RVING OFF THE BEATEN PATHWHAT YOU NEED TO

KNOW

What attracted you to RV camping in the first place?

It could be the flexibility and relative a�ordability of this unique means of travel. Maybe you’ve stood in one too many airport security lines and decided you needed a di�erent way to vacation. Maybe it’s a simple thirst for the open road.

But for many campers, the siren song of RV travel is all about getting o� the grid, back to nature, and as far away from everyday life as possible. And while camp-grounds full of amenities are fun and convenient, they can leave something to be desired when it comes to unplugging. (Literally.)

But RVing o� the beaten path is a di�erent animal, and if you’ve never done it before, there are a few things you need to know before you head out into the wild.

That’s why we’ve compiled this guide to help get you started on your road-less-tak-en journey. Of course, it can’t cover everything -- part of the reason you’re attracted to the back road in the first place is the spontaneity, right? But reviewing this informa-tion will help you avoid some common inconveniences and mistakes, and ensure you have a safe and relaxing journey away from it all.

If you’ve been looking into getting away from it all, you’ve probably heard campers talking about “boondocking.” This is a slang term for dry camping -- that is, RV camp-ing in an area with limited or no amenities.

GETTING STARTED: WHAT IS BOONDOCKING?

WHAT YOU NEED TO

So, what do you need to know in order to go on your own boondocking adventure? Here are a few fundamentals.

Boondocking grants you access to some of the most stunning RV campsites out there, some of which you might even discover yourself! Plus, these sites are often free to stay in, or carry very minimal fees. Best of all, you’ll get some much-needed peace and quiet, and wake up every morning to a beautiful view.

However, dry camping comes with some unique challenges you may not expect if you’ve only ever camped in a fully-equipped resort.

For instance, when you’re boondocking, there’s likely not a nearby dump station to drain your wastewater tanks, and you might also be unable to fill up on potable water if you run out. And if you want electricity -- to run your air conditioning unit, for example -- you’ll need to have some sort of self-contained power source, like a gen-erator. (Not to mention the fuel to run it!)

Don’t worry: It’s not half as scary as it sounds. In fact, most RVs make boondocking pretty darn easy. They are called “campers,” after all!

BOONDOCKING BASICS

Fill up your water tank to capacity before you head out, making sure you’re hook-ing up to a city or otherwise filtered water source with a certified potable water hose. (They’re easy to identify since they’re always white in color!) You should also empty your fresh water tank entirely between each trip. You don’t want to use and drink water that’s been sitting under your rig for who knows how long.

Then, make a concerted e�ort to conserve your water supply during your stay. For example, you may decide to forego full-on showers and take sponge baths instead, or rely on one-pot meals that don’t require a lot of dishwashing. (As a bonus, these easy meals will also help you preserve generator fuel and battery power, which we’ll get to in a second… not to mention the time you spend cleaning up.)

It’s not a bad idea to bring along some extra potable drinking water in containers, which you can keep in the coach itself. You never know what can happen out there -- better safe than sorry!

But when it comes to boondocking, it isn’t just drinking water you need to worry about. Do you want to wash dishes and take showers while you camp? How often do you flush the toilet? All of these factors will a�ect how quickly you go through your water supply -- which, in turn, will determine how long you can stay at your des-tination.

Most motorhomes and large travel trailers come equipped with power generators, which generally run on LP (liquid propane), gas or diesel. However, it’s not as simple as filling up your fuel tank and striking out on the road.

You’ll also need to keep an eye on your battery level, as many smaller features in your coach, like your overhead lights, water pump and furnace fan, are powered in part by a 12-volt DC coach battery supply. This battery charges when you run your generator -- but unless you’re using your rooftop air conditioner or microwave, it’s likely you won’t need to start it up at all.

In short, the longevity of your dry-camping electricity is likely more dependent on the strength of your battery than the capacity of your generator, especially if you’re doing what you can to conserve energy (which you should). To make the most of your boondock-ing adventure, choose a site that’s temperate enough to avoid using the air conditioner, and stay away from microwaved meals. (Bonus: you’ll probably eat better, and you’ll avoid the noise created by the generator. Quiet is what you’re after on this backwoods adven-ture, right?)

Depending on where you’re headed and how willing you are to “rough it,” power could be an indulgent luxury… or an absolute necessity. (Case in point: There’s no way you’re living without air conditioner if you’re camping in a hot, Floridian summer!)

POWER

Since we live in an age with ample nonperishables, food could technically be a non-issue… if you were willing to survive on granola, jerky and cold Chef Boyardee from the can.

Let’s upgrade the menu, shall we?

Although it’s a good idea to keep dry-packaged snacks stocked, you can still take advantage of your RV’s refrigerator to make fresh meals while you’re boondocked. You will, however, have to keep a few things in mind.

Most RV refrigerators can run either on AC power -- that is, the electricity hookup you won’t have out in the wild -- or liquid propane gas. In many cases, it’s as simple as pressing a button to get your fridge to switch over. However, you’ll still need that 12-volt DC battery power mentioned above, as it helps power the fridge; the pro-pane only powers the internal heating element that works to create a cooling reac-tion. Also keep in mind that RV refrigerators in LP mode only keep cool when abso-lutely level, and that your gas lines might be empty when you first switch over. Give your fridge ample time to cool!

FOOD

Another option to consider: solar panels, which allow you to use high-powered appliances while still foregoing the noisy, gassy generator. However, a full roof setup can be expen-sive, and smaller single panels might not power very much. But if you find yourself com-pletely in love with dry camping, solar might be a worthwhile investment for you.

Now for the down and dirty.

Crap happens -- literally. And when you’re out in some idyllic paradise, miles from a dump station, you’re going to have to keep it in your holding tank.

In case you don’t already know, your RV’s wastewater system is divided into two cat-egories.

The microwave, again, will require you to switch on your generator, which can be wasteful (and kind of a pain) to set up just for this! Better to stick with meals you can cook over your RV’s propane-powered stove -- or, better yet, outside over an open fire. Serious dry campers who go out for long-term trips might also consider a solar-powered oven, which harnesses the sun itself to cook your food!

In neither case is it a good thing for these tanks to overfill. Although in some states it’s actually legal to dump gray water directly onto the ground, it’s never really advisable -- there’s soap in that! -- and black water, of course, absolutely must be dumped into a sewer connection.

Some RVs have water tanks with less capacity than either waste tank in order to automatically avoid this problem, but no matter what, it’s smart thinking to keep a close eye on your tanks’ fill levels.

WASTE AND GARBAGE

Gray water is the runo� from the kitchen and bathroom sinks, as well as the shower.

Black water is what you flush down the toilet.

The best way to keep them low? Again, go easy on the showers and dishwash-ing. Flushing the toilet is less avoidable, obviously. Speaking of which:

You may need to use more of your approved, flushable chemicals than normal to help control odor and break down solids. Since you’ll likely be using less water, the waste will be more concentrated, which could make for a smelly situation.

You’ll also need to figure out what to do with your garbage. This might be a non-is-sue or a challenging puzzle, depending on the length of your trip. Simply using a covered garbage can will likely work for a long weekend, but if you’re on a two-week-long trek, you might find yourself facing an overflow -- not to mention odors. And simply leaving it outside isn’t an option, since it might attract unwanted attention from wildlife (i.e., bears).

Some advice? Double-bag your garbage, in any case, and dump it at your earli-est convenience. You might also consider getting a large rubbermaid or other secure box to keep the smell down, or even placing full bags of garbage in your tow vehicle. Outside of city dumps, you can also ask to use the dumpster at gas stations while you’re filling up. After you spend a hundred dollars on fuel, they’re likely to say “Yes!”

Even though you might be nervous about camping in a remote area, RV boondock-ing can be a very safe way to travel, as long as you make some smart precautions. When you leave your rig or go to sleep, make sure to lock up; leave valuables at home, or at least hide them.

It’s not common for thieves to target lone RVers out in the wilderness. First of all, it tends not to be a very lucrative type of theft, considering the time and energy invest-ment necessary to find and break into a boondocked rig in the first place. Secondly, distance from other people is usually one deciding factor when boondockers choose their campsites -- and if thieves aren’t around, they can’t rob you!

Although it won’t work everywhere, you can consider purchasing an external hot spot, or looking into your mobile device’s tethering capacities. And if you want to turn your cell phone o� altogether, consider purchasing a GPS tracking device, per-sonal locator beacon or satellite messenger, which can comfort worried loved ones -- or save your life in an emergency situation.

STAYING SAFE

If you’re trying to get o� the beaten path, it’s likely that an internet connection is the last thing you want. But if you’re a digital nomad or working remotely, staying connected to some extent might not be negotiable. And it’s always a good idea to have some communicative failsafe, especially if you’re traveling alone.

STAYING CONNECTED

As mentioned above, you’ll also want to ensure your safety from local wildlife. It might be cool to see a bear while you’re out in the wilderness, but it’s less fun to be trapped inside your rig by a hungry one who won’t leave you alone! So long as you properly put away your food and garbage, however, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Dry camping isn’t that complicated, but it’s a good idea to get a sense of your tanks’ capacities and make sure you know how to operate all your RV’s equipment before you head out into the woods. Consider doing a “dry run” of sorts at home, or make a weekend of it at a local park. That way, you can get comfortable with the experi-ence before you’re totally stranded.

TRY OUT BOONDOCKING BEFORE YOU GO

Now that you have the basics of boondocking down, it’s time for the fun part: Where to?

WHERE TO GO

Figuring it out is one of the best parts of RVing o� the beaten path. The best way is to simply get out there and explore, and hopefully discover your own perfect camp-ing paradise. This works especially well if you’re out west, where you can easily stumble upon endless roads to “nowhere” -- or to the most beautiful spot no one’s ever heard of.

However, taking this route often means you’ll set out on your trip without knowing where you’ll be staying until the late afternoon, which requires admirable flexibility and might not be enjoyable for everyone. If you want to have a general sense of where you’re going, you can turn to the camping community. Many campers share some of their favorite sites on blogs, discussion forums, and podcasts. (Though you may find that many experienced boondockers are hesitant to give you exact direc-tions… because if the word gets out, their prized site might end up a crowded mess!)

Another important note: While a lot of beautiful American land is set aside for public use and managed by bureaus like the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Man-agement, it’s easy to accidentally wander onto private property. When in doubt, give the local public lands o�ce a call to ensure you’re in an approved location. Most U.S. national parks don’t allow boondocking, or “dispersed camping.”

Even if you’re in a public spot, there are certain rules you need to follow. For instance, in most places, you can’t camp in one site for longer than 14 days, and you need to “pack out” whatever garbage and other materials you “packed in” in the first place. There may also be restrictions on when, where and whether or not you can light fires. The public lands o�ce will be able to give you the full rundown on the reg-ulations in your area.

And when you’re excitedly scoping out some prime property, keep in mind how the elements might a�ect your stay. Is there shade, or is the site in full sun? If so, is the weather cool enough to compensate, or will your sunny spot necessitate running the air conditioner? Don’t forget to check the quality of the ground -- you don’t want to get stuck in the mud. (Trust me on this.)

No matter where the road takes you, boondocking is some of the very best camping available, and it’ll completely transform your understanding of the RVing experience. We can’t wait to hear about your next adventure o� the beaten path!