It’s that time of year again when everyone has to buy something for someone. Well, that’s a little unfair. It’s that time of year again when friends and family come together and exchange tokens of love and appreciation! Sometimes it’s easy to shop for someone, and sometimes it’s incredibly hard. Especially when that someone lives on the road and doesn’t really have room for a Roomba and two instant pots! With that in mind, I’ve come up with a list of thoughtful, useful, and small items you can send to your favorite nomad or full-timer this holiday season!
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Authors note: This isn’t my personal wish list! But these are things that we’ve enjoyed or are looking to get in the near future, based on advice and recommendations from seasoned nomads and full-timers.
Stuff for your Favorite Nomad: The Rig!
These are items that a full-timer may not have thought of or hasn’t gotten yet that will really help them out on their journey.
Rubber Snakes
Yes, rubber snakes! Many nomads and full-timers prefer to ‘boondock’ vs staying in parks. But even in parks, the most significant risk to a parked RV, Skoolie, or van is rodents. As a friend once said, “once rodents get in your rig it’s $1000 a day in damage.” From chewing on the wires and cutting through firewalls, the damage adds up quickly and might not be obvious right away. Tossing a few of these snakes under your rig is a cheap and reusable way to discourage rodent exploration.
Solar Security Lights
Another weapon in the war against rodent incursion are these handy stick-anywhere security lights. Another thing rodents hate is light. Pop a few of these in your engine bay after a drive day to scare them off when they are looking for a warm place to sleep. They also increase security around your rig at night.
Strong Magnets
Mostly for older vans and Skoolies (most RVs and newer vans do not have much metal on them):
When mounting the above solar light you want to avoid using the supplied double-sided tape.
A) You don’t want them in the engine bay on drive day.
B) What if you change your mind about placement?
Simply use the tape to attach one or two of these to the light and mount your lights anywhere there’s steel. You can also use them for towel hooks and window covers; lots of options!
Lynx Levelers
Whether for comfort and to keep one from rolling out of bed, or to ensure your propane fridge is level enough to work right, these sturdy, compact, and versatile leveling blocks are a must. We’ve been using these from day one with Tad Cooper and even with our 16-ton bus, these have held up well.
Torpedo Level
While some RVs have chassis-mounted level gauges, custom builds like skoolies and vans may not all be plumb. Keeping one of these inside and near the fridge, bed, or other level-sensitive equipment can make getting the rig set up a breeze. Pull into your spot, check your critical levels with the torpedo level, then figure out how many Lynx blocks you’ll need under what wheels. With practice, one can get it done in one try.
Adhesive Window Screen
Not for repairs, but to keep the bugs out of vents. If your rig has a propane fridge or water heater you’re going to have vented covers outside. Those vents can become access points for bugs. Simply tape them up with this netting and you keep the bugs out, and the airflow unrestricted!
Tire Pressure Monitor System
These are great for peace of mind when traveling, and really easy to install. At a glance, you can see the pressure in all your tires, and even your Toad if you’ve got one! Great for safety and speeding up your pre-trips.
Stuff for your Favorite Nomad: Personal Care
When you’re living off-grid water needs to be rationed, so daily showers aren’t always on the table. Here are some products you can send to your full-time friends to keep them clean and healthy!
Bath Wipes
There are hundreds of products out there that do the same thing. It’s a rinse-less shower in a wipe! Great for freshening up after a long hike through the backcountry, and as a daily quick bath of all the vital areas. When we are boondocking we use these extensively!
Dry Shampoo
Super easy-to-use powder that binds with the excess oils and dirt in your hair and combs out clean, leaving your hair smelling fresh. Yes, please!
Gadgets and fun stuff for your Favorite Nomad
Not everything needs to be utilitarian; some can just be fun. Keep in mind, though, your Favorite Nomad may not have room for some of this stuff, so ask first. Or just get it for yourself!
Wind Chimes
Especially if they have an awning, adding a wind chime can really add a nice ambiance to a mellow campsite.
Outdoor Battery-Operated Projector
If you’re out in the deep BLM with no one in sight but a few good friends, why not turn the side of your rig, or a dropped awning, into an outdoor movie experience? Or you can take your Wii Bowling league on tour!
Silicone Non-Slip Phone Holder
We all use our phones in the car now. Whether it’s streaming our 80’s hair metal drive tunes or using TruckMap‘s turn-by-turn routing, this handy device keeps your phone out of your hand, but still at a great angle to see.
Solar Holiday Lights!
Who doesn’t love holiday lights? These super convenient ones come with their own rechargeable battery and solar panel so they won’t strain your rig! Available in multi-color or single colors for use year-round!
Subscriptions and Services
Sometimes stuff isn’t what your favorite nomad needs. Here’s a list of some of the services we have and enjoy! And as a bonus! none of these will weigh down the rig!
An Amazon Audible Subscription
While on a long drive, or watching the sunset over the desert, who doesn’t love a good book? Audible has thousands of books available for download, and with a subscription, you get one free book a month. Members also have access to Audible membership perks like free audiobooks, podcasts, and more!
Roadside assistance
Schoolies get stuck, engines break down, and tires blow out. In short, [expletive] happens. Getting your Favorite Nomad a subscription to a roadside service can be like being there for them in their moment of most need.
Fulltime Families
Fulltime Families hosts a number of rallies and events around the nation that help nomads network and meet their tribe. They have branches for all sorts of interests and regions. Membership also opens up discounts that are always changing!
Zoos and museums
If your favorite nomad has kids or special interests, a zoo or museum can be amazing. Most AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums), ASTC (Association of Science and Technology Centers), and other organizations have reciprocal benefits. This means buying a membership at one can lead to free or discounted admission to other institutions. This is something we’ve really enjoyed using.
I hope this list helps you out or points you in the right direction for that perfect gift this season! From my Family to Yours, Happy Holidays!