I highly recommend that everyone read this article at Campendium:

https://go.campendium.com/dispersed-camping-changes-2022/

Many full time nomads or boondockers or wheeled travelers, however you want to call them, are on the road because they choose to be. Their are many others who have had the choice forced on them and it is to these that I write this for.

When the only option is going homeless, you have to get your priorities in order and the very FIRST thing to think about is downsizing to fit your mode of travel (living). I have seen people full timing it in everything from a honda, a prius, a small sedan and various vans, SUV’s, buses and everything else. The fact is that you can do it in just about anything if you are determined enough. Let’s discuss what you need, what you MUST have, what you absolutely don’t need and how to comport yourself on the road.

First, what will you need?

Clothing: How much room do you have that can be allocated to clothing? Only have enough to get you through the time it will take you to get to a laundry or hand wash your clothes. When you are “homed” you probably have many options for clothes but on the road you will need to trim that down significantly.

Bedding: Depending on your mode of travel this may be simply a pillow and a blanket if you will be sleeping in your vehicle. If you will be sleeping in a tent you may want to invest in a cot (they can fold up pretty small) or an inflatable air mattress (watch out for sharp rocks, twigs, stickers, etc).

Food Storage: I know of people who have been on the road full time for years and still use a cooler and ice. Of course your needs will depend on your eating habits. I use a small 12v Dometic refrigerator.

Food: Keep it simple. Your dietary needs will tell you what you need. Only buy what you need until you can get back to a store if you don’t have a means to cook yet, then keep it finger food for now.

Stove/Cooker: NEVER cook inside your vehicle unless it is made for that purpose!!!! You can kill yourself!! Cooking over a fire is always nice but many times it is impractical. Using a 1 burner Butane stove is certainly doable and there are other options based on your needs. I know of a Boondocker who only eats finger food – absolutely no cooking. She eats fresh veggies, canned tuna, etc. Not for me, but it is an option.

Personal Hygiene: You can put all of your personal hygiene into a small plastic container hopefully and keep it stored easily. Baby wipes are a MUST on the road – they are useful for a great many reasons.

Water: You can buy individual purified water bottles or larger water containers, it just depends on your storage area.

Charging your gadgets: Depending on your situation, you can use your vehicle cigarette lighter plug to plug in an inverter. Truckers use these on the road. I have one that I can plug in and it has 3 USB ports as well as 3 sockets which I use for my GPS, camera and a small inverter to charge my laptop. Be VERY careful that you do not run your vehicle battery down. I only use my vehicle battery when my vehicle is running.

If you have the room, you can get a 12volt battery, 100 watt portable suitcase solar kit and a small 450 watt inverter. I have one that I always take with me. The panel folds open and you set it outside, hook it up to your extra battery and then hook up your inverter and wa-la, you’re ready to go! Make sure that you put it where it gets the most sunshine it can get and that means you will be moving it from time to time. If the wind is up make sure you either lay it down flat on the ground or put it where it won’t get knocked over and broken. If the day is cloudy the panel will still pull in energy, it just won’t be 100% of what you are used to. You can hook a suitcase solar panel to your vehicle battery also, Most of them come with connector clips and the controller.

Battery management is CRITICAL!! I use Walmart 29 series Everstart Lead Acid Marine battery. I have since I began doing this in 2015. The key is knowing when to turn everything OFF so you don’t run the battery down too far to ruin it AND when to start using it again. I love having “options” so I keep a spare battery always fully charged. I alternate between them. Once my battery gets down to 12.4 I stop using it. I attach the suitcase solar setup and get the panel out and pointed towards the sunrise and wait until around 11am to start using it again so I am using a fully charged battery and not sucking out what is coming in (which means I get zero charge).

Let me explain a little more…. Do you have a cell phone that you have to keep replacing the battery (which usually means replacing the phone)? I have never had a cell phone that I had a battery problem on – do you know why? Battery Management! I use it until the battery shows red and then I charge it 100% before using it again and I never charge it overnight. Over charging a cell phone is just as bad as not charging it. Using it while charging it just sucks out what you are putting into it. Over time your battery will fail because of misuse. Vehicle batteries aren’t as sensitive, but the premise is the same. If you continually draw it down to 12.0 or lower and then immediately start using it when you hook it up to solar you will eventually ruin it much much faster than you would believe.

