Get Out of The House Fast – Go Boondocking

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Travel Happy
Boondocking is ‘the’ reason to join the van life movement or own an RV or even a tent. I did the RV thing and found it too big and expensive for a solo traveler, so I did what I figured would be best for me and bought a van and converted it. It’s fully self-contained and just the right size to basically go anywhere I choose to go when I choose to go. So now I’m officially a member of the Van Life movement.

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My recent trip to Sonoran Desert

Back to boondocking. To me, life is about enjoying the time I have, to enjoy the freedom to travel as I please, when I please and take in the beauty of everything nature and this great nation has to offer us all. It’s also about the people I meet in my boondocking travels, especially like-minded boondockers. You never know who you might meet in the far reaches of the Sonoran Desert, the Rocky Mountains or on the shores and beaches of our 2 oceans and Gulf Coast.

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Boondocking in Florida

Why Do You Boondock?

When the subject of boondocking comes up, usually the first question I’m asked is this:

Why would you boondock, especially in the wilds when you can simply camp in organized campsites that offers all the amenities such as electricity, water and sewage hook-ups? Typically, my answers are:

Economics

The majority of people I know are on a budget of some kind and like to save money when they can. Campsites today can be very expensive and the space you get is tiny and campers are parked so close together you can hear TV’s and music 24/7. Boondocking is free!

Freedom and Independence

I love the freedom from park rules and knowing that I can make is as a boondocker without relying on a park to provide my water and electricity. Not having to depend on anyone. I don’t mean that to sound unkind, it’s just that I enjoy my independence and believe in myself enough to know that I can take care of myself and others if necessary.

There’s no better feeling than getting up in the morning, sitting outside my van with my coffee and watching the sunrise

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Sunrise while boondocking

and maybe be lucky enough to see some wild animals moving about. I can then stay where I am or be on my way to more adventures and not have to check out or pay anyone anything for my stay.

The Adventure of It All

We all have a sense of adventure in us and boondocking provides that. Have you ever experienced being totally isolated miles from your nearest neighbor and any kind of town or village? For the past 5 winters, I have traveled from my home in Georgia to the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona. Parts of that desert turns into an almost city-like atmosphere during the winter as northern ‘snowbirds’ go south to escape the harsh winters up north. I do not boondock near those crowds but travel miles beyond any human life (that I’m aware of) to enjoy the solitude. Normally where I camp, I hear no one and see no one for days. There is no light pollution, so I’m able to see all the stars in the heavens. It’s absolutely breathtaking. The Colorado River is nearby, so now and then if the urge strikes me, I’ll break out my fishing pole and enjoy some fishing as well. One’s survival instincts kick in and that makes boondocking all the better. I’m always out exploring new territory, finding good places to camp, keeping an eye on my supplies to ensure I’m not running low on anything. When I need fresh supplies, I simply drive out to the nearest town or village and restock. I have no TV, but I do carry books and I have my laptop as I’m usually able to find signal enough for checking to see if anyone is trying to locate me.

Where do I Boondock?

I’ve boondocked in many places. BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Land is my favorite.

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Road through the Sonoran Desert

That’s land that belongs to the Federal Government and is free for all of us to use for camping, off-road vehicles, etc. BLM Land is plentiful out west, not so much on the east coast. Arizona alone has millions of acres. I’ve also boondocked in some primitive camping areas (where allowed) in some National Parks.

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Grand Tetons National Park

Walmart parking lots, Cracker Barrel parking lots and other big box store lots, all with permission of management of course. You can always ask fellow RVers or van lifers about places to park. Rest areas on the freeways come to mind as well. Plus, there are many apps available that will provide tons of places to boondock. Some that come to mind are:

Campendium
iOverlander
RV Parky
FreeRoam
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RV Life

I’m sure there’s more, but these are some that I use. My favorite way to find free camp sites is not an app but a web site and it is:

www.freecampsites.net – Simply open the site and input a location and you’ll get all kinds of suggestions.

