Boondocking – No Water, No Electricity – Can I Survive?

Boondocking is the practice of going out in the wild and camping without the benefit of electricity or connection to the water faucet. Boondocking, also called Dry Camping, is not what I signed up for. If I realized my camping experience would include dusty floors, dirty feet and miserly showers I probably would not have bought a motorhome. However, since I love exploring new places, sitting around a campfire and traveling; I was drawn to boondocking with the African Americans that RV and Camp (AARVC). But I never imagined I would dry camp quite so often.

How did I fall in Love with Boondocking?

Did I fall in love with Boondocking? The short answer is no, I did not. I need POWER! I want to feel the AC on my face and run my convection oven at least twice a day. Like I said, I need POWER baby. So, how did I get here? Simply put, I made friends with people who love dry camping. It is all about the community. And over the last year I have boondocked more than 8 weekends.

Your first dry camping experience is better if done close to home. For example, camping in your driveway or at an RV campsite. However, I did not chose either. My first dry camping trip was at Shand’s Park in Virginia. And, the trip was anything but smooth. As a newbie boondocker, I experienced many challenges.

Challenge #1 – Generators Can Kill

Surviving boondocking requires a good carbon monoxide alarm. I learned that first-hand early Saturday morning when the carbon monoxide alarm started ringing. Exhaust from the generator was coming into my side window. This was a critical error and hazardous to humans living. I had not realized that the generator exhaust pipe was almost directly below the window. We resolved the problem and aired the exhaust out of the RV. After the alarm stopped ringing, we breathed a sigh of relief and went to bed.

We were fortunate that we had a good carbon monoxide detector. Earlier this year four people in an RV died at a music festival from carbon monoxide poisoning. When their friends had not heard from them in a while they alerted the authorities. While I did not know any of the individuals’ or their community, I was extremely saddened to hear about their deaths. It is critical not only to have a very good CO2 Alarm, but it is also crucial to practice generator safety when surrounded by other RVs.

Generator Safety Tips

1. Use a generator pipe diverter on your RV. A pipe diverter simply diverts the exhaust away from RV intake sources. RV intake sources include anything that has a gap where exhaust can enter. Some examples include windows, slides or refrigerator vents.
2. Do not place external generators near another RV unit’s intake space. The generator exhaust direction must be clearly understood. If you are running an external generator, it is your responsibility not to accidently kill someone.
3. Investigate your parking spot to ensure you are not parking within the line of the exhaust fumes of another RV Or an external generator. When parking at an event where many generators are running, I park but do not extend my slides or setup camp until I confirm I am not in the line of the exhaust fumes.

Challenge #2 – So, I guess the generator runs on propane and not gas?

My first boondocking trip was the first time I had used my generator. So when the generator suddenly stopped working early Saturday morning I was a bit confused. I thought the generator ran on gas from the engine and not propane. When the propane tank was empty the generator stopped running. I later learned that I did not need to run the generator at all. Now when I boondock, I run the generator to charge up my batteries or use high powered electrical systems like the ac, convection oven or coffee pot.

Challenge #3 – Propane companies are closed on the weekends

Our plan was to sneak out of the campsite early, refill the propane and sneak back before anyone learned of my boondocking failure. However, finding propane was not as easy as I thought it would be. We drove around over an hour looking until we were directed to a campground that could refill the propane tank. When we returned to our camp spot there was a small crowd of my new friends standing around our vacated spot. We left the rug and chairs; it looked like the RV had been just been raptured up in the second coming. The gig was up! After explaining that I just learned that my generator ran on propane and not gas, every new friend began giving me advice, tips and pointers (AT THE SAME TIME!).

Challenge #4 – Do not daydream in the shower while Boondocking

Boondocking requires a strategic method for conserving water. I did not know I was a water hog until I went dry camping. Did I mention that I brought my sister who had never camped with me on my first boondocking adventure. My sister and I were not miserly enough with our water usage. We overused water for washing dishes and enjoyed showers. Therefore, after a day and half of camping, we were out of water.

Over the last year I have learned a few water conservation ideas. Here are the 5 critical water conservation tips I have learned over the last year:

1. Take Navy Showers – Do not lollygag while in the shower
2. Precook some meals – By precooking you conserve water that you would need to wash the dishes
3. Use disposable dishes (paper plates, cups)
4. Use a water basin with bleach to clean dishes
5. Carry extra water for drinking, brushing teeth and making coffee

Of course there are many other water conservation tips. What are some ways you conserve water when camping? Share your ideas with the community below in the comments.

Overall, how did I do my Boondocking trip?

How did I do on my first Dry Camp trip? I passed with flying colors! Regardless of the challenges and boondocking failures, my sister and I survived dry camping. There were challenges, but we thankfully overcame each challenge. And that is a success in my book.

Thank you for sharing your time with me. Are you in the process of planning your very own great adventure? Tell me a little about you and your plans. Until then much love and safe travels.