Setting Up Your RV For Boondocking (Dry Camping)

RV camping is a wonderful way to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Boondocking, or dry camping, can be the perfect way to get off the beaten path and get into the heart of nature. While liberating, boondocking has a very different series of steps for setting up your RV when compared to hookup-style camping. Here’s a How-To for setting up your RV when boondocking. 

Before Leaving Home

You will need to do some preparation before heading to your campsite since there will be no amenities other than what you bring with you.

• Make sure that the propane is fully topped off (80% full only) and securely held down to the RV with the service valve closed.

• Fill the freshwater holding tank. Make sure that the holding tank contains only potable water and is free from winterization antifreeze and bleach.

• While either connected to a water supply at your home or storage unit or with the water pump turned ON in the RV, prime each blackwater holding tank. Because there will be no water available during the dry camping trip, we recommend that you add 1-3 gallons of freshwater to each blackwater holding tank so you don’t use your limited supply of freshwater.

• Follow the water with a dose of a high-quality, bacteria- and enzyme-based holding tank treatment such as Unique RV Digest-It or Unique RV Digest-It Plus.

• Check that the coach battery is fully charged, and the distilled water levels are where they need to be (if your RV has lead acid batteries). You may need to do this for multiple batteries. If you happen to have lithium-ion batteries or gel batteries, there will be nothing to check other than charge.
• It is good practice to bring more freshwater with you than just what you can fit in the freshwater holding tank. Water is heavy – (8.35 lbs. per gallon), so it may be best to store this auxiliary water in the tow vehicle if using one as to not overload the RV GVWR. 

• If your RV has a generator with a separate fuel supply tank, make sure that is full as well and the oil levels have been checked to avoid low oil pressure lock-out. 
• Finally, be sure to do a safety walk-around of the RV (and tow vehicle if applicable) to check out the tires and connecting points to the tow vehicle. It will also be important to ensure that all of the exterior panels, doors and covers are closed and secured before driving.

Arriving At The Campsite

Since a large part of the setup was completed before leaving home, setting up at a boondocking campsite is relatively quick and painless. If you are on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) or a dispersed campground,  you will most likely not need to check in to your campsite. However, there are some campgrounds without hookups that require speaking with the campground host. Be sure and follow any specific instruction required to check into that campground.

It can be difficult to back an RV out of an area that does not have a large enough area to turn around in. So we recommend you scout the area on foot or with your tow vehicle. Drones can also be helpful in scouting the campsite before pulling an RV into what could turn into a tricky situation.

Opening The RV

• Start by chocking the wheels of the RV to keep it stationary, while setting up the RV.
• It is a good idea to keep the RV connected to the tow vehicle with the tow vehicle running while setting up the RV. This will allow for power from the tow vehicle to be supplied through the seven pin connector and will save the RV battery during setup.
• With the tow vehicle still attached to the RV (if applicable), carefully open the main entrance to the RV. Some items may have shifted during travel to the campsite.

• Extend the stairs to the RV.

• Locate the control panel and extend the slides.

  

• Once the slides are out, place the pads under the stabilizer feet and level the RV. As most boondocking campsites are not on concrete pads, you may need to use several stabilizer pads to truly level the RV. Sometimes you may even need to stack some of the stabilizer pads under the tires of the RV depending on how level the ground is that you plan on camping on.

• After leveling the RV using the onboard level, we still recommend having anyone staying in the RV test their beds so that everyone will be comfortable with how level the RV is.

• The tongue jack may be needed to fully level the RV, so keep that in mind; it is easily overlooked.
• If you would like to disconnect the RV from the tow vehicle and/ or turn off the tow vehicle, now is a good time to do so. Most of the heavy lifting from the tow vehicle and its alternator have been completed.

Exterior RV Setup

There are a few changes that you should implement with dry camping as compared to hookup Camping.