Basic Information:

Organization is paramount!! Use containers wherever and whenever you can. Keep your surroundings clean – that means inside and outside. Just because you are unhomed doesn’t mean you have to prove it to everyone else. If you have to stealth live, you cannot look like you are doing that. Putting up curtains, setting camp chairs out or putting up tables and having trash around you are definitely NOT going to help you stealth camp. Keep it simple.

Finding a place to park when there are no public lands available can be difficult but not impossible. Ask your employer if you could park in the lot where the company is. If you do this make sure you keep your vehicle looking like a “normal” vehicle as much as possible. Even if you have it packed to the top, as long as it is organized and looks good people will leave you alone. Another option is parking where others park overnight and only you will be able to see what that means – Walmart, Home Depot, Cabelas, Casinos, Gas station parking areas, Churches, etc… IF you stay at a commercial parking area, please use it to PARK – not camp. That means no chairs outside, no cooking, nothing like that. If you cannot do that then keep looking for a place that can accommodate you. When I was in Montana last summer I hung out at the local city park during the day and then at sundown I went over to Cabelas and parked for the night.

Now that you don’t have any rent to pay, you should be able to afford a membership in a national fitness club where you can go to get showers and work out. I use Planet Fitness.

What if you get bored or are forced to stay inside because of outside circumstances (including the weather): Have you thought of knitting or crocheting? Don’t laugh if your a guy – I happen to know of several boondocker males who do a great job of crocheting! You can make all sorts of blankets from full bed to lap, caps, socks……. You may want to get a booklet that identifies leafs so you can tell what plant or tree they come from. Bird identification books are great as well. Stargazing even from your window can be fun as well. Insect identification can be fun as well. There are several apps you can get that can help with any of these. The thing is – make it fun! You’re next adventure is just a key turn away. Enjoy!!

How to comport yourself on the road:

There actually are camping courtesies that you should know about. Giving others space is one of the most respectful things you can do. That means try to park at least 50 feet from another nomad. There is no need to camp right next to someone when there are literally thousands of acres of land all around you. Most of us appreciate “Breathing Room” so try to keep that in mind.

One of my biggest peeves is when I am setting up or trying to leave. I have a certain way to do what I need to do and interruptions seem to always mean that I forget to do something important. No matter how much you want to talk to your friend or even someone new, please wait until they are all set up and “ready” for you. I pull a trailer. When I am ready to leave, many people want to come over and “help” me hook up – even though I do appreciate the thought – I prefer to do it myself because I know exactly how to do it and it is very hard to work with someone trying to guide me to my hitch and hookup. If I DO need help, I will certainly ask you to help me.

Be respectful of others “space”. That means that walking right through someone elses campsite is very rude. Please just keep an eye out for the space that your neighbor has claimed and they will do the same for you.

The only time I want a knock on my door is when it is “THAT” knock (that’s a lie.. I NEVER want that knock! LOL). You know, the one that tells you to move on. So, either text me or give a shout out. A good way to know if I am available is this: If my door is closed, I am not available (unless it is weather related and then I may put a green or white ribbon letting others know I am available). If I am sitting outside, come on over – everyone is welcome. If my door is open but I am not outside – shout out to me first. Also, ALWAYS bring your own chair. This is a BIGGIE! Bring your own chair, drink and snacks.

I appreciate a clean campsite. In fact I cannot stand trash laying around in any form. If you bring anything that will be trash please either take it with you or put it in my trash bag if I have one out. Many times I hang a plastic grocery bag from a tree to put trash in. In fact those are the only trash bags I use – they are easier to dispose of at the gas station.

Please be respectful of my space. Even though I said “everyone is welcome” it is respectful to ask before charging into someones space. Also, there has been times when I have found a nice little “sweet spot” and a friend will text me and ask where I am. I don’t mind giving someone directions to my spot, but that doesn’t mean I am inviting you and all of your friends. ASK FIRST. Be respectful and polite!

