Boondocking For Newbies Part I -> Finding Where To Go
I’ve written alot of boondocking (aka free camping in the wilds) posts over the years, and during winter pretty much all the big bloggers out there do the same thing. That’s because winter is the perfect time to be in the southwest desert and given how how much public land there is out here, it’s just such an easy, gorgeous (and inexpensive) way to spend the season. So, you can see why us bloggers write about it.
At this point in our RV lives I would call ourselves well-seasoned boondockers, but we haven’t always been this way. Once, a long, long time ago (or maybe not that long ago?) we were total green-horn newbies and the very thought of bringing our 33,000 lb rig out into the desert was terrifying. How will we know where to go? What if we get stuck? How do we know if it’s legal? So, in my attempt to take a different twist on this whole subject I thought I would approach it from the point of view of the total beginner -> the RVer who’s never boondocked and is doing their very first attempt. Initially I though this would be one long post, but it’s actually turned into a 3-4 part, ~8000-word epic so I’ll be releasing it in several blog posts over the next few weeks.
Here we go with Part I -> Finding Where To Go
For those not in the know, boondocking is the art of driving your rig into the wilds and camping for free on public land. Also known as “dispersed camping” there are many, many tracts of public land allow this in the USA. There are no hookups and no developed campgrounds, but there ARE rules and stay limits, plus not all public land allows you to do this.
The two biggest tracts of public land that allow boondocking are the lands owned by BLM (Bureau Of Land Management) and National Forest. BLM administers around 248 million acres of land, with National Forest around 193 million acres of land. The vast majority of these lands are out west which is why most of the hard-core boondockers are out here. There are a few other agencies that allow select boondocking, but these two are the biggest and easiest to start with as a newbie.
My #1 method of finding boondocking spots is what I call a “tops down” method. It’s a multi-step process that starts with figuring out if there is any public land in the area I want to visit, then works down into the details of which office manages the land and then (finally) exactly where to go. There are easier/short-cut methods too (which I’ll list at the bottom), but knowing how to do this from scratch is something every newbie boondocker should learn.
Search For Public Land
On a top-level basis the first thing I want to know is whether there is any public land in the area I”m planning to visit. I want to see all the public land info in one spot, and I don’t want to go to eight different websites to do this. The best two resources I’ve found for this are good old-fashioned paper maps and the snazzy Public Lands App.
- Benchmark Maps: My first (and still absolute best IMHO) resource for finding public land areas are the Benchmark Map Series
. They are sold by state and each one has a “recreation” section which offers lovely color-coded public land boundary maps. The maps won’t list which specific office manages the area, but they’ll identify which agency (e.g. BLM or National Forest) manages the land, what the exact boundary of the area is, the roads within and what it’s called.
- US Public Lands App: My supporting resource for finding public land is the US public Lands App (iPhone/iPad/Android). This is kind of like an electronic version of the paper maps, but with the added benefit of a satellite underlay. Using this app I can easily scan an area to see if there’s any public land and identify which agency manages it. Plus I can zoom to road level and scan the satellite image for additional details. Pretty darn cool!
You could do pretty much all of your boondocking planning just with these two resources alone, but as a newbie I always recommend getting more details so that you know the conditions, rules and any specific issues or regulations for the area you want to visit. So, once you’ve figured out the type of public land you want to visit, the next battle is getting more details on the area.
Get Detailed Land Info & Maps
The most obvious place to get more details on a piece of land is on the BLM or National Forest websites, but it’s actually not as easy as it seems. Each tract of land is managed by a local field office so unless you happen to know which specific field office you need the websites are total bears (= frikkin impossible) to navigate. The names of the offices are not all that obvious either. For example the BLM area north of Phoenix AZ is managed by the Hassayampa Field Office. How in the world would you know that?? This is where a little inside know-how comes in handy:
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The online BLM map shows that this area north of Mojave, CA is managed by the Ridgecrest Field Office BLM Information -> There is one, and only one easy centralized place I know to find out which field office manages the piece of BLM land you’re interested in and it’s an obscure online map which is hidden HERE. Make sure “Administrative Units” is checked and then just zoom into your area of interest. The areas in yellow are all BLM land and if you click a particular spot you’ll see the name of the specific BLM office who manages it. Zoom out and you’ll see the boundaries of the BLM area too. Voila!! It’s not pretty, but it’s there!! Once you have this info it’s easy to Google the name of the office and get their website & contact info. Some field offices publish maps and recreation info online, but there’s no consistency (some do, some don’t) however each office will have plenty of information/maps if you call or physically go in and see them.
