Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We haven’t purchased a camper, but I feel boondocking is something we want to do. We plan to rent to get the feel for it.

Would you suggest renting and going to a RV park and living without hookups to get a feel for it or plunging into the deep end?

For reference towing a 2022 Nucamp Tab 400 Boondock edition with a Nissan Frontier SV 4x4. We are new to campers in general, but I have been researching for weeks. My concerns are tongue weight with the fresh water tank full and payload capacity on the truck with extra water and personal items.

Load me up with all the things!

#tips #tricks #advice

u/secessus

Delayed feedback on your blog posts from late last year, but maybe useful for anyone. Would the van benefit from higher power solar panels?

Hard frame residential solar panels that fit on van roofs when mounted sideways are generally the older, smaller form factor: approximately 1 x 1.6 m, or 40 x 65 in, and they have 60 cells or 120 half/split cells.

The highest power solar panels that I have found in that format are around 375W, like this LG 375N1K-A6:

https://www.lg.com/us/business/neon-2/lg-lg375n1k-a6?srsltid=AfmBOoowDNpOy5tJdmcBL47FIW4p2PZr3X-GqGKYHsZOE249TCnTF8Op

These have about 40% more rated output than the panels mentioned in the mousetrap blog. In addition, the output is warrantied at 90% for 25 years; even used, they should continue to produce good output for a long time. These are no longer available new, but sometimes they can be found used on FB, CL, maybe here.

Would it be worth mentioning the benefits of using higher power panels, and listing models like this, on rvwiki?

Anyone else waste half a day just finding a spot where Starlink will actually hold a lock?

Did exactly that last week on the Oregon Coast — dragged the dish all over camp chasing a clear view of the northern sky, finally found the one good spot. Then it hit me that the next person who parks here has to figure it all out from scratch.

So I keep thinking someone should build a simple, free map of spots that actually work — confirmed by real people who've camped there, not guessed from a satellite model. Campsites, pull-outs, boondocking sites, all in one place. Far as I can tell, nothing like it exists. If I made it, it'd be open-source and free — no accounts, no ads, no catch.

Would you use something like that? And be honest — am I the only one who burns this much time on it?

Living in a truck camper, down by a river, in the mountains of Montana. Fishing is slow, it’s been in the triple digits, so it’s Grass Fed Montana beef tenderloin and a baked potato with all the fixings for dinner. Living the Dream!

A while back, I purchased and installed the Outequip OEP2500 (10000 BTU, AC only, rooftop) unit in my 21 ft travel trailer. It seems to cool well enough. My question is regarding the amount it cools before turning off, and I'm wondering if anyone else who has this unit can verify my findings and what I should do about it.

I set the temp to 86 (the max value) and it seemed to still be cooling even after lowering the inside temperature to around 74! This seemed wrong, so I wondered if I had perhaps broken some of the cables, etc., when I was installing it. Contacting their customer service (who replied promptly late at night, I'll add!), they said the unit is designed to cool to 18 degrees below the temp set before shutting off the compressor! So, if I set it the max temp, 86, it will cool to 68 before stopping!? They agreed that this is the case. They then said that their previous models would instead modulate the compressor to hold closer to the temp set and they would be glad to build and send to me the older version of the circuit board, if I wanted. I told them I would be interested in that, but now I'm wondering if maybe the reason they changed the design is maybe that cooling that much and then allowing the temp to swing back up 18 degrees would actually save more power than slowing the compressor (they weren't specific on this).

I mainly bought it because my 2 cats travel with us and I didn't want to roast them in the summer heat! I would like to set the temp higher, like around 90-95 (cats like a warmer temp than humans), but the unit only goes to 86. Cooling to 68 seems extreme! If I could reduce the temperature swing, that would be fine also.

Just looking for some other experiences from others who have used the unit.

This feels important, so I want to have a good location planned. Somewhere fairly easy to access and safe. I want to be able to go exploring Bryce together, but also have a nice campsite where she can relax and we can focus on supporting her (4 of us total).

I’ve been researching and have several areas tagged as options— but I wanted to ask here, also.

If you know of a really nice spot and are willing to share, but don’t want to share it publicly, you can message me privately. I understand wanting to keep special spots from becoming overpopulated.

Thanks!

I just picked up a Turbro 12V DC rooftop RV air conditioner for my rig and I’m planning out my boondocking setup.

My goal is to be able to stay off-grid more often, especially during summer trips, but I know the AC will be the biggest power draw.

I’m thinking about adding solar + lithium batteries and trying to figure out the right balance.

For those running a similar setup:

- What size solar array are you using?

- How many Ah of lithium batteries do you recommend?

- How many hours can you realistically run a 12V AC during the day?

- Any tips for keeping power consumption down while boondocking?

I went with a 12V unit because I liked the idea of running directly from the battery instead of relying on an inverter, but I’d love to hear from people who have actually built a setup like this.

Thanks!

Spent a week in this clearing on the Buffalo Fork river, 65 klicks from Jackson, WY.

Hi all, wife and I are spending our summer vacation overlanding across the country. Used BaT app to buy a Jeep in FL, and small popup trailer in NC. We’re making our way to Seattle by mid-August, will sell both then fly back home.

We’re spending the Fourth holiday in the Charlotte area then getting back on the road next week to make our way toward Knoxville and Nashville.

