Boondocking your Motorhome or RV - go without hookups a while using this advice
Boondocking
Boondocking is not the best term for this subject but it has become recognizable so I will use it here. Dry camping is a better term (parking somewhere without paying and having limited or no hookups whatsoever. Independent parking is another word. It means that you are ready to camp without any amenities. Park and sleep. This article is a sporadic mentioning of various issues surrounding dry camping and is not comprehensive.
Successful boon docking is all about blending in. Sprawling out on a lawn chair or opening up your awnings at the mega mall is just stupid. When trying to get somewhere fast and just need a few hours rest then use rest areas as they can be a good choice. Malls, restaurants, truck stops are also good. But you must blend in. Camping World and comparable lots are ok. Small hotels, Wal-Mart, casinos, and museums are good at times too. If you can find wildlife refuges hang there, they can be fun. You shouldn't park overnight in downtown areas, churches, or any place with a lot of broken beer bottles on the ground. For long-term independent parking, you can check national forests, state parks, and national recreational areas. Permits are typically needed, but worth it. New Mexico and Nevada have the longest time permits.
Some businesses and farmers will pay you to watch their lots. Don't invite strangers into your RV. If someone confronts you, step forward a couple steps and look them straight in the eye, then access what to do next. When traveling with more than one-person stay together at all times. When asked for a ride say no. If you decide to bring a gun take a safety course. If you think because you're around lots of other RV's that you're safe, think again. This may make you more of a target. Never let your guard down while boondocking and you will fair well.
Blue highways on the map can indicate high-quality dry camping places. If you are driving a monster motorhome, your options will be more limited. Also the smaller roads can get you lost due to not having signs. Get GPS if doing a lot of dry camping. Never be afraid to ask directions. Locals can usually suggest good places to park. Buy books about "park free every night" because these are quite helpful for stimulating ideas of your own. Magazine articles are great as are Flea markets, ethnic gatherings, festivals, and gun shows.
A lot of boondockers are great at keeping an RV running successfully. Some will be glad to help you if you ask politely. Feel free to ask somebody to help you with any difficulties you may encounter if it looks like they are more experienced than you are. You can boon dock a week easily; more if you have better equipment, but don't waste water, fuel, and power. Always travel with a fresh tank and dump often. Don't run the water heater except when you really need it.
Use toilet paper for spills, or free napkins acquired the fast food joints. You should not fall asleep with the TV on. Use outside lights only when needed. Vent fans should only be used when needed. Trash should be set in little kitchen trash bags or supermarket trash bags. It's typically put in receptacles in rest areas, shopping centers, etc. Big bags are hard to put in the receptacles. In some states, big garbage bags are called "household" garbage and the police will look for an address. Then they'll give you a ticket with a fine up to $500. Do not put any trash bags or anything with your address on them in any public disposal.
RV parks are a great way to do laundry, RV maintenance, and take showers (if provided). But you have to find cheap ones. A lot of RV parks are only about 15 dollars a night. Some of the really hard to find ones are only about 3 to 5 dollars! If you go in the off-season, most of them are a lot cheaper.
Native American Indian resorts and land are great and many even have RV campgrounds. You can also boondock for extended periods of time with more than typical RV gear. Moving water, disposing of sewage, and charging batteries will typically be your biggest issues. Water can be put in plain jugs. But a spare water tank with a low-cost pump is simple enough to set up and much more handy. Sewage may be transferred in numerous ways, with many finding the common blue tote tank on wheels the best solution.
Serious boondockers frequently get a macerator pump and set up a sewage transfer tank. Always pump the sewage out of your RV frequently. Keep batteries fully charged. Generators, and extra batteries in the second vehicle are just two examples on how to keep them charged. But never charge while you are parked unless you can hook up to shore power real fast and then be on your way. We once spent 3 days hooked up to the back of a Publix Grocery store sitting through a super bad hurricane in Florida. We had electricity and plenty of water and since the store was closed we didn't get hassled.
Electricity for long-term parking is usually solar panels; they tend to work the best. When buying a battery bank, spending the extra money for a quality one is a smart move. Cheap refrigerators that come with our RV are fine. Carry an easy to use set of sockets, wrenches, and a set of pliers. You should also carry a coil and spark plug set. Aluminum duct tape is the greatest for covering holes and such. Boondocking is not free. But I will tell you that it can be very inexpensive if you follow the above advice for help with boondocking.
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