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Detail of an MVUM map. In this map the roads outlined in orange allow dispersed camping National Forest Information -> The thing you need for finding National Forest Information is the name of the particular forest you’re planning to visit. Both the Benchmark Maps & Public Lands App give you this info, but you can also find it HERE. Once you know the name of the National Forest agency to contact you can Google their info directly and/or call/visit them. What’s particular about National Forest (as opposed to BLM) is that all the National Forest Offices (cross country) publish consistent and detailed maps that tell you exactly which roads you are allowed to dispersed camp on. They are called Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) and you can see a complete list of them HERE. Each National Forest offers the maps for free if you go to their office, but most also publish them online and some even offer special iPad/iPhone/Android versions (e.g. see an example from the Coconino National Forest HERE). If you’re planning on camping in National Forest these maps are a MUST since you can be cited for camping in an area you’re not supposed to be. So, make sure you get one before you go.
Related Links:
BLM Interactive Online Map -> Click HERE
National Forest MVUM Maps -> Click HERE
Understand The Camping Rules
Once you know which specific public office to contact it’s an easy step to make the call and find out the local rules. Now, many folks skip this step and just assume any public land is good to go and that all public land has the same rules, but this is actually not the case. Most public land has 14-day camping limits (but not all), many public lands allow campfires (but not all), many allow OHV travel (but not all), some allow hunting (but not all) and many public lands, especially National Forest, have specific rules about how far from a developed road (typically from one vehicle length up to 300 feet, depending on the forest) and how close to water (typically at least 100 feet away) you’re allowed to camp.
In addition if you call the office you can get useful tips that the websites won’t tell you, for example the latest road conditions and/or the best place to camp in a larger rig. I always make a point of calling the local office before I go to check these things. I tell them I’m interested in dispersed camping, give them info on the area I’m looking at and ask my questions:
- Is there a specific area you’d recommend for camping a large rig?
- What are the road conditions like?
- What are your stay limits?
- What are your camping rules (how far from a road or water)?
- Do you allow campfires?
Related Links:
Blog Post -> 7 Tips On Boondocking Etiquette -> Rights, Wrongs & Plain Common Sense
Pick Your Road & Mark Potential Spots
Once I’ve narrowed down my choices and got all the info I need, I’ll do some final detailed work with Google Satellite (or through the US Public Lands App) to scan the area and decide where I might want to park when I actually get there. Satellite views will show dirt roads and cleared-out areas that other campers have used (always a good sign for a boondocker), so I’ll make a note of them for when I arrive. Sometimes you’ll even see RV’s in the satellite view, another sure-fire sign of a usable spot.
I’ll also try and decide where we’re going to park the rig for our scouting drive. Most of the time it’s just on the side of the road or near the entrance to the area we’re planning to visit. But if you’re doing this for your very first time and you’re nervous about finding a spot, it’s sometimes easier to plan an overnight stay in a developed RV park closeby with a separate scouting day to see what you can find before you move the big rig.
Other Resources
The steps above are my “tops down” method for how to find boondocking spots and it’s how I do the majority of my searching especially if I want to go somewhere completely new. But there are certainly also shortcuts to this process. Folks who’ve been there, done that and are happy to share the info:
- Internet Sites: There are several well-known internet sites which offer links to popular/known spots as well as reviews by the folks who’ve been there. My top recommendations are freecampsites.net and Campendium.
- RV Blogs: Not all bloggers reveal their boondocking sites, in fact it’s more rare than normal, but there are a few who do. I have boondocking sites on my blog. Also Bob over at Cheap RV Living is very generous about sharing his sites. Several of the bloggers in my RV Blog List do the same.
- Escapees Days End: You need to be a member of Escapees to join/download this and there is an extra (small) charge, but it is a large database of free/low-cost camping that is kept regularly up to date. Click HERE.
- Boondocking Books: Probably the best set of boondocking books I know are the Frugal Shunpiker’s books. She has written 6 books with detailed coordinates, site info and travel directions covering hundreds of potential sites.
