BLOG Want to RV on BLM lands? Download free maps for your device today

[Neal]

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-blm-lands-download-free-maps-device-today/

National Mobile Map Package (MMPK) Program | Bureau of Land Management

Free National Mobile Map Package (MMPK) Program The Enterprise Geospatial Services Team believes you should have access to the data your taxes pay to create in a modern format, usable offline, for free. The BLM National Recreation MMPK program is an evolution of the BLM New Mexico...

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Good to know as I'm going to be searching for BLM spots this summer.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

I downloaded the app and now I need to learn have to use it.

 

[Neal]

I downloaded it and then followed the instructions in the article on what to search for and then downloaded all of the maps. My iPhone has 512 GB of storage so I'm not worried about storage space.

I really really want to explore more off grid opportunity, would be better with others for safety reasons, but I despise RV parking lots. I want to try to be "camping" as much as I can, with amenities

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

@Neal , we did considerable boon docking last summer. For us, its much better than being in a concrete-laden "RV Resort". I prefer something like what Jim & Trish created when we stay in a park.

 

[sheridany]

I really don’t care for going into a park while I am enroute unless I have a real reason like dump tanks or want to stay somewhere for a few days. I am not interested in going 4 wheeling in the dirt in my coach but a short jaunt on a decent paved road where I can pull off and spend the night where it’s safe would be a big plus. I want to look at this closer. Thanks for posting.

This video is still etched in my mind. No thanks.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

I wonder what that tow cost?

 

[sheridany]

I hate to tell you that they had just taken delivery the day before.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

I guess they thought with 4-wheel drive they could go anywhere. 4-wheel drive = drive axle duals.

 

[Neal]

That is my fear, getting stuck (had that happen once on grass at a NKK rally, quite embarrassing) or going down a road I can't turn around on, yeah, did that once too in my early days of filling my bag of every bad RV experience I could in the shortest amount of time.

But there are amazing places to take our RV's especially those of us outfitted with solar, lithium, etc. If you haven't been to Quartzsite I cannot recommend it high enough as it's a great off grid experience and it's hard surface as well, unless of course it rains. So part of the boondocking experience is learning to survey and that may be taking the toad in first, I don't know, it's something I have to learn. The second concern is safety. Van lifers know this game, I don't. But I want to dabble into it safely and not have more stories to tell or crazy pictures to share!

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

@Neal , the best takeaway from last year while we did more boondocking than we ever had, was to drive the toad to check out off-road areas. It's a hassle to park, unhook, and potentially hook up again, but in the long run, it's the safest thing to do.

I've not been overly concerned regarding the safety of boondocking. As a precaution, I secure outside chairs, cooking equipment, etc when we leave for the day.

There is nothing quite like sitting by a crackling fire and listening to the night sounds of the forest or desert and the dark skies are amazing. Some of our best photos taken last year were of the Blue Moon rising while boondocking in a national forest near Cour de Arlen.

 

[Neal]

There are amazing experiences to be had outside of RV parking lots. That's what I am going to pursue. Even at Quartzsite I did not park with the group, well, someone got mad that I was blocking their view of the sunset so I moved and it was the best thing, I went away from the group into my own acre of land with another Newmar across the way and it was amazing. A nice sense of freedom. I bought a telescope for my western trip in 2019/2020 I think it was as I stayed in quite a few remote areas, although state parks and not boondocking and it was amazing too. I didn't realize how complicated these damn telescopes could be but at least I found the moon, ohh, and Jupiter, that was cool.

 

[sheridany]

How long can you go on tanks and water? I have read people say 5-6 days if you do it right. I imagine you just go into town to take care of that when needed.

 

[Neal]

There are ways to conserve, some not a great topic like, umm, not flushing. Transferring grey to black may be an option as grey fills first. I think most of us don't have an issue with fresh lasting. I think the longest I went was 9 days at the Oshkosh airshow, I could have gone 11 but with a dump station on site there was no reason not to go and make things easier.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

We can go 6 days fairly easily. It took us some time to learn the tricks and its lots of little things. We wash dishes in a pan and if allowed pour that outside or into the toilet. We have never used all of the freshwater it is always the gray tank that's the limiter.

@Neal if you're into astronomy you need to check out the "Star Party" at the McDonald Observatory in west Texas. Evening Programs | McDonald Observatory

Edit: Changed astrology to astronomy.

 

[Neal]

We wash dishes in a pan

If boondocking I'm 100% paper and solo cups

Edit: Cooking though, yeah, try to grill or use something that needs less cleaning, but I forgot that hence this edit. When I use the Ninja I usually put down foil to avoid the cleanup.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

I downloaded it and then followed the instructions in the article on what to search for and then downloaded all of the maps. My iPhone has 512 GB of storage so I'm not worried about storage space.

I really really want to explore more off grid opportunity, would be better with others for safety reasons, but I despise RV parking lots. I

How long can you go on tanks and water? I have read people say 5-6 days if you do it right. I imagine you just go into town to take care of that when needed.

We have 60 gallons fresh and the grey and black tank hold 30ish each. In the desert, if it doesn't get too hot we can usually do about 7 days before we have to break camp to dump and fill. We do have a 5 gallon jug that we take to fill when we have to do some shopping. That adds an extra 10 gallons. NO SHOWERS. we use a type of wipe (Hospitals use them for bed ridden folks) in stead. Wash dishes (by hand no machine) once a day. We use our normal toilet but many others have a composting set up that allows them to use less water. Usually, after 7 days I feel it's time to move on to new digs anyway so our system works for us.

Just an FYI, over all of our years of camping we have only experienced two thefts. The first was our entire cooler went for a walk but never came back. The second was the theft of all of the beer in the cooler but they left the cooler with us. Both at private EV Parks. Never anything boon docking.

Darrell

Darrell

 

[Neal]

I have to correct my info. My Oshkosh airshow experience is not a fair assessment as it was an event where I was out of the RV all day and had facilities at the event. Boondocking you don't have that luxury. But I've done rallies such as FMCA, etc. and I think 7 days is reasonable for one person, less for two I suppose.

 

[sheridany]

I wish the app had a satellite layer. I can copy coordinates to google earth as I want see what it looks like.

 

[Fish]

I really don’t care for going into a park while I am enroute unless I have a real reason like dump tanks or want to stay somewhere for a few days. I am not interested in going 4 wheeling in the dirt in my coach but a short jaunt on a decent paved road where I can pull off and spend the night where it’s safe would be a big plus. I want to look at this closer. Thanks for posting.

This video is still etched in my mind. No thanks.

Just watching that made me sick to my stomach. We park on sand and shells on our lot, went to leave last year and I wasn't moving. Got out and looked, driver side buried. Got big wrecker, he couldn't move me. Turned out I had passenger side brake locked up. He used up his coachnet time and left. Once we got the brake unstuck I drove right out. Granted that prevost is 10,000 to 15,000 pounds heavier than me.

I wonder what that tow cost?

My two tows have cost me $189 each, I think that's what my yearly coachnet dues are, well worth it. I've asked coachnet what the tow cost, they won't tell me. Maybe the person I was talking to just didn't know.

 

[Scooterfan]

My wife and I can go four days IF we are careful...which we are not. Three days is perfect without resources. You are correct that boondocking is awesome (depending on where you camp). Telescopes have been mentioned. My Grandpa always had his telescope out...we use our telescope often to scan locations, check out the channel islands from the Rincon, look for critters in the mountains, and just plain see farther than we can without it. It's a cheap way to enjoy the camping experience. Rarely does it point into the sky Blessings...