Photo by Steve Adcock
Introduction
Boondocking is a term used to describe camping without hookups, typically in remote or wilderness areas. Boondocking campers rely on their own resources, such as solar power, generators, and water tanks, to sustain them. Boondocking is the act of camping in remote, beautiful places. It’s a great way to get away from it all and spend some real quality time outdoors. However, if you go into boondocking unprepared or without proper knowledge of how to do it safely and responsibly, then you might find yourself stuck somewhere with no water or food! In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to make your next boondocking trip fun, safe and enjoyable so that you can enjoy the experience as much as possible.
Boondocking is going off-grid.
Boondocking is the act of going off-grid, or not connected to the electrical grid. It’s also a way of life for many people who enjoy camping and traveling. There are many benefits to boondocking. For example:
- You save money on campsites and can spend more on fun experiences!
- You get to explore wild places that most people don’t get the chance to visit!
- You meet new friends from all over the world!
If you’ve never tried boondocking before, now’s your chance!
Boondocking is the best way to experience remote, beautiful places.
There’s a lot to be said for the freedom and solitude of boondocking. You can explore the natural beauty of your surroundings, isolate yourself from city life, get away from it all—and enjoy some peace and quiet!
There’s also no need to worry about finding a place to park your vehicle overnight (or longer). It’s important to note that there are usually regulations regarding how long you can stay at one location: these are usually posted on signs near popular campgrounds and state parks. However, if you’re hoping for an adventure that involves exploring lesser-known places without such restrictions, then boondocking is the way to go!
Boondocking doesn’t have to be expensive.
Camping doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, it can be free. I’m not talking about those fancy campsites with water and electricity hookups, but rather the old-school way of boondocking (aka camping in your vehicle). You know that old clunker you have sitting around that’s collecting dust? Well, strip out everything but the frame and use it for a camper of sorts!
Or if you don’t have an old car lying around, then go ahead and buy one just for this purpose! You might even find some good deals on Craigslist or OfferUp if you look hard enough 🙂
You could also go with a van or RV if that’s what floats your boat! They are great because some come equipped with beds and kitchens so they’ll take care of most of these needs right off the bat without any extra cost beyond what it takes to purchase them.
Plan ahead and research, where you want to go boondocking.
In the first place, you need to plan ahead and research where you want to go boondocking. There are many places where people can go camping, but not all of them allow vehicles on their land. If that’s the case, then you must make sure that your vehicle is allowed at that location before driving there.
It’s also important for you to check the weather forecast for that area as well as make sure that it’s safe for your vehicle because some locations may have a lot of dust or sand which might damage your car easily. You should bring enough food so that it will last longer than expected without having any extra weight in your car while traveling around different places with no electricity or running water nearby (just like what I did).
On top of these tips mentioned above there are other things one should remember when planning their trip:
- Make sure there’s enough room inside each tent/vehicle so everyone can sleep comfortably without being squished together too tightly (I know this from experience).
Make sure your boondocking rig is up for the job.
Before you head out, it’s important to make sure your rig is up for the job. You’ll want to check your tires, brakes, and suspension—if they’re worn out or your rig has a large amount of weight in it, you may need to get some help getting into those spots. Next up: Make sure the battery is in good shape and that you have enough power to run everything on board. You should also make sure you have enough water and food (and bring an extra gallon of gas). If those things are covered, then it’s time to hit the road!
Know your limitations when planning your boondocking trip.
When planning your trip, it’s important to know your limitations. You should be aware of how far you can travel in a day, how much fuel and water you can carry and how long you’ll be away from civilization. Here are some questions to consider:
- How many days do I want to boondock for? If you’re not sure, start off with one night and see if this is something that works for you. Then take it one day at a time until you are ready to return.
- How many people are traveling with me? The more people who go the more gear will need to be carried along as well as other considerations like vehicles needing extra fuel capacity and increased wear-and-tear on equipment due to hauling around heavier loads.
- How far can I go in a day? Knowing how far ahead of schedule we were allowed us plenty of time for sightseeing along our route which made our trip even better!
Respect the rules of the place where you are boondocking.
- Always ask permission.
- Leave the place better than you found it.
- Be respectful of other campers, and they will be respectful of you in return.
- Follow the rules of the landowner if there are any, such as no fires or camping on private property without permission.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast.
Weather forecasts are important. You can use them to plan your trip.
Safety
Boondocking is an exciting opportunity for those seeking adventure and freedom from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But, safety should always be your paramount concern when embarking on a boondocking trip.
Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to ensure your boondocking experience is safe and enjoyable. Being aware of potential hazards, following camping regulations, and checking local weather conditions can all help you stay out of harm’s way while spending time in nature. Additionally, outfit yourself with the right gear before leaving home so that you are prepared in case of an emergency.
Whether it’s your first time or one-hundredth time boondocking, safety should always be a top priority! With a few precautions taken before departure, you can rest assured that your next outdoor excursion will be one of joy and celebration!
Bring enough food and water with you since it might be difficult to resupply during your trip.
When you’re boondocking, it’s not like camping in a park or RV resort. You may be far away from any towns or stores where you can buy food and water. It’s smart to bring along extra supplies with you just in case anything happens that interrupts your supply chain. And have a backup plan if something goes wrong with what you brought (your vehicle breaks down, etc.).
It also helps to know how much food and water each person needs per day when planning for your trip. For example, one person needs about 2 liters of water per day (about 1 gallon). Make sure everyone knows how much they will need to drink each day because dehydration can cause health problems while traveling, especially in warmer weather!
If possible, bring solar panels or a generator.
If you have the space, we recommend bringing both a solar panel and a generator. Solar panels are a great way to power your rig because they’re silent, free, and reliable in all but the most extreme weather conditions. Generators are great as back-up if you need it or you can get by without one altogether if you don’t mind letting your batteries run down a little before recharging them. You’ll hear from some people who’ve gone boondocking for extended periods that generators aren’t worth the hassle for how much money they cost and how loud and smelly they can be during operation (though we’ve never experienced this problem ourselves).
Boondocking is great fun if you’re ready for it!
Boondocking is a great way to see the country, save money, and have fun. But it’s not for everyone—boondocking is not like camping. It can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing! And not all boondocking locations are legal or safe.
Conclusion
Boondocking can be a great experience, but it might not be for everyone. If you feel like this lifestyle is right for you, then go ahead and give it a try! It’s an adventure that will take you to places you never thought possible.
The following is a transcript and video for “Boondocking 101 – A Guide to Free Camping in Your RV”
If you love getting out there with your rig, this is an excellent topic for you today, because this is gonna be Boondocking 101.
How’s it going, welcome to the Campendium YouTube channel, where it’s our hope and our goal to provide you with the resources and the information to get out there and camp. And so today, we’re gonna be talking about Boondocking 101 and the top five things that we recommend when you begin to get out there and enjoy some of these amazing places to camp.
So you might be asking what is boondocking.
Boondocking, what we’re gonna be talking about here is getting out there with your RV with no hookups, so no water, no sewer, no electric, none of those things you’re not going to a place where you’re connecting your RV to any type of a grid system.
So you’re gonna be out there boondocking in potentially the middle of nowhere. RVs are so great for this, you can take this living space and you can put it out in some of the most scenic, beautiful places for you to enjoy. So let’s dive into our top-five list of Boondocking 101.
So first on that list is going to be safety. And in this we have know the size of your rig. So you want to be aware of the size of your rig and this is where Campendium is a huge tool because you can get on Campendium and do a lot of research for where you want to go boondocking, you can read through reviews and what people have recommended for different sizes of rigs that have been out there before, you can find a lot of information on the Campendium app or the Campendium website. So you want to do your research to see if you can get your rig back there safely. And with that you want to consider the weather because weather can change the conditions of where you’re trying to get.
So pay attention to what the weather is going to be while you’re out there, and give you an idea of what those conditions are going to be like. Because if you’re out there on a road and it’s good one day, if it gets wet is it gonna get real soupy and muddy and difficult to get out? You don’t want to bury your trailer or your RV up to the axles trying to get out of where you boondock. So pay attention to the weather.
Along those same lines I’m just gonna be aware of what I’m doing when I get out there. So I’m gonna keep an idea in my mind of where I can back up, where I can turn around, so I kind of have an exit strategy if the site that I was going for, doesn’t exactly work out.
So be aware of those things and then also once you’re out there, be aware of your surroundings. If there’s a forest fire in the area, because you’re out boondocking and maybe not in a an RV park or an RV campground, you may not have a ranger coming to knock on your door to make you aware of maybe a rains or floods or a fire. So just be aware of what’s happening around you as you’re out there.
Number two on our list is Leave No Trace. The reason that you’re going out there to enjoy this area is because it’s going to be beautiful, it’s going to be quiet, it’s gonna be serene. So Leave No Trace when you go out there.
Rule number one in this if you’re gonna pack it in pack it out. If you want to take a step above that, take an extra trash bag and if you see some trash on the ground why don’t you pick up a little trash and haul it on out so that it’s just beautiful for the next person to show up. Another way to say this I’m sure you’ve heard this before is take nothing but memories and leave nothing but footprints, so let’s just be aware of the impact that you’re having on the land when you go out.