• Since you will be using the holding tanks more than you would at a full hookup campground, the holding tank discharge valves (gray and black) should be kept in the closed position.
• Start by leaving the propane in the off position. (We will come back to this later in the setup.)
• If you have auxiliary solar panels that are set up on the ground for additional battery charging, this is a good time to set them up and connect them to RV.

Interior RV Setup

In just a few short steps you will be able to enjoy the campsite and amenities of your RV.

• Turn on the water pump at the control panel.

•  In each bathroom, hold the flush pedal down just enough to allow water to begin filling the toilet bowl with water. Do not allow the water to drain into the holding tank. The toilet is now ready to use.
• While the RV is stationary, always leave several inches of water in the toilet bowl. This will be crucial for keeping odors at bay while dry camping or boondocking.

• Next, check that the refrigerator has the propane setting selected. This is the only option for running the refrigerator while not connected to shore power.
• Turn on the water heater from the main control panel. The ignition process will sound similar to lighting the furnace, only without the fan. 

• Run hot water through the sink to make sure that the water is heating. If the water is only warm, check that the bypass valves are oriented correctly and not in winterization mode.

• Turn on one of the burners on the cooktop to ensure that it is functioning properly.

Water Tanks

During the duration of your camping trip, it is important to monitor all the holding tank levels. The water systems on your RV will use quite a bit of water quickly, so monitoring your holding tank levels is a must.

Heating and Cooling the RV

If you plan on using the RV furnace for heat during your stay at the campsite: 

• First set the thermostat to Heat. 
• Allow the furnace to run for 5 minutes with the propane off to purge the furnace. 
• Cancel the call for heat at the thermostat by selecting OFF. 
• Go out to your propane cylinder and open the propane valve. 
• Turn the furnace on again by selecting the Heat option on the thermostat. Listen to the ignition process and make sure that the furnace lights correctly. You should hear the fan start running first, followed by a click (the gas valve opening allowing propane to the ignitor). You will then listen for a series of ticks as the Direct Spark Ignition is trying to ignite the propane. Finally, you should hear a whoosh noise of the gas igniting. 

Cooling the RV may require the use of a generator or an upgraded battery setup. Air conditioners on RVs typically require 120 volts or a very robust and specifically built solar/ battery system to run them. 

Recommended Additional Boondocking Gear

Boondocking can be a fabulous way to get into nature but we do recommend some additional gear to help extend the length of time you can spend at camp.

Additional Water Supplies

Having a portable RV tote tank (as pictured below) can be very helpful in boondock-style camping. This will allow you to be able to dump the blackwater tank without driving to a dump station. 

Auxiliary fresh water holding tanks are also very beneficial for refilling the freshwater holding tank on the RV. You may need a transfer pump to move water from the storage tank into the RV freshwater holding tank

Additional Electrical Supplies

Additional electrical power in the form of a generator, lithium batteries, inverters and solar panels can increase your enjoyment of camping without needing to be connected to the grid.

These can also allow you to use the air conditioner or microwave and other high power draw appliances. All of these options are expensive, and in most cases will require professional installation.

Portable heaters can also be very helpful while boondocking. They often have their own fuel source and can help you save propane. We do not recommend plugging portable heaters into a power strip or extension cord because the current drawn from electric heaters can melt the power strip or extension cord.

A 12 Volt DC refrigerator can be a worthwhile investment if you have the power to run it off the batteries or solar; this can save you lots of money on propane and prevent food spoilage.

Miscellaneous Supplies

Quarters are extremely helpful for boondock-style camping as you can use them for laundromats and dump stations.

Wet wipes are very handy to have with you while boondocking. They can help keep you feeling fresh without needing to use water showering. However, we recommend that you NEVER flush wet wipes down the toilet and into the black water holding tank, because they do not dissolve and will lead to very difficult tank clogs.

Composting toilets are also a nice upgrade for boondocking since they do not require water or holding tanks.

Paper maps are super helpful while boondocking since they do not require batteries or cell phone signals to work.

If full hookups style camping is more up your alley, check out this article!

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