- Online Forums/Groups: There are several very active online boondockers groups including iRV2, RV.net and Facebook.
So that, in 2000 easy words, is how you find a site. The next steps in this series will go through preparing your RV for the drive and what you do when you actually get to your boondocking spot. Stay tuned….
CLICK HERE FOR PART II – PREPPING YOUR RV
Related Links:
Blog Post from Bob at Cheap RV Living-> Finding Boondocking Sites Part I
Blog Post from Bob at Cheap RV Living-> Finding Boondocking Sites Part II – Understanding & Using MVUM
Blog Post from Technomadia -> Finding Magical RV Boondocking
Blog Post -> Why Boondocking ROCKS In The West (And Why This Land Is Still YOURS)!
Blog Post -> Back To Boondocking Basics – 8 Steps To Get You Into The Wild
Another reason I love following your blog…a ton of helpful info, presented in considering format with just the right images. Can’t wait to do more of this. Thank you!
Ack…..’concise’ format; my iPhone autocorrect sends its apologies…
No worries LOL. I knew what you meant 🙂
Nina
Great info !!!! Thanks for sharring.
Is the blue line (department of defense) along the Florida coast available for boondocking??
along the whole panhandle actually ?
Nope, that’s not one of the agencies that allows boondocking and there’s nothing I know of along the FL Panhandle. There IS some boondocking in FL in the National Forests, but none of it is on the beach.
Nina
Maybe its in Texas that I saw someone post about boondocking right on the beach. Have you been there?
Yes, there are a few spots to boondock along the panhandle in Texas. We did it ourselves a few years back on the TX/LA border at Sea Rim State Park. Back when we went it was free, but I think there might be a charge now.
Nina
I think she’s talking about various beaches in Texas (like Brownsville, Galveston, Bolivar Peninsula) open to free boondocking. Not sure which agencies administer this.
Whoops, “panhandle” hit me on the head. Sea Rim SP is definitely the right area for beach boondocking—but nowhere near the Texas Panhandle.
There are some areas on Glavaston Island that allow boondocking along the beach. Also, Galveston Island State Park is reasonable and right on the beach.
If you haven’t heard of it yet, Magnolia Beach is open free boondocking and right on the beach!
It is on the coast near Port Lavaca. When you put it into follow GPS it doesn’t always get you to the right spot, but close. The road heading south brings you into an east west road when you are looking at the beach. It verse to the right, following the shoreline. But you want to go to the left and you will see beach area and maybe even an RV or two. There are signs about staying there. That area is called Indianola Beach and is free, but you need to go about another half mile through a small built up area and then you will see Magnolia Beach. It has small pavilions for each spot and a public bathroom and cold shower area. It is packed and so if you don’t have to be near the bathroom, go back to Indianola Beach. Both of them get you a spot less than 100 feet from the water!
Loads of good suggestions. I like that GeoCommunicator map for BLM.
It took me YEARS to find that BLM map. I struggled with finding those field offices for so long and usually spent hours tracking down the right website/office link. Even if it isn’t the prettiest/neatest map I find it such a useful resource.
Nina
GeoCommunicator does show the Field Offices in great detail however if you were only in the Field Office name then this site would work for AZ.
http://www.blm.gov/az/GIS/images/fieldoffices.jpg
I did not try other states but would guess that they offer similar maps.
Yup, Arizona is one of the states that offers a nice, general map of their field offices on the main BLM website. Unfortunately not all states offer that same format. I wish the BLM website had more consistency across states.
Nina
This is outstanding! Many thanks for pulling all this together and sharing what you’ve learned. In time, I hope to be able to make contributions to the community akin to this.
You’re welcome!
Nina
Thanks Nina! So nice to have all this information in one spot! I’m one of those newbies you are talking about and I need all the help I can get. I’ve been following your blog for a long time but I think this may be the first time I have commented.
I pull a very small TT but still, the way I’ve been going about finding a boondocking site is to stay in an RV park and scout around without the trailer, as you suggested here. I use the Benchmark maps, and I like Allstays a lot, too.
I’ll be bookmarking all the links you have given above!
Sounds like you’ve already got a good feel for boondocking scouting. That’s great! Staying overnight at an RV park is really a great way to ease into it, especially for solo travelers or newbies. It gives you the time to look around the area and find a good site before committing your main rig to the move.
