Bob Difley
When the first self-contained RVs appeared on American highways, the concept of a full service RV resort had not even become the germ of an idea. The idea behind the RVs was to become independent of electrical, water, and sewage systems–to be self sustainable while seeing the wondrous scenic landscapes of this great and diverse country. The independence was the beauty of RV camping.
Then campgrounds and hook-ups came along and the RVer evolved from wanting to be free of tethers to the RVer demanding campgrounds with hook-ups wherever he wanted to camp. Campgrounds turned into resorts with amenities to match the luxurious vacation hotels and spas–with price tags to match. And many RVers lost their ability to camp without life-supporting appendages, just like early humanoids lost their tails when they stopped swinging from trees.
But unlike the humanoids that lost their tails, RVs did not lose their ability to camp without the life-supporting tethers. In fact, they became even more adaptable, efficient, and practical for camping independent of support systems well beyond the dreams of the early adapters.
Giant water supply tanks and waste tanks, generators, solar panels, high efficiency electricity-storing batteries, full size refrigerators, massive amounts of storage and pantries, efficient heating and cooling systems–and many other improvements–now make camping without hook-ups–boondocking–almost as easy as staying in a full hook-up campground.
But many owners, though they know that their rig has these systems built in, stay wary of camping away from the grid. Like the mishaps of Robin Williams in the movie RV are typical of what will happen to them if they become too adventurous. The truth is, if you don’t venture out away from established overnight (I won’t call them camping) options, you are missing out on the most important feature of the RV lifestyle–the option to camp just about anywhere you can get to on America’s public lands–in its forests and deserts, by streams, rivers, lakes, on Indian Reservations and Fish and Wildlife properties, on state wildlife and forest preserves and water properties managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.
In this series–The Zen of Boondocking–I will take you on a virtual tour that answers the basic question of why so many experienced RVers boondock: why we do it, how we do it, how we do it comfortably, how to improve your skills, how to make the most of your rigs systems, how to find those splendiferous boondocking sites that leave you speechless when you’re all alone on an expansive desert plateau as the sun settles slowly over the distant rocky ridge in a blaze of impossibly vivid colors of a desert sunset.
Check out my website for more RVing and boondocking tips and destinations and for my ebooks, BOONDOCKING: Finding the Perfect Campsite on America’s Public Lands, Snowbird Guide to Boondocking in the Southwestern Deserts, and 111 Ways to Get the Biggest Bang out of your RV Lifestyle Dollar.
Mike
You’re missing the ‘v’ in venture (it’s written ‘enture’).
DANNY GRIM
BOB, I AM PURCHASING THE 180O WATT SOLAR GENERATOR SYSTEM FOR MY RV. I WAS WATCHING THE RVBACKUP SHOW ON THE COMPUTER AND IT SHOW AN INSTALLATION OF JUST PLIGGING INTO THE GENERATOR WITHOUT THE 30 AMP CORD. IS THIS A REQUIRED INSTALLATION OR IS CONNECTED TO THE POWER PANEL OR THE POWER CORD BOX??
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
DANNY GRIM
Bob Difley
Russ – Thanks for pointing out the incorrect link to my ebook. The correct link uses an upper case W in ways, i.e. http://www.healthyrvlifestyle.com/111Ways.com.
I thank all of you for your comments. I used to receive an email when someone commented on one of my blog posts, which enabled me to respond. However, for reasons I cannot explain nor receive an answer to, the emails have stopped and I now cannot tell when someone comments unless I physically open the email and read the comments. This, time wise, is impossible, since I have written hundreds of posts and could not possibly check all of them. I am also receiving many more comments than I could possibly respond to (even if I got paid for doing this blog which I don’t). I will try to continue to answer some questions or respond to comments when I find them, and will look at my most recent posts for new comments, but cannot promise I will find them all or that I will always have the time to respond. But, thank you all for your support and for the terrific comments and stimulating discussion on the posts.
W6PEA
Bob
Why is it that I always seem to find Part II or part III first?
Great Article.
Would sleeping in the back of a pickup truck with a camper shell and a blanket or sleeping bag be considered boondocking?
My wife and have been there and done that many a time!
Russ
Do you get free copies of ebooks when you point out the link on this page promoting your book is not working? 😉 http://www.healthyrvlifestyle.com/111ways.html
Engineer Guy
As your second Gun story above reiterates, something like 94% of folks involved in Gun-related violence know each other somehow. ‘Most’ violence is City or Suburb-based; not Boondocking sorts of remote areas. Traceability is something the Bad Guys don’t like. So, take [or fake] a Cellphone pic of someone questionable. Actually dial, or fake, a description of a person into your Phone as they get close enough to hear you. Tell them your Sister worries about you and wants to know where you are, and who’s around. And so on…
Teach yourself to take down License Plates by instinct, and memorize them, along with descriptions of persons. I did this the other week, and this allowed the Police to catch some ‘grab and dash’ Thieves running VERY fast to their Car from a local Drugstore. The whole event was over in a few seconds, and the Drugstore Manager was VERY happy to meet me later.