Just writing about this has made me anxious to hit the road again. I just returned from Arizona last week, but ready to head out again.

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Until next time, Happy Boondocking…

Posted in Blog, Boondocking, Camping, Camping off grid, Freedom, Fund Your Travels, Tent Camping, Traveling, Van Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Get Out of The House Fast – Go Boondocking

The Camper Van Has Returned

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Travel Happy
There are many reasons why we are seeing more and more camper vans on our nation’s highways today. The pandemic we have been experiencing for the past year or so is a big reason; people are tired of being cooped up in their homes and are looking for an escape to get out of their homes. Converted vans can be a quick solution.

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The van that started it all

Some of these vans are converted by the owners who are somewhat handy and have some basic tools while others are done by all the mom and pop businesses that have sprung up that will convert them for you. The cost to convert a van from a basic cargo van to a tiny home on wheels can run from 10 – 12 thousand dollars upwards to $100K and more. These vans are quite popular as evidenced by the lack of vans on car lots and those that are available are bringing top dollar.

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Converted van

Oh yes, the old supply and demand thingy.

Another reason for their popularity is that they are easily maneuvered in small towns and can be parked practically where any car can park. These converted vans are perfect for a single person or even 2 can live and travel in them. I’ve seen a family of 4 living in a converted van and they seem to do just fine.

Back in the 1960’s, the camper vans that were popular were primarily Volkswagen buses with pop-up tops that allowed a person to stand erect. The appealed primarily to the hippie movement. They basically were finished at the Volkswagen factories in Germany and came equipped with a propane stove, water tank, sink, refrigerator and electrical outlets.

The most popular camper vans we see today are mainly Ford’s Transit van, RAM’s Promaster series and Sprinter van by Mercedes. These vans come in a high top which affords one to stand erect and they have plenty of room for a queen size bed, a portable water system, a portable toilet, refrigerator, swivel seats, a propane or butane stove, solar panels and a house battery for powering all your off-grid power needs and other amenities.

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RAM Promaster High Top

So, what’s holding you back? Toss in some food and water and let’s go camping in the back country or desert.

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Until next time…

Posted in Blog, Boondocking, Camping, Camping off grid, Freedom, Fund Your Travels, Tent Camping, Travel - The Beginning, Traveling, Van Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Camper Van Has Returned

How a Checklist Can Make Your Camping Trips more Enjoyable

Posted on January 19, 2021 by Travel Happy
A checklist or check-off list, whichever you prefer, can make your life not only more enjoyable, but less stressful as well. Pilots routinely have a checklist to follow during pre-flights. Others may call it a to do list of things that need to be done before beginning their day at the office, etc.

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A checklist is essential in planning a fun camping trip

So, having a checklist before beginning a camping trip should be no different. You certainly don’t want to get several miles into your trip and suddenly realize you forgot something. Even worse, you could be out in the middle of a forest or desert and realize you forgot that special piece of camping gear that might be essential to setting up your camp.

So, let’s discuss camping. You’re taking a family camping trip to that special location you’ve thought about for some time. You’ve been planning this camping vacation in your mind for months, therefore, you really need a camping checklist made up before hand so you can have the best experience possible without forgetting anything.

Some of the more obvious things for your list is all your equipment that you will need, such as camping meals, snacks, etc for the family that is easy to pack and make by the kids.

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Pizza is always a good choice. Out of the fridge and into the toaster oven.

Kids enjoy helping cook while camping, so plan some meals where the kids can get involved.

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Kids helping with the meals

If you’re in an RV, or travel trailer or even a conversion van, your meals could include meals prepared beforehand that you can just heat in the microwave or toaster oven.

Your list should include all your gear. If you’re not in an RV or other wheeled camping vehicle, you’ll probably be sleeping in a tent. Therefore, your gear will include the tent, sleeping bags and most likely air mattresses. Make sure to check your tent and other gear to insure all is in good order from the last trip you made.

