Escapees November-December 2022

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RVers’ Sharing Tips, Opinions and Advice from the Road Submissions sent by e-mail can be directed to departmentseditor@escapees.com.

Tips to Overcome these Boondocking Challenges

it. Another option is the new internet service Starlink, known to provide coverage everywhere and seriously changing the game for RVers. You can check reports on cell service on camping websites such as Campendium. 3. Trash Arguably the biggest pain point when boondocking. It’s also the biggest disappointment, as so many of these beautiful public lands fi ll up with camper’s trash left behind. Don’t be that person, pack it in and pack it out! If you’re resourceful enough to only have small trash bags, you can throw them out at local gas stations. But, if you’re like me, and you somehow collect a comical amount of trash, there are a few things you can do. First, check the local land fi ll. Some dumps charge one large sum for any weight, putting you out upwards of $60 in some locations, but it’s worth the call, because some let you trash for free! I have also found that local RV parks and campgrounds with dumpsters available are accom modating if you offer to pay. Be sure to keep your trash in your RV to avoid any potential wild animal encounters. 4. Safety I live in the mindset that most people in this world are good, but there are outliers with everything, and on a rare rainy day in Arizona I learned that my husband was much more prepared for that than I was. Despite being at a crowded campsite, a man pulled up behind our RV and stole our $1,200 generator in the middle of the day. Little did the thief know, my husband is a genius and hid an apple air tag in the generator. We were able to track the robber in real time, the war was on. After an eventful day of detective work, we found the generator running behind the man’s house, and were able to get it back. A valuable lesson was learned – apple air tag everything. Your RV, your tools, the generator, the tow vehicle, your wife, tag ‘em all! Since then, we also upped our security and added two security cameras. You can fi nd them on amazon for cheap, I recommend Wyze. Taking these additional measures provides a peace of

I’ve been on the road for over a year, cruising in a 34-ft. travel trailer with my husband and our dog. We are in our 30s, both work remotely, and totally feel like we’re living the dream. We’ve traveled to 10 di ff erent states, have experienced so much, but quickly realized that for this lifestyle to work for us, we had to fi nd a way to do it cheap. That’s why we love to boondock. Boondocking, aka dispersed camping, is dry camping without hook ups, usually on government public land (BLM.) These spots are usually very remote, but there is truly nothing like waking up to nature in the middle of nowhere. With boondocking comes certain challenges, but these challenges shouldn’t deter you from experiencing the freedoms of dispersed camping, so let’s look at how to overcome them. 1. Not Finding a Spot Most boondocking locations have limited camping sites, especially for big rigs like ours. There are a few ways to ensure you won’t be stuck in a Walmart parking lot. • Choose your travel days wisely—There is a much better chance of snagging a spot on a Tuesday than a Friday. • Have a back-up plan—I always make sure there is another dispersed camping location close by, or an RV park, as a last resort. • Get creative—Unless there are signs stating other wise, you can usually create your own sites if the developed spots are already taken. If you have a big rig, I recommend scouting fi rst with your tow vehicle. 2. Cell Signal If you’re a digital nomad, you understand the impor tance of cell service. My husband’s job simply does not allow for any wiggle room, and he needs to be dialed in. I’ll never forget moving spots a dozen times in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, only to have to leave town to fi nd a signal. That was a bummer, but we learned from our mistake. We now have multiple cell carriers and a cell booster. We have a WeBoost RV Directional Booster purchased on Amazon and highly recommend

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ESCAPEES Magazine November/December 2022