Boondocking Safety Tips

One of the coolest things about owning an RV is the ability to head out and sleep right in the middle of nature, completely off-grid. Not only does this make camping totally free of charge, it also allows you to leave all the stresses of modern life behind. Of course, this does require a bit of prepwork to ensure you're comfortable during your time in the boonies, but it's totally worth it in the end.

Some of the most important preparations you must make for your boondocking adventures are safety related. After all, if you're going to be camping in the middle of nowhere, you have to be ready to take care of yourself and your loved ones in case something goes wrong. Additionally, its best to take any precautions you can to reduce the chances of something going wrong.

Wondering what kinds of things you might do to prepare your rig and yourself for a boondocking trip? Consider taking the steps below.

Related Read: Boondocking 101

Check Everything

When it comes to taking precautions to protect yourself from issues, making sure to double-check everything beforehand is one of the very best things you can do.

Begin with your vehicle. Whether you'll be towing a trailer with a truck or driving some sort of motorhome to your wilderness campsite, you’ll want to look it over carefully, checking for any possible problems. Make sure to do regular tuneups, and keep up with all maintenance. Remember, if your vehicle isn't working, you might just be stuck hoofing it to the nearest town.

You'll also need to give your camper a good once-over. Check your heat if you'll be winter camping, and make sure your water pump and fridge are working so you'll have safe food and drinking water.

Take a Buddy

Everything is more fun with a friend, and in many cases they’re also safer. Invite a friend or family member to go with you. This will give you someone to send for help should you need it, and if you bring someone you like, it will also make the whole experience more enjoyable.

Don't have a human friend willing to go along? Taking a dog is almost as good and could even be somewhat helpful should an intruder happen to show up.

Know Your Location

Obviously, the whole point of boondocking is to get away from everything. This can sometimes lead campers to drive aimlessly into the wilderness and completely lose track of where they are. The problem with this is twofold: Not only could you end up terribly lost, you won't have directions to give emergency personnel should you need them.

For these reasons, it is highly important to keep good track of where you are even when wandering off-road. Keeping track of your GPS coordinates is usually the best way to go about this when in the boonies.

Pack Up and Double Up

For many, packing an RV is difficult because there simply isn't enough room. This only becomes more difficult when you're packing for a boondocking trip, because wilderness camping requires packing extra things and doubles of everything important.

That's right! You now need to find room for things like flashlights, candles, matches, sealant, and tarps. You'll also want to pack extra blankets, extra food, extra water, extra propane, and extra gasoline.

This will help keep you comfortable, warm, and safe should you a) lose heat, b) discover a leak, c) become stranded, or d) run out of gas in your vehicle.

Watch the Weather

The thing about weather is that it's finicky. You never know when a terrible thunderstorm is going to hit or when a blizzard might blow through.

Because boondocking separates you from television and other weather alerts, you will have to be extra vigilant and remember to check in on the weather forecast from time to time. If you find yourself caught in a storm, you may want to have a weather radio close at hand. By keeping one around, you'll be able to stay up-to-date despite your unplugged situation.

Keep a Phone Handy

A phone can be a lifesaver in certain situations. Because of this, it is generally a good idea to park your RV in a place with at least a small amount of cell signal and keep a charged phone on hand.

Something that can help expand the area you can explore—while still having a cell signal—is keeping two phones, each with a different carrier. It's also helpful to hook up a cell signal booster such as a weBoost. This will pull in cell signal and magnify it for your use.

Arm Yourself

Honestly,the likelihood of a human intruder seeking you out in the middle of nowhere is extremely low. That said, it is possible. Additionally, it is much more likely that a bear or some other wild animal could decide to wander near your home-on-wheels and cause mischief.

No matter what kind of intruder you may have, you'll be happy that you're armed if and/or when they arrive.

This isn't necessarily to suggest that you carry a gun if you aren't licensed or even comfortable doing so. If a gun isn't something you want to have around, consider carrying pepper spray or bear spray instead. At the very least, this will deter intruders and give you an opportunity to move to a safe place.

Remember First Aid

Last, and yet first, is first aid. Never underestimate the power of treating mild cuts and scrapes before they have a chance to become something major. In addition to giving you the tools to do this—along with treatments for other mild issues—a good first aid kit will make it possible for you to temporarily treat a variety of problems yourself while you wait for help to arrive.

Related Read: Putting Together your RV First Aid Kit

As long as you properly prepare yourself and your rig, boondocking can be just as safe as any other camping option out there. So go ahead and spend some time reconnecting with nature—just be sure to do so safely!