How to Make Your Next Boondocking Trip the Best Yet

If you’ve ever been boondocking, you’ve surely had a memorable experience. But not all memorable experiences are something you’d like to repeat. Here we will look at ways to make your next—or first—boondocking trip memorable in a good way, and we’ll share how Harvest Hosts and etrailer products can make the most of your boondocking experience.

You Need to Think like a Boondocker

Boondockers have a different perspective than a lot of RVers. To think like a boondocker, you need to consider your resources—everything from money to water to storage to energy sources. A boondocker is the homesteader of the RV world. The purpose for each boondocker is a little different, but anyone can be a boondocker for differing amounts of time.

How long do you plan to boondock?
Boondockers might consider a simple overnight stay at a friend or family's property—also known as “moochdocking.” Or you could even stay overnight at a rest area, Walmart, or Cracker Barrel. This is often called “Wallydocking.” But for the purpose of this piece, we are going to consider a boondocking trip utilizing multiple Harvest Hosts locations—back-to-back—or searching for those off-grid public lands you see influencers posting from.
Be present in your surroundings
One of the secrets boondockers possess isn’t found within their rig setup, but inside of them, personally. They tend to have a sense of peace and contentment in the moment. This doesn’t mean they aren’t going to consider the future, but they are often fully present in where they are right now. Be willing to let go of the worries of work, where you are headed next, or what is going on in the rest of the world. Forget social media, domestic and international conflicts, and everything else.Look at the world around you. See the way the trees head up the mountain side and give way to the rugged mountain peaks. There isn’t a conflict there, and there doesn’t need to be a conflict inside of you.
Define the purpose of the trip
This doesn’t mean every trip needs to be planned down to the minute. In fact, that conflicts with the boondocking way. Instead, consider what you hope to gain from the experience. For instance, to find some peace, to experience nature, to refocus a vision for the future, or even to focus on your work goals. Regardless of the overarching purpose, boondocking is a fantastic way to experience life.

What Items You Need to Go Boondocking

Starting out, you need a self-contained RV and to be familiar with its different components. To make the most of your boondocking trips, there are certain items that would be most helpful to have or upgrade. In addition, starting out with some simple, short trips can help build your confidence and get you familiar with what will be necessary in the near future.

1. An upgrade to your water supply

Increasing the amount of freshwater you can carry is always a great upgrade for any boondocker. Whether that means carrying gallon jugs of water or upgrading your freshwater tank, freshwater supply is something boondockers need to be aware of.

In addition to carrying more freshwater, you should have a plan for the disposal of black and gray water. One of the best ways to handle this is to limit the number that goes into those tanks. Having an outdoor shower and/or sink goes a long way in reducing the amount of times you’ll need to dump. You wouldn’t want to use outdoor sinks/showers in a Walmart parking lot—for obvious reasons—and of course not at your Harvest Hosts locations. However, if you are in the backcountry, these solutions can help decrease the need to dump.

2. Increase your power storage and decrease your usage

If you are afraid of not having enough power, there are a couple different ways to address this issue. You can store more power or use less of it. Typically, a combination of the two is the best approach.

One of the best things any boondocker can do is to upgrade their house batteries. By switching to lithium batteries, you increase your usage capacity and create the possibility of adding more power. This helps reduce the amount of maintenance and increases the amount of power you can use. With traditional batteries, you can only use about 50% of the battery power, as opposed to nearly 100% of the battery power from lithium batteries.

In addition to upgrading your batteries, you can carry a generator with you. Generators are fantastic options for any boondocker, but be aware and courteous of those around you. A lot of generators can be exceptionally loud and will take away from the environment around you. And there are some Harvest Hosts locations that might ask you to not use generators during quiet hours.

Aside from increasing your power, you can also limit the amount of power you use. A big “creature comfort” is the desire for climate control. Air conditioning is one of the biggest power consumers that any RVer has. Consider swapping out your ceiling vent to one with a fan, or upgrading the one you already have. Some nicer ceiling vent fans can go a long way in creating a comfortable climate for you to sleep in.

Be prepared for unforgiving terrain

When you are boondocking, your host isn’t always concerned with a nice flat gravel or cement spot for you to park your RV in. In fact, a lot of the terrain is not exactly designed with you in mind. This means that you will need to be prepared for it.

Have jackpads and leveling blocks to compensate for the uneven ground. If you are already have one set of leveling blocks, consider grabbing a second set.

In the same way, you won’t always have a nice patch of grass outside the steps of your RV. An outdoor rug can go a long way in bringing comfort to an otherwise unforgiving place like the desert ground.

Ease into It and Enjoy the Experience

Build your boondocking confidence by joining Harvest Hosts today! Did you know Harvest Hosts has 4,000+ locations across North America? A Harvest Hosts membership includes unlimited overnight stays on farms, wineries, and more. It is by far the most unique, fun camping membership you could have.

That means you can practice boondocking while staying at an award winning winery. That doesn’t sound like roughing it to me! But with these unique Harvest Hosts stays, you’ll build confidence in your RVing skills while preparing for that backcountry experience you’ve been longing for.