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Tent camping is always a favorite

A good way to make up your camping checklist is to sit down with your family and brainstorm a typical day of camping and write down everything needed for the elements, your comfort and physical needs. You might then go through your list a second time and add or delete items that may or may not be necessary. Then make your final list so you don’t forget anything.

Don’t forget items that you may need to purchase or replace. Be sure to cross off items as you purchase them, so your list is complete.

It’s a good idea too, to start preparing early so you can shop online as some items may be less expensive and more readily available. Therefore, you’ll need to allow for shipping times to reach you in plenty of time before you leave.

The night before you leave, sit down and go over your list and check off the items as you pack them in your vehicle. This will insure that you won’t have the feeling that you forgot something as you drive to your camping vacation.

Now, you’ll be able to enjoy that much deserved camping vacation with your family.

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Until next time…

Posted in Blog, Boondocking, Camping, Camping off grid, Freedom, Tent Camping, Traveling, Van Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How a Checklist Can Make Your Camping Trips more Enjoyable

My Van Build

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Travel Happy
This is my van; a 2019 RAM Promaster High Top, basic work/cargo van. The high top is great as it affords me the ability to stand erect and has plenty of overhead room.

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First thing to be built was the floor.

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Floor is in, so now time to begin framing walls for insulation and paneling.

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Put my son to work doing the framing.

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A hole had to be cut in roof for MaxxAir Fan. I must say, this was a bit scary to cut a hole in the roof of a brand new van. Somewhat out of my comfort zone, but got it done and all turned out well.

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Next cut on my van was a hole had to be cut in sidedoor (slider) for a window. Again, somewhat scary but after the roof cut, felt much more confident. Again, that cut and window install went perfectly.
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Well, the interior is almost finished. The box in the foreground holds my House Battery; an AGM, Sealed, deep cycle RV/Boat battery. While driving, my van alternator keeps the house battery charged. When off grid, my solar panels keep it charged. So, when off grid, my house battery keeps my refrigerator (seen on floor by cabinet) powered and running as well as providing power for my ceiling fan, laptop, charging cell phone and camera batteries and lights at night.

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Another shot of the interior. Inside the 2 doors on the vanity are 2 – 5-gallon containers. The light blue on the right contains clean water for cooking, washing dishes, etc. The dark blue one is for gray water drained from sink.

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You can see the hand pump on the sink, top of cabinet that pumps clean water from the fresh water container into sink. It can also be operated electrically if I choose. Works great. And there’s quite a bit of storage in vanity beside the containers that I can store light weight items such paper products, etc. The drawers hold quite a bit of gear as well. I have a one burner butane/propane stove. Seen on sink counter, however, most of my cooking is done outdoors except during inclement weather.

The rattan or woven piece of furniture you see holds my pots and pans and some canned food. Also doubles as a seat.

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I also have a swivel on my passenger seat that allows me to sit in it and face the back for more room. All that fru-fru floral bedding was a gift. I’m not crazy about it but it does keep me warm during cold nights.

This shot shows the finished ceiling. Installing the ceiling was the hardest part of the whole build.

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Finished… This shot was taken June 2020. I was just getting ready to leave for a trip to Colorado. I’m really enjoying this van. Since I’m basically a solo traveler, it’s plenty big for me and I love that I can stand in it and have plenty of room to move about. A person over 6’ tall can easily stand erect in it.

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Background story: I began my van journey several years ago in a minivan (soccer mom van). Loved the van, but was lacking room badly. After a couple of trips, I sold it and bought a big motor home. Huge mistake. I thought I needed more space and more amenities. It was more difficult to drive, especially in cities. I had a lot of challenges trying to find parking for an RV of that size when I would visit certain cities and wanted to go exploring or sightseeing. In addition, it was terrible on gas. My mileage was brutal; only about 9 MPG. After about 7-8 months of that, I decided to sell it and get a RAM Promaster City. That’s RAM’s small cargo van. It was a little 4-cylinder but ran really great with its 9-speed transmission and fun to drive. It got me an average of 28 MPG. Loved that, but, just too small. I had it built out professionally, so it was very comfortable, but after a year, decided it was just too small. I sold it to a local lady and recouped my money and bought this RAM Promaster. This van is really fun to drive. Navigating big cities is no longer a problem and I can easily park in a regular car parking space. The only problem I have with parking is underground parking and parking decks. It’s just too tall. Also, I’m unable to navigate drive-thru restaurants, again, too tall. With my fan on the roof, the total height is pushing 10’. Fully loaded down with all my camping gear, water, etc., I’m getting around 19 MPG on the road which I’m very happy with.