Nina
I agree-one of them in reasons I follow your blog is the amount of well thought out and thorough information. Plus I like the pictures and links. What a great resource! Great post !
Cheers. Glad the series is helpful. It’s taking a much, much longer time to write than I originally thought.
Nina
As always, a GREAT post. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Will you latter posts cover what to pack/bring? One of the biggest challenges we continue to have is what do we really need to bring with us and how best to organize and pack it. Any insight you might have or if you know of other bloggers who have written on this issue that you can tell us about it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Regards,
Bruce and Melissa
I’m going to cover that a bit in the next post on prepping the RV. I won’t cover everything, but I’m going to touch on what I consider the most critical items.
Nina
Many thanks for sharing this info, as a solo, anything that makes navigating easier is appreciated.
You’re welcome! Love to see solo travelers getting into this.
Nina
Thinking of becoming a solo traveler in a year or so. I used the info you provided and within one minute, found BLM field office info for a site! Thanks a million for your time and invaluable info for a potential newbie like me!
Awesome!!! Enjoy your first trip out!
Nina
Not boondocking related, but Google satellite imagery is also really helpful in cities for finding quick RV street parking and/or seeing if particular parking lots can be easily maneuvered.
We use Satellite and Street View for checking out gas stations too (to see if there’s easy access for “the beast”). Satellite is awesome.
Nina
Great intro to boondocking post:) But I must say it is easier to just follow your lead to places:)
LOL. Yeah, sometimes word of mouth is the easiest, but at least this way you’ll be able to find your own private spot, if you ever decide to do so.
Nina
I love the BLM Geo Communicator map. Not perfect as there are some private in-holdings that don’t seem to show up, but pretty darn good. Thanks for sharing.
For those that use Forest and BLM maps a couple comments. On public lands, logging and mining roads often have a road number associated with them. And while the managing agencies vary in budgets and manpower, they try to keep these roads signed when possible. So it helps to learn the numbering system (i.e.; the 4606 road is a spur of the 46 road). Also sometimes hunters, woodcutters, and even local land owners will move these road markers, so it behooves recreationalists to collaborate the road number with what they see on the ground in order to confirm they are where they think they are.
Safe travels,
Steve
Very good tip on the road numbering. It can be darn confusing when you first look at it.
Nina
We use Freecampsites.net a lot. It has saved us going places we thought might be OK after reading that people can’t get there in a big rig. And of course talking to our fellow boondockers is always a great resource.
Freecampsites.net has been a great resource for us too.
Nina
This is another great and helpful post Nina. Unfortunately some of the National Forests in the east can have some rather sketchy characters boondocking in them among the trees. But it really varies as does how well the rules are enforced. The west is definitely better for boondocking IMO. Thanks again for organizing this and posting it all. Looking forward to the rest of the story. 🙂
Being aware and conscious of your surroundings when you get to a site is definitely an important consideration. I’ll cover it a bit in one of my future posts.
Nina
Another great post, Nina! 🙂
Once again a great, informative post. We love our Benchmark Atlas’ and use them regularly. Perfect timing on this post as we’ll be spending most of February boondocking around southern AZ. I look forward to the next ‘parts’.
Cool! Enjoy the desert. Such a perfect time to be here!
Nina
Although relatively new to RVing (we’ve had a travel trailer for 2 years used primarily during the “warmer” months), we have wanted to try boondocking, but it scares the heck out of us. With your useful posts, I think we will actually give it a shot this summer!
It was super scary for us first time too. Hopefully I can give you the tips to give it a try.
Nina
Nice info sharing! Your process as well as your recommended resources are sound. I especially liked how you encourage a call to the office managing the land to ask questions. And of course, I know you network with friends and fellow bloggers too – both of these combined, can help find some real gem locations, and prevent getting into locations that not appropriate for say a large rig.
We talked to a grizzly old Boondocking veteran about 4 years ago. His few words stay with us today: Know where you’re going, and know it is appropriate for your rig. When in doubt, scout it out. Leave it better then you found it. If situations change and you become uncomfortable, move on. Especially in desert areas, think terrain and flooding risks – not just for where you are Boondocking, but for your way back out too. (I sort of expected this gent, named Bob (never got his last name) to open the door to his 4X4 Class C, and have a Grizzly walk out for him to scratch his ears!! A real neat guy, who laughed two or three times per minute….)
