Lotta discussion and solutions pertaining to solar, generators, huge battery banks, and bulk/boost capable converters keeping everyone powered off the grid.For those spending more than a weekend dry camping, what kind of creative solutions are available to handle waste and freshwater issues?

Large capacity waste tank and fresh water tank....can go over a weekOtherwise......Waste totesWater bladder tanks in back of truck5 gallon bottlesPacking up and gong to dump site when tanks are full.Then stopping off by spigot and filling fresh water tank on way back to camp site

Hi,I essentially go for 2 weeks at a time on my fresh water and waste tanks. Then I go to the last free dump site in Regina. Fresh water I get from friends.

otrfun wrote:Lotta discussion and solutions pertaining to solar, generators, huge battery banks, and bulk/boost capable converters keeping everyone powered off the grid.For those spending more than a weekend dry camping, what kind of creative solutions are available to handle waste and freshwater issues?Creative? Pump your grey water through filters to a black colored tank on top of the RV. Pipe the tank water down to a shower head. Enjoy your solar heated shower while saving water. :)

Most places we camp at here on the East side of the US have a localized bath room/waste water area. We always make note of these places when we are arriving at our off-road camping sites.We capture our waste water and make waste water runs when full. Then we bring back freshwater to replenish what we have used so far.We usually have to go off-site to find ice and fresh meat for meals sometimes as well. Not really a big deal deal for us...I carry 2EA 7.5 gallon AQUA-TAINER totes for waste water and 2EA 5-gallon jeri-cans for fresh water along with a folding two wheeled cart.We also bring a few gallons of our brand of bottled water to make our fresh ground beam coffee with.. Only way we can insure the good coffee taste we enjoy...I have on occasion dug a small waste water pit for black water up in the high country... Always aware of what is allowed where we are camping.Most of our outings are around 4-5 days but have on occasions stayed a full 12-14 days. This is about how long I can do the 50% to 90% re-charge cycles of my batteries every morning for three hours and not do harm to them. A full recharge of my battery bank takes around twelve hours which is more time that is usually allowed at most camp sites to run my generator so this is a good time to move places.Roy Ken

Pianotuna, you go two weeks before a waste/water run?! Impressive!If I want to camp and stay married, it's a max 2-3 days between waste/water runs--lol! I use a 12v pump to move freshwater from five 7-gallon tanks in the truck's bed to the TT. This process is relatively hassle-free and quick.However, servicing the black/grey tanks are another issue. *Really* hate lifting/moving those waste totes when they're full (250 lbs.) and being limited to 5 mph while towing. Seriously considering a macerator pump.

Dry Camping: Many Power Solutions. What about Waste/Water?

Ron3rd
Explorer III
Oct 28, 2014
Barker 32 gal Tote and Water Boy 60 Gal Bladder with Pump. Can stay as long as I want as long as there is a dump station nearby and a water faucet.
mena661
Explorer
Oct 28, 2014
NinerBikes wrote:

I wonder if Canadian gallons get you more for your buck? You wouldn't know it by the price of fuel in Canada.

The key to less crap. is more fiber in your diet. And dropping no wipe tootsie rolls..
Didn't consider the Canadian gallon. What is that like 75 gal US? :) My craps are very healthy LOL, PLENTY of fiber over here. I was just "funnin" BTW. We're pretty good at water conservation but at some point it's pointless to conserve more IMO. We don't like to live uncomfortably.
otrfun
Explorer II
Oct 28, 2014
Limiting the amount of TP in the black tank was mentioned earlier as one conservation tactic during extended dry-camping. Curious, for those who try to keep some kind of assemblance of dignity while dry-camping, is there a particular product you may have found that's more efficient/effective than TP? Any ingenious methods of discrete disposal :C
SkiSmuggs
Explorer
Oct 28, 2014
mena661 wrote:
jrnymn7 wrote:
well, I'm a hippie, and I can go 3 - 4 weeks on 54 u.s. gallons :)
I could use less than that if I didn't shower or take a crap.

Great idea! I'll have to try that next trip. :R
NinerBikes
Explorer
Oct 28, 2014
mena661 wrote:
jrnymn7 wrote:
well, I'm a hippie, and I can go 3 - 4 weeks on 54 u.s. gallons :)
I could use less than that if I didn't shower or take a crap.

I wonder if Canadian gallons get you more for your buck? You wouldn't know it by the price of fuel in Canada.

The key to less crap. is more fiber in your diet. And dropping no wipe tootsie rolls..
NinerBikes
Explorer
Oct 28, 2014
double post
mena661
Explorer
Oct 28, 2014
jrnymn7 wrote:
well, I'm a hippie, and I can go 3 - 4 weeks on 54 u.s. gallons :)
I could use less than that if I didn't shower or take a crap.
pnichols
Explorer II
Oct 28, 2014
pianotuna wrote:
How come coffee cups are great and paper bowls are marginally bad?

Hmmm ... I donotknow.

However, I do use ONE non-paper cup: A titanium coffee cup so I can fix/heat/drink instant coffee out of one single vessel so as to minimize messing stuff up for a cup of coffee.

By the way #1, I've found an instant coffee from Germany that doesn't taste like instant and says right in it's description that it's great for campers:

http://internaturalfoods.com/brands/mounthagen.html

By the way #2, when drycamping I don't wash out the titanium cup -> I just wipe it out with a piece of paper towel.

By the way #3, when fixing this coffee I use hauled in mountain spring water ... even it we're camped in the mountains next to a creek.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Oct 28, 2014
Hi Phil,

How come coffee cups are great and paper bowls are marginally bad?
pnichols
Explorer II
Oct 28, 2014
We use paper plates, cups, and bowls when drycamping.

Hauling compressible dirty paper out is easier and lighter than hauling uncompressible clean water in.