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What is Boondocking?

I have recently learned that some of us RVers are using the term boondocking incorrectly. As I’ve learned, boondocking refers to any camping that is far from civilization. When reading about full-time RVing, I’ve seen boondocking used interchangeably with “dry camping”, which is camping without any hookups for electricity, water or sewer. Agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management refer to camping without hookups as “primitive camping”, and camping on undeveloped lands as “dispersed camping”.

It all means the same thing to me – no hookups and very few, or no, amenities. Therefore, this means you will need to do some extra planning if you’re going to be “off-the-grid” (to add yet another term) for a long period of time.

What to bring with when boondocking

Water

Most RVs have a fresh water tank but depending on the capacity and how long you plan on boondocking or dry camping, you’ll most likely want to have extra water on hand, and also be able to conserve water when possible.

• Portable water storage
• Solar shower (way to hold extra water)
• Body Wipes (to conserve water)
• Dish water pan
• Low-flow shower head with shut-off valve

Electricity

Without being hooked up to 120 volt power, the only things that you can operate on your 12 volt RV batters are your lights, water pump, and overhead fans. You will not be able to run the air conditioning, refrigerator on electrical (it should be able to run on propane, however), and appliances like your microwave, or anything that plugs into the electrical outlets. Depending on how long you will be without 120 volt electrical, your battery power may run out. There are ways to supplement the power that you have available, and of course there are always things you can do to reduce your power usage.

• Solar panels (see this page about solar power for your RV)
• Generator (some sites will not allow use of a generator-check the rules)
• Solar charger for phones and other electronics
• 12 Volt battery operated fans
• Weather alert radio (battery operated)
• Solar or battery operated lantern/flashlight (headlamps work well if you need to walk to bathrooms after dark).
• Change out regular lights for LED lights
• Batteries
• Propane heater
• Propane grill
• Sunshades
• Awning
• Solar cooker
• Ice Cooler
• Drying rack or clothesline

Leave No Trace

These principles were established by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, and built on by the US Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management in the mid 1980s. The principles include minimizing and disposing of waste properly, and leaving your campsite as you found it.

https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm

• Drying rack or clothesline
• Trash bags
• Heavy Duty Storage Container for Trash
• Potty kit if your RV doesn’t have a toilet
• Natural cleaning products

Safety

• Ice packs
• First aid kit
• Pepper spray
• Fire extinguisher
• Sunscreen (reef safe please!)
• Insect repellent (I recommend natural products, like lemon eucalyptus oil)

Other

• Folding table
• Folding chairs
• Tire covers (protect RV tires from sun)

Let us know what items you always bring with when camping off the grid!