Boondocking Essentials- Everything You Need For a Successful Dry Camping Trip

Boondocking essentials are everything you need for a successful dry camping trip. One of the very best things about traveling with an RV is the fact that you can go completely off-grid and escape into nature. Sure, camping in campgrounds is fun, but boondocking is an entirely different experience, and one everyone should have at least once. After all, what could be better than waking up surrounded by beautiful nature without any commitments at all?

That said, boondocking (AKA dry camping) does require a bit of preparation. Because you won’t have access to any hook-ups at all, and because bathhouses, restaurants, and shopping are non-existent in the middle of nowhere, you must be completely self-sufficient, something many RVers aren’t accustomed to. However, preparing for a dry camping trip is easy enough, and putting in this small amount of extra effort definitely pays off.

Wondering where to begin with your boondocking prep? The first step is to gather the items needed to have a safe, comfortable, and fun off-grid experience. Below is a basic list to get you started.

Related Read: Boondocking 101

Water Bladder and Pump

Almost all RVs come equipped with a fresh water tank, and you will definitely want to fill this before heading out into nature. That said, depending on 1) the size of your party, 2) the size of your tank, and 3) the length of your trip, the onboard fresh water tank is not always enough. If you do the math and determine your fresh water won’t last your entire stay, you’ll probably want to invest in a water bladder.

A water bladder is exactly what you’d think: a huge bladder that you can fill with fresh water. This filled bladder then lives in the bed of your truck (or wherever you can find to store it) until the water is needed. From there, the water can be used to fill the fresh water tank using a 12v water pump that is rated for fresh water.

Blue Boy and Macerator Pump

Of course, if you’re using a lot of water, your gray and black tanks are going to fill up. Because there are no sewage lines in nature, you’ll need somewhere to store all of this waste water until you can get to a dump station. This is where a Blue Boy (or two) can come into play.

Used to store gray and black water and tote it from one place to the next, a Blue Boy gives you the extra used-water storage you need and allows you to move that water to the proper dump location once your trip has ended.

Again, these are often stored in the bed of a truck, and using a macerator pump will help you empty your onboard tanks into the Blue Boy without moving it out of the bed and dealing with the impossible struggle of getting it back up there.

Solar Panel, Generator, and/or Extra Batteries

While your RV almost certainly has at least one house battery, this is rarely enough to last a whole trip. Therefore, you’re going to need a way to recharge this battery so you can have lights, fans, and other electric appliances.

Many modern RVs come equipped to accommodate a portable solar panel, which is a great option for those who are using trailers without generators. Of course, if you have a motorhome with an onboard generator, that will work just fine too. Some trailer owners choose to add a generator to their tool chest, and many motorhome owners also outfit their rigs with solar panels. Some boondocking enthusiasts even go so far as to cover their roofs in solar panels and install extra batteries for power storage.

How you power your rig off-grid is ultimately up to you and will depend on what your budget is, how often you plan to dry camp, and how handy you are.

Roof Vent

Does your RV have a roof vent? If not, you’re going to want to install one before you do any summer boondocking. Roof vents are the ideal way to cool a rig down when no A/C is available. They can be run off of the house battery, and with a MaxxAir vent cover, you can even use your roof vent fan in the rain.

Related Read: Why Every RV Should Have a Roof Vent

Battery Operated Fans

If you’ll be summer boondocking, another set of items you must have are battery operated fans. These work well to keep air moving and keep things comfortable, especially at night when you’re trying to sleep.

For added comfort on extra hot days, try filling a shallow container with ice or ice packs, and placing it in front of a running fan. This creates a makeshift air conditioner and can help make the temperature of your rig much more bearable.

Propane Heater

Of course, not all boondocking has to be done during the summer. In fact, many people prefer boondocking in the colder months. Most RV furnaces run off of propane, meaning they can be run while dry camping.

That said, these furnaces use battery power and can eat it up pretty quickly in really cold temps. Besides that, RV furnaces are extremely inefficient. For this reason, most hardcore boondockers prefer to invest in something like the Mr. Buddy portable propane heater.

Mr. Buddy heaters are much more fuel-efficient and can easily warm a small space quickly. However, it is important to use it safely—for example, placing it near a cracked window for ventilation.

Propane Fridge

Everyone needs to eat, and that means keeping perishables cool on long jaunts into the wilderness. Luckily, most RVs come equipped with propane refrigerators, so keeping your food cold shouldn’t be an issue.

That said, if your RV doesn’t have a propane fridge, you may want to look into getting one. Otherwise, unless you have an incredible solar system or run your generator constantly, you’re probably going to be stuck using an ice chest.

Propane Water Heater

Finally, there is the issue of hot water. If you’re going to shower and wash dishes, you’re probably going to want hot water, and this means you’ll need a water heater that can be used without too much electricity. This is where a propane water heater steps in.

Again, this is comething many RVs come equipped with. However, there are those that don’t have a propane water heater option included. If you own one of these units, look into replacing it with a propane option. The other option is to wash dishes in cold water and shower outdoors using a solar shower.