Must Have Boondocking Items?

[Mello_Mike]

Let's have a little fun. What do you consider to be "must have" items when you go boondocking?

I'll start:

1. Two AGM 6v or Group 27 12v batteries
2. Solar power (100 watts)
3. Propane (2x5 gal tanks)
4. Seven gallon portable water tank
5. First Aid Kit
6. Water Purification Kit
7. Saw Zaw (for cutting firewood)
8. Firestarter
9. Camera
10. Altimeter App
11. Dump Station Location App
12. GPS/Maps
13. GPS locator

[ExRocketScienti]

The post says survival . . . not what I would need to be able to boondock in the style that would make me want to do it more.

I divide survival into two different types -- survival from the wilderness, and bugging out to the wilderness to survive. I will only address the former.

There are two areas I boondock in. At the bare minimum, I want to be able to go for help. In one area it is 1 mile to a farmhouse. In the other it is 6 miles. So I want good waterproof boots and breathable raingear. In case I am injured, it might take a while to get that far so I want my fanny pack (which has a small survival kit in it), GI canteen with cup, stove, and trioxane, along with my Hiker Pro filter and some instant rice. I would also take a tarp and a GI sleeping pad for shelter. I would also take two Glocks -- models 81 and 20, the latter so if I am injured I don't become prey. A small folding saw would round out my ability to have heat and shelter.

If I think I can get out in the truck, I might need my 4' crosscut saw, my bypass loppers (makes clearing a tree from the road easier and faster), leather work gloves, safety glasses, chisel, hatchet, granddaddy's fence stretcher, and the third Glock (entrenching tool). If I think I might try to get the trailer out, I would also add a pole saw to this ensemble.

[Rafe_Covington]

After reading all the post in this thread got to thinking, I grew up in the mountains of N. Georgia and S. Tennessee at my grandfathers place. Ater what most folks are taking boondocking, I must have boondocked until I was about 18 years of age with alot less.;)

Rafe

[Windwalker55]

2oldman wrote:
A couple grenade launchers, a bazooka, and an air card.

LOL, what is the air card for?

[1stgenfarmboy]

I also thought those were goofy untill i got one for Christmas from my mother-en-law, now from dark untill i go to bed i have that thing on, it's quite possibly the 1 most usfull thing i have and will never be without one again.

Darwin

[bullmastifflove]

oh yeah, my husband finally got a headlamp to keep in the toy hauler. he looks like a geek, but he says it's very useful.

[rottidawg]

I find that a LED backpacking type headlamp is indispensable while camping. I like having both hands free while dealing with nighttime activities/emergencies.

[francheska]

Lots of good advice and ideas. We always carry a 12 gauge plastic flare gun pistol. Good for an emergency.

Plus it might work against a bear. We are in British Columbia. Lots of emergency evacuations every year.

[goreds2]

Mello Mike wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:
On that note, we still bring our 10x20 tent. It serves as a guest house, a much roomier place to be on rainy days and in the worse case a back up to the TT.

JinD

I really like the idea of bringing a tent. Great idea! Always best to be prepared for whatever.

Yep, I always carry a tent in the CLASS B.

[Jayco1c]

357 Magnum and a 12 gauge.

Eclectic chainsaw saw all you won’t and no one knows you are around.

We do not go any where with out Big Berkey water filter (http://www.frugalsquirrels.com/store/water_purification.html).

[Mello_Mike]

JiminDenver wrote:
Our TT is set up for boondocking, so almost everything is essential. We do carry the extra water, food, batteries etc. I'd rather not need it and bring it home than do without.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is a fire extinguisher. I added another inside the TT and a large one that sits outside in case the fire gets out of hand or worse the TT catches on fire.

On that note, we still bring our 10x20 tent. It serves as a guest house, a much roomier place to be on rainy days and in the worse case a back up to the TT.

JinD

I really like the idea of bringing a tent. Great idea! Always best to be prepared for whatever.

[JiminDenver]

Our TT is set up for boondocking, so almost everything is essential. We do carry the extra water, food, batteries etc. I'd rather not need it and bring it home than do without.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is a fire extinguisher. I added another inside the TT and a large one that sits outside in case the fire gets out of hand or worse the TT catches on fire.

On that note, we still bring our 10x20 tent. It serves as a guest house, a much roomier place to be on rainy days and in the worse case a back up to the TT.

JinD

[drc5900]

pnichols wrote:

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!

Awesome list!

Good ideas here, and in a lot of other posts in this thread!

I'd like to add: a gallon of bleach for water purification: 4 drops per quart still keeps it potable and kills most bacteria, in addition to a general water purification filter.
And a blender for cocktails...

[drc5900]

LenSatic wrote:

TMBLSN wrote:

LenSatic wrote:
We can also carry up to 42 gals. of water in addition to the 31 gals. on-board.
LS

What do you use to carry that water? I've been looking for a good solution for transporting additional water.

Thanks.

Seven gal. Aqua-Tainers. We have 6 at the moment and take as few or as many as we feel are required.

LS

X2!

[drc5900]

IDman wrote:
We always have a .357 Magnum and a 12 gauge, and not just when boondocking.

X2!

[elkhornsun]

My focus is in getting back out of wherever I go and for that a tire tube, air pump, tire irons, Hi-Lift jack, bailing wire, duct tape, electrical wire, electrical tape, vice grips, hatchet, snatch strap, come-along, rope, gloves, shovel, VOM, and a few tools are all I need.

I don't take a firearm as in my 45 years of back country I never got that desperate that I would even think of shooting myself or my companions. I have been tempted at times to shoot a dirt bike or two and an occasional generator. Worst case I want to have enough food and water and a back pack so we can hike out.