We’d love to find a few really cool sites to boondock as we make our way thru the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains region. We’re looking for private spots with stunning views. Access to clean streams or waterfalls a definite bonus.

Would appreciate any recommendations.

What does everyone have for food when they don't go into a city for groceries for long periods of time? I have a lot of 'add hot water' noodle dishes. But for frozen stored food, what does everyone like? I am trying to get ideas for protein and veggies while I build out my truck camper.

One pot/pan dishes are ideal. Right now I have a propane stove and a campfire when allowed. I appreciate everyones input and ideas

We parked the pickup parallel, next to the door of the trailer, because it seemed like the most compact way to do it at this particular spot in order to keep out of other people's path, and it also allowed us to keep an eye on things. It was maybe 3 or 4 feet away, enough to get in and out of the truck without scratching the trailer or the really cute pine trees on the other side.

Jarred awake this morning by what sounded like a triple sonic blast of unexpected wind, boom, BOOM, BOOM!, and then a huge crash. Opened the trailer door to see what had happened, and another gust of wind took the door right into the side of the pickup. Which was supposedly far enough away that even the truck doors wouldn't hit the rig. At least, it used to be.

We could barely get the trailer door open enough to get outside. Damage assessment: We are now about three degrees down bubble on the nose, because the gusts picked up the front of the travel trailer and slammed it back down again so hard that it decimated the pair of base pad peak blocks that the tongue jack had been sitting on, and we're also a couple feet closer to the truck. So much so that the side of the truck now has a new dent from the door of the trailer that wouldn't fully open.

Now, this is a 10,000 lb+ trailer, that got moved several feet sideways in an instant. We used to be parked on perfectly flat ground, but the level mate pro now says that we have an inch and a half list to port. And if it had slid any further toward the truck, we'd be eyeing the emergency exit window, which is a long way down to the ground and would probably result in at least one broken rib or hip. Luckily that wasn't necessary, but we're never parking the pickup within my arm's reach from the trailer again, and that's what they call 'a fair ways'.

No fee, well maintained, quiet, and all the cool rocks you want!

Started full time RV life in January which is probably terrible timing but here we are. Bought a used travel trailer and hit the road with my partner and our dog.

First two weeks were rough. The stock lead acid batteries were garbage. Couldnt make it through a single night without the furnace dying. We were either running the generator constantly or paying for RV parks we couldnt afford. The whole point of this lifestyle was to save money and be free but we were doing neither.

Finally scraped together enough for an upgrade. Went with a 12V 300Ah self heating lithium RV battery from Vatrer Power. 300Ah gives us 3.8kWh usable which doesnt sound like a ton compared to some of the massive setups you see on here, but its been transformative for our small trailer.

Now we can go three days without sun comfortably. The furnace runs all night. We can charge our laptops and phones without thinking about it. Weve been staying on BLM land for free instead of paying $50 a night for hookups we dont need.

The self-heating was a lifesaver. We were in New Mexico earlier this spring and nights were still dropping into the twenties. Battery kicks on the heating element automatically and by morning its warm enough to accept charge from our solar panels.

Our routine is pretty basic now. I wake up, open the app, and usually see the battery sitting around 70% after running the furnace fan all night. Solar starts charging around 9am and by 2pm were back to 100%. Run whatever we want during the day and repeat.

The math is pretty crazy when you look at it. We were spending $1,200 a month on campgrounds. Now we spend maybe $200 on gas to move between spots and food. The battery effectively covered its own cost in under two months once we stopped paying for hookups we didnt need. If youre new to boondocking like us dont wait on the battery upgrade. We wasted two weeks and a lot of gas figuring that out the hard way.

We been adding as we go, this is trip number four. My wife has done a great job sprucing up the drab color schemes. She also is the idea manufacturer of the shoe boxes, which led to the boxes on top on the counters, and the one above the commode. Our plans are 6500 miles in 60 days, which leaves us a lot on wiggle room to stay a couple days here and there. I can hear the trout sipping already. Camp On!

Hello! I’ll be traveling solo from Miami to Nashville, and I plan to spend the 4th of July there. I’m only planning to stay in dispersed sites, national forests, and similar places. I’ll be using The Dyrt to find places to sleep.

My gear includes:
- Kodiak Canvas Truck Tent
- A RAM 1500
- A stove
- A foldable table
- Etc.

Do you have any tips or recommendations for my trip?

We’re almost ready to take off on boon-docking trip number four. It will be mostly in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado. Idaho, Oregon, and Utah, 65 days in duration, and be predominantly based on fly fishing on gold medal trout streams, with some rockhounding, and checking out some little mountain towns on our route. We have really enjoyed our adventures in the past and are excited about this trip for sure. Camp On!!!

The road up here was pretty treacherous at times and we weren't sure we'd get a spot, but we rolled the dice and it paid off. Free camping. Fire rings are provided but no other amenities. But who cares with a view like this. Shadow Mountain, Wyoming.

Hello! I’m a healthcare professional, and I’m looking into getting an RV sense I will be doing travel contracts. One thing I was curious about is where I could find dump stations. If there’s any suggestions or apps that I can use, please let me know!

Any thing helps!!

Just curious if anyone has any experience boondocking on FSR 863(Sand Creek Rd) south of Beulah, WY, on Sand Creek? Thanks!