Is 50 gallons of fresh water enough for boondocking?

Fresh water is the limiting factor for me. If I were to buy another MH it would have at least 80 gals of FW. I have 60 gals now and can go 7 days with two people. When I went out west last year with my son and GS we could stay only about 3 days in one spot which was OK because we were in a traveling mode and wanted to see a lot of the west. Another way to look at it is with just 2 people after 7 days I still had 50% SOC on two GC batteries with no generator usage, but my wife wanted to do laundry and wash the bedding anyway so I would stop at a FHU CG to do laundry, dump and fill and recharge my batteries and then move on to another area.

DutchmenSport wrote:
huntdooley,

I looked back over your previous posts trying to get a better understanding of why you are asking this specific question. Reading your previous posts, it sounds like you are still searching or considering getting an RV of some sort, you currently do not have one. Your first post, you were looking at a CLASS-A asking questions. Then questions about length, and questions about boondocking.

If you are still asking these questions in an attempt to figure out what kind of RV will work best for you, well .... hang in there. Keep asking your questions. Through all the jesting going on, like on this thread, there is still an undertow of wisdom in what is being said. Don't get lost in the humor over what is really being said.

Folks on here have had years and years of experience with all sorts of RVing issues. We all can sit back and laugh and have fun, and poke at each other, and I think everyone understands, and still knows, in spite of some of the silliness, the reason for the silliness... only because we've all been-there-done-that and had our own failures we laugh at now.

So, to try to a give a more serious answer which may help you with your needs in your search, the answer for boondocking is: Bigger is better. Bigger tanks and bigger batteries. A solution is needed to rejuvenate batteries and be able to convert that to 120 volt AC, to acquire water fill up, and the ability to discharge waste water. There is no set standard as everyone's camping style and usage of resources is different.

As you can tell by the many varied responses, 50 gallons of water may last for 1 hour for some and it may last a week for someone else. It all really depends on your own style of usage.

The secret to successful boondocking is to stretch out your available resources as long as you can, or at least until they can be replenished. Only you can figure that out. And actually, it takes some time to get good at it.

When you finally do get that camper, I suggest you try a boondock in your own drive way several times so you have the safety net of your own home right there. Start with just a 24 hour period. Replenish everything, and go for a 36 hour period. Replenish everything and try to stretch it out for 48 hours. And keep experimenting until you fully understand the limits of your camper, your own style and needs, and still be able to maintain a safe, clean, and happy experience.

Once you figure out how to stretch living off grid for your max duration, then work on alternative ways for replenishing power, water, and dumping waste without the safety net of the house. Eventually you'll figure out how long your you can go. This practice will help you build confidence in your camping equipment and build confidence in simply....knowing your own self. But most important, have fun doing it. Live, laugh, and play! If it becomes too much of a concern or too consuming you can't enjoy the experience, even trying to learn, you are overstressing it way too much. RVing should be a pleasurable experience. It has it's responsibilities, yes. But it shouldn't suck your joy away thinking you are doing it wrong, or whatever. There are no rights or wrongs. There are just different ways of doing it. Each person is unique. Each style is unique. What works for one, does not work at all for another.

And oh, fyi.... while you are home, practice taking those Navy showers on a daily basis. You know, get wet, turn the water off. Soap up, then rinse. Do it all using less than 1 minute of actual running water. Yes ... you can do it. Practice at home, in the camper it will be very easy then.

Good luck!

Yes, we are still searching for a camper. Very new to Class As. It seems that it is nearly impossible to find a short camper with any kind of counter space, so the wife is quite frustrated.

Thank you for the idea of practicing on our property! That is an excellent suggestion! We did have to practice sponge bathing and water conservation when we lost power for 10 days last year and 3 days this year due to storms (we have a well - so no power = no water). I said that it was great practice for boondocking! So, we made it fun!

down home wrote:
Personally I don't think you can have too much fresh water.

Many, many very happy boondockers could and do manage well with 50 gallons. Everyone is different. We don't waste water to have long showers.