Look forward to the rest of your series!
Best,
Smitty
All excellent tips, many of which I’ll be covering over the next posts. Sometimes those grizzly old guys give the best advice.
Nina
I want to thank you so much for taking the time to write all this, just what we are looking for, very much appreciated, thank you. We are new to RVing and hitting the USA this summer or next I have been searching and searching for something like this. We are nervous and wish you had a book with all in, for now I will print it. We found your book very good too.
At the rate I’m writing this may well become a book LOL!
Nina
Yet another wonderful post from the amazing Nina!!
Thanks so much Nina. Like others, we really want to try boondocking but don’t know how to go about it. Once we find a place and get there, my biggest concern is how to conserve on water and other fungible resources. I hope you plan on addressing that in future posts too. BTW, we used your info on purchasing our extended warranty and have been very happy with it. You are a blessing!!
I’ve actually already written a few posts on water and tank conservation although I may try and refresh them for this series. Here you go:
Going Water Green = Conserving Water On The Road
Streching Your Tanks In The Boonies – Dumping And More…
Nina
Great, timely post! We see ourselves boondocking more than not, and the addition of the BLM map online is a great resource. Thanks much and look forward to the next “chapter”.
The BLM map is definitely useful…and not at all obvious to find.
Nina
thanks for your info. When in the boonies, how do you plan for dump facilities and water resupply somewhat close to your travels and extended stays?
We usually use Sanidumps.com to locate the nearest dump and water. They also have an App.
Nina
Great information….Thank you.
Thanks for another awesome post.. it’s amazing how many different approaches there are. My personal favorite method of finding great boondocking is ‘Follow Nina’ 🙂 But I imagine that’s not a method you want to promote too much.
(And thanks so much for the US Public Lands app mention.. we’re so happy it’s serving a need for boondockers!)
It’s a fabulous App, so happy to promote it.
Nina
thank you for this beginner post! I’ve done some boondocking in Canada, but the procedure is different in the US for finding sites, so it’s good to find a detailed how-to for the absolute beginner.
I’d love to learn about Canadian boondocking (of which I know nothing)! Hoping that one day we get to go up there and try it.
Nina
it’s not that hard, because there are some really good guides like the backroads map books and camp free books.
http://backroadmapbooks.com/main/index.html
http://www.hikingcamping.com/camp-free-in-bc.php
Combined with the freecampsites.net website for parking lot boondocking, you will have a range of possibilities.
Provincial campgrounds charge fees and can be nice places to camp, though I don’t think that you will find as much hookup/ electric access at the campsite as you do in the US.
One thing about driving logging dirt roads in BC is to watch for logging trucks. They don’t stop for anyone, and there are a lot of blind corners! You may have to time your driving on those roads to avoid them (evenings and weekends). They scare the heck out of me, and I may look into a radio sometime to better be able to monitor where they are.
Truly enjoy reading of your adventures, and escapades. Currently, my wife and I are into our 4th year of full timing . We have rarely boon docked. We volunteer with state parks all over the country. From Oregon to Texas; Michigan to Louisiana; Missouri, Utah and many more. We exchange labor for the camp ground stay. She does the gift shop and I clean fire pits. We are rarely half hour from a Walmart or tire repairs, or RV valve replacements.
When ever we have boon docked the service calls are horrific.
We volunteer most of our summers too, mostly because we want to be by the beach in the PNW and the State Parks have the best locations there.
In winter though we LOVE boondocking in the desert. Haven’t had much need for service calls while boondocking although we’ve never been further away than ~30 mins from a decent town. In Quartzsite we’ve had buddies get tanks dumped, awnings installed and windows replaced at their boondocking site, but that’s a rather special place.
Nina
Good stuff. I enjoy boondocks get although we don’t do so very often. If and when we go full-time, I hope to change that.
I’ve yet to boondock in Idaho too, although I know there are spots up there in the National Forest. Lots we haven’t seen in Idaho.
Nina
One of the most intimidating things we do is pulling our 5’er off the blacktop onto a two track in hopes of finding a boondocking spot. We will often find a park to stay at for a night or two while we scout out the area then we move to our boondocking location.
