Going off grid with your RV is a major step. Without the amenities of a campground to rely on, you have to take everything you need with you or make trips to replenish what you use. This requires a lot of planning, but it also opens up new destinations that are only available to more adventurous people. At Nohr’s RV Center, we support the off-grid RV lifestyle, but we want you to understand what the phrase involves and how to do it properly.
The Appeal of Boondocking
Boondocking is the
word used for off-grid RV camping. Instead of crowded
campgrounds, boondockers set up camp under the stars and away from campground
traffic. This reduces the cost of long trips by eliminating the campground
fees, but it also means doing without the luxuries such as running water
restrooms, electric hookups, and designated waste disposal. Done properly,
boondockers can spend days or even weeks at remote locations. The trick is to
plan ahead and carry enough supplies.
Providing the Necessities
Everything has to be accounted for when you are camping off-grid. Using solar panels and batteries eliminates both the need for a generator and the noise
associated with using one. Switching your RV over to a 12 or 24 volt DC system
and installing LED lighting will reduce power consumption. Depending on the
size of your battery storage, it may be a good idea to ration the use of
appliances which use standard AC house current.For cooking and cooling, propane canisters are the most efficient way to go. Rather than doing a lot of meal preparation, it is faster and cheaper to focus on items that can be prepared quickly. You could have anything you wanted to cook, but conserving your resources is vital to RVing off-grid successfully.
Water as a Commodity
Going off grid
entails taking everything you need with you, including your water supply. It is
important to have plenty of water for drinking, but you also have to plan
for cooking, bathing, and other water needs. Calculate the
number of days you want to be off grid and multiply that number by 5. That is
the suggested amount of water you need per person, so a couple who wants to
spend 5 days in a remote location needs to start with around 50 gallons or plan
on making at least one run to replenish the supply. Using your water supply
frugally can greatly extend your off-grid experience.It is a good idea to keep your RV in excellent condition if you plan on going off-grid. Before leaving home, check your batteries, fill your water tanks, empty the waste tanks, and make sure that all of your equipment is in satisfactory condition. Whether you are sticking to major campgrounds or doing some backcountry boondocking, we recommend bringing your RV to Nohr’s RV Center for a complete checkup before you hit the road.
