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What is a Boondocker?
There are a lot of people that ask this question and here is what I say.
What is a boondocker? A boondocker is anyone that goes out in the outdoors and enjoys being away from the city life. They are also people who visit the National Forests and BLM ground in their quest to find places to camp.
There are a lot of people that we call snowbirds that travel south to the deserts. They look for freedom and solitude most of the time and they are lovers of mother – nature, and the great outdoors.
Most of the boondockers believe in the theory that if you pack it in you should pack it out. You will also have a tough time finding out if they have ever been to a location or not. This is because they always try to leave an area better than they found it
They usually travel to their destination in all sorts of different vehicles. They use trailer houses, motorhomes and other things like tents and campers on a pickup truck and in cars.
These boondockers, they come from all walks of life. There are Drs. and lawyers and office workers and blue collar workers along with farmers and ranchers. They are also single men and women and families with their children. They all want to travel as free as they can to enjoy the great outdoors.
There are people that just want to go out and go camping and not have to stay in a campground. They don’t mind that there is n
Public Lands:
Did you know America owns a lot of public lands and lots of it is available for public recreation? In many cases, there are designated campgrounds on public land. They are held by the National Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and other agencies.
Dispersed Camping (on public land, but not within a designated campground) is allowed in many areas, especially in the west. This can be some of the best boondocking you can find, but it can also be the most difficult to find. There are general restrictions that apply such as:
Distance limits from the public road.
Distance limits from natural water sources.
Parking only in previously used spots.
Time limits before you have to move.
These rules may be interpreted differently by enforcement officials.
Dispersed camping can be completely prohibited in some areas.
As you become an experienced boondocker, you meet others and get tips on some great spots. In addition, to that, you might learn about additional resources and learn some tricks for finding special places.
In the western part of the country, you can literally park on public land year-round for free and some people do.
So What Is Boondocking?
What is boondocking? Well, people that are new to camping, also ask this same question.
Boondocking is mainly going out camping without any hookups. People also refer it to as dry camping which means staying in a campground without hookups.
But boondocking means camping in a completely undeveloped area. Some people talk about dispersed camping, and this is the official term which is often used by government agencies.
What equipment is needed to boondock?
Well, most self-contained RVs come with the necessary equipment to boondock for at least a day or two. Most have a fresh water holding tank and a 12-volt pump, wastewater holding tanks, and a “house” or “coach” battery. Almost everyone can boondock for a day or two with just this equipment.
Add a generator, and most folks can boondock for a few days to a week.
Add an inverter, a larger battery bank, solar panels, and you may be able to boondock for weeks or months at a time and rarely need a generator. Of course, there will be a need to take on fresh water and dump wastewater, but it’s not out of the question.
Now then:
So the big question is do you think boondocking, might be right for you. Well here are some things for you to ask yourself. Do you like being out in the outdoors enjoying the quiet and the natural beauty of this great land? Getting to see some of the different types of places for you to camp or boondock. Then boondocking might be just the thing for you. But if you would sooner be home surrounded by your friends and neighbors then it might not be for you.