Boondocking, which is also called “dry camping,” is camping in an RV without hookups. That means there are no sewer or water connections. Fortunately, the majority of RVs are designed for such a situation. Hence the batteries and storing tanks! On the road to or from a location, boondocking is typically done in places like BLM land or Crown land in Canada, in designated campgrounds without hookups, and over night in parking lots or rest areas.
The benefits of boondocking are numerous. It’s often free, to start. A lot of dispersed camping is available for free, whereas a night in an RV park might cost up to $100. Just be mindful of your camping location because a pass or permit might be necessary. Second, dry camping is the true form of camping. There is more time for cooking, reading, relaxing, and being outside when there is spotty cell coverage and little power for watching TV. Thirdly, boondocking really does allow for silence, darkness, and tranquility. You won’t hear your neighbor’s party until well into the night, you won’t be crammed up against other RVs in every direction, and you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the night sky.
Although boondocking is fantastic in many ways, it does require some advance planning. You must decide where you are going and what you will need before going camping. You must take precautions to restrict your consumption of supplies while camping in order for them to last. Here are some pointers and advice to make your camping vacation successful!
ELECTRICITY
One of the benefits of RV camping is the availability of power while off-grid. While the primary objectives of camping should be to take in the great outdoors and temporarily simplify life, having lights, the ability to pump water, or the ability to charge devices is very good. Although batteries enable RVs to operate without hookups, it’s still important to use caution when dry camping. Consider using these easy steps to prolong the life of your battery:
• Replace all of the lighting with LED and only use when necessary;
· Only use the furnace when absolutely necessary;
• Instead of trying to run the air conditioner, use a 12V or battery-powered fan;
• Use propane to run the refrigerator;
• When not in use, turn off the water heater and pump;
• Disconnect electronics like the TV and stereo;
• Instead of using a microwave or countertop gadget for cooking, use an outside grill, stove, or oven;
• Charge gadgets like phones and tablets in a car as opposed to an RV;
• Get some fresh air!
BATTERY SETUP
When boondocking, battery juice is crucial to keep your vehicle running and your equipment charged. You still need power for things like lighting and the water pump even if you don’t intend to charge your phone, laptop, or other electronics while you’re traveling.
It is advised to connect several batteries together to form a bank in order to maximize your battery power. Adding batteries enables either more voltage, more amperage, or both. For RVs, lithium batteries work best. They are lightweight, carry nearly twice as much power as standard batteries, and charge quickly. One or two 100Ah lithium batteries are ideal for most campers to start with in order to power their homes while dry camping.
SUN POWER
You need a way to charge the batteries in your RV, no matter what kind of batteries they are. The best choice for charging your battery bank while boondocking is solar power. The most cost-effective and high-performance charging solution for your rig is adding solar panels. The best thing about solar panels for off-grid battery charging is that they aren’t as noisy as generators. Nothing is worse than having to run outside in the cold early in the morning to turn on the generator, which will undoubtedly awaken anyone around.
Solar energy usage calls for more than just panels. Along with an inverter, you’ll also need a mechanism to keep track of how much energy is being stored. The easiest approach to make sure you have everything you need to outfit your RV with solar electricity is to choose a solar kit.
STORING WATER
It’s essential to have enough water when dry camping. The freshwater tank should have no trouble lasting the entire duration of your camping vacation if everything is done correctly. There are many sizes for freshwater tanks in RVs. A Class A will have a capacity of 75 to 100 gallons. Class B vehicles store roughly 20 to 40 gallons, Class C vehicles about 35 to 60, and fifth-wheel trailers about 60 to 80 gallons. 40–60 gallons are held in smaller trailers. Whatever the size of your tank, there are techniques to extend the water’s shelf life.
COOKING
Prepare meals with low to no water usage. Prepare your vegetables for chopping in advance to save time cleaning a soiled cutting board and knife while boondocking. Grill out rather than heating up water for pasta and dirtying a skillet for sauce. When possible, cook outside!
The simplest way to waste precious water is to wash dishes. Did you know that washing one load of dishes can use up to 20 gallons of water? Whenever possible, choose paper plates, bowls, and other single-use items to avoid using all of your water on dishes. Nowadays, there are many solutions that may be recycled, reducing the problem of trash.
Dish tubs can be used to wash the inevitable dishes. For washing, fill one with a small amount of water and biodegradable soap, and for rinsing, fill the other with clean water. This will save a ton of water compared to leaving the faucet running. To save space in the gray tank after you’re done with the dishes, throw the water outside!
Last but not least, only use the kitchen sink for washing up after yourself and cooking. Do not drink from it. Water jugs and recyclable water bottles should be brought along.
BATHROOM
Water consumption can be high even during brief showers. Two to six liters of water are typically used for a single shower in an RV. Bypassing the shower while boondocking is the best way to save water. A excellent technique to freshen up without using water is to use wet wipes. Make sure to take a military-style shower if you feel like you need a good cleanse. That means just run the water when rinsing and turn off the water while shampooing or lathering soap.
When brushing your teeth in the bathroom sink, run the water at a drip and make sure to shut off the faucet when finished. Place a bottle of hand sanitizer on the counter and use it when necessary rather than washing your hands several times every day.
Don’t dump water down the toilet to waste it! Do you recall the proverb, “If it’s yellow, let it mellow”? Do that when boondocking, then. For guys, it’s best to utilize the great outdoors whenever you can. Throw feminine toilet paper in the trash instead than the black tank. Additionally, fill the bowl with water in advance of the need to flush down the brown because doing so should reduce the amount of water you use during the flush.
HOLDING TANKS
Filling up the gray and black tanks while boondocking shouldn’t be a problem if you keep the above water advice in mind. Take military-style showers, use empty tubs outside to prevent water from running down sink drains, and flush as little as possible.
Make sure your tanks are empty and as clean as you can get them before boondocking. To make sure you arrive at camp empty, use an app like SaniDumps or iOverlander to locate a dump station nearby. During this time, you can also replenish with potable water. Treat the black tank with an odor-reducing solution before using it. After a few days, the entire RV can begin to smell like a bathroom, but a deodorizer or enzyme treatment will stop that from happening.
CONCLUSION
You shouldn’t let apprehension about the unknown prevent you from boondocking. Off-grid camping may be enjoyable with only a little preparation, perseverance, and a laid-back mindset. Camping off the beaten path is well worth the small amount of work it takes to boondock. Additionally, while dry camping in an RV, you don’t even need to cut corners on the better things in life like using the water and electricity. Get outside right away and take in nature!
