I know you can travel heavier while touring and be self sufficient and also go lighter and "credit card" tour.

Has anyone tried touring and couch surfing? I just found out about this from a friend of my brother-in-laws who is from the UK and has travelled across Canada and now south along the west coast of the U.S. this way. He's had quite a bit of luck with it and hasn't really had a bad experience while staying at a complete stranger's place. I thought the concept was a little weird and intriguing at the same time.

We live in a town of about 15,000 people and were shocked to find over 25 people registered to host a "couch surfer".