When chatting with others there is a golden rule: NO POLITICS OR RELIGION! Period. ’nuff said

If you have a pet, please keep your pet on a leash. Mine is always leashed and he has a food aggression. If another pet gets near his food bowl he will attack. I warn people of this but sometimes they don’t listen and I have had to break up several dog fights. It’s no fun being bitten. Even though you think your pet is the nicest in the world, others may not be.

Campfires are great!! We all love sitting around the campfire at night. Be sure you have a 5 gallon jug of water close by so that when the last person leaves they can put the fire out completely. This is mandatory at all times.

Everyone needs a quiet time. I normally get up and down with the sun. Many of us prefer an unsaid courtesy of a 10pm-7am quiet time. If you need to be noisy for any reason during these times, please park as far away from others as possible. That includes music and generators.

Finally – Please obey the rules of the land you are on or we will not have them much longer.

I have designed a solar control notebook that is available for purchase on Amazon. I created it so that everyone who has a solar setup, whether you installed it or not or plan to ever work on it, it’s a fantastic resource book. It allows you to map your entire system.

It’s an easy process to simply put identifiers on each of your components and then reference them in the booklet. Here are some examples of the pages:

If you’re like me the whole solar thing can be very mind boggling. I am NOT an expert. Let me hopefully help you understand what the solar setup and the charge controller does and why by adding an analogy:

Let’s imagine you have a 5 gallon water container with a spigot on it and you use that water for giving your pet water or other small things. When it gets low you fill it back up with a water hose that has a spray gun on the end and is connected to a limited supply water system that turns off at night and supplies water on a sliding scale during the day with noon being the peak time. You go over, turn on the water spigot and then you press on the spray gun to fill the water jug. It’s almost empty so you open ‘er up and let water surge into it and as it gets full you let off until the water level is where you want it. Then you turn off the water spigot until the next time. Weather will affect if your water supply system has water available or not.

So, in this analogy the water container is your battery (batteries), the spray gun and your hand controlling it is the controller, and the main water spigot at the source is the sun. The small water spigot on the water container is whatever you have connected to the battery(ies) that you need to use them for (as well as your inverter if you need to use 110 power). Please keep in mind that the larger your inverter is, the more power it takes to just run it alone so keep that in perspective to your needs.

When you use your batteries, they (of course) run down and you have a charge controller hooked up to them and to the charge controller the solar panel(s) are also hooked up. When the sun comes up in the morning and the solar panels kick in, the controller looks to see what shape your batteries are in (how depleted they are) and then it opens the “nozzle” all the way so it can fill them back up (charge them). The only problem is that the sun is not all the way up so it can only use what it has available. As the sun rises and the panels have more access to more solar energy the more of that energy can be passed on to the controller and the batteries. The controller will flood the batteries with as much power as it can and just like our analogy above, it’s pushing it in so fast that the battery meter will read much higher than it actually is (just like filling a bucket as fast as you can, you really don’t know how much you have until you slow down the flow and look). Mine will normally read 14.4 during the flooding process and then as it gets fully charged and the controller slows the flow of power to them they will read 13.4 (which is my benchmark – or full water container indicator).

My charge controller will then pass through power little by little as I use it but if I use more than it’s passing through then when it hits 12.8 or lower it will start pushing more power to get it back up to 13.4.

I don’t normally use more than my panels can keep up with except when the sun goes down and there’s no more power to get. So, the biggest key to solar power is battery management.

What if, in the above analogy, you were trying to water a garden? That 5 gallon container would never work. That’s what you have to figure out, are you watering a garden or a dog? How big is your dog? How big is your garden? You have to have some sort of an idea what you will be using your batteries for and how often before you can decide what size system you need. Only YOU can figure that out.

Are you watering a horse trough all at one time? (aka: a microwave) or are you on a drip system (aka: a 12v refrigerator)? Is the 5 gallon water container going to be enough to give you the water you need during the time when there is no water available? Batteries are not water containers which are endlessly refillable – if you continually deplete your batteries and then use them before they have had a chance to recharge, your batteries will not last a year – no matter what type you have. Get the right number of batteries you need for what you need them for (do you need a 5 gallon container, a 2 gallon or a 100 gallon?)

