Desert Truck Camping

[Geterdone]

We are still looking for more recommendations for heading SW to do some winter desert truck camping..Arizona, NM, etc are all on the possible list....we reviewed a blog called "Two Happy Campers" and got some insites there. We specifically need to know about cell service (Verizon), refueling sites for diesel and propane, food supplies etc. Any safety considerations we should be aware of and or stuff to pack we would not normally have along East Coast. So please send your thoughts...also carrying firearms...AR, handguns etc.

thanks,

steve

[ppine]

Quartzite would be an example of RV camping in the desert at its worst.

[Grit_dog]

Many of the suggested places of interest or parks/attractions are still having winter time though. High desert and mountains = winter time. Low desert = tank tops and umbrella drinks under the awning.

[Grit_dog]

Alot of good advice and some paranoia going on here. Yes, the desert can be more desolate than other areas. If no cell service bothers you, it's probably not the right place to go.
Other than that, if you're prepared to go camp for a week off grid, then you should be basically prepared to hang out in the desert.

Not adding to the paranoia, but there ARE towns that not all are welcome in the Southwest. No different than in NYC or Detroit!

Quartzite is safe with the 1