RV Campers For Sale

New and Used RV Campers & Rentals
Make Money Renting Your RV Camper! $$$$$

Menu
  • Blog
  • Airstream
  • Class A RV Campers
  • Class B RV Campers
  • Class C RV Campers
  • 5th Wheel
  • Travel Trailers
  • RV Tent Campers
  • Truck Campers
  • RV Rentals
  • Rent Your RV
  • Outdoorsy Review
  • RV Accessories
  • RV Must Haves
  • Camping Gear
  • Free Campsites
  • RV Articles
  • Cool Concepts
  • Affiliate Disclosure

Find Your Perfect RV Rental

CLICK HERE
Home
Articles
Choosing Your RV: Must-Haves for Easy Boondocking

Choosing Your RV: Must-Haves for Easy Boondocking

RV Campers For Sale December 11, 2018


When choosing an RV, there are always trade-offs. The key is knowing what your priorities are before you go shopping. This allows you to evaluate features of a given RV when you’re walking through different rigs at the dealer. This list helps you know what must-haves to look for if easy boondocking is a priority for you.

Some boondocking spots come with great views all to yourself!

Before we dive in, it’s important to note that boondocking is possible in almost any RV. Any RV can overnight at a Walmart without too much trouble.

This guide is for you, if you’re looking to boondock often or for extended periods. In those instances, you’ll want your RV to have features that make boondocking easier since you’ll be dry camping often.

Water Must-Haves

hot showers while boondocking

Water is going to be a major concern when you’re boondocking, so make sure to think about the following things.

Larger Tank Capacities

One of the main limiting factors when dry camping is your tank capacity. You don’t want to run out of water before you’re ready to leave. RVers in Class Bs typically have smaller tanks. RVers in Class As typically have larger tanks. Yet owners of both happily boondock.

When shopping, keep in mind how much water you personally consume to be comfortable. One RVer may be comfortable taking super short showers every other day and doing dishes for one meal a day.

Two of their meals may consist of sandwiches and energy bars. Another RVer may wish to be able to do dishes for all three meals and shower longer or more often.

Your tank capacity will be much less of a factor if you only boondock overnight, but if you plan to dry camp longer, you need bigger tanks.

Efficient Water Heater

The water heater in your rig can make or break your shower experience while boondocking. If you’re not a fan of cold showers, this should be on your list. There are dry-camping-friendly water heaters in many rigs like the Truma Combi and Truma AcquaGo systems.

Water heaters like the Truma AcquaGo circulate water through your pipes even when the water is not in use. This, in turn, keeps the water hot giving you hot water on-demand. For easiest boondocking, you’ll want to make sure your water heater doesn’t only give you your hot water when you’re plugged into shore power.

Depending on the climate you’re RVing in, this could be important even for overnight Walmart stays. You may be a very unhappy camper skipping a shower if the climate is a hot and humid one.

Power Must-Haves

In order to use most of the equipment on your rig, you need to have access to a power source of some kind and think about the draws on that power source. Here are some things to think about.

Appliances and Power Combination

You need your RV appliances. Let’s look at your refrigerator as an example. You need your RV fridge to keep your food cold when camping off-grid.

Luckily there are a few refrigerator options. The first is for your fridge to be able to run off of multiple power sources. Going this route, look for a three-way fridge that can run off of DC/AC/LP (LP is propane).

If your fridge will run off of LP when you’re boondocking, keep in mind your rig will need to be completely level. So you may also want to check out if your RV comes with leveling jacks or be prepared to use leveling blocks.

You can boondock with a residential-style, or compressor, fridge. In order to easily boondock with one of these, you must have a beefy battery bank that can keep the frige working properly.

Ultimately you’ll want to research how many watts or amp hours you personally need. Don’t forget to think about any other appliances you use in the RV, too. This is important even for overnight boondocking.

Easily Accessible Batteries

If you love an RV, but it’s battery bank leaves something to be desired, you can always upgrade. If you want to upgrade or fine-tune your battery power post-purchase, it’s much easier if the batteries are easily accessible for the user.

One RV may require you to climb underneath your rig and unscrew fasteners to access the batteries. Another may have an easy to open, very accessible panel in your RV stepwell on the inside.

The latter will be easier and more convenient for you, and accessible batteries should be a priority for all RVers.

Onboard Inverter

Pure-Sine-Inverter

With an inverter, you can do simple things like charging your laptop or making coffee without being connected to shore power.

You do always have the option of carrying a portable power bank. There are many portable power systems like the popular Goal Zero systems.

An onboard inverter makes both extended boondocking stays and overnight boondocking easier.

Onboard Generator

In the case of Motorhome RVs, an onboard generator will make boondocking easier, and you have to have it if you plan to run the AC while boondocking. Although an onboard generator comes with many RVs, not all RV manufacturers have made them a standard option.

An onboard generator will be most important to make boondocking easy for those of you free camping in hot or humid climates where running the AC is a must.

If the rig you’re falling in love with doesn’t have an onboard generator, it may have lithium power. Some systems, like the Pure 3 system in the Winnebago Travato or the EcoTrek system in Roadtrek RVs, make it possible to power your coach without a noisy generator.

These systems are popular among avid boondockers and replace the need for an onboard generator. You really need to have one or the other, though.

Floorplan & Exterior Must-Haves

motorhome with slide-out

Don’t spend all your time thinking about water and power. The interior and exterior features of the RV are very important, too. The last thing you want is to buy an RV with a floorplan you hate.