I hope this helps in some small way. If you find this helpful, please consider contributing to our efforts: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=H96NJ87QSD3YG

When I first started using Solar in February 2015 I didn’t know one thing about it. I was so pleased with myself when I impulsively ran out to Harbor Freight and bought a Solar Panel kit. The picture on the front depicted this big Class C with the same panel sitting outside of it. It sure looked big enough for me to charge my Laptop and telephone and probably a few other things as well.

I said I did it impulsively because I had spent days researching online and all the information made my eyes cross. I didn’t understand any of it.

So this panel was only 45 watts and it was 3 large15 watt panels that I had to put together each time I needed to use it. I bought 2 deep cell marine batteries and a 750 watt inverter as well. Of course it was nowhere near what I needed – too little wattage in the panels and more than I needed in an inverter and batteries for those panels to charge.

Now, today, in 2021 I have learned a great deal and I hope my experience can help you in some small way. This is not a “How to” conversation. Everyone’s needs are different and there are MANY MANY variables in order for you to figure out YOUR needs.

My needs were simple. I wanted to charge my phone, my tablet and my laptop. A guy who I met along the way told me that the best rule of thumb for my simple needs was to figure that I would need 100 watts of solar power for each `12v deep cycle lead acid battery I had. I realized that I really only needed 1 suitcase 100watt solar panel with a charge controller included and 1 12v deep cycle battery and a 400 watt inverter or less.

This is the setup I have been using when tent camping. I have a different setup in my converted school bus, but this handles my needs.

I hope this helps some of you. Please consider contributing to our efforts: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=H96NJ87QSD3YG

Getting out into the “Boonies” as my father used to say when I was growing up cleanses my soul and recreates my personality more so than a cup of coffee! (Yes coffee has that effect on me – without it I am sad, agitated and have no sense of humor!)

So, Boondocking it is, adventure it is. Getting OUT there, away from it all. What makes it better is when I can do it with friends and/or family. As my next blog post shows, I very much enjoy doing it solo but there are times when others are a necessity also. Nowadays boondocking refers to dispersed camping in out-of-the-way places. No hookups. For me electricity is generated by my solar panels. I bring water with me and I use a compost toilet. When I leave nobody will ever know I was there or it will be cleaner than when I arrived.

Boondocking is so much more than just camping. When I mention camping to someone I realize that their definition may be very different than mine. For instance as I grew up my parents took us camping at every chance they had. We almost always stayed in campgrounds or state parks where there were designated areas for people who needed hookups (water and electricity) or not. We mostly went in tents. There was generally a picnic table and a firepit and an area just for that space and we paid a nightly price to be there. Others consider camping to be going to RV Parks, hooking up to all of the services, playing in the pool and recreation area and then returning home. I guess that’s as good as a getaway as anything else, it just seems more fun to sit around a camp fire and make smores or cook scrambled eggs and bacon over the fire in the morning or….. ahhhh, the smell of that stake on the grill!!! yummmmm

Boondocking with others is a lot of fun. Of course there is the comradery, the joking, the falling down drunk or just falling down because! LOL. Goofball sort of stuff. I gotta pick my “Others” to camp with based on my frame of mind.

Sometimes I just want to know that someone I know is around – not that I want to spend time with them or anything (lol), it just comforts me knowing they are there.

Then there are the times when I want to turn up the music, make a roaring fire, dance, get drunk and fall out of my chair! I’ve been known to do that and it has it’s own fun (except in the mornings after).

And then the in between of them both where you share your campfire, your stories, your dreams, etc. where you are with others not as a separate person but as a group who care for one another on a personal basis (not a physical – or maybe that too). A group not predefined but perhaps recreated as the adventure rolls along.

When I boondock I do it far away from city life because I don’t want the lights of that city messing with my view of the stars and I don’t want the city noise or smell – or hassles. I camp in either my RV, my truck or my converted school bus.