Scouting out your location is something I absolutely recommend, especially for big rigs. I’ll be covering it in more detail later in the series.
Nina
Thanks for the great blog post. This is one of the best I’ve ever seen on boondocking. We hope to take advantage of the public lands next summer. We’re currently wintering in Florida. Thanks again.
I love Florida (especially the State Parks), but sadly there’s so little public land out there. I can’t deny that the wide, open spaces of the West call to me more.
Nina
Once again I am patting myself on the back for following your blog ! 😉 thank you for a informative relative posts. We have RV camped for years but are preparing to full time in the next year and this information is a great asset. We have a 40 ft tag axle coach and in our discussions on boondocking ( we haven’t done much other than Walmart ) the size of the rig and my wife’s , and to a lesser degree my concern about running into ” Walter White ” or worse , him running into us late some day “away from others have given us some pause. This series may be just what we need ! That and easing into it with friends / others first may be the thing! Thanks again for all your efforts !!
The series Breaking Bad has given RVs in the desert such a bad rap. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked if we’re “cooking” in our rig out here LOL. I’m sure that stuff happens…somewhere…but not in any of the places we’ve been.
Nina
Thanks bunches for pulling all this together and sharing what you’ve learned.
Amazing post, Nina! We are starting out our FT adventure by keeping the Ford Escape, along w/ the truck and fifth wheel…similar to the way Howard and Linda of RV-Dreams travel. I can see where the scout vehicle will come in handy in these situations.
Thanks again for all of the detailed information!
Jim
The scouting part of boondocking is essential IMHO for newbies in bigger rigs. As you get more experienced you’ll get a better feel for what your rig is capable of and where you can go, but even then I always recommend scouting. We still scout out every single site, even 5 years down the line. With 33,000 lbs of “beast” the last thing I want is to get into a situation I can’t get out of.
Nina
Great and informative post…I do remember our first time Boondocking…very scary…We are a 5th wheel so there have been times we unhooked so we could go and scout out places rather than take the whole rig…Also when we started the BLM had some great maps which we still have…but now we also have the App from Chris and Cheri, the Benchmark or Gazeteer(sp) book, and other resources which makes it much easier to do…wish we had a blog like yours it makes it incredibly easy….
Thanks. I’m new to RVs and heading west from the NC/SC area this March. I’ve been outfitting a 2011 carri lite 37 fifth wheel I bought last may, but have held off on a power generation system until I determine whether I’ll want to boondock.
My research indicates that a 600-700 watt high quality, professionally installed solar system (incl. new batt bank)would be at least $5,000, plus $1,000 for a Honda 2000 pull start generator, plus install (LP quick connect) a variable 3K-6K catalytic LP heater for the living room; say $7 for the boondock outfitting from my current equipment baseline.
OR, assume no or minimal boondocking and just buy a parallel set of Hondas; say $2,000. (I don’t want to give up the space for an Onan generator, or carry the weight, despite the prep package I already have.) Anyhow, the delta on the boondocking set up is $5K, using my figures.
Albeit a naïve perspective, I’m leaning towards boondocking.
Nina, does it make sense to spend $1,000 on a single Honda 2000 (just to have something) and come out west and see how I like boondocking? If I like it, then I’d go to AM Solar in Oregon for solar outfitting? I’d then only have a single Honda 2000 just in case. My test runs on boondocking would just be using my 3 group 24 existing batts and the single Honda, just to see how I like it. The group 24 batts would be scrapped if I went solar.
Any strategic advice regarding risk managing these options expenses would be greatly appreciated. You can’t know whether I’ll like something or not, so I’m just asking about process I guess.
Thanks so much.
I think it’s a fine strategy. That generator is a good buy for any kind of dry camping (of which we have lots out west), plus it’s nice to have as a backup for cloudy days and such even if you decide to get solar down the line. You may not be able to run your highest power items on a single 2000 (for example air conditioners), but you’ll be able to run most regular stuff and recharge your batteries, so if you stick to moderate temps you’ll be fine.
So, I think it’s a great way to try out boondocking and see if you like it before investing the bigger $$ in a solar system. We did exactly that. We boondocked solely on our generator our first year on the road before we made the investment to solar.
Nina
Thanks. This is helpful.
