I second dave54's comment. Boondocking is in the boonies, away from civilization. I consider campgrounds, developed or undeveloped, as dry camping if I'm not using hookups. You can't boondock in a parking lot, there are no parking lots in the boonies.
It's similar to tent camping in that you must be frugal with the resources you have and there's nowhere close to replace them. So you have limited use of amenities and you can't dump tanks until you get out to a dump station. You'll carry more water than you normally would and things like long showers will be a luxury, not a routine.
Many people use generators to replace the lack of electrical hookups and there's no restrictions on their use except possible neighbors. I don't use one because I think it takes away from the quiet and solitude of boondocking, but that's a personal decision.
Boondocking is typically done on public land, national forests, BLM land, etc. You just have to identify that land and check for any restrictions on camping. It ofter involves driving back in on unimproved roads that are restrictive to bigger RV's, but they can still find spots closer to the pavement where they can set up. It would be unwise to take a big rig on those roads without first checking it out solo, though.
dave54 wrote: I am more of a purist. To me boondocking is outside any developed or designated campground. Many FS and BLM campgrounds do not have water or dumps, but are still a designated campground. I consider that staying in a campground, not boondocking.
My definition of boondocking is setting up camp out in the woods where no signs, tables, outhouses, fire rings, etc exist. No map identifies the site as a campground. The new MVUM in the national forests have reduced the availability of places to boondock, but many opportunities still exist.
Welcome. The stickies at the top of this forum have lots of information and links for beginners, especially the tips and tricks thread.
Good luck!
* This post was
edited 05/07/12 05:25pm by Mello Mike *
2011 Wolf Creek 850N/Polar Cub/240w Solar/2-6v Lifeline AGMs/Morningstar Sunsaver w/RM-1 & SureSine-300 Inverter 2011 Ford F-250/6.2L/3.73/Bilsteins/Air Bags/Torklift TD w/Fastguns 2004 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/5-spd US Navy Ret.
Quote: Many people use generators to replace the lack of electrical hookups and there's no restrictions on their use except possible neighbors. I don't use one because I think it takes away from the quiet and solitude of boondocking, but that's a personal decision.
Then again .... boondocking in accordance with dave54's purist definition (excellent, by the way) doesn't imply restrictions with respect to:
1) Fall through Spring only purist boondocking,
or
2) if in the summer - Northern locations only purist boondocking,
or
3) if in the summer - higher altitudes only purist boondocking,
or
4) mandatory sun exposure for X hours per week to feed solar panels when purist boondocking.
Therefore for maximum flexibility, how can a generator not be part of a purist's boondocking RV equipment inventory?
It seems to me that a purist's boondocking RV MUST be able to provide approximately residential comfort (the main purpose of an "RV") under a broader extreme than one can achieve with no genny and one can achieve with only solar.
We at all times carry both a quiet high power generator and a super quiet low power generator in our rig - and use them the absolute minimum - but always have them along just in case a purist boondocking location requires the use of electrical energy beyond that of previously charged battery storage.
i.e. We had a wonderful purist boondocking opportunity present itself in the Texas Panhandle one August that we were only able to serendipitously take advantage of because we were carrying a high enough power generator along so as to be able to provide heat stroke relieving A/C comfort for ourselves after exploring the remote area the RV was in. Because we were fully prepared for any kind of camping - purist boondocking or otherwise - we didn't miss a rare experience. Of course the sound of the generator's low frequency humming didn't bother us due to the comfort and safety it was making possible - and it bothered no one else because of the boondocking location.
* This post was
edited 05/08/12 09:40am by pnichols *
Dunno what part of NC you're in, but you're likely close to a National Forest or State Forest. Check with the district ranger's office. Best to go in person if possible, since they'll probably want to show or give you maps and copies of the rules. Be sure they understand from the get-go that you're talking RV, not tent.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison (aka 'Loafer's Glory') www.tigervehicles.com
dave54 wrote: I am more of a purist. To me boondocking is outside any developed or designated campground. Many FS and BLM campgrounds do not have water or dumps, but are still a designated campground. I consider that staying in a campground, not boondocking.
My definition of boondocking is setting up camp out in the woods where no signs, tables, outhouses, fire rings, etc exist. No map identifies the site as a campground. The new MVUM in the national forests have reduced the availability of places to boondock, but many opportunities still exist.
For me boondocking is what camping is really suppose to be. usually set up on a ridge so I can have my morning coffee while watching the sun come up over a mountain range or lake.
We have done it in a old van with a mattress in the back and a piece of wood over the back doors for shade, in tents and in trailers. It is always the same though, pack up everything you will need for the duration of your trip, find your spot and set up, spend your time wishing to god you could live like this, and at the end pack everything back up and go home.
That last part is really important. Take everything that you brought including cigarette butts, cans, shell casings, wrappers, even clean out the fire pit. Make it so the next guy can barely tell you were there.
Every one does it a bit differently depending on where you live, what your gear is and your comfort levels. I see huge rigs with satellites and generators down to people sleeping on mats under the stars.
2011 GulfStream Amerilite 25BH
2007/2003 Ford Expedition
Nights camped in 2011 21
Nights camped in 2012 16
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