TV, Coffee Pot, Hair dryer etc. but with generators and unlimited petrol, it may not affect your stay time at all...just your noise free stay time!
Suggest that if you intend to make a habit of boondocking...the one tool you don't have and would find paying for itself would be a Victron Battery monitor. Lots of threads on here about that but it would tell you.
Present battery use...how long remaining at this use, TRUE % state of charge, when to start recharging, when to STOP recharging and why 6 hours of charging is needed whenever you hit 50% discharged. It will also show you amp draw of individual items.
And amp draw when "nothing is on". And how many amps you are putting back in during charging phases. Don't think there's any more useful tool to have if you're deep cycling your batts.
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________
Cam
2015 Georgetown 280DS
2019 Vespa Primavera 150's (pair)
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06-07-2020, 02:59 PM
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#12
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"Curmudgeon"
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Zebulon, NC, NC
Posts: 289
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We easily did a week in the Montana mountains with my daughter. We've got a 3500 watt inverter generator which kept the big AC running, 2 golf cart batteries, and adult beverages. In the winter, the big draw is the furnace fan, in the summer it is the need for AC. There was an old saying in the ocean cruising community when you are in "no discharge" waters--"If it's yellow, let it mellow, if its brown flush it down".
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_____________________
TrawlerPhil
2014 Flagstaff Classic Ultralite 8528RKWS
2018 F-150 4X4 Max tow EcoBoost 3.5
2020 Tesla Model Y
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06-07-2020, 03:06 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird
I also believe that fresh water may be your limiting factor. It depends a lot on how you use it. If you use a lot of water for cooking and cleaning up, that will limit you. Showers you can postpone for a day. Keeping hydrated is not an option. As mentioned, you can always supplement with jugs of water.
You're not really going to know what your limiting factor is till you try it.
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One tip for conserving water is to save some from hand washing and showering.
Put plastic pail in the shower to catch the water normally wasted at first waiting for hot water. Also let it catch the splash from your showering.
When done just leave in the shower and then use for toilet flushing. Gray water tanks usually fill quicker than Black so you are not only conserving some water but also evening out the tank fill.
Same can be done with hand washing water by catching in a bowl placed in the bottom of a sink. Then either take the bowl outside and water a tree/bush or pour it in the pail sitting in the shower.
Funny thing, most people think nothing of someone dumping a pail of wash water in the bushes but will scream bloody murder if someone drains a gray water tank on trees or bushes. Wonder where they think tent campers dispose of their wash water.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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06-07-2020, 03:31 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SO-CAL
Posts: 503
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like everybody said freshwater is the biggest limiting factor we go out for a 3 to 4 day weekend in the desert and we carry extra 55-gallon in the trailer in our class c and usually we have extra water
__________________
RETIRED U.S. NAVY
2017 FORESTER 3051S
IN SO-CAL
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06-07-2020, 04:08 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Florida
Posts: 310
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RangeMaggotBob
Looking for some experienced advice, and I'm pretty sure this is where to get it. Here's the scenario: there are 2 of us- my wife and myself- we have 43 gal. of fresh water, 76 gal. grey water capacity, and 38 gal. black water holding tanks. We can take GI showers every 2-3 days, we have 2 gennies for power when needed, plenty of gas for them, we don't watch much TV, maybe a movie once in a while, but we do have satellite. Don't use the micro, and do most of our cooking outdoors on camp stoves or BBQs. Fridge can run on propane; same with water heater. 2 20 gal. propane tanks. I don't think we want to stay out much more than a week. By then it will be laundry time, re-stock, etc. We won't go anywhere where the weather is extreme- hot or cold. But we've been through many storms and inclement weather, and that's not a concern. I think I have all the tools I will need; my toolbox is pretty full. Compressor, hoses, full set of tools. Tire repair stuff. I can't think of much more at the moment. Soooooo.....what do you guys think? Are we good for a week? We've camped all our lives, but never boondocked with a fiver. Thanks for any replies!
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This forum has a LIBRARY of about every appliance, Electrical, Plumbing, and more with drawings and information. CLICK Link-local items select and download what you need its all FREE.
https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/downloads.php
__________________
2021-MB Coachmen, Galleria
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06-07-2020, 04:16 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 426
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From Tractor Supply we bought a 35 gallon plastic tank that rides in the bed of pick up . Water from it will gravity flow into our tank .. Not so much because we run out of water , many places we go the local water is offensive to my delicate tastes . you should have no problems going a week , using as you describe .
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06-07-2020, 04:18 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Northern Foothils CA
Posts: 1,395
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Use paper plates etc whenever possible to limit dish washing. Take sponge baths, don't run the forced air heat. We have gone for ten days on 40 gallons of freshwater and not using a generator. A week with your set-up, no problem at all. Just remember you are camping, and don't need or want to live like at home.
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2021 2205S Rockwood Minilite
2019 F 150 Lariat 3.5 Eco Fx4 Max Tow
Equal-i-zer WDH, 1809 lb payload
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06-07-2020, 04:20 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Pleasant Prairie WI
Posts: 1,466
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Dogman635,
What's the path to the library of documents to download? The link doesn't seem to work for me.
Thanks
Chris
__________________
2006 Sunseeker 2860DS Ford V10 5 speed with Tow/Haul
Winegard T4 In Motion Satellite Dish
Furion Rear Camera, RecPro 70" Recliners
Mohawk Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
2013 AWD Acadia Denali, Blue Ox Equipped
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06-07-2020, 05:02 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flyflotrtim
Use paper plates etc whenever possible to limit dish washing. Take sponge baths, don't run the forced air heat. We have gone for ten days on 40 gallons of freshwater and not using a generator. A week with your set-up, no problem at all. Just remember you are camping, and don't need or want to live like at home.
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The bath wipes used in hospitals for bedridden patients also work well. Walmart, Amazon, and others have them. To make them more comfy to use either put the pack in the microwave for a few seconds (if generator running) place in the sun before "bath time". No rinse needed and often contain Aloe so skin doesn't dry and flake.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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06-07-2020, 05:18 PM
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#20
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jkoenig24
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Box Elder, SD (formerly NY)
Posts: 953
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That's a small fresh water tank you've got there. Ideally, the combined volume of black & gray tanks should slightly exceed the fresh water. You can bring along jugs / bottled water for drinking and cooking allowing the onboard water to be used for showers and dish washing. Toilets can use fresh or recycled water. As is, with careful use, you and your DW should be able to eke out a week. At that time, where will you dump and get fresh water? Pay close attention to fresh water tank usage. With experience,you'll learn how to stretch your resources. Laundry is actually less of a problem as most towns have at least one laundromat (most with free WiFi available too).
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