Thanks for all the info. We really appreciate your blog. My husband and I are hoping to live the dream in next few years. We are planning on purchasing a new or gently used RV in the coming year and would like to know your thoughts on residential refrigerators. It seems that they are putting them in the new RVs. How does that work for boondocking? Do you have to have a good solar system or run your generator extensively? Would appreciate your thoughts on the subject. Thanks.
Personally I really, really love our propane/electric fridge. It makes boondocking soooo much easier. Our rig has 600 watts of solar and we rarely (very, very rarely) have to run the generator. It’s not impossible to boondock with a residential fridge, but you just need to plan for more power (more batteries, more generator time and/or more solar).
Through our personal calculations we estimate we’d need at least 2 more lead acid batteries and around 400 watts more solar panels if we installed a residential fridge. The residential sucks around 180 amp hours a day, no matter what, so that’s what you’re looking at. Plus, if it gets cloudy or you’ve got any kind of shade your power will need to be supplemented. So, personally we’re not huge fans and will stick with our propane fridge as long as we can.
That said all the new coaches are coming with residential, so you may not have much of a choice unless you buy used. Plus eventually these old propane fridges *will* phase out. The big solar guys are dealing with this by installing much larger systems on the big coaches (1200-1500 watt systems are not uncommon now), plus in the future denser battery systems such as Lithium will become more mainstream and provide a lot more usable amp hours. Our neighbors (Technomadia) are running all-electric using 1400 watts of solar and 500 amp hours of lithium.
Nina
Very helpful information; I’ve relied on Benchmark atlases for several years, but haven’t used the “Public Lands” app yet. Thanks for that reminder!
I agree with your statements about the lack of consistency in the BLM (and NF) websites with presenting useful information for camping in general and boondocking specifically. But, each state with BLM lands does have an individual website; a few are even pretty informative and inclusive! A search using BLM and the name of the state will bring up the specific state site link. The “Visit Us” (or similar; that “inconsistency” thing again!) link at page left will drop down a list of links; click “Recreation Opportunities” and see what shows up!
We use the BLM website all the time, but I always find it easier to navigate once I know which exact field office to contact (thus my blog post steps above). Once I have the name of the field office I’ll go directly to their BLM site and search through it for detailed maps and recreation opportunities. Some of the field offices offer excellent online info, others not so much. You can certainly navigate around by State too, if you’re just browsing, but the info is very consistent.
I totally agree though. Lots and lots of useful info on the BLM website, once you get to the right section!
Nina
Great piece. You are providing a great service. Thanks!
Great post, Nina! (I wished it had been available when we started.)
One note on C&C’s US public Lands App, the smallest unit shown is 640 acres (I think) so some private land, like ours, is shown to be Public.
In AZ, this is another good site to help ferret out good boodocking spots: http://gis.azland.gov/webapps/parcel/ It does show our property as private.
Also, this is a good multi-map site: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html Click on the Start Gmap4 button at the top to start it. In the upper right, there are drop-down buttons that allow you to switch between multiple maps, road, Terrain, Topo, SAT, and even one for biking. You can also switch between LAT/LON, UTM, and MGRS (Military Grid Reference System in case you need to call in an airstrike :D).
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Pat
Good to know about the parcel sizes on the App. I knew there was a limit, but I wasn’t sure of the exact size.
That Arizona map you linked to is one I’ve talked about in a few previous posts, for example this one:
6 Great Resources For Finding Boondocking Spots in Arizona
It is one of THE BEST interactive public land maps of any state. I wish ALL states offered something like that!
And thanks for the extra mapping link. That’s a new one for me.
Nina
LOL! Come to think about it, I learned of that AZ site from you. 😀
Pat
BTW, if Chris and Cherie are still there, you can ask them about the acreage limits on their app.
Pat
Thank you for the great post. We can’t wait to go boondocking this year in Colorado and Wyoming.
Looking forward to your next posts. We love your blog.
Ilse
Colorado & Wyoming has some great forest boondocking (especially). Hope you find some sweet sites!
Nina
All we have to do is follow you and get the coordinates and viola we will be in one of your secret spots :)By the end of this year we will definitely be back out west.
Great info as always.
HA! Yeah, sometimes following a blogger (or friend) you know gets the best spots. Nothing wrong with that.