So it’s best if you stick to existing roads so that you’re not tearing up more landscape and use the roads that are already there and along with that too you can also use existing campsites kind of established campsites that are already out there, so if it has a fire ring and you can tell somebody’s already pulled up there and used it rather than tearing up a new piece of the landscape. You can use these areas that are already established. And when you’re in that site it’s best if you can stay self contained so don’t be dumping your tanks on the ground.
In some places it’s against the law to empty your tanks on the ground. So just remember if you’re gonna pack it in, you might as well just pack it out. So that’s a good rule to follow. Also a little message from Smokey the Bear(lowers voice)
“Only you can prevent forest fires” that was a terrible impersonation. Maybe if I had like a bear head on my head – You know what forget it.
Let’s just get back to it. All kidding aside, it is a good idea to fully extinguish any campfire that you have after you’ve been out there to make sure that it’s completely snuffed out. No chance of you starting one of those devastating forest fires, you don’t want to risk the forest, your life or anything like that just make sure your fire is completely put out.
And along with that thought it’s going to be respectful towards wildlife. So respect wildlife while you’re out there.
Number three is a short one but a goodie, is just obey the rules.
We covered some of the rules of above and the first two but you want to be aware of the rules. A lot of places have a 14-day stay limit and there’s just other rules with animals and fires and all those things.
You just want to check out the rules before you get out there and just obey the rules.
Number four can actually just kind of apply to life. Just be agood neighbor. So first off don’t park obnoxiously close to somebody else. You’re getting out there to have a little space, enjoy the serenity, so don’t park too close to your neighbor. Give a little space to the people that are out there. And with that, looking for that serenity while you’re out there, don’t go crazy with a generator.
If your generator is gonna be running, use it to charge up your batteries, try and run it is minimal as you can so that it’s just not noisy for everybody putting those fumes in the air, you’re probably going out there to enjoy the peace and quiet, so just try and minimize how much you’re using that generator if you’re using solar and you got a decent battery bank, that’s just a leg up, a step in the right direction to to really just enjoying that boondocking location.
And with keeping those couple of things in mind just being a good neighbor, just be aware of how loud you are. You don’t want to be the loudest most obnoxious thing out there. Again, you’re going out there to enjoy this beautiful spot. Just enjoy it!
And number five is just gonna be a few quick tips so that you can better enjoy it when you get out there boondocking.
Number one just be prepared. There’s not gonna be a grocery store out there so that you can just grab a few more items. Come prepared to be out there, have enough food, have enough toiletries, whatever you need to be out there. Just be prepared for going out boondocking.
And since you took these tips you’re gonna go out there prepared, make sure you conserve what you do have. Like conserve the water you have if you’re gonna take a shower, you can take a navy shower you can use close to like a gallon of water, you know you get in there, you get wet, you lather up after the waters been turned off, you turn on real quick, rinse that off it doesn’t take a whole lot of water to do a navy shower, so there’s plenty of ways that you can use to conserve water.
Same goes for the electricity. If you can conserve on the amount of electricity that you’re using, that’s less that you have to run your generator and the less noise you’re gonna make when you’re out there. So just be conservative of the things that you’re using so you can stayout there even longer. Well not past the 14-day limit but you know what I mean.
And last of all, just keep an eye on your wastewater tanks because I know that our wastewater tanks are gray and our black are not quite as big as our fresh water tank, so we can haul out more fresh water than we can and our waste tank. So just be aware of how much you’re putting in those tanks.
So I hope you enjoyed this. Remember to get out there and camp. Enjoy some of these amazing boondocking places that you can find on the Campendium website or the Campendium app, I mean there’s just so many benefits to getting out there. A lot of times the cheaper the place you can stay in your RV, sometimes the more beautiful in the more serene.
It kind of goes almost hand-in-hand, so plus if you’re out there, you look way cooler carrying an axe out there in the woods than you would in an RV park actually you might get called on the cops might get called on you if you’re walking around the RV park with an axe so you never look more manly than when you’re carrying an axe out there boondocking. I think that’s gonna do it for today so if you haven’t already hit that subscribe button, if you like this video give us a thumbs up and as always remember to get out there, keep exploring stay safe and we’ll see you in the next video. Planes flying overhead. Noise pollution. What are you gonna do with that? Might as well run my generator right now. Just kidding it’s just a plane. It’s fine.
Author: Bliss
Dedicated to making a positive difference for people, animals, and this beautiful planet!
