Boondocking and Vehicle Choice

[Jim Ragsdale]

I would like to hear from some of you guys who have been boondocking for a number of years.  This pertains to my choice of vehicle as I prepare .  I suspect my first year will have me traveling all over.  I haven't seen a lot (any) of the west so I can imagine I would be a perpetual tourist. 
Then comes the been there done that part.  So at five years, I can't imagine there's much left to see so I winter in Arizona and summer in Idaho.  

So my questions are these:  In your first year, did you travel a lot as in most of the time.  If that's the case I suspect a van would be better.   Then the second part, did you travel much less say in the fifth year?   Then a bigger rig might be more comfortable especially if you aren't moving around a lot. 

Regards,
Jim

 

[MrNoodly]

I traveled a lot my first year. And my second year. And my third year. And my fourth year. Sure, you see all the well known sights the first couple of years. Then you see the less well known things. Then the things almost no one knows about. Then you go back to favorite spots. Then the favorite spots you didn't get to the year before. Then you go meet up with friends. Then the other friends. And the friends you couldn't get to before. Then you travel with with friends. And all the time you're following the weather. And by "you" I mean me. I like traveling. It's hard for me to stay in one spot very long.

If you could be happy wintering in Arizona and summering in Idaho, if you're not the nomadic type then, sure, a more comfortable rig would make sense.

 

[highdesertranger]

Welcome Jim to the CRVL forums! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

if you truly boondock you could travel the west for years and years and not go to the same place twice, but I am sure you will want to go some places twice. highdesertranger

 

[CautionToTheWind]

Welcome Jim! Personally, I've had my fill of miles and miles (prior work), so wonder myself how much I'd move about.

 

[rvwandering]

I think that many people start fulltime traveling with the idea that it will be for a set amount of time so they race around trying to see everything as fast as possible. Since you're planning for many years on the road try traveling slowly. It's much more enjoyable, you won't burn out, and you'll still have a lot to see even after five years.

As far as a van over a larger vehicle that depends on how much space you need to live comfortably. This is different for everyone but small is best if you're traveling a lot. You can always get something different if your traveling style changes. A good option for a semi-settled life is to tow a small trailer, either a manufactured trailer or a self-built out cargo trailer. The trailer can be left behind when you want to travel but will be a roomy addition when you want to stay somewhere for a time.

 

[Jim Ragsdale]

I'm pretty sure I'm a converted cargo trailer kind of guy.  I found a compay, www.completetrailers.com that makes a v-nose shower toilet install that I can then do all else in terms of fitment.   I'm still struggling with the idea of using a van instead at least for the first year or so.  Besides the travel though, I'm really looking forward to long term boondocking as well.  With a cargo trailer, I can carry extra water, propane, and the three water tanks (black, gray, and fresh) in the bed of the truck.    

 

[tx2sturgis]

With a cargo trailer, I can carry extra water, propane, and the three water tanks (black, gray, and fresh) in the bed of the truck.

How do you plan to pump the grey and black water up to the tanks in the truck?

Will your toilet have a waste pump going directly from the discharge opening into a pump controlled by a switch?

Just trying to figure that out.

Or maybe you will have a small combination black and grey tank and a macerator pump to move the waste uphill to the truck mounted tanks.

I think I'd use a composting or cassette type toilet.

 

[Jim Ragsdale]

Those are great ideas.  I've decided to go with a composting toilet to eliminate the black tank and the pump out needed.   

For the transfer from the gray tank to the pickup gray tank and from the pickup fresh water to the trailer fresh tank, I have to figure out 12v pumps so they are easy yo use.

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

Could just be my viewpoint; ... but I think it depends a lot on how you plan to finance your life on the road ---those with a regular monthly income (pension/ss/etc.) or a location independent work already set up tend to act like they are on "vacation" for the first several months on the road so travel continuously until it sets in this is their new "life". On the other hand, someone that plans on "workamping" type income to pay for their new lifestyle are stationary for weeks/months at a time (with some small daisy wheel type trips during time off); then travel to their next "job" (at various rates). When I was on the road before, I knew people that traveled 15,000+ miles a year as well as people that barely traveled 5,000 total.

 

[Jim Ragsdale]

I'll be on Social Security of about $1800 per month.  I'm shooting for $1000 per month in expenses and the rest going into my emergency fund.  I'm trying to figure out how I can put money upfront into lots of solar (thread elsewhere) so I can reduce ongoing propane costs or generator fuel costs.  I'll probably a tourist so I expect lots of travel the first few years.

 

[Wabbit]

Bob kinda does both(used too anyways, not sure if he still does), van and a trailer. Trailer is for when he's not making rounds. Van is for when he's be-bopping about(trailer stays parked in storage\whatever). Not that I know personally, just what I gather from posts\blogs he's written. If I had the capital, this would be one of my ideal setups. My other ideal setup would be Benevolent Dictator of all known and unknown universes\dimensions...