I guess I know a little bit about your AO - used to visit WSMR fairly often and have had some good meals in Las Cruces. But I've spent very little time recreating in the desert. My major hot and dry time was interior Somalia and I found that climitization is worth every bit as much in hot and dry as it is at high elevation or in extreme cold climates. And it takes a lot of water if you're moving or working. Also, shade is awesome and lack of shade sucks.

I have never done this, but I have read that it may be worthwhile to excavate a shallow pit under your vehicle (at night if possible) and use that to lie up in during the heat of the day. Of course, if your vehicle leaks and drips, that might not be a great idea... .. and I saw plenty of places where trying to scratch below the surface took a D8 or D9 with a ripper... anyway, It's my opinion that if the car windows have been left open during the day, not too long after dark the inside of the vehicle will be a better place to spend the hours of darkness.

Wouldn't a 10' x 10' scrap of Tyvek housewrap be a handy thing to have along? (OK - I carry one all the time up here). Make a lean-to against the vehicle - even just pinching the top edge between doors and door frames and then using rocks, dirt, spare tires, or whatever was handy, stretching out the lower edge? It's white, it's light, and it's compact. And not too noisy after you run it thru a cold water cycle in an automatic washer. Has plenty of other uses, too.

It would be great if one of you folks who live out in the blasted lands did a weekend simulation of broken-down vehicle and reported back to us <hint>...

Regards,

Tom