Boon Docking Provides Traditional RV
Camping Alternatives
If boon
docking is not a familiar RV or camping term, it won't
be long
until other RV camping enthusiasts introduce you to this time honored RV
camping tradition.
The art of boon docking, also called dry camping or dispersed
camping, offers many campers the opportunity to enjoy the comforts of
their RV while still enjoying nature without the modernization or
amenities that campgrounds offer.
Boon docking is also an
alternative to one night stopovers at a campground while traveling from
one destination to another and many RVers find Wal-Mart parking lots and
truck stops to be just the solution. Places like Wal-Mart know the value
of catering to the camping community, as they provide a perfect place to
stock up on RV camping supplies and outdoor necessities while on the
road.
Whether you dock for convenience while heading toward your
camping destination, or if you just enjoy boon
docking, there are certain rules
and camping protocol to follow.
The first is courtesy and common sense. If you are
hanging in a
Wal-Mart parking lot, don't pull out the lawn chairs
and camping equipment and setup shop. Doing so will quickly ruin the
similar option for others and sour the reputation of campers in
general.
Any overnight RV stay in public locales should be treated as a privilege
and not an entitlement. The same holds true for boon docking in remote
locations, always honor the environment and leave it pristine for other
campers who are to follow.
When RV camping without full hook-ups, there are other considerations that will assist you in getting the most out of your
camping adventure. Water and power utilization and conservation is
always the foremost concern among dry campers. With a little experience
and planning, RV campers can easily become accustomed to conserving
both.
Water conservation while dry camping comes down to paying attention to
details. Don't let the water run while brushing your teeth; run water
slowly to conserve consumption; and capture water in the shower to
recycle for rinsing and flushing. When you are waiting for the water
temperature to adjust for a shower, reclaim that water -- you will find
many other uses for it. And remember to always shower using the wet and
rinse technique. There are many other water conservation options
available for dry campers as well and the RV industry has a wide variety
of electronics and accessories available.
Power and electrical needs follow the same laws of conservation and
require paying attention to detail as well. Inverters, generators, and
solar panels are all options and in combination can extend power usage
quite adequately. There are so many alternatives and they are dependent
upon your existing RV configuration, so the ideal solution is planning.
Determine the type and amount of power that your TV, satellite dish,
VCR, refrigerator, or microwave places on power consumption and
calculate the load requirements and how best to disburse them before
venturing out.
Boon docking can be intimidating at first, but with advanced thought and
planning it can provide tremendous pleasure beyond what RVers are
looking for in a traditional campground. And you are certainly not alone
in the great outdoors! A simple Google
query will yield other RV camping enthusiasts who share boon docking
tips, routes, locations, and many other valuable pieces of information
that only the experienced dry camper would think of.
There is also a huge assortment of LTV (Long Term Visitor) Areas in
California and Arizona, and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Information
available detailing designated wilderness areas, regulations, and
amenities. Other experienced boon docking RV campers have put together
huge online lists of creative ways to boon dock, camping and boon
docking forums, travel blogs and other valuable resources.
So if boon docking is in your future RV camping plans, you will find you
are in good company -- it's just that the company won't be sitting in
the campground site five feet from yours!
