Boondocking with your RV is the art of staying anywhere you want, at any time you want, at little or no cost. Some refer to Boondocking as dry camping. Dry camping is RV camping in some remote area, without a full or partial hookup (water, power, sewer). Generally boondocking for RVers that are on the road to some final destination is where you stay overnight in parking lots of retail stores, public libraries, parks or on streets in small towns. This article addresses this kind of boondocking.
Lots of RVers bookdock especially those with some RV experience under their belt. They say it saves money and gives them a lot more flexibility as to schedule and destination. Some even prefer it to staying in an established commercial campground. The possibilities abound as to where you can boondock.
The following are some common places people boondock when on the road.
• K-Mart or Wal-Mart parking lots are favorite for on the road RV stopovers.
• Truck stops that are on major highways, like Pilot, T/A, Flying J. Be prepared for all night, trucks coming and going.
• Roadside rest areas have been used for overnight stops for those that allow it. Be sure it is well lit and has plenty of other travelers are present.
• VFW, Elks, Moose Lodges are also places people check for staying overnight as a guest.
• Common courtesy says, if parking in one of these places, don’t unhook your rig or extend your slide-outs.
But is boondocking, safe?
Most people who do bookdock say it is a safe practice. Bad experiences people have had are due to break-ins and not something more serious. That being said, it always makes sense to listen to some tips that boondockers have used to keep the odds in their favor.
A little common sense and understanding of what to expect goes a long way to boondock safely.
• Most thieves are lazy and don’t want to fight with an occupant of an RV.
• Never open your door after dark unless you know that person.
• Lock your door when you are in your rig and when you leave.
• Don’t invite newly made friends or strangers, into your RV. Socialize, outside in your camp chairs, under your awning.
• Don’t tell newly made friends or others you just met, where you are camped.
• Don’t camp in one location for more than a day or two (if anyone was watching to figure out when you are gone).
• Don’t leave any expensive stuff lying around outside your rig when you do leave. Camp chair, table, rug—OK. Radios, TVs, Portable generators-NO.
• Be sure to close your blinds so the onlookers can’t see what you have inside, whether you are there or not.
• Always lock all of your locker doors that are on the outside of the rig. You may want to re-key them because most RVs have the same locker key (standard lock that comes with rig when it is bought from a dealer).
• Boondock with friends or club members or at least with other truckers and RVers in the same parking lot.
• Get a dog that is large enough to intimidate but trained to follow your commands.
• Or get an audiotape/CD of a barking dog that you can turn on when needed.
• A sticker to indicate a guard dog or alarm system is onboard, even if you really don’t have them.
• A working alarm system that sounds a loud alarm that you can also activate manually (panic button).
• You can also get a can of pepper spray and learn how to use it.
• You could get a handgun or a stun gun but be sure you understand all the laws that vary from state to state. The law may not be the same with possessing a gun in an RV as it is in a home. Be sure you get some training on how to use it.
• Avoid stickers that have your name or address or indicate you’re a full-timer.
• When traveling alone, place a pair of large men’s shoes, two camp chairs and a large dog water-dish outside your door.
• If you do get robbed, hand over cash or possessions that are demanded without any objection. You can always replace them.
Most of these suggestions are from years of boondocking done by a wide variety of RVers. Talk to your friends and others who have done boondocking, then give it a try. You never know. You may discover a totally new way to enjoy your RV and the freedom it provides.