Source: Photos in this blog are Property of author.

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Until next time…

Posted in Blog, Boondocking, Camping, Camping off grid, Freedom, Fund Your Travels, Tent Camping, Traveling, Van Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on My Van Build

Pandemic Driving RV Sales Like Never Before – According to New Data

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Travel Happy
RV lots are mostly bare across the country now and have been for several months. This is due in part because of the pandemic as dealers are reporting that millennials are a huge part of the interest in RV’s during this bleak period. This causes a demand that manufacturers are having a difficult time in keeping up with.

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Class B Camper Van

Rental data on RV’s is also at an all-time high and again, millennials are driving those numbers up. According to RV rental platform Outdoorsy, bookings by millennials is up some 70% from 2019 to 2020. The favorite RV of millennials is the Class B camper van which has seen an exceptional increase in sales.

Data also shows that the millennial demographic continues to be a big hit with the RV Industry during the pandemic as more and more are not only renting but purchasing as well. It seems this demographic wants to get out closer to nature and meet up with friends.

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Camper Van Meet Up

As travel options have become limited, more and more folks are taking to the roads in RV’s of all types. A big part of this is due to companies letting employees work from home. Since people want out, they see the RV as an escape from being cooped up at home. With the Internet being so accessible across the country, more people can continue to work and are doing so remotely from an RV. Even professionals such as traveling nurses, doctors, teachers, etc., are becoming more and more prevalent on the road.

According to the RV Industry Association survey published in June, 20% of US respondents reported becoming more interested in RVing as a result of the pandemic as opposed to flights and cruises.

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Enjoying life in a camper van

Van life has been very popular for the past few years and once the pandemic hit, van life spiked. This is evident by the prices of cargo vans that have been on the rise for several months. The cargo van was once primarily purchased by the construction trade, plumbers, electricians, etc. Now, van lifers are becoming a huge purchaser which is driving up prices. Van lifers have also spawned a whole new industry with van conversion companies springing up and most are running months behind with new orders for van conversions.

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Until next time…

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Camper Van – Can be your Home Away from Home

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Travel Happy
A van converted to travel, live and camp in is like a small moving home. It can provide transportation, a kitchen and sleeping accommodations for the driver and a small family.

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My third converted van

Unlike larger RV’s, it’s easy to drive, similar to a car. It can accommodate 2 to 3 people, but more than that can cause for some cramped quarters. You might look at one as a small motorhome built on a van chassis. It is easy to drive and quite comfortable. It has a small kitchen with a cook stove, water and sink, cupboards and a refrigerator. Some even have a shower and toilet, a TV, awning, and electricity supplied by solar and a battery when off grid. If they don’t come with a toilet, a porta-potti can be purchased from Amazon or some other source for just over $100.00 and are easy to maintain and can be easily stored in the van.

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Sink and water system in my van. Fresh water in, gray water out.

Some van dwellers even carry a small portable generator.

Today, vans are becoming more and more popular and van build-out companies are springing up all over the country. With easy access to the Internet, I see more and more people, young and old traveling and working remotely from their vans; even professional types such as traveling nurses.

If you want a home away from home, I would recommend a van as your better option for many reasons. It is smaller and easier to drive and navigate than a larger RV. It is much better on gasoline usage which can be a huge budget saver not to mention maintenance costs. It’s easy to get around cities and can be parked mostly where any car can park. It is an ideal choice for camping, especially if you have a desire to stay away from expensive and noisy campgrounds. Vans can be easily driven off road and take you places that larger RV’s cannot go. It can provide all the amenities you might want to go camping and travel the country. Vans, especially the well, built-out ones offer all the comfort you have been accustomed to.

