So what's this stove called?

After doing some research on ultra-light backpacking, I've come across an interesting kind of stove.  There are a couple of commercial versions by Kelly Kettle and World Stove.  Of course I prefer the cheap home made versions.  It's only appropriate that these be made as they also go by the name of Hobo Stoves.  Mark Jurey and Ray Garlington have great how-to's with pictures that show how these stoves have evolved and the different techniques that can be used to build them.

These stoves are unique in that they can burn wood from the top down.  Usually when one starts a fire the tinder and smaller pieces of fuel are at the bottom.  How this fire works in reverse is out of the scope of the blog, but it is described briefly at Ray Garlington's site linked above.

One might ask "why build a stove when I can just buy one?".  Well for starters there is lack of waste.  Most backpacking stoves use canned fuel which pollutes through solid waste such as the empty containers that remain and emmisions through the production of the fuel itself.  These stoves produce very little smoke which means they burn relatively cleanly.  Fuel comes by way of twigs, branches, dry leaves, and any other form of bio-fuel that can be found.  What remains in these stoves can be buried and, according to the World Stove site linked above, it is beneficial to the environment.  Also, the home made versions of these stoves are usually made from recycled products such as tomatoe sauce cans turning trash into something useful.  In many cases wood stoves are even lighter than fuel burners.  There is also a matter of versatility.  These wood stoves can easily be converted to use alcohol instead.  A very good site on creating alcohol stoves can be found here.  With a little creativity they can be set up many different ways with varying features and efficiency.

In the near future I'll be trying one of these out and put up a post on my findings.  If only someone would decide on a name for these.

Stability in mobile life.

Today my father and I secured the supports to the bed platform.  We also found a place that sells carpet scraps pretty cheaply.  Tomorrow I should have the divider for the underside of the bed platform cut to size.  If there is enough time the curtain rails should also be in place by then.  UPS came by with my CB radio mount, but no one was home.

I'm getting pretty anxious at this point.  If nothing else works out this should be an amazing trip across the continent.   The only concern is finding work.  Many applications have been filled and sent but there are no responses.  Alaska definitely gives it's residents priority when it comes to employment, so maybe once I arrive something will pop up.

Now witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL battle station!

     Although nothing is secured, the bed platform is already pretty comfortable.  I've thought out pretty thoughroughly where to place the platform and decided it's best to keep it in the center.  Each space between the 2x4 supports will be used for some sort of storage.  Two of them should be able to provide a place to mount my bicycle and the others can provide easy access to frequently used items such as food, water, and warm clothes.   The details of what will be stored where are still being worked out.  All of the recesses in the liner are sized perfectly for the suppports.  If this is not the intended use it should be advertised as such.

     A pleasant coincidence of all this is that my tool box is the perfect height.  It just fits under the bed platoform but not under the first support.  When the truck stops the support should keep it from sliding to the back.  To open the toolbox it just needs to be slid onto the tailgate about an inch.  Since the tailgate needs to be down to get to the box anyways it all works out.

     Water marks can be seen under the windows where the leaks were.  One image dipicts where there were two very large holes.  They have now been sealed with silicone.

     Still left on the agenda is to secure everything down,  add supports for curtain rails,   carpet the platform,  create dividers,  and add a mount of some sort to hang my pack from.  I'll be keeping my pack close since that will also be my water container due to the built in hydration pocket.  More to come.

And so it begins ...

There are only a couple of weeks left before I start my 5,000 mile drive to Alaska.  For the most part I'm done purchasing gear and am ready to make my truck liveable for the ride up. It will need to be a comfortable place to stay while I find work and an apartment.  My inspiration for this project was Branden Johnson's site and http://www.bajataco.com/Camper1.html.  Due to my time constraints I'm keeping things simple and will modify them later as time permits and ideas arise.  For example there probably won't be any opening panels in my version or as many dividers underneath to start.

So far I cleaned the outside of the truck so the windows are ready to be waterproofed with silicone.  Unfortunately the skull stayed on the grill and took a beating at the automatic car wash, but it survived!  It should make the entire trip.  I've purchased most of the supplies to make the frame and bed platform.  My total cost for the truck modifications are about $10 on the silicone and caulk gun; and about $55 on the cut to order wood, screws, and L brackets for a grand total of about $65.  All four 2x4's are in place with the bed platform on top.  Nothing's been screwed down since I'm still drawing and planning.  Pictures will be up within the next day.