Nina
I started boondocking around AZ back in November (after several months confined to RV parks) and started to feel like I was getting the hang of it…only to be blown away by the GeoCommunicator map you posted here! This is exactly what I’ve been wanting all along. Your blog has been a tremendous resource for me these past few months and I feel like I just leveled up thanks to some of the tips in this post. I’m sure the National Forest MVU maps will come in handy in the future, too. Thank you for providing us newbies with such a brilliant and detailed rundown of these boondocking assets!
I’m glad that I could show another seasoned boondocker some new stuff. I’m still learning too, even all these years later.
Nina
WOW!! Lots and lots of comments. That can only mean one thing. Once again you have provided VALUABLE and RELEVANT information. And that’s why Wheeling It is one of the best, if not THE BEST blogs around for those considering the full-time RV lifestyle. Thanks for sharing.
Okay, you have my email address. Just send my endorsement check attached to an email. 🙂
Why thank you {{blush}}
Nina
I can’t tell you how useful your information is to us newbies. As I slowly prepare for this lifestyle in the next few years we have been downsizing our living space and renting different types of rv’s for our vacations.
These posts help us practice in our heads what to expect and how to plan.
Keep up the great work!
G
What a great post. So well-oganized. I’ll be referring my readers there for added info. Thanks for mentioning my Frugal Shunpiker’s Guides again, too!
I was at a bloggers gathering in Quartzsite last week and was so hoping you would be there. You’re my idol! Hope our paths will cross at some point in time.
I’m sorry we missed the gathering. It was on my radar, but we were caught one extra day down south and just couldn’t make it. Hope to get over there next year? And cheers very much indeed for the praise. I hope to meet you too!
Nina
I’m always open to learning and your post is great for this fairly seasoned boondocker.
We so appreciate this series Nina as we are planning to do much more boondocking this year as we get back out onto the road.
Wow! Great Info TY TY 🙂
I’m a little late reading this post, after being away for family reasons for a couple weeks. So I hope this tip is helpful to others.
I’m aware a number of boondockers use Google Earth as a tool for locating sites. It has been recently reported on a number of tech blog sites thatmGooglemhas no mademGoogle Earth Pro available for free to all users. No more monthly or annual subscription fees for the privilege.
That said, I’ve not been a Promiser, so cannot comment on any possible advantages. Just a friendly FYI.
Great post Nina, much enjoyed and appreciated.
Hi Paul and Nina, First I want to think you for sharing so much info with others to make things easier. Your info is worth so much, and I hope the travel gods really bless you for your time and consideration.
I’m in the process of finding a rig. You have stated several times smaller is better. Personally the more room sounds good to me, and as far as maneuver ability I’m sure for beginners smaller is much better. I have driven a big truck most my life, so that would not be a problem for me, am use to getting into tight places. So my question, is a 40 foot really that much of a problem as far as boondocking.
Want to think you again for your time, hope to run across you and Paul and repay you with some good brew.
Happy Trails
Benjamin
It just depends what kind of camping you want to do. True boondocking where you drive for miles out into the boonies along dirt roads is tough with a 40-footer. You just don’t have the clearance or maneuverability to go everywhere. Boondocking in the desert is easier than in the mountains (much narrower roads), but you’ll always get further out with a smaller rig. There’s many places in the boonies we can’t go with “the beast”.
If boondocking like this is not important to you then rig size is less of an issue. Private RV parks will take any-sized rig. So, just depends on your personal preferences.
Nina
Thanks Nina, guess I will look for a 36 ft, about the same floor plan in the tiffin 36 and 40. The wheel base will be a little shorter and lighter as well. I’m like some of the rest of you, further back in the boonies the better. Private parks only when no other opinions or I need water or to dump. LOL
Enjoy the balloon festivities
Happy Motoring
Benjamin
I started reading your blog last fall even before we got our 5th wheel. I knew eventually we would need this blog series and now the time has come as we head out west in the next few weeks! So so so helpful!! Thank you for all the time and energy you poured into it!
Possible, more like probable full time RV’ers here. 10yrs to go to retire, stumbled on site tonight – WOW great info and lots to begin thinking about.
Excellent! Glad the site is helpful. Enjoy and good planning to you.
Nina
Thank you for the great blog post. I am just beginning to plan an extended rv trip and really appreciate the beginners tips!