Boondocking Tips: Off-Grid Camping, RV Travel & Van Life

Read the full article: Food Refrigeration Without Hookups at Humid Lakeshores Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Food Refrigeration Off-Grid at Humid Lakeshores Keeping food cold without AC power by a humid lakeside is a challenge. High humidity and shade mean moisture, mold, and sluggish cooling if equipment isn’t managed well. In such environments, 12V compressor refrigerators and absorp...

Read the full article: Mapping and Apps: Finding Legal Lakeside Spots Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Mapping and Apps for Lakeside Boondocking Finding a legal lakeside boondocking spot (free, dispersed camping) requires careful mapping and checking of land use rules. Modern mapping apps and online tools can simplify this by overlaying public land boundaries, showing roads, and highligh...

Read the full article: Recovery and Traction on Soft, Wet Shorelines Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Recovery and Traction on Soft, Wet Shorelines Driving heavy vehicles like RVs or 4x4s along lake or beach edges can be deceptively dangerous. Saturated soils at the water’s edge often lose strength dramatically – behaving almost like quicksand under heavy weight. Fine-grained, waterlogge...

Read the full article: Multi-Week Lakeside Boondock Logistics: Resupply, Waste, and Water Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Planning for an Extended Lakeside Camping Trip A multi-week lakeside boondocking trip is a rewarding adventure, but it demands careful logistics. You must pre-plan water, waste, and energy needs along with resupply schedules to stay safe and Leave No Trace. This guid...

Read the full article: Condensation, Mold, and Corrosion in Humid Lakeside RVs Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Condensation, Mold, and Corrosion in Humid Lakeside RVs Lakeside RV camping offers fresh air and scenic dawns – but it also brings high humidity. Cool nights over still water let interior metal, glass or walls drop below the dew point, causing condensation. As one expert notes,...

Read the full article: Portable Showers and Water Heating from Lake Sources Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Introduction Taking hot showers and staying clean can be challenging when you rely on lake or stream water off-grid. Campers and overlanders have developed portable shower solutions that work without electricity or plumbing. Common options include black solar shower bags, water-wa...

Read the full article: Fire, Carbon Monoxide, and Ventilation Risks by the Lake Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Fire, Carbon Monoxide, and Ventilation Risks by the Lake Camping in an RV on a forested lakeside can be cozy, but it also brings serious safety challenges. In a tight space, propane heaters, diesel heaters, and portable water heaters can provide warmth and hot water – but if m...

Read the full article: Greywater and Sewage Near Lakes: Eco-Safe Practices and Laws Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Greywater & Sewage Management for Lakeside Boondocking Lakeside boondockers must manage greywater (dish, shower, sink water) and blackwater (toilet waste) carefully to protect water quality and comply with laws. This guide compares toilet systems (composting, cassette,...

Read the full article: Powering an Off-Grid Lakeside RV: Solar in the Forest Shade Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Powering an Off-Grid Lakeside RV: Solar in the Forest Shade Camping by a quiet lake under a cathedral of trees is a dream – until you realize your solar panels barely see the sun. Dense tree canopy and morning fog can cut incident sunlight dramatically, forcing boondockers...

Read the full article: Water Safety 101: Treating Lake Water for RV Boondocking Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Water Safety 101: Treating Lake Water for RV Boondocking When boondocking (camping off-grid) in an RV, lakes are a tempting source of fresh water – but “wild” lake water is rarely potable without treatment. Untreated lake water can harbor a variety of hazards: bacteria (e.g. E...

Read the full article: Case Studies: Three Lakes, Three Power/Water Strategies Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Introduction Designing a self-sufficient camp or cabin by a remote lake requires tailoring to local climate. A snowy alpine site, a soggy northern forest lake, and a dusty desert reservoir each demand fundamentally different power and water systems. In these case studies we lay...

Read the full article: Managing Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Waterborne Illness Discover more at Boondocking Tips Excerpt: Managing Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Waterborne Illness Spending warm months by lakes and waterways is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but it comes with hidden health risks. Mosquitoes, blackflies, and ticks are common biting insects near water that can transmit diseases. Likewise, sw...