As a side note: Many of you know that I am raising my granddaughter (I adopted her after my daughter passed away). Of course that means she is very much a part of Boondocking and she loves it as much as I do. I do not mention her for safety sake but she is always a very joyous part of it all. (of course that means that I don’t drink anymore but that’s probably for the best!)… (ok, ok, ok – I have been known to drink twice since she has been with me – since April 2018 – but that was with very dear and trusted friends. oh my)

Everyone worries that changes to laws surrounding our public lands may make dispersed camping impossible or limited. My vision of Boondockers United is to see it grow as big as the ARA and give us a voice where there is none now. Do you know that there is a National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds? (arvc.org) Do you know that they are a massive voice advocating for the use of RV Parks and Campgrounds as the ONLY solution for campers? Did you also know that Hotel and Motel associations are advocating for LESS camping because of the loss of income to their members?

WHO do we have? Dispersed camping needs a voice – BOONDOCKING needs a voice! Let’s do it! Join us now.

Many people ask me, “What is Boondocking?” One aspect of it is to ME a relief….. It is that quiet place in nature where I am one with my surroundings. Your surroundings will probably look different than mine, but mine are normally in the forest or desert, in fair weather and few people or none around. Let me paint you a picture of one day in this life:

I arrive at a place of my choosing, walk a short ways and then make myself comfortable. Sometimes that will be a blanket on the ground where I can lay on it and look up at the sky. Other times I may just sit in the lotus position or, if I am feeling my bones, it will be a comfortable lounge chair.

For this picture I have chosen the forest just south of Flagstaff, Arizona in the Coconino National Forest and I am alone. In Arizona the forest is pretty much open where I can see around the trees and into the distance which is pretty nice because if there is an Elk or deer out there I will probably see it as it moves through them. (I have seen them many times, but not today). The pine trees are very tall and majestic with very few dead ones standing. The evidence of a past forest fire shows in the burned bark of many trees.

As I find a comfortable spot to relax I notice that my steps are cushioned by the thick layer of pine needles and a small crunch of fallen pieces of limbs. The pine cones are many and the sizes are varied.

My whole body seems to thrumb to the quietness around me and a feeling of profound happiness envelops my whole being. I almost feel like dancing or singing or shouting – but that would be against all that is right now – maybe later, but right now I just want to chill, I don’t feel like being scolded by squirrels or birds.

The first thing that comes to me is the openness around me, It makes me feel limitless – no walls, no people, no noise, no judgements, no thoughts. Just me and the world around me. It makes me feel very insignificant in a profound way.

In this space in time I feel only deep and all consuming love – I don’t have to identify it, it just is and it’s all the way to my core and makes me smile that inner and outer smile that transforms me. Oh if only the world and my life would allow this feeling to follow me every moment of my days!

As I relax I notice the sun moving across the sky by seeing the shade of the trees move inexorably across the ground. A squirrel is foraging just over there as it readies itself for winter. A crow greets another as they weave through the trees and a songbird serenades all there is.

You may ask me what this has to do with Boondocking? To me, it is the CORE of what Boondocking is. It doesn’t matter to me how I arrived or where I have chosen or anything else – it is the peace and quiet and profoundness of it all. I may do this for an hour, a day, a week, 2 weeks or a lifetime.

Sometimes when I go Boondocking I find trash littering the area I have chosen. I always take it with me and dispose of it as it should be. It is not a natural part of the surroundings so I remove it. I’m confused as to why anyone would want to leave unnatural things in a natural setting, but I do what I can when I can.

Maybe some people who enjoy being in nature don’t understand about keeping nature natural. If I find an area where there was obviously a manmade campfire pit, I will use it. I mean it is disconcerting to want to build a small campfire in one of those pits and find where it is full of burned nails, aluminum cans or melted metal. I use a magnet to get the metal and nails out and then use a small shovel to dig the rest out. Why do people leave these messes? I honestly don’t understand it. Luckily this is not a common problem, just an annoyance that comes up along the way.

TO ME this is one aspect of Boondocking and it is a necessary part of my life. This picture of today many times will be different tomorrow or next week as I seek the varying beauty that life and nature has to offer.

Everyone worries that changes to laws surrounding our public lands may make dispersed camping impossible or limited. My vision of Boondockers United is to see it grow as big as the ARA and give us a voice where there is none now. Do you know that there is a National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds? (arvc.org) Do you know that they are a massive voice advocating for the use of RV Parks and Campgrounds as the ONLY solution for campers? Did you also know that Hotel and Motel associations are advocating for LESS camping because of the loss of income to their members?

