Escapees July-August 2022

trees. It’s up to you to watch out for low clearances. Speaking of trees, regardless of where you decide to park, if you are parked so close to a tree or bush that the tree or bush touches your rig, I strongly recommend that you correct that problem. A single tree branch touching the side of your rig creates a highway for ants to enter your living space. It can also keep you awake at night if the wind is blowing by smacking or scraping on the side of your RV. Solar Exposure If you have solar panels on the roof, it’s important to know the direction of east and west and where the sun is going to travel during the day. I hate getting settled into a perfect parking spot and then discovering that I have poor solar exposure. A handy pocket compass will help a lot with this, or you can use a compass or GPS app on your phone. Check out the many “Sun Path” phone apps available. These will show the path the sun takes overhead! Elbow Room Look around and see where any other campers are located in the area you’re preparing to camp in. Most people who boondock like their elbow room, so even though there may be a great site really close to some other folks, you might want to look for one a little further away. It’s not that people aren’t friendly; it’s just they may prefer some peace and quiet. Also, try not to park immediately adjacent to a road that provides access to parts beyond. You know what I mean; a lot of traf fi c equals a lot of dust and noise. I always try to get at least 100 ft. off any main road, and it’s a good idea to pay attention to the prevailing wind direction if you’re in a dusty environment. It sure is nice to be upwind of dust-producing vehicles as opposed to the alternative. Never park on or block an access road. Rangers, fi re fi ghters and other folks use those roads to get around and if you’re parked in the middle of their path they are going to interact with you in an unfriendly manner. Know the Rules If you’re camping on public lands, it’s best to know the rules. Different parts of

MARK travels in a small class-C and has made numerous modi fi cations to his RV to enable him to boondock more easily. He’s not saying he’s an expert, or the primary source for boondocking information, but he’s done it for a number of years and is happy to share some things that he’s learned the hard way. good idea to carefully choose your campsite, considering weather, traf fi c patterns, solar and your neighbors before setting up camp. Next time, we’ll talk about escaping the summer heat with some high-altitude camping. See you then! the BLM Network have different stay limits, so if you aren’t sure about the rules, check with the local ranger’s station or BLM of fi ce. Camping stays are usually limited to two or three weeks in one spot. The rules will vary: sometimes the permitted stay is shorter, and there are varying rules about how far you must move before you can set up camp again and be legal. Most park rangers are polite and easy going about this, but be aware that if you look like you’re living there on a permanent basis, they will be along to give you a hard time. Always keep your campsite neat and avoid creating the look of “I’m here forever.” Public lands do not allow you to live on them: you may only visit, and the time period that you can stay is limited and usually enforced. When camping in the boonies, I always tend to follow some simple rules. • I observe generator hours, and do not run my generator after 10:00 p.m. or before 8:00 a.m. I also limit noise and activity in my campsite from midnight to daybreak. • I collect any trash laying around and pack it out when I leave. • I keep a clean and neat campsite and make sure all foodstuffs and garbage are secured so that animals can’t get into it. • I avoid trimming trees, digging holes and making alterations to the site whenever possible. • I never use a fi re ring or pit as a trash can or ashtray. • I always observe fi re bans and I’m careful with fi re when it’s allowed. To Sum It Up There is an amazing selection of tools and information sources to help you fi nd campsites. Once you get to a spot, it’s a

DID I MISS SOMETHING? If you have boondocking tips or comments to share, send them to me at TECHQUESTIONS@ESCAPEES.COM and I will publish them in a future column.

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ESCAPEES Magazine July/August 2022