Must haves for boondocking

[trogladyte]

We're in the planning stages of going fulltime RVing. We love camping so our intention is to spend as much time as we can on free sites/boondocking. We run a web design business so will need internet access and reliable power.

For people in our proposed lifestyle, what is your list of must have "things"? Solar - how big, generator, etc?

 

[Neal]

Boondocking / dry camping - solar is probably a must have. You really don't want to run the GEN and destroy the peace of your escape. LifePO4 batteries are a nice complement but not required but will make the solar experience a better bang for your buck especially in winter when the sun is at a lower declination. 12V accessories such as a Pepwave Wi-Fi/Cellular router (I use the BR1 Pro 5G). Starlink is the new thing on the block but it's power hungry and not 12V (yet) but I hope it's coming.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Neal just taught me something! I didn't know that starlink was an energy hog. Starlink is my goto plan, but I am not having to run a web business. For off grid remote internet it's the best service provider I ever had.

In my opinion the number one thing you must have, is a conservative mindset. You know what I mean? Don't run water when you're rinsing dishes, soap up with the shower valve off. Use the water most people let run down the drain while they wait for the hot water.
Turn lights off when you don't need them. The idea is, if you have to hunt water, or dump when the deadline draws near, you may become weary of what could be a wonderful life. One more thing! Washers, though nice require more work and are more inconvenient, than trips to a laundromat (we would (I am by myself now) use several machines and be finished in 1/4 the time needed at home. Not to mention the hassle of getting and getting rid of water).

Solar is the best investment you can make for the life you are considering. A back-up generator is good to have but more important, is as much Solar as you have space for.

I have two systems, one a 24v 200ah battery bank of Northstar blues, a carbon lead technology (Main system). And a 12v 400ah Agm back-up system (no lithium for me! I am against it). Having to revert back to a generator is the most inconvenient, undesirable thing I can think of. So if you rely on electricity SOLAR WITH BACK-UP!!! Oh I have 3000w watts of solar, used panels, with 4@60amp controllers (remember I said back-ups are important).

 

[Bob K4TAX]

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

Bob

 

[Rollin Ollen]

We're in the planning stages of going fulltime RVing. We love camping so our intention is to spend as much time as we can on free sites/boondocking. We run a web design business so will need internet access and reliable power.

For people in our proposed lifestyle, what is your list of must have "things"? Solar - how big, generator, etc?

Lots of good advice given already but one important one is being overlooked. Like Kevin's advice re water usage you must treat your trash the same. You gotta pack out what you pack in and I was amazed at the amount of garbage that built up when we first began boon docking. Plastic was our biggest enemy (leave the plastic bags with the store) and food scraps can get pretty smelly sitting in the desert sun after a few days so we prepare only enough food to feed ourselves with no left overs. Cardboard and paper can be added to a campfire.

Safe travels

Darrell

 

[Rich W.]

ice maker

 

[widdershins]

IMO a personal locator beacon and/or satellite based emergency communications device is top priority..

 

[rvkev]

How about on board reverse osmosis water system that keeps the brine water to shower with?

Water is a basic necessity. No plastic bottles to get rid of as above poster stated.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

How about on borad reverse osmosis water system that keeps the brine water to shower with?

Water is a basic necessity. No plastic bottles to get rid of as above poster stated.

This is not hard to do!!! And yes one of my first projects, when I get a new rig. However I do it differently.
What is behind my system is the fact I don't replenish the water holding tank til it is way down (maybe 1/8 tank). I run the discard line back into the fresh water tank.

 

[Neal]

If you want more water you can get a cheap and lightweight bladder and also a drill operated pump if you need to transfer water from bladder to your on board tank. The problem usually is not water available but how you manage your tanks as we all know.

Amazon.com : Water Storage Tank - Bladder - Bag - AQUATANK2 Stores Water For Your Emergency Water Supply - It Is a Light-Weight and Portable Water Container, Food-Grade Material, no BPAs (30 Gallon) : Camping Water Storage : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Water Storage Tank - Bladder - Bag - AQUATANK2 Stores Water For Your Emergency Water Supply - It Is a Light-Weight and Portable Water Container, Food-Grade Material, no BPAs (30 Gallon) : Camping Water Storage : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LIRSW0Y/?tag=rvf01-20

 

[Kevin D Pem]

If you want more water you can get a cheap and lightweight bladder and also a drill operated pump if you need to transfer water from bladder to your on board tank. The problem usually is not water available but how you manage your tanks as we all know.

Amazon.com : Water Storage Tank - Bladder - Bag - AQUATANK2 Stores Water For Your Emergency Water Supply - It Is a Light-Weight and Portable Water Container, Food-Grade Material, no BPAs (30 Gallon) : Camping Water Storage : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Water Storage Tank - Bladder - Bag - AQUATANK2 Stores Water For Your Emergency Water Supply - It Is a Light-Weight and Portable Water Container, Food-Grade Material, no BPAs (30 Gallon) : Camping Water Storage : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LIRSW0Y/?tag=rvf01-20

@Neal , you don't camp where I do! It can be miles to water unless you're stealing it.

 

[Gimpel]

what about battery configurations? I've been hearing 2x12 volts and 2x 6volt battery config. OR what about after market battery meter? (my trailer doens't have one) any suggestions out there for battery life and maintenance? Yes I do have a solar panel.

 

[rvkev]

what about battery configurations? I've been hearing 2x12 volts and 2x 6volt battery config. OR what about after market battery meter? (my trailer doens't have one) any suggestions out there for battery life and maintenance? Yes I do have a solar panel.

Here is a current link as of 4/16/23

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Battery Maintenance

 

[Trav_lr]

Must haves? First and foremost must have is to determine your needs and wants while off-grid. Build up from there.

 

[offroader09]

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

 

[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.