New at Boondocking

[txdad]

DW and I have scheduled a looong weekend in October to try boondocking. It will be our first time (except for Waldocking). I am very much looking forward to it but DW is a little skeptical. We will be at LBJ Grasslands near Decatur, Texas. Hope the weather holds!!

[bachler]

Good luck, Have fun;; In our travels of boondocking the hardest thing to remember was A shower consists of 2 cups water it the sink and a wash cloth. It's a lot of fun. Life is so good.

[Spikester]

You didn't mention how long you were going to be boondocking, so assume it will be 3 or 4 day weekend. A trick that makes your grey water tank last longer is instead of draining your dish water into your grey water tank, scoop some of it to your black water tank. Allows you to short flush the toliet.
Being an old Submarine Sailor I am here to tell you you can take a real good shower with just a couple of gallons of water. Don't let the water run, safes water and tank space.

Spike

[Alleyman]

We Boondock every Winter for three months. The DW loves it. Freedom plus! Surprising how much you can save and do by just thinking ahead. We are able to go about 15 days without dumping. I use a 45 gal. bladder transport to add water as needed. We camp on BLM ground in AZ, so able to dump grey water on the vegetation. Good luck.

[John Hilley]

Originally Posted by Alleyman

We Boondock every Winter for three months. The DW loves it. Freedom plus! Surprising how much you can save and do by just thinking ahead. We are able to go about 15 days without dumping. I use a 45 gal. bladder transport to add water as needed. We camp on BLM ground in AZ, so able to dump grey water on the vegetation. Good luck.

It is against BLM rules and the law to dump grey water

"Federal Register: February 2, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 21)
Page 4976-4979
Final Supplementary Rules on Public Lands Within All Arizona and California Long-Term Visitor Areas

ACTION: Publication of supplementary rules for Long-Term Visitor Areas managed by the California Desert District Office, California and Yuma Field Office, Arizona.

Sec. 16. Dumping

Do not dump sewage, gray water, or garbage on the ground. This includes motor oil and any other waste products: Federal, state, and county sanitation laws and county ordinances specifically prohibit these practices.....

BLM Needles Field Office
To further protect your public lands, campers must not dispose of any refuse, hazardous materials, sewage, or gray water, in any manner pollute the surrounding area. PACK IT OUT.

BLM Eagle Lake Field Office
...self-contained camping is required to avoid the disposal of gray water within the closed basin of Eagle Lake.

BLM El Centro Field Office
Imperial Dunes
DUMPING. Dumping of sewage (black) and/or gray water is prohibited."

[txdad]

We will be out for four days and it is on BLM land. DW is already talking about using dish water to flush with. I think she is worried about the water supply. Being a country boy I am not squeamish about drinking out of the windmill that is nearby. I will learn how to save my battery.

[Robsons]

I'm sure you'll do fine and probably won't need many draconian measures. Worst thing that happens is that the last day you may be a little short on flushes. What is the size of your water tank? We hold 100 gallons and made it a solid week with 3 kids. The saying, "if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down" rules the RV during boondocking stops.

Do you have a generator for recharging your house batts?

[Alleyman]

The BLM campground where we Winter was told specifocally by the area Ranger to dump grey water at that location. We don't arbitrarily dump on any ground available unless told by proper authority.

[txdad]

All three tanks are 35gallon. We will take some jugs of water for drinking & coffee & tea. We have a generator but I am hoping that we don't have to run it for the air conditioner.

[Robsons]

Originally Posted by txdad

All three tanks are 35gallon. We will take some jugs of water for drinking & coffee & tea. We have a generator but I am hoping that we don't have to run it for the air conditioner.

Sounds like a plan. One other experience that worked well for us is that we used paper plates and bowls for all our meals. Throwing the paper away wasn't ideal from an environmental perspective but we valued our water supply more and saved water by not needing to wash dishes. Saved time too so that we had more time for fun!

[Renipladlo]

For all you folks who never owned a truck campter, you learn how to take a shower in one of those so you don't fill up the gray tank and run out of fresh water. We could last about three days, then we had to dump the gray tank. Never thought then to dump the dishwater in the black tank, but then we were in National parks and they allowed dish water at specific locations so we just used a pan to wash dishes.

To successfuly take a shower here is one recommended way.
1. Turn on the water and get wet, turn off water.
2. wash hair, and soap up the body.
3. Turn on water and rinse off.
4. Unless someone is following you, wipe out shower so it does not spot.

Doing it that way you only use about 2 gallons or less, have done it lots of times.

But WRV (Alpine APEX) made their motorhomes and 5th wheels to be the boondockers dream.
100 gallon fresh water tank.
85 gallon black water tank.
100 gallon gray water tank.
40 gallon propane tank.
8 house batteries @ 225 ah. & a 2000w inverter
2 starting batteries.
1 - 100 watt solar panel. Another 100 watt panel would be nice.
Like I said the boondockers dream.

[Route 66]

For all you folks who never owned a truck campter, you learn how to take a shower in one of those so you don't fill up the gray tank and run out of fresh water

Yep. Been there. Done that. It's not bad.

[ralper]

When I long term wilderness boondock I have a gallon laundry detergent jug that I use for a urinal. I flush with that followed by water saved from the dishwashing in another jug. Snickers goes outside. I use one drop to get wet and another drop to rinse !!!!!!!! 2 gal for a shower is sparing but can be improved upon with severe work. I do not use established CGs so I too dump gray water on the ground.

[HandyBob]

Every time I see a newbie asking talking about boondocking for a few days I get a kick out of it. My wife and I have been full time boondockers for MANY years. We don't hook up to electric or water if visiting friends & relatives and never get tired of explaining that we really do have a real shower and a real bed in our house on wheels. I don't really think staying in Dry Camp at an Escapees park qualifies as boondocking, but most do, so we include those stays in our record. We haven't been in any other park for over 6 or 7 years now. In our definition, if you can SEE pavement, you are not boondocking. We even boondock on our own property up in Montana. However, now that we have a rainwater harvesting system and a septic system that is less than 100ft from where we park the rig and can reach it with the macerator, I'm not too sure that staying on our own place really qualifies anymore. Regardless, some of you may enjoy my wife's take on this. It was published in the Quartzsite Newsrag several years ago (without her permission, by the way).

Bob


FULL-TIME BOONDOCKING – WHAT’S THAT?

When we talk to other folks about what we do
We can tell what they think in a second or two
Some say “Wish we could do that,” or “tell me more”
Others say “I’m late” and start to bolt for the door

They step back a bit as if we’re unwashed
And start wondering if we’re crazy or just sloshed
They say to electricity and water they must cling
As if we don’t have or use any such thing

Some insist on paved streets and paved parking lots
We prefer the road less traveled and desert pavement spots
Some insist the RV park has everything they need
We love the freedom of this RV life we lead

Some of us grew up on a farm with only cows around us
And we’ll just never get used to a thriving metropolis
Others can’t imagine country life with no amenities
But we can go to town whenever we please

We have all of the modern conveniences that they do
TV, satellite, computer, stereo and coffee pot too
Even though we get our electricity from the sun
Solar and batteries and an inverter make it all run

We don’t park in the desert just because we’re cheap or poor
Our world encompasses everything outside our front door
A life of boondocking isn’t for everyone to share
And RV park owners have to get their money somewhere

Next time you meet someone of the other kind
Keep an open heart and an open mind
We’re all enjoying this RV life our own way
We can learn about you and about us you just may

We’re neither better nor worse, right or wrong you see
It takes all kinds to make up the world actually
It works both ways that what works for you might not for me
We’re all different so let’s embrace our diversity


By Norene Shearer © 12/11/2005