Let's have a little fun. What do you consider to be "must have" items when you go boondocking?
I always like these type of discussions cuz I've spent a lifetime thinking about and getting ready to do boondock RV camping in retirement. Here's some of the actual "must haves" we take into account when boondock camping in our 24 foot Class C motorhome:
- We have a quiet 4KW built-in generator for battery charging, for A/C in hot weather, for the microwave, and for emergency heat in case of propane system failure ... fueled via the main 55 gallon chassis tank for long run times if required.
- We also carry a quiet protable generator as a backup to the built-in generator for battery charging and limited emergency heat in case of propane system failure. Fueled via it's built-in tank, plus a 2 gallon full safety rated steel portable gas tank carried in an external steel lined storage cabinet.
- We carry a 12 ton bottle jack with a double cylinder for extra high lift for changing our own tire if absolutely necessary.
- We have a rooftop cellular antenna with a send/receive boost amplifier for long range reach on our cell phones and Internet connection.
- We carry five step up leveling blocks for the worst case 3-point leveling situation of the four rear tires plus one front tire.
- We take a portable 12V refrigerator along for emergency use in case the main propane refrigerator should fail out in the middle of nowhere.
- We carry a set of crutches along in case someone should sprain an ankle.
- We carry a heating pad, a blood pressure monitor, and a large medical supply portable cabinet along in case of medical emergencies.
- We carry a plunger along in case of a clog in the kitchen sink or bath sink.
- We carry along a 110V AC full power tankless portable compressor that can fully inflate the motorhome's tires. The built-in generator easily powers it.
- We carry a full size shovel along.
- We bring hand held pruners along for camp sites with low hanging limbs.
- We carry spare fluids and spark plugs for both generators and the main chassis engine.
- We carry 100 feet of potable water hose.
- We carry 30 feet of sewer line.
- we carry 80 feet of cabling for shore power.
- We carry two 25 foot drop-cord lights.
- We have over-size tires on the motorhome for increased ground clearance.
- We carry a portable heater that either generator can power for emergency heat in case of propane system or propane furnace failure.
- We carry 15 feet of high strength chain with hooks on each end ... capable of towing our motorhome, or pulling it out of a stuck spot or the ditch.
- We carry a backup battery charger in case the built-in converter should fail.
- We carry a roll of 4" Eternabond, chaulking, and a chaulking gun for emergency repair of any leaks in the roof, walls, or windows.
- We carry a bucket for emergency transfer of water from a full grey tank into a non-full black tank.
- We carry another potable water bucket and funnel for emergency manual filling of the main freshwater tank from water sources without hose fittings. I guess we could fill it this way from a stream too, if we wanted to trust the water in the steam.
- We bring along an inter-connection valve for emergency merging of the grey and black tank contents.
- The same valve from above can be used as an emergency replacement valve for the main grey or black tank valves.
- We bring along a high volume portable 12V fan, plus a 25 foot extension cord for it, to use for outside cooling/fly blowing at the picnic table or to use inside in case of A/C failure in hot weather.
- We bring along various types of flashlights and portable lights, as many of them LED as possible.
- We bring along extra batteries for everything ... lithium batteries, if available in the required size, for long life.
- We bring along a full size outside table for campsites without a table.
- We bring along 2 full size outside lounge chairs - one medium size and one large size.
- We bring along 4 regular outside chairs.
- We bring along 3 chair side-tables.
- We bring along fishing gear, just in case.
- We bring along ultra-detailed Landmark map books of every area we travel in, if available for the area.
- We bring along a Garmin navigator loaded with huge amonts of 3rd party POI data well beyond what normally comes into the unit during the factory quarterly updates. This 3rd party data also includes low height overpasses for the entire U.S. - with audio warning capability any distance ahead you want to set the warning for.
and ... last but not least ...
- We bring along two different mosquito repellant systems for outside use when sitting around the campfire!
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C