Shooting accurately is quite difficult, due to Gun recoil, and due to the target being smaller than you think. If they’re close enough to hit, Bear Spray is a good alternative. Use it only at the last second as a ‘stealth’ move that surprises your Adversary w/o tipping them off.
Glamis Camping
It is a bit ironic, though of course to each his own still, that some would rather want to just park their RV’s on specialized campsites with all the amenities, than travel through the country with distance in mind.
Geoffrey Pruett
Boondocking or as we call it dry camping is about 80% of our use of our Class A. Many times we are not in remote locations, just away from hook ups but do use open areas at times. The question of safety will be brought up, and should be. The only time in 50 years that safety could have been an issue was not in North America, it was in tightly controlled Yugoslovia while Tito was still around and did involve the license plates on the vehicle. It was a GB registered Land Rover I was sharing with some other tourists and we were charged by an elderly very gaunt man waving a large piece of firewood. His family(I guess) grabbed him and attempted an apology, no english skills, and we finished with our departure a little faster. Probably left overs from WW2. Tito was the largest chunk at the top of the cess pool when WW2 ended and was handed control by our European allies of a mix of people considered too hard to deal with at the time. This was a very old and proud area shoved together under a strict and violent leader and it was obvious in 1968 that it was ready for an explosion. North America today is very quiet in comparison.
shorty and barb young
To Robert from Canada
Are you safe in boondocking? I have done it for 20 years, all over the U.S., Canada, and parts of Mex. Have never had a problem and never saw anyone who looked suspicious. Doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen the next time, but the chances are it will not. Always a good idea to be observant of the situation and people around you. Just because you boondock doesn’t mean you have to be completely by yourself in that location. It might make you feel safer to boondock where there are other campers nearby doing the same thing. The suggestion of the bear spray and/or pepper spray is really good, and may be better than a gun.
I certainly would not try it in Mexico the way things are now . The U.S. state department does not encourage travel to Mexico anywhere now, even in highly popular tourist areas.
Now do I still “pack protection”? You damn right, unless I am going to Canada.
Jim Peterson
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If I thought my license plates portrayed me as a potential “victim” I’d cover ’em while parked with a lawn chair or something. And just because the law says you can’t have a gun doesn’t mean you can’t have one, eh? But realistically? The odds of you ever being in a confrontational situation while boondocking? A situation where you having a gun could potentially save your life? These are exceedingly rare events.
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Boondocking takes you away from the congestion and the ne’er do wells; not towards them. A big can of bear spray or even wasp spray will certainly give a would-be attacker something else to think about. Flare guns (legal everywhere as far as I know) are also VERY effective — aim for the soft stomach — guaranteed that person will experience a paradigm shift.
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sail4free
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Fred Brandeberry, SR
Bob:
What size solar panel (in watts) would you suggest for a double 6 volt battery bank in a class C motorhome please?
Fred b.
hoppe
Nice article Bob;
Makes me think I should buy a smaller RV so I can get to some of the places I used to go, before the advent of my 28′ MH.
Why do they call it distribution of wealth, when we tax someone who ‘pays’ themselves as much per year as 1,000 people normally make in a year?
$100k @ 10,000 = $10Million How Conservative is that? Tax the THEIVES!
ross tate
I cant tell you how much we enjoy your articles.
First thing I do in the morning, after making coffee, is to go to your articles.
Since I am still working, Your articles stimulate my brain, and cause a lot of day dreaming on the places you go.
Makes me itch to get the 31″ Chateau out and hit the road.
Again, my wife and I enjoy what your doing.
Keep it up.
Ross & April
robert
Hi, we are Canadians who intend to spend our winters down south, in the USA, when we retire two years from now. We have camped from Newfoundland to British Columbia in Canada and as far south as Virginia in the States, always in campgrounds. We have experienced two handgun incidents, one in Delaware where shots were fired and another in Maine where a man chased a woman from a motel with a handgun. We feel relatively safe in comercial and state campgrounds but, as visitors, we are not allowed to arm ourselves. Just how safe can we expect to be in the boondocks where practically any American is allowed to carry a weapon and we are not? Our Canadian license plates identify us as being unarmed. We would love to be able to boondock but we are concerned for our safety. What are your recommendations?
Rachel
our Class A has a generator but always heard that the noise was not welcome in parks. I’m totally a novice as far as how the inverter works…so I’m looking forward to your series.
Pam Worthington
Sounds fascinating! I’m a boondocker by nature and can’t wait to read what comes next.
Good on ya, Bob!
Bob Difley
Part II next Saturday.
Ralphie Boyo
Thanks for the intro. I’m looking forward to the series…