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Author :Chelsea Barron in Education

Boondocking for beginners can be so much fun! If you’ve never tried boondocking, you’re missing out on an amazing and unique side of RV camping that everyone should experience at least a few times. Unfortunately, many people aren’t even aware that this type of camping is an option, and still others have no idea what the term “boondocking” even means.

In this article we are going to address all the burning questions you may have about boondocking. From discussing what boondocking is to sharing our favorite boondocking tips and tricks, we’re going to cover it all.

What is Boondocking?

Boondocking, also referred to as “dry camping” or camping off-grid, involves camping without any kind of electric, water, or sewer hookups. Generally, this is done out in the “boonies” (hence the name “boondocking”), and boondocking campsites are usually free.

For some, this might not sound like a very fun experience. We’ll be the first to admit it isn’t exactly luxury camping. However, it is still an exciting adventure, and it absolutely doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. In fact, with the right tools and know-how, boondocking can be just as comfy as camping in a traditional campground.

Gathering the Essentials

The first thing you need to do in order to ensure your boondocking experience is a good one is gather the right tools. Fortunately, most RVs already have much of what you need. Therefore, you’ll only need to add a few items to round out your dry camping kit.

These are the things we suggest purchasing before your off-grid adventure:

• Generator — You won’t have electric hookups while boondocking, so a generator is a good idea. This will give you the power you need to run certain appliances and will allow you to recharge your battery when necessary.

• Blue Boy — Because you won’t have a sewer hook up, a “blue boy” is necessary for dumping your tanks. This handy accessory will hold your waste water in the back of your truck until you can get to a dump station.

• Macerator Pump — A macerator pump is great for moving wastewater from your tanks into a blue boy on the back of your pickup.

• Water Bladder — If you’ll be dry camping for a while, you may need freshwater refills from time to time. This is where a water bladder steps in, allowing you to move clean water from a potable water source to your rig.

• Food-Grade Pump — A transfer pump may also be necessary for refilling your freshwater tank. This can be used to get the water from your water bladder into the tank.

• Venture Wipes — Considering what a pain it is to dump and refill water tanks while boondocking, you may want to cut back on showering. Venture Wipes are great for staying fresh when you don’t shower often.

• Max-Air Vent Fan Covers — Unless you plan to run your generator constantly, there will be times when you can’t run the air conditioner. Roof vents can help by moving air around in the rig. During rainstorms, Maxx-Air Vent Covers allow you to continue using your vents without getting water inside.

Finding Campsites

The next step is finding an awesome boondocking campsite for your first dry camping trip. After all, waking up in a beautiful location surrounded by nature is a big part of the boondocking experience.

At first, finding these sites might seem overwhelming. However, with a bit of practice and some good tools, you’ll soon be an old pro at finding gorgeous (and free!) off-grid camping.

Try using the following sites, organizations, and tools to find your first free campsite:

• Mobile RVing — The number one resource for finding awesome boondocking campsites is Mobile RVing. We allow you to search for dry camping in certain areas and give you the opportunity to break your search down even further if you wish. Additionally, many of the campgrounds listed on our site include reviews, making it easy to find the perfect options or your family.

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and USDA Forest Service — Some of the best boondocking locations are on public lands. Check out the BLM and Forest Service websites for information on where to find free camping and what rules you must follow.

• RVing Communities — Finally, we highly recommend joining some online RVing communities and forums. These can be found on Facebook, among other places. Joining these groups will allow you to ask questions of fellow RVers while also making lifelong friends.

Tips and Tricks

Once you have the proper equipment and a camping spot in mind, you’re ready to go. That said, you might like to have some tips and tricks from seasoned pros to help you along.

Here are some of our favorites:

• Take Plenty of Water — Obviously, you’ll want to fill your freshwater tank before heading to your campsite. Additionally, you may want to take several jugs of drinking water in order to stretch your supply as long as possible.

• Avoid Filling Waste Tanks — Fill your wastewater tanks as little as possible. Some ideas for doing this include showering outdoors, catching dishwater and using it to flush the toilet, and switching to a composting toilet. Read more about water usage while boondocking here.

• Conserve Electricity — Because you don’t have super easy access to electricity, conserving it as much as possible is definitely a good plan. Turn off lights when they aren’t in use, switch to LED lighting, and avoid watching TV or other unnecessary electricity usage. Learn more about electricity usage while boondocking here.

• Be Courteous — In order to ensure free camping opportunities remain available, it is important that we are all courteous campers. As a general rule, leave your site better than you found it, making a point to take all trash out with you and clean up after pets.

• Play it Safe — Safety while RVing is always important. Be sure to pack a first aid kit, and always know your GPS coordinates in case of emergency. Additionally, we recommend staying within cell range when choosing a campsite.