Boondocking RV

[mtnester]

Would like to here from those of you who boondock, not necessarily full time but at least part time as to what type of RV you have or recommend. I already have enough truck (2013 F350 D) to handle pretty much anything but don't want to go to big. I would like something with some fairly good sized tank capacities and room to add in extra batteries, solar etc...
Any and all ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

[mike837go]

We use a 19RD. 50/50/20 tanks is more than adequate for 2 people up to 5 days.

For electricity, I run a 900W genset 45 minutes per day.

It really comes down to personal preference...

As a minimum:
You can carry a tent in a sedan for shelter. Stoves for cooking start at smaller than a pack of cigarettes. A reverse-osmosis hand pump plus a stream gives you all the water you'll need.


The other end of the spectrum:
Class A Diesel pusher with a 10KW genset 7,5000 BTU's of A/C. Washer and Dryer. As long as it's parked and not plugged in, that's boondocking!

So, first decide where you want to be in the Wonderful World of Totally Self Reliant.

Then see what your budget will buy.

[A2Z_Adventures]

While I appreciate all the options out there, our preference fell towards the smaller travel trailer.

Easier to maneuver and get into more locations
We can disconnect and head out sight seeing while leaving our campsite setup

[Midnightmoon]

Boondocking for the first time this week with our new trailer on private wooded land. Being able to access more remote areas was one of the reasons we went with this small of a trailer (22BHM) this time. The negative we have on this unit is the small 25 gal tanks. But the advantages of the small size and the Baja package ground clearance outweigh those at least for now.

We will let you know how it goes in a few days I guess.

[oldmanAZ]

Our 2015 27RLS has ~80gal fresh and ~40gal each for black and gray. We have 2, group 27 batteries on the tongue and 2, 30lb propane tanks. No solar, yet, but there is room on the roof for that... some day.

We stayed around 30ft because that is the limit for some state/fed parks. We do have maneuvering issues due to the L-O-N-G truck, 4wd, and poor turning radius.

[Promod]

My choice was based on wainting to go to locations other than dedicated RV parks. I like to get out. So a small 20' hummingbird with an off road package to match some of the ground clearance and capability of my TV was required. You can modify almost anything to be off grid for a while with a little though but you just can't get a 5er where I want to go.

[vcbice]

It all depends on what you want to spend.

Solar, generator, batteries all suited for how you want to live. With enough power you don't have to scrimp on anything. Carry a sewer tote and water tank to empty/replenish as needed.

Size of rig will really determine what you can have. Our little fiver does not have the carrying capacity to add in the extra batteries, genset and solar panels for full time off grid unless we dump a lot of our stuff.

[Ela1948]

We have a 31.5 RLTS. A 34.5' fifth wheel. Has very good tank sizes. 75 fresh and 2- 35 gal. grey tanks with a 30 gal black tank. I wish it was a little smaller because of some of the national and state parks size limitations. Particularly in the west. In short, I would try to have as large a tanks as I could and try to stay close to 30 ft. in length. I feel that a fifth wheel has a little advantage with usable room but there are some pretty nice trailers with slides out there that could fill the bill.

[tileguy]

we boondock 95 percent of the time and have a toy hauler. most toy haulers have larger fresh water and grey and black tanks than regular trailers. they also have generators and fuel cells. we just upgraded from an attitude to the new Jayco octane t33l, 142 gallons of fresh counting the water heater, 50 gallons of grey and 50 black and 40 gallons of fuel for rzr and gen.

[Seann45]

I RV half time and 99% of that half time is boondocking.. Any RV with good sized holding tanks will do, you dont necessarily need a lot of roof space for solar you can stand them up on the ground IF you securely fasten them down so they dont blow over or walk away. I do recommend a 4 season camper as it will stay warmer in the off season and cooler in the summer.. Fantastic fan roof fans are a must

[SloPoke]

Originally Posted by mike837go

We use a 19RD. 50/50/20 tanks is more than adequate for 2 people up to 5 days.

