Must haves for boondocking

[Kevin D Pem]

Hot dog stick and a hammock. Everything else is added weight.

But a tent and sleeping bag is nice!!!

 

[Vanbrat]

We do about 50/50 boondocking and parks with power. For boon docking we pay attention to where we are. If it gives us the creeps we leave (twice now). We carry a Jackery and 2 solar panels for our power. We only have a small 12volt fridge so it works for several days if we want. Our water is 2 - 5 gallon jugs, gravity fed, no pumps, no water heaters. Heat is an electric blanket at night. Trash is double bagged and stored in a strong box if not paper based and burned. Cooking is zapped in the microwave and/or air fried both work with the Jackery. Water is heated in a small tea kettle thing for dish washing and us washing. Lights for outside are rechargeable batteries.

 

[RollingManCave]

I have not been hooked to shore power since November. I have a small class C. I built a solar birth that uses smaller amounts of electricity to heat and cool. I do have the 12 volt blankets as well. I use my water tank for bathroom only. I have 3 and 5 gal water jugs from walmart and one is always strapped down on the counter next to the sink. It has a removable and rechargeable pump on top. I have a 5gal bucket with a screw top that I can set outside under the roof spout to collect water during the rain. My Solar birth a/c produces about a 1/2 gallon of water that I pump into the water tank. I am now working on a solar a/c for the Dining/kitchen area. That will be more challenging than the Solar Birth.

 

[RollingManCave]

Update on the 5000 BTU solar A/C. I started out installing snaps on the A/C and the on the Fabric Divider that unrolls and separates the cab from the living area. Temps were not what I wanted. The good that came out of this was the Removable magnetic screens I designed and built for the Cab to vent the hot air from the A/C. I was amazed at how much cooler it is in the Motorhome just by having the screens installed. I then built a divider with snaps for the toy hauler/bedroom area. This cut down the area to be cooled quite a bit. I was comfortable in the afternoon sun but still not as cool as I would like. I found by adding a fan in front of the A/C that it helped a lot. Strange enough, I found I could do this with the windows open and the back divider rolled up. I got the cool solar A/C air blowing on me and the fresh air at the same time. Just shows how real world testing is important. Anyway, I had been looking at the size and cost of 7-8000 btu A/C's when it dawned on me that I would not be using the 2800 BTU solar birth A/C during the day so I could use it at the same time as the 5000. I now have the birth A/C mounted with Heavy duty plastic ties (It is portable with a handle). I will be changing those out with velcro straps so I can move it down to the main area for daytime use. Another benefit of this is I can have one A/C plugged into the Solar Generator while the other stays plugged into the Lithium battery bank. Solar should be able to keep up with both A/Cs and charge the batteries. I will update after the next test. Another plus is I am now building and installing the Custom Removable Magnetic Screens to folks on the road that notice and want them.

 

[dave54]

Must have's???? A very understanding wife or girlfriend. But I certainly advise NOT both.

Bob

Not both at the same time, anyway.

 

[MaraZen]

We do about 50/50 boondocking and parks with power. For boon docking we pay attention to where we are. If it gives us the creeps we leave (twice now). We carry a Jackery and 2 solar panels for our power. We only have a small 12volt fridge so it works for several days if we want. Our water is 2 - 5 gallon jugs, gravity fed, no pumps, no water heaters. Heat is an electric blanket at night. Trash is double bagged and stored in a strong box if not paper based and burned. Cooking is zapped in the microwave and/or air fried both work with the Jackery. Water is heated in a small tea kettle thing for dish washing and us washing. Lights for outside are rechargeable batteries

We do about 50/50 boondocking and parks with power. For boon docking we pay attention to where we are. If it gives us the creeps we leave (twice now). We carry a Jackery and 2 solar panels for our power. We only have a small 12volt fridge so it works for several days if we want. Our water is 2 - 5 gallon jugs, gravity fed, no pumps, no water heaters. Heat is an electric blanket at night. Trash is double bagged and stored in a strong box if not paper based and burned. Cooking is zapped in the microwave and/or air fried both work with the Jackery. Water is heated in a small tea kettle thing for dish washing and us washing. Lights for outside are rechargeable batteries.

So when I came back from Iraq my son and I were homeless, NOT proud of that, would not tell my SGT's, too embarrassed.... but we stayed in my car at the Walmart for several days until I could get into an apartment. Ate MRE's every day. They are a life saver if you need them. Get the ones with heaters to heat food and they can be good to warm you up in the winter if you don't have heat. Several RVs and big rigs were also there even some were there longer. Walmart does not kick you out if you are "shopping" there every day you are there, you don't have to "buy" every day just go in every day. just an idea for safer parking, free heat/ac while in the building, free bathroom use/not using your water and toilet paper, etc. saves on your electric when you are in the building, fresh food, if no RV parks around. My son and I would make up fun stories of who people were and what they were buying and for what they might use it for. That is what happens when you have overactive imaginations, lol. Just an idea.

 

[MaraZen]

I have not been hooked to shore power since November. I have a small class C. I built a solar birth that uses smaller amounts of electricity to heat and cool. I do have the 12 volt blankets as well. I use my water tank for bathroom only. I have 3 and 5 gal water jugs from walmart and one is always strapped down on the counter next to the sink. It has a removable and rechargeable pump on top. I have a 5gal bucket with a screw top that I can set outside under the roof spout to collect water during the rain. My Solar birth a/c produces about a 1/2 gallon of water that I pump into the water tank. I am now working on a solar a/c for the Dining/kitchen area. That will be more challenging than the Solar Birth.
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Love the roof spout for water, I have the 50 gal. Rain Wizard bins for my rainwater so when my electric goes off at my house because of the storms in Texas, I can use water for my flushing, dishes, cooking, etc.