Breaking the umbilical cord

[Veebyes]

Met a couple this past weekend who would like to go to Alaska but are deathly afraid of not having all of the unlimited utilities of a FHU CG.

We have been to AK twice using the state parks & provincial parks & only going to a private CG when we really needed WIFI & laundry.

These folks have a largish class A so they have the machine for dry camping for more than a few days. Their only problem would be their sheer size restricting them. They have 100gal fresh water capacity, 4 6V batterys, 2kw inverter, generator, large fridge, drycamping in comfort.

Still the fear of being 'unplugged' is hard to believe. I know they are not unusual. Many others will not explore the world of dry camping.

My suggestion to wean themselves off the utilities was to continue to use FHU CGs, hookup, but don't turn anything on. Drycamp with the security of utilities right there.

[Lantley]

elkhorn98 wrote:
The guy I bought my fifth wheel from never dry camped. We dry camp 99% of the time. I love camping on a great lake or river with all the comforts of an rv. Camping on a parking lot and not being able to open your awning because you'll hit another rv is not for us.

FHU camping does not have to be in a crowded parking lot.
There are a lot of different camping choices between total dry camping along a remote river and FHU camping at a full blown resort in Arizona.
I enjoy both. I boondock all by my lonesome occasionally or I can go to a full resort with landscaped sites,concrete pads,hot tubs and an indoor pool with bar and restaurant. But usually it's somewhere in between.
Sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don't. Different strokes.

Back to the OP original discussion, You need to get your fiend to understand how to fully operate their RV. There fear is probably based on understanding how the various systems work. 12 volt vs. 120 AC. Tank capacities, dump stations etc. Dry camping requires a little more effort and knowledge.

[M_GO_BLUE1]

Main reason we had Jayco build a fifth wheel around a generator we picked out in 2008...haha

With our built-in generator in our fifth wheel we do what we want and wherever we want...and we drycamp about 90.00% of the time

[Snowman9000]

Last year we took our first long trip, from IL to AZ. It was winter, but just above freezing at night, so most of the in-between CGs we stayed at were being used by people staying one night and moving on, like we were. I was amazed how many people hooked up their water and sewer for one night. Then had to fight with unhooking and putting it away the next morning in cold and near darkness. And sometimes rain! It seemed crazy to me. You've got several days worth of fresh and sewer water storage, it's no big deal to use them for a day or two. Be brave!

[beemerphile1]

Veebyes wrote:

...My suggestion to wean themselves off the utilities was to continue to use FHU CGs, hookup, but don't turn anything on. Drycamp with the security of utilities right there.

Very good suggestion.

In our local camping club we have all types. We have some that insist on FHU, we have others that don't care if they have any hookups. Makes it difficult for the wagonmaster because most of us don't want to pay for FHU.

Myself, I have both rigs setup for drycamping. Electric is nice so I don't have to mess with the generator but we manage fine without it.

Of course the best camping locations don't have any hookups.

[SWD]

Did the FHU thing the first few years. Arriving at a CG and lining up to get our name on a waiting list for a FHU site. Yada yada yada! Got a genset, honey tank, filled up the FW tank and off we went out to where, as Cptn Kirk says, "no-one has been before". Never looked back since. Couldnt tie me down to a full service site.

[path1]

the fear of being 'unplugged' is hard to believe

What was their fear?
I've heard of medical reasons (being closer to emt's, medical equip needs good elect etc..) But was it because they never did it before?

[elkhorn98]

The guy I bought my fifth wheel from never dry camped. We dry camp 99% of the time. I love camping on a great lake or river with all the comforts of an rv. Camping on a parking lot and not being able to open your awning because you'll hit another rv is not for us.

[nina_70]

I think your approach is a good one. They can even "dry camp" by their house if they feel safer that way. But starting by unplugging at a regular campsite can be a easy way to go...that'll teach them to look at battery voltage and monitor tanks.

Lots of people never make the move from FHU, especially in larger rigs. In our case we bought a larger rig specifically because it gave us bigger tanks for boondocking, but then again I realize we may be in the minority.

[2gypsies1]

Veebyes wrote:
My suggestion to wean themselves off the utilities was to continue to use FHU CGs, hookup, but don't turn anything on. Drycamp with the security of utilities right there.

Good idea. We have found others fearing dry camping but once they try it for a few days they love it, as we do!

[michaelman501]

haha i guess different strokes for different folks right ? My wife and i have spent about 100 nights the last year and half camping in our trailer in provincial parks, not once have we ever had FHU. I know alot of the state parks seem to have FHU but no provincial parks in Canada that i have ever been to have had any form of hook up. It would be nice to experience full hook up oneday though! But camping is whatever you want it to be, from tenting to driving a huge motorcoach, as long as your having fun and making memories thats all that matters right ?