Stay Safe While Boondocking In Your RV
Boondocking is a great way to get out in nature, away from cities, crowds, traffic, and awning-to-awning campgrounds and RV park. Boondocking (also referred to as dry camping) offers a slew of wonderful experiences for families, couples, friends, and solo travelers alike, especially when proper preparation and tactics are utilized. Make the most out of RV camping off-grid with these tried and true boondocking safety tips.
Top 10 Boondocking Safety Tips
Here are 10 great tips to help keep you safe when you’re boondocking.
1. always Let someone know where you are going
Let someone know where you are going, so that loved ones will have an idea of where to start looking for you in the unlikely event that you go missing or if there is a natural disaster.
2. Be aware of (potential) natural disasters in the area
Find out about forest fires, rockslides, weather events, or areas of potential flash floods in the area you plan to camp. RV Life Trip Wizard lets you customize map settings to include weather conditions, wind speeds, and wildfire warnings along your route. It’s very helpful when planning a boondocking trip.
3 OF 10 Boondocking Safety Tips: always Listen to your gut
Aggressive encounters with other humans are very rare at boondocking sites. You are far more likely to have an unfavorable encounter with a human in a more populated area. However, it’s a good idea to take precautions when boondocking. If a place looks sketchy or looks like a local party site, go somewhere else. Avoid camping in areas where there is a large number of empty alcohol containers or other trash left behind. Trust your instincts when you get to a campsite in a dispersed camping area. If the hair on the back of your neck starts standing up, it’s wise to assume there could well be something wrong. Listen to your gut.
4. Be prepared: Bring a good first aid kit
When you are boondocking, you will be miles away from medical help. Take a first aid course, and bring a good first aid kit in your camper. If you camp with pets, it’s a good idea to have first aid supplies for them too.
5. Keep a working fire extinguisher handy In The RV
Wherever you camp, you should always have a working Type ABC fire extinguisher that’s easy to access. A fire extinguisher is only good if it’s in working order. You can maintain your fire extinguisher by turning it upside down and tapping the bottom to dislodge any chemical stuck in the bottom. This will keep your extinguisher working properly. Also be sure to have your fire extinguisher inspected once a year.
6 of 10 Boondocking Safety Tips: Keep Your RV Shades Closed
Keeping your RV shades closed helps to make it more difficult to tell if you’re home while concealing anything valuable inside the RV.
7. Why Solo RVers should bring an extra chair
Most of the time, boondocking is very safe. However, if someone is going to pick on you or cause you harm, they are more likely to do it if you are by yourself. Setting an extra chair out can make it look like there might be two people camping at your campsite. Having an extra chair in view can also encourage friendly people to stop by for a visit too.
8. Don’t Leave Valuables In View Outside
If you leave valuable items in view outside, they are a temptation for light-fingered people and are more likely to be stolen. The probability of theft is likely higher in more populated places like campgrounds and RV parks where folks regularly set out valuable camping equipment, bikes, or electronics. Plus, driving out of the way to a dispersed camping area and taking a chance there might be something worth stealing (and probably being seen or caught) is just not good economics to a thief. However, you still have to be alert. Any stranger could have the potential to be a thief. Especially if the right opportunity presents itself. So it makes good sense to keep valuable items out of view. Pack and hide them especially when you are away from the campsite.
9. Don’t leave wildlife attractants outside the RV
One of the good things about boondocking is seeing wildlife that is usually not very human-habituated. However, it’s wise to know what wild animals live in the area you’ll be boondocking and what precautions should be taken around them. Keep trash and food (including pet food) inside your RV. Never feed wild animals. Your trash (including empty beverage containers) may be trash to you, but it is a potential treasure trove to raccoons, bears and other scavengers. Bring trash containers and bags indoors before you go to bed or leave the campsite.
10 of 10 Boondocking Safety Tips: Make friends with your neighbors
If something goes wrong while you are boondocking, it’s good to have the support and help of neighbors if you need it no matter how far away they are. This is easier accomplished when you’ve met them already. After you settle in, go to their site and introduce yourself. Most campers will welcome the interchange.
What other boondocking safety tips have helped you while camping in the great outdoors? Share your tidbits in the comments below and continue boondocking safety chatter with other RV enthusiasts via iRV2 Forums. It’s the friendliest online RV Forum Community where motorhome and travel trailer owners meet to discuss all aspects of RV ownership.
At at a thrift store buy and leave outside the RV a pair of large well worn work boots with socks stuffed in them to keep snakes out.
11. Purchase defensive tools, including firearms (where not prohibited), get trained in their use, and carry them with you.