I typed a longer post but decided not to answer.Is 50 gallons enough for the way you want to live for a period of time?
Personally I don't think you can have too much fresh water.
There have been places and times where we would have stayed aq lot longer than our 100 gallons would have allow.
I've considered an auxiliary tank in one of the bays if I could find a properly baffled tank etc. Half a tank of sloshing water could throw you off the road perhaps or the tank through the bay doors.
I have never checked to see if a larger replacement tank between the rails above the bays would fit but that is the way I would go.Short answer, for us: No! Get a unit with as much fresh water tank or storage as you can find/afford or..... order one with as much storage as possible.

Executive wrote:
My wife loves a 15-20 minute shower every day

Would probably use less water taking a bath.

My wife loves a 15-20 minute shower every day, so it wouldn't last long for us. Everyone is different. Simple answer is to "boondock" in your driveway and see how you do.....Dennis

And FYI: We carry extra water, and use this tank for fill ups when we are at a campsite that does not have full hook-ups.

huntdooley,

I looked back over your previous posts trying to get a better understanding of why you are asking this specific question. Reading your previous posts, it sounds like you are still searching or considering getting an RV of some sort, you currently do not have one. Your first post, you were looking at a CLASS-A asking questions. Then questions about length, and questions about boondocking.

If you are still asking these questions in an attempt to figure out what kind of RV will work best for you, well .... hang in there. Keep asking your questions. Through all the jesting going on, like on this thread, there is still an undertow of wisdom in what is being said. Don't get lost in the humor over what is really being said.

Folks on here have had years and years of experience with all sorts of RVing issues. We all can sit back and laugh and have fun, and poke at each other, and I think everyone understands, and still knows, in spite of some of the silliness, the reason for the silliness... only because we've all been-there-done-that and had our own failures we laugh at now.

So, to try to a give a more serious answer which may help you with your needs in your search, the answer for boondocking is: Bigger is better. Bigger tanks and bigger batteries. A solution is needed to rejuvenate batteries and be able to convert that to 120 volt AC, to acquire water fill up, and the ability to discharge waste water. There is no set standard as everyone's camping style and usage of resources is different.

As you can tell by the many varied responses, 50 gallons of water may last for 1 hour for some and it may last a week for someone else. It all really depends on your own style of usage.

The secret to successful boondocking is to stretch out your available resources as long as you can, or at least until they can be replenished. Only you can figure that out. And actually, it takes some time to get good at it.

When you finally do get that camper, I suggest you try a boondock in your own drive way several times so you have the safety net of your own home right there. Start with just a 24 hour period. Replenish everything, and go for a 36 hour period. Replenish everything and try to stretch it out for 48 hours. And keep experimenting until you fully understand the limits of your camper, your own style and needs, and still be able to maintain a safe, clean, and happy experience.

Once you figure out how to stretch living off grid for your max duration, then work on alternative ways for replenishing power, water, and dumping waste without the safety net of the house. Eventually you'll figure out how long your you can go. This practice will help you build confidence in your camping equipment and build confidence in simply....knowing your own self. But most important, have fun doing it. Live, laugh, and play! If it becomes too much of a concern or too consuming you can't enjoy the experience, even trying to learn, you are overstressing it way too much. RVing should be a pleasurable experience. It has it's responsibilities, yes. But it shouldn't suck your joy away thinking you are doing it wrong, or whatever. There are no rights or wrongs. There are just different ways of doing it. Each person is unique. Each style is unique. What works for one, does not work at all for another.

And oh, fyi.... while you are home, practice taking those Navy showers on a daily basis. You know, get wet, turn the water off. Soap up, then rinse. Do it all using less than 1 minute of actual running water. Yes ... you can do it. Practice at home, in the camper it will be very easy then.

Good luck!

Thanks, everyone! This has been so helpful!! Carrying extra water sounds great! We drink bottled water anyway, so we will be carrying drinking water separately anyway. :-)

Ivylog wrote:
OP, are you going to answer my question about your budget?

Huh? I don't think he mentioned a budget.