Slide-Out Independent Bed

For easier boondocking, you’ll want to have a bed that doesn’t rely on a slideout being popped out to be functional. This isn’t to say that you can’t boondock if you must pop out a slide to sleep in your bed.

This will be more important if you’re a full-timer or often frequent places in-season rather than shoulder season or off-season.

At almost any Walmart you can pop your slides out. However, if you find that you arrive late, or you plan on overnighting in rest stops, space may be limited. More parking options are available to you if you can sleep with your slides in. The same can happen with BLM land that has many trees or fills up (Sedona). You may be able to just squeeze into that last spot if you don’t need to pop slides out.

If you love a floorplan but the bed requires the slide to be out, you can usually get away with it if there are alternative sleeping areas (loft, convertible dinette, etc.).

This tends to be most important for full-timers, and RV travelers that need to overnight in a variety of places, particularly in-season.

Ample Storage

If you have an outdoor activity you love (kayaking, climbing, backpacking) you might find yourself boondocking more than the average RVer. That means you should really take note of a rig’s storage area.

Ample interior and exterior storage will make it easier to pack gear, equipment, extra food, and coolers for boondocking trips.

Although everyone loves extra storage space, this is of extreme importance for those that plan to boondock for extended periods.

Clearance

On the outside of the RVs, you’ll want to consider what’s underneath. Take a look underneath and think about the following:

  • Where does the exhaust pipe come out of?
  • How low does the waste valve sit?
  • Where is the generator located?

Also, consider the departure angle and clearance of the RV. If the overhang past your rear wheels is long, your departure angle will be poor. A good departure angle makes it easier to boondock on certain BLM land and even helps you get in and out of certain parking lots easier. Most RVs will be fine in all but true off-road situations, but it’s worth noting.

Some RVs have air ride suspension which helps with clearance. If the rig you’re looking at lacks air ride suspension, what you see or measure at the dealer will be all you’ll have. Keep that in mind when going off the beaten path.


What are your must-have RV features for boondocking? Leave a comment below.



Source link

Embark on an unforgettable adventure! Rent your perfect RV today and discover the road less traveled!

Dreaming of an adventure under the open sky?
We make it easy. Just type in your desired location and browse available RVs - all in one place!
No more endless searching, just the open road waiting for you.
Start exploring today!


Rent an RV Camper Below


Share
Tweet
Pinterest
Email
Prev Article
Next Article

Related Articles

Your motorhome is a huge investment, so you’ll need a …

How to Prevent a Motorhome Windscreen Insurance Claim

We know many folks think of New England for their …

Fall Camping Destinations in the South

About The Author

RV Campers For Sale

This post may contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.

Camping Gear Product Search

Type Below To Search

HEY! How's About $50 off your First RV Rentals

$50 OFF on RV RENTALS- Click Your Destination Below
Los Angeles RV Rentals
Houston RV Rentals
Denver RV Rental
Las Vegas RV Rental
Phoenix AZ RV Rentals
Colorado Springs RV Rentals
$50 OFF on RV RENTALS- Click Here For More Destinations

List Your RV

Make Money Renting Your RV

RV Campers For Sale

New and Used RV Campers & Rentals

Outdoorsy Rental Review

Popular Posts

  • ’62 Airstream Overlander Travel Trailer
  • 2005 Winnebago Adventurer (Workhorse Edition w/ 8.1L …
  • 2017 Winnebago Forza 34T Diesel Pusher RV …
  • NEW never used 2022 Bushwacker plus teardrop …
  • 2007 39.5 FT CLASS A HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE …

SAVE BIG on RV Covers!

Adco 74838 Travel Trailer Storage RV Cover – Up to 15′

Designed for optimal performance on the storage lot. Features four layer polypropylene sides, which are breathable and water resistant and protect against harmful UV rays. Measure from the longest two points including bumpers and ladder but excluding hitch to determine the proper size.

HOT Deals on RV Accessories!

  • RV Mattresses
    RV Mattresses You Can Actually Sleep On
  • Camco 57305 Olympian 5500 Stainless Steel Portable Gas Grill – For RV and Outdoor Use
  • Waterproof Durable RV Motorhome Travel Trailer / Toy Hauler Cover Fits Length 20′-22′ Travel Trailer Camper Zippered Panels Allow Access To The Door, Engine, Side Storage Areas, and Ramp Door
  • Swift Hitch SH04 Wireless Battery Backup Camera System for Trailer Hitch Up, RV
  • RV Septic Tank Treatment, Holding Tank Deodorizer + Waste Digester + Cleaner – 20 Packets, Mulberry – Sewer Solution, Marine Camper Portable Toilet Chemicals, Odor Eliminator, Formaldehyde Free, USA

Great Deals!

  • 2021 FOREST RIVER CEDAR CREEK 377BH FIFTH …
    June 20, 2025 0
  • Vengeance Super Sport 320A Toy Hauler 12’ …
    June 20, 2025 0
  • 2013 Forest River Flagstaff Fifth Wheel RV
    June 20, 2025 0
  • 2025 Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pack 290PACK13 …
    June 19, 2025 0
  • 2006 THOR TRANSPORT TOYHAULER 5th Wheel
    June 18, 2025 0
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 RV Campers For Sale
Theme by RVCampersForSale.com