Christopher Wright/ October 11, 2023/ Gear, Tech, and Reviews, RV Stories, Transitions/ 2 comments

We are often asked how we go boondocking in a bus (or RV). A lot of folks who’ve only ever gone weekending, or done extended stays at parks with hookups, don’t know where to start. It all breaks down to two main concepts; preparation and management. The two are interrelated. You prepare your rig’s systems to better manage them. So first let’s talk about preparation. Let’s also break down our rigs into 3 sub-systems: energy/power, water, and storage.

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Preparation: Power

Any rig can boondock, but many may not be suitable for it. To be successful, you’ll need to figure out what you need day-in and day-out, and what that’s going to take. Are you going to be completely off-grid, with no power except to keep a lamp on to read after sunset? Or are you hoping to keep the top bracket in your E-Sport of choice, while camped out in the desert? Either way, you’ll need to generate some kind of power.

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Those cover the big three power generation options. None are perfect; all have their own array of pros and cons. By and large, solar is the most popular. These systems can be as simple as a tabletop panel setup to recharge small electronic devices, to roof-mounted 2200-watt solar arrays. Though whether you’re collecting the sum total of Sol’s output, or getting a trickle of power from a fading breeze, you need somewhere to put it.

I’m talking about batteries. Again, there are 3 main styles of batteries:

Preparation: Water

Here you can bump into some hard limits when it comes to storage. The survivalist’s rule of thumb is 1 gallon per person, per day you wish to be away from civilization. That will let you survive. To thrive it can be closer to 3 or 5. Our rig holds 200 gallons of fresh water. Between 2 adults, 2 kids, a dog, a cat, and a rabbit we can stretch it to 2 weeks if we’re being careful.

Whether you’re bringing jugs, have large holding tanks, or have a collapsible bladder for your towing vehicle, water is heavy. One thing you don’t want to do is drive 300 miles carrying 200 gallons of water. 1 gallon of water weighs in at 8 and 1/3 lbs! So even 30 gallons can add 250 pounds to your load: roughly one large adult.

Carry what you need for an emergency, and only fill up at the last possible spot before you get to your destination. It saves fuel and wear on your vehicle, and doesn’t impact your braking ability. The inverse applies to waste. Dump it as soon as you can, for the same reasons.

The main game with water is conservation. We’ll cover this in the water management section.

Preparation: Storage

When loading up your rig for your adventure, you want to keep several things in mind.

• Weight! A boondock-ready rig is going to be much heavier than a weekend-ready rig.
• What do you really need? Some convenience items you may not even use. Think countertop appliances in the kitchen or a month’s worth of clothing.
• If something is stowed in a way that it’s hard to get to, you won’t use it.
• Don’t skimp on contingency items. Spare vehicle fluids, emergency foods, and a better-than-basic first aid kit for starters.
• 3 ways to make fire.
• Foods that are both shelf stable and take minimal energy to prepare.

You’ll be packing in all the food and water you’ll need for the week, weeks, or months you’ll be out. You really need to be conscious of the weight and balance, or your 2-week escape will quickly become an 8-hour nightmare. It’s better to go light on consumables and make trips into town than to bend your rig’s frame. Also, if you have a toad, it’s a great place to stow stuff.

Before you go though, get your rig weighed! Most truck stops now have scales. Weigh your rig “dry” and again “wet.” Make the wet weight a worst-case scenario: full waste tanks, full water tanks, full fuel, have a big breakfast, and make sure you’re topped up on groceries. If you can do all this and still have room on your Gross Vehicle Weight Limit you’re in the clear!

Being in a Skoolie, we have a really simple setup that’s easy to weigh. We also have a really high Gross Vehicle Weight Limit. However, if you have a more complex setup, it’s really important you weigh your rig correctly. Doug Setzer wrote a really great article for Fulltime Families on how to weigh your rig, and he covers all the variables and variations. Definitely check it out!

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Management: Power

Managing power while boondocking is part passive habit and part active choice. For a deeper breakdown of the topic check out my post specifically about managing power on the road. In short, look for appliances that are energy efficient, and when possible unplug, or otherwise disconnect appliances that aren’t in use. On top of that, watch your overnight consumption so you don’t wreck your batteries

Management: Water

You’re going to be using water for 4 things: hydration, cooking, cleaning, and hygiene. Don’t skimp on hydration; drink when you’re thirsty. As for the other three, there are many ways to minimize the use of fresh water. For a deeper dive, check out my post on water management.

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Things to Consider When Boondocking

As we said above, before departing on your boondocking adventure, fill up water and fuel tanks, dump waste tanks, and go grocery shopping. Keep in mind that we need foods easily consumed without using much power. Overall, just take it easy. If things don’t go smoothly, roll with it. You have nowhere to be but “away.” For a more in-depth dive into boondocking considerations check out our post on the topic. Until then, happy camping!