For electricity, I run a 900W genset 45 minutes per day.

It really comes down to personal preference...

As a minimum:
You can carry a tent in a sedan for shelter. Stoves for cooking start at smaller than a pack of cigarettes. A reverse-osmosis hand pump plus a stream gives you all the water you'll need.


The other end of the spectrum:
Class A Diesel pusher with a 10KW genset 7,5000 BTU's of A/C. Washer and Dryer. As long as it's parked and not plugged in, that's boondocking!

So, first decide where you want to be in the Wonderful World of Totally Self Reliant.

Then see what your budget will buy.

X2 ^ ^ ^ ^

Different needs for different folks. If we have a chance to choose... we boondock. We don't worry much about getting into / out of a particular place - as we can just put it in reverse and back out. We find that the BEST boondocking campsites are really easy to get into, so size is not really an issue.

The pictures below... every one of these trips includes us towing a 26-FT trailer behind our Seneca (with our toys on it). Sometimes we unhook our trailer and camp for a week or two... sometimes we leave it connected.

[Noblewk]

Originally Posted by tileguy

we boondock 95 percent of the time and have a toy hauler. most toy haulers have larger fresh water and grey and black tanks than regular trailers. they also have generators and fuel cells. we just upgraded from an attitude to the new Jayco octane t33l, 142 gallons of fresh counting the water heater, 50 gallons of grey and 50 black and 40 gallons of fuel for rzr and gen.

Agree we we have the Siesmic 4114, 60lbs of propane, 1070 watts solar on the roof and 400ah lifepo4 batteries. My wife and I are good for 3 weeks before we start needing to refresh / empty tanks. Most of our cooking is utilizing Instant Pot, Microwave and electric burner. Seldom run genset except when Aircon is a must.

[Kim Gass]

We boondock half the time.. We cannot have those enormous rigs! Why? Trees everywhere.. our state is 95 percent forested. And anything above 23 feet really has a tough time

We have streams we can filter from and also can water the trees with grey water and use wag bags to prevent overflow of the black waste tanks.

We don't need A/C and the microwave is the pot cabinet. We do use a Weber wood grill a lot!

I have an Instant Pot and for me its still a gimmick.. I can't figure out the time to steam lobster in it.

[Spower]

Boondocking is my thing! Been doing it all my life! Big chunk of it in a Lance truck camper for months at a time. I brought water cans with me to refill water. Got rid of grey water in the trees. Have solar, charges batteries, runs tv, computer, etc. Carried honda genny if needed but only used a few times. Only time I had to move was to go empty black tank.

I will be doing the same in my new trailer that is on order. There is nothing better then camping out away from everybody in a beautiful setting!

[mboy]

some thoughts. get a honda 2200 watt generator. have a propane/electric refrig. put 2-6volt batteries in. have a inverter to handle your TV needs.


The rest is whatever you want.

[Kanuck]

The Beavers nearly had us trapped.

[Screwby]

We use our 23 RB for off grid adventures. Standard load out is 80 gallons of fresh water in the belly, two 6 gallon fresh water jugs, a 60 gallon Aqua Tank water bladder, 12V water transfer pump, twin 30 lb propane tanks, 400W of solar, 430aH battery bank (215 usable), Honda 2200 generator, Micro-Air easy start for the AC, 40 gallon waste tote. We pull it around with the F-350 so pulling around sketchy areas isn’t an issue using common sense. I’d probably boondock almost exclusively if we had BLM land around here.

[Flyrotor]

Almost exclusively boondock, forest or BLM, 30' trailer with small slide, 80 gallons FW, 35 gallons grey and black, 2 6-volt Costco batteries, 2 Yamaha generators. No solar panels, not really interested in going that route, I get by for 3-4 days before needing to charge my batteries, I can last at least a week on my water supply, propane lasts most the summer, almost never use the furnace or the air conditioner, I seek out locations where there is no cell coverage, cook outside almost always, never use the microwave, removed the television so that's never an issue either.