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Interior of my van, almost finished. Note Dometic refrigerator near sink and solar powered battery box in foreground

They are great for camping when it comes to inclement weather. No more wet, cold tents. If it rains or snows, just hop inside your nice, warm van and have a hot cup of cocoa, tea or coffee and read a book or watch TV.

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Finished interior of my van. Refrigerator, solar power when off-grid, MaxxAir Fan, etc

Campgrounds today are almost as expensive as a good motel room, not to mention the noise and crowded conditions. Thousands of people are taking to the highways today to get out into nature, explore and enjoy this great country and they don’t want campgrounds, they want to boondock. And what better way to boondock than in a van.

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Boondocking in the Sonoran Desert of southwest Arizona

So, if you’re dreaming of traveling and camping and enjoying all this wonderful country has to offer, you might want to seriously consider a converted van. If you’re unsure of spending the money for a van and then not liking it, you can always rent a camper van for a weekend to see if it’s something you might like. Then go out there and have a great traveling and camping experience.

Bill Jones bought and converted his first van about 10 years ago. He travels all over North America in his self-converted and very comfortable van. He has stayed in a paid campground only once during all these years. The rest of his time spent traveling and camping has been boondocking on BLM (Bureau of Land Management), Government land which is available to all of us for free.

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Until next time…

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How to Have Electricity when Off Grid

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Travel Happy
As more and more folks join the RV or Van Lifestyle with the goal of boondocking, they will need a means to power their laptops, TV’s, phones, cameras and other devices.

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Boondocking in the Rocky Mountains

So, what’s the answer? Most turn to the sun. Some prefer generators. Generators can be cumbersome and noisy and can make for annoyance to others nearby. They also require fuel. That too can be cumbersome, messy and could be dangerous.

Some RV’s come with generators, making for convenience. Some van dwellers carry generators as a backup in case they are in an area where the sun may be limited for periods of time. Personally, I carry an inverter generator and in all the years I’ve boondocked, I’ve only had to use it once due to rainy conditions and lingering clouds. Otherwise, my portable solar panels have been adequate.

The energy from the sun, on the other hand is immeasurable. All you need to harness the sun’s energy is one or more solar panels, depending on your needs, a house battery, charge controller and an inverter. Solar panel manufacturers are popping up all over as the demand grows.

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Portable solar panel

You can have solar panels affixed permanently to your RV or van or you can opt for portable solar panels. In my case, I have a portable solar panel called a suitcase solar panel. It’s 2 panels that fold similar to a suitcase and can be stored in your RV or van until needed. When you’re off grid, simply pull out your portable solar panel and position it in such a way as to capture the full sun and you can move it to follow the sun. Unlike a permanently attached solar panel that’s not as easy to position to follow the sun. Furthermore, some suitcase or portable solar panels include a charge controller.

The sun’s energy is then sent from the panel directly to your house battery where it’s stored. Your inverter is connected to your house battery and you can plug your laptop or other device into your inverter to power your devices.

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Solar panel affixed to roof of van

NOTE: Depending on your energy needs will determine what size house battery and inverter you will need. This article is not going into detail for that. That is something you individually will need to determine.

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Until next time…

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Kennesaw Mountain

Posted on November 12, 2020 by Travel Happy
I live near Kennesaw Mountain in Kennesaw, Georgia which is just north of the city of Atlanta. From the numbers I have seen, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is the second most visited National Battlefield Park in the Country.

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the most significant frontal assault launched by Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman against the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, ending in a tactical defeat for the Union forces. Strategically, however, the battle failed to deliver the result that the Confederacy desperately needed—namely a halt to Sherman’s advance on Atlanta.

