boondocking tips!!! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

boondocking tips!!!

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

Turn that shower off while soaping up......Flush after every other Pee, it's all about saving that water.

Ann-Hank · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Mike. I like the outside wash station idea. And to think of all that dryer lint I have pitched.

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

I haven't been official boondocking yet, but the crazy Nor Cal weather has left me without electricity and water for a few days at a time, and I've been practicing.

I put pee pee tee pee in the trash, not the toilet, to lighten the load, extend between dumps
When I run up the hot water, I catch it when it's cold in a pot, and use that to drink, or flush
I have candles and solar lanterns for the evening
I use my overhead lights only as needed (didn't replace with LEDs yet)

Also, I have solar panels and a wind turbine, and a rainwater collection system
And, I have water filters, as well as a Steri-Pen for water sterilizing
I also have a Wilson cell phone signal booster, which has already come in handy, even in town!

Dryer lint and candle wax, interesting.... I save my old candle wax, to remelt into new candles, I'll have to start collecting dryer lint next!

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

Paper plates and plastic forks to save on dishwashing/water use
Line pots and pans with foil to make clean up easier, use less water
Cook complete meals on the BBQ use no pans so no clean up.
LED Lanterns for light- the batteries last for weeks of use.
Rechargeable TV/DVD combination to watch movies or TV stations if you get a signal
Men/Boys use the great outdoors for number 1
Bundle up instead of using the heater to save propane and battery power
Spray Bottle with water on mist setting to cool you off in dry heat instead of AC
Place several of those new LED candles around the inside of the RV to light up pathways
A 1000 watt generator to recharge batteries. It will run quietly all day on less than a gallon of gas.

jholderbaum · RV-Dreams Family Member

How about having a Cheap northern Tools "ATV" spray tank (holds 45 gallons) in your pickup bed for fresh water. I use one for our Horse trailer living quarters. Heck it even has a 12volt pressure-sensitive water pump built on it.

Raytronx · RV-Dreams Family Member

Since you generally can position your RV anyway you want, take notice of sun angles and set up the rig for optimal heat or cooling. Also if a windy area you can position the rig to block it.

charles · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jhoulder, that is a good idea!

To save miliamps, put a toggle switch on the hot line to your digital radio, for even in the OFF position it is drawing amps. Simple and cheap.
Be sure that the TV antenna booster is OFF.

I put a toggle switch on the Co alarm, to turn it OFF if we will be away from the TT all day. That is a substantial amp draw that can be eliminated----be sure to turn it on when you return.

CCC

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

Paper plates and cups, yes! Got a supply of those. I also keep some baby wipes on hand, for water-free all over "bathing".

I have 2 of these solar lights, and they work really well, and very versatile; you can stand them on the table, set them on top of the window valances, hang them from the cabinet handles, on wall hooks, etc, etc. I keep them on the table near the window, and they are always charged and ready to use: http://www.amazon.com/d-light-S1-Solar-LED-Lantern/dp/B001IYSKPY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364234141&sr=8-1&keywords=solar+lamp+d.light

TXRVr · RV-Dreams Family Member

All great tips for sure and I have done many of them. However, I personally draw the line when it comes to not using common civilized procedures for normal bodily functons. Maybe the dog run is not so much for dogs? biggrin

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

We use hand sanitizer more than soap to wash our hands. We do wash our hands, just not every time. Hand sanitizer is cheap at Dollar Tree (8 to 12oz for $1) and Big Lots (lately 15oz for $1), much cheaper than Wal-Mart.

-- Edited by bjoyce on Tuesday 26th of March 2013 09:20:00 AM

folivier · RV-Dreams Family Member

Use the pump foam soap when washing your hands, don't need to wet your hands first saving water and rinses off quicker.

My wife makes her own foam soap. Mixes about 2 teaspoons liquid soap with water, adds a couple drops of peppermint extract, stir, then refills the foam soap bottle

nightsky · RV-Dreams Family Member

I won't eat off paper plates or plastic silverware, even if boondocking. I used Dawn foaming dish soap last summer while living in the camper in MN. A tiny dab on a small wet sponge will do a sink full of dishes, pile them in the other side of the sink and rinse all at once. For me it used less water than running a sink full of hot soapy water to wash them in.

Folivier, any recommendation on brand of soap your wife uses to make her hand soap with?

Soody · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have 2 solar shower bags that I hang or lay on top of the (black) truck bed to get hot during the day. I use this water in the evening for dishes that have accumulated during the day and are sitting in my plastic dish bin. Saves turning on the water heater too. Good for outdoor tasks too and sandy feet. I like Technomadia's spray bottle idea for pre-rinsing stuff.

I also use the cook once, eat twice principle as much as possible. Cook one pot of rice for use during the week. Cook extra stir-fry for next day's lunch. Make and freeze soups and stews for quick reheat dinners later. Cuts time, fuel and water use by half at the least.

Happy Prospector · RV-Dreams Community Member

I changed out my 32" LCD TV for a 32" LED TV and went from drawing 153 Watts to 28 Watts of Inverted 12 volt power. Thats going from 12.7 Amps to 2.3 Amps of precious battery power.

SuseG · RV-Dreams Community Member

You can also make fire starters in old cardboard egg cartons ( don't use the foam ones ). My husband keeps all of his wood shavings, saw dust and nut shells to add to the melted wax. Of course one can always use pine cones, but the tend to pop and can be dangerous with little ones around. We find the egg cartons easiere to fill vs the tubes.