Boon Docking Provides Traditional RV Camping Alternatives
If boon docking is not a familiar RV or camping term to you, it will
not be long until other RV camping enthusiasts introduce you to this
time honored RV camping tradition.
The art of boon docking is also referred to as dry camping or dispersed
camping and 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 are boon docking for convenience while heading toward your
camping destination, or if you have chosen boon docking as the RV
camping experience you are seeking, there are certain boon docking tips
and camping protocol to follow.
The first is courtesy and common sense. If you are boon docking in a
Wal-Mart parking lot, it is not a good idea to pull out the lawn chairs
and camping equipment and setup shop. Doing so will quickly ruin the
boon docking 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
as well that will assist you in getting the most out of your boon
docking 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 when it comes to boon docking! 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 boon docking 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!