Living in the wilderness in a RV

Golden_HVAC wrote:
This might be a helpful website. I posted the ones about Jawbone Canyon and Johnson Valley off road vehicle areas, a place you can get lost in - except for the busy holiday weekends. FreeCampgrounds.com

stickdog wrote:
Here you go, http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/landsale/

Thanks. I'll check out the links.

DutchmenSport wrote:
How can you live off the grid and still, expect to have modern conveniences? You will need access to clean drinkable water --- good luck in America these days! Even the survivalist television shows warn about drinking water right from the ground in places so far off the grid, it's crazy! What about power to run your computer, photos, and internet connection? Personally, I have a hard time seeing how you can have both worlds.

You are correct in finding a location. "Only in America?" Maybe not so much any more,except for Larry the Cable Guy!

Really? Do some research. Living off of the grid only takes an outlay of cash, and a place to park your rig. Arizona has thousands of acres of land to park on. The white mountains has hundreds of home sights with no electricity. Folks haul in water and use solar and wind power.

To the Op, hang onto your dream. The only one holding you back is you.

By definition, motorized or mechanical vehicles are not allowed in Wilderness (with just a few exceptions). And there are no roads. So living in an RV within Wilderness (with a capital W) is not possible, or at least not legal.

But if you mean just out in the boonies, yes that is possible, but Uncle Sam will not allow you to squat on Federal lands....you can stay, but not overstay.

As others have said, do it legally on private land. Folks from California can chime in on actions taken by the appropriate state or Federal agencies stopping "homesteaders" from setting up homes on public land. There are lots of places where you can buy land cheaply, and limit access of others, but you can't claim public land without spending a lot of time in court being convinced you are not in the right.

There's still a lot of BLM and National Forest land out there. There are some restrictions but not many.

The thing about living like Dick is that he was one-in-a-billion. The guy could take a tin fuel can and make a sewage treatment plant out of it, carved his own eating utensils along with the door locks or hinges, and did more work in a day than three average men. I know I couldn't do half of what that guy could do.

Hi,

With enough solar panels, you can watch TV out in the wilderness, and with the correct internet connection - perhaps to a satellite, you can watch Youtube as well.

You don't really have to be that far from Orange County either. I spent a few weeks on my buddy's property on the northern border of Redlands, it is 500 acres, out in the hills. Fine in the winter, a bit of a fire hazard right now. I could drive into town for fresh water, internet, and food. Back to the RV for direct TV, and camp out. Had a great time. Also spent time in Quartzsite AZ and other places. Someday I intend to spend the whole summer camped at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

There are a lot of National Forests and other free camping areas that you can do what you intend - well not build any buildings though. You should be keeping your campsite looking like you just arrived today, and able to leave tomorrow, in case someone stops by and asks how long you have been there, and how long you intend to stay. Do not lie to them, just say you have been here a few days, they kind of run together while retired, and intend to move on in a couple of days. Ask what kind of restrictions they have - start a dialog with them, and do not get defensive or anything.

It would be the forest ranger's job to keep drug processing vans out of the forest and prevent vagrants from camping out for extended times.

This might be a helpful website. I posted the ones about Jawbone Canyon and Johnson Valley off road vehicle areas, a place you can get lost in - except for the busy holiday weekends. FreeCampgrounds.com

Good luck on your travels.

Fred.

caliguy35 wrote:
Is this even possible anymore in the USA?

When I was younger I always wanted to take a well-stocked RV and do a "Richard Proenneke". Drive off and find some deserted land. No people, no crowds. Have the whole place totally to myself. Bring along some dogs and pets for company. Build me a shack, fish, hunt, just live the life. And since I'll have a well-stocked RV with me too; watch movies, play the guitar, read, listen to music, photograph nature, surf the internet, make videos for Youtube.

Here you go, http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/landsale/

You indicate: "watch movies, play the guitar, read, listen to music, photograph nature, surf the internet, make videos for You tube."
This IS NOT 'wilderness'!!
Park your rv, fill a backpack with what you need (and can carry) and WALK into the remote mountains to stay for a few months - live off of the land!! (Oh - NO batteries or electrical powered gadgets!!) Only then will you experience what true wilderness is about and enjoy the life of our forbearer’s. (JMHO)

rfryer wrote:
Are you talking about being a “hermit” or just getting away from the crowds?

And how do you anticipate accessing the internet well away from any form of civilization.

I'm talking about doing something like what this guy Richard Proenneke did. But doing it with a RV.

As for internet in the wilderness ... this.

I was driving the road between Lyons Co and Estes Park one day last summer. I picked up a hitchhiker who had a rather large back-pack. He said he was "headed home". I got to this remote section in the canyon with cliffs on both sides and he told me to pull over. He got out and disappeared up this narrow steep trail.
He must have had a camp up there and in that country you could be in a spot where no-one could ever find you.
jesseannie