Boondocking Like Pros: The Secrets We Wish We Knew Sooner

Comments · 138

• TH

  @TheNoTomorrowProject · 10 months ago · pinned

  We’ve learned SO much from OTHER travelers — what’s the one thing YOU wish you knew before your first boondock?

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• HE

  @headdown1 · 10 months ago (edited)

  Hello from my current boondocking site in the Mojave desert near Parker, AZ.<br>Great minds think alike. I have 2050 watts of solar panels and 900 AH of LiFePO4 batteries. When the sun is shining, it is actually finally enough! Last winter I went 6 months in the southwest without using my generator. I have used it once this winter but that was because I am upgrading the solar system and had it unplugged on and off for a few days. I have just a 16x7x7 cargo tralier to RV conversion. 1300 watts on the roof and 750 watts in a ground string.<br>I&apos;ve been retired for 8 years and full timing for the entire time. With so much power, I have a big 120 volt Samsung home fridge with ice maker. Microwave, deep fryer, coffee maker, toaster.<br>I boondock 100% of the time. I have an Airhead compost toilet, which saves a huge amount of water since it uses none at all. A two gallon pee tank does need to be discreetly dumped when full. Since I mostly pee outside in the desert, this takes a while to get full. &nbsp;With a compost toilet I have no black tank..no trips to a dump station. <br>I use paper plates and cups to minimize washing dishes, and do them in a Tupperware tub on the tailgate of the Ram. In the bed of the Ram is my fresh water tank...a plastic farm tank of 100 gallons. A Y fitting at the tank sends one hose to the water inlet of the RV, and the other is a short gravity feed hose for rinsing the dishes at the tailgate, filling the dog dish, etc. This short gravity feed hose also ensures that even if my water pump suddenly failed while boondocking, I will still have easy access to the water in my fresh tank.<br> Hot water for showers and dishes comes from an on demand propane water heater on the bathroom wall. <br>The gallon or two of dishwater is dumped discreetly in the desert. My kitchen sink is used mainly for washing hands, so I have no grey tank. Both my shower and kitchen sink drain straight to the ground. My RV sits in one spot in Quebec all summer on my bush lot. The only thing I notice from dumping this small amount of water directly onto the ground is slightly more greenery from the extra water. No smell, no critters. I do have a 6 galllon water container under the kitchen sink for nights at Walmart, etc. A valve flips to drain into it rather than to the ground.<br>Heat is a Big Buddy heater plumbed into the main propane line of the RV.<br>I don&apos;t know if you have considered using a water bladder? They are very small and fold up to nothing when empty, but can hold 60 gallons or so in the bed of your truck in a low profile bladder. They are tough as nails, and don&apos;t need to be babied as much as you would think. I don&apos;t have to tell you how much it would mean to have an extra 60 gallons of water every time you boondock.

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• PE

  @petev.2120 · 3 months ago

  One of the most helpful videos I have come across.

  1

• BA

  @bassops1373 · 9 months ago

  Wow, not sure how you all came across my feed, but I’m glad you did! It’s nice to hear plane talking people who provide good information, and just tell it like it is! Great video.

  2

• SK

  @Skampdog · 9 months ago

  Great information!!! Thanks you two 🙏

  1

• SO

  @somedayistodayrv · 10 months ago

  No doubt, boondocking is amazing freedom. Thanks for the great info.

  1

• MD

  @mdooog · 7 months ago

  Whatever can go in the sink can go in a tub placed in the sink and then dumped outside (depending on how close your neighbors are) to prevent filling your tank as quickly.<br>Thanks for the helpful tips 👍

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• VE

  @Vegadoesmedia · 3 weeks ago

  The idea of freezing your veggies and using them for a smoothy later was actually genius. Now I have to go buy a magic bullet or something so I can utilize that instead of eating 4 bananas back to back

• ER

  @ericmattinen4728 · 10 months ago

  You could save a lot of power use by getting an induction hot plate and lose the electric resistive one you have. Also, retrofit the roof AC units with one mini split, they run so much more efficient and save about 80 pounds of weight.

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• PA

  @Paultheff · 9 months ago

  First time watching your channel, and I appreciate your content. New to RVing and your tips for boondocking were great! Thank You!

• GR

  @GrechenVanWander · 1 month ago

  Subscribed because I think y’all are funny. 😆

• LI

  @lisarenee260 · 10 months ago

  Great information and tips. Thank you!