WHO do we have? Dispersed camping needs a voice – BOONDOCKING needs a voice! Let’s do it! Join us now.

We are ALL ambassadors for the continuation of free public land dispersed camping. When one of us leaves trash it reflects on all of us. Let’s do our part!

Please look at the end of this post for the link to an article that All About Arizona News recently published.

I have emailed them the following comment:

I would like to comment on the article you wrote:  “Visitors Are Trashing Coconino National Forest Campgrounds”

I do believe you mean “dispersed camping areas” instead of campgrounds because that word implies that the are is improved camping areas with slabs, trash bins, picnic tables and bathrooms whereas dispersed camping areas are none of the above. Perhaps you should hear the “rest of the story”:

Dispersed camping areas are open to all people who wish to camp in a natural setting and the rules are that 1 camping unit may stay for up to 14 days. A camping unit is normally a family or a single person staying in a dispersed camping area. It is open to all people including those who walk in for whatever reason.

The ones who walk in do not have the means to take all of their trash with them so they leave it all behind and that means EVERYTHING including trashed tents, human feces, cooking utensils, unused food items, bedding, etc….

The “Visitors” as they are referred to in your article are actually the ones who are cleaning up the forest and then putting it beside the road for the forest service to take care of. They feel like they are doing their part. Why do they do that you may ask. The reason they are doing it is because the forest service will not try to do anything related to cleaning up the forest. They say it is not their responsibility. 

Perhaps the forest service for Coconino National Forest and Prescott National Forest should contact Ranger Bill Anderson of the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) office in Yuma. He works with local concerned citizens, volunteer groups and non profits every single year to help keep Quartzite* dispersed camping areas and surrounding city areas clean and trash free. The BLM office arrives with 2 trucks and one large flat bed trailer. They also supply trash bags and long  handle grippers as well as gloves for those who don’t bring their own. They haul the trash to the local dump once the area is clean. Did you know that Quartzite can grow to 1 million people every winter as snowbirds flock the area from all across the USA and Canada?

Let me tell you first hand what has happened when I have contacted the local forest service. I called on one occasion and asked if my friends and I could clean up the area outside of Thousand Trails campground in Cottonwood (on the way to the bignotti Picnic Site) and could they haul off what we got together (there were multiple areas of trash all around which were from those people who walk in). They told me that they do not do that and they don’t have the means to haul it. So my friends and I cleaned it up and called a local landscaper to come and haul it off and we paid for it out of our pockets.

The next year a friend called the same office and was told, “then the prisoners wouldn’t have anything to do”. The next year they had closed the area completely off to all campers because of trash that they refused to help anyone try to clean up.

“Those who walk in” are often those who have no other option nor a vehicle to leave in. Many times a local “help” organization will give them a free tent, food supplies, a small amount of water and then they further help by giving them a ride out to our National Forest and tell them they must leave within 14 days. They never return to check on them. The local campers who don’t walk in find the trash left behind and the only option they have is to leave it beside the dirt access road because they don’t have the means to haul it off. 

This feels like a no-win situation. Responsible campers (which the majority are) find trash left on our National Forests repulsive and they can only do what they can do. If the forest service would put together a system whereby campers can help with or participate with them, I think the trash problem would diminish considerably.  A way to do that would be to contact an organization like ours, a visiting camper facebook group or website and put out there that help is needed or even put a notice in the local paper or online that on this date and at a given time a clean up will be scheduled and that volunteers are needed. If the forest service would handle it much like the BLM, I think the outpouring of help will be unforgettable.

Let’s try to work together as  a positive unit instead of “them” against “us”attitude.

*The traditional notion of “home” has little meaning here in Quartzsite, AZ. During January and February, homes on wheels outnumber permanent houses by about 500 to 1. The sleepy town of less than 4,000 year-round residents receives a winter migration of nearly 2 million humans and their mobile dwellings each year” Jan 22, 2020

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+average+population+of+quartzsite+in+the+winter&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS783US783&oq=what+is+the+average+population+of+quartzsite+in+the+winter&aqs=chrome..69i57j33.29848j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8