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A small portion of Kennesaw Mountain as seen from the highway

Today, Kennesaw Mountain is meticulously managed by the NPS (National Park Service). People come, not only to visit the museum and bookstore, but to walk and relax and enjoy the miles and miles of hiking trails at the mountain.

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One of the many trails at Kennesaw Mountain

I’ve been walking these trails since moving to Kennesaw in the early 1970’s. I find there’s nothing better to clear one’s mind than to walk these grounds and trails and give thought to all the young men who died here while fighting for their beliefs.

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More of the many trails

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THE CCC COMES TO KENNESAW

From 1938 to early 1942, Kennesaw Mountain was home to one of the more than 4000 CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) camps setup in the 48 states, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These camps were introduced by President Franklin Roosevelt as part of his “New Deal.” The CCC was a relief program that provided work, and hope’s answer, to young men of unemployed families.

Not much of the original camp still exists, only the foundations of the headquarters, bath house, and a portion of the mess hall foundation. A portion of the entrance to the education building is still visible as well. All CCC camps included barracks, a mess hall, bath house, education hall, infirmary and outbuildings such as tool sheds.

Following are some photos I took recently on one of my hikes. This will give you somewhat of an idea of the CCC Camps and trails.

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Welcome – Inside Kennesaw Mountain where CCC Camp was located

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Flag Raising at Camp Brumby

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Field where Barracks were located

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Barracks location. Very similar to barracks I lived in while in US Air Force Basic Training

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Forge location

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Oil house location

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Food storage location

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Bath house location

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A Grim and silent Kennesaw

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Until next time…

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Camping Off-Grid

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Travel Happy

Are you one of those people that like camping off-grid? If so, what do you do for power? Do you have electronic devices that need charging? Do you have a fridge? Do you have lights that need electricity, how about an electric cooktop?

In order to live off-grid or camp off-grid for an extended period of time, you must have a power source of some type unless you have nothing that requires electricity.

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Converted Van Camping Off-Grid

I travel in my van a lot and 99% of my camping is done on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Land or free campsites. That means I don’t pay, but there are no facilities either. In my travels I’ve met a lot of like-minded people that travel and camp as I do, but they all have some sort of power for their comforts.

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Camping Off-Grid

Personally, I have an RV or boat type house battery which is an AGM, deep cycle battery that is stored inside my van. My house battery supplies all my power needs when I’m off-grid. When driving, my van’s alternator will keep my house battery charged. When camped for a period of time and my house battery needs recharging, I have portable solar panels that I place in the sun and hook to my house battery.

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Portable Solar Panel

The solar panels will keep my house battery charged while camped. I have what is called, Portable Suitcase Solar panels. The name comes from the fact that these solar panels fold up and fit in a large case with a handle resembling a large suitcase. They are not too heavy and can be moved around to follow the sun and when not in use, fold them, place them in their case and store them away. They don’t require a lot of space when storing. My house battery then powers my refrigerator, my laptop, cell phone, lights at night, etc.

I also carry a portable generator just as a backup.


Generator

I might add that I’ve used it only once when camping. The reason for that was, I bought it new and wanted to make sure it worked ok. I haven’t used it since that one time. I find that when my house battery runs low, it’s easy to set up my solar panels and they provide all the (free) energy I’ve ever needed.

Like most folks that camp or live off-grid, we don’t want the noise of a generator running for hours. Plus, if you don’t have solar, you will have to carry enough gasoline to operate your generator for a long time. Not only could that be dangerous, but expensive, not to mention the noise factor. I’m not trying to discourage you from having a generator. My generator is a great thing to have. It only weighs about 50 pounds so is easy enough to handle and it’s rated as one of the quietest portable generators on the market. The decibel level is about the same as a normal conversation, so it’s nice to have as a backup. I’m sure I’ll eventually be camped at a location where the sun may not come out for a few days and I may have to use my generator for a few hours, but that’s why I say I’ll only use it for backup as I wouldn’t want the food in my fridge to spoil.

I’ve heard of some that use wind power. I’m not that familiar with that, so I’ll reserve judgment on that source until I know more about it. I just don’t see how that would work for off-grid camping.

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Until next time…

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Boondocking – An Alternative to Traditional Camping

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Travel Happy

Boondocking may not be a familiar word to a lot of RV’ers, Van Lifers, Tent Campers and the rest of the camping public, especially “newbies”… but it will be soon as more and more people are finding it can be a pleasant alternative to expensive RV parks and resorts.


Boondocking in the desert

Boondocking is sometimes referred to as dry camping or dispersed camping and is becoming more popular because people want to go camping in the great outdoors without being squeezed into small camping spaces in RV parks. Aside from that, the cost at most of these parks is comparable to a motel room and boondocking for the most part is free. If you are traveling from one destination to another, a stop-over at an Interstate rest area could be considered boondocking. Many of us living or traveling in our RV’s will spend the night in a WalMart parking lot, a Sam’s Club or a Truck Stop. Providing of course that there are no signs posted prohibiting such overnight parking. It’s always best to check with management. If I park overnight at any establishment such as WalMart, I always make it a point to purchase something while there and never leave any litter about. There is certain protocol you should follow; the first of which is common sense. Please don’t set out your lawn chairs and roll out your awning and slide outs and begin cooking your dinner. Actions such as that can ruin it for the rest of the folks that appreciates these establishments for letting us park there overnight.

I have been traveling in my converted van for years and have travelled across this great country several times. Boondocking to me is finding a nice secluded parking spot on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Land. BLM Land is owned by the Federal Government and is open for all of us to enjoy free of charge. BLM Land is not that plentiful on the east coast, but out west there are literally millions of acres. For example, I normally travel to southern Arizona and boondock in the Sonoran Desert during the winter, along with thousands of other boondockers.


Boondocking in a Class B or converted van

Not to worry though, because there are millions of acres in Arizona that belong to the BLM. During the summer months, I’m somewhere in the mountains in the National Forest.


Boondocking in a National Forest

Boondocking also means that you’ll be off grid all or most of the time, therefore you won’t have access to water and electricity hookups. In this regard, you must carry plenty of water and food and have a means for electricity. I have an AGM, deep cycle RV battery that is charged by my alternator when driving. When off grid and my battery needs recharging, I have solar panels that I hook to my house battery and the sun charges my house battery. My house battery is adequate to keep my refrigerator running and power my lights and charge my laptop and other electronic devices. I also have a Honda portable generator but rarely use it. I carry enough food and water to last me 2-3 weeks so I can be totally off grid for that amount of time. I have a portable shower that fastens to the side of my van with a magnet or over a tree limb and I have a 5 gallon bucket for my shower water.

The shower has a built in motor and pump that gives me a good shower. If it’s cold, I heat water on my portable cook stove and mix it with cold water to have a very nice shower. I found it on Amazon for something like $35.00. I also have a gym membership to Anytime Fitness. They have gyms in most cities throughout the country so keeping clean is not an issue. I can also stop at a truck stop and get a shower for 8-10 bucks and also do my laundry while there.

Boondocking might sound a little scary to someone that’s never done it but spending a couple of nights out in a familiar area might get you more comfortable with it. When my kids were young, we used to camp a lot, but mostly at traditional campgrounds. Now that my kids are grown, I’m basically a solo traveler and I love boondocking. I can’t remember the last time I stayed at a paid campground and I have no intentions of ever doing so again.

Since the Covid-19 Pandemic began, getting outdoors to go camping and RV’ing has become very popular. It’s next to impossible to find high top vans like my RAM Promaster, because the demand is so high right now with people buying them and converting them as I’ve done. Finding any RV, whether it be a Class A, Class C, Class B or travel trailer is becoming more difficult as inventory is very low.

Source: Most of the photos in this blog are provided courtesy of unsplash.com.

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Until next time…

Posted in Blog, Boondocking, Camping, Camping off grid, Freedom, Fund Your Travels, Tent Camping, Travel - The Beginning, Traveling, Van Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Boondocking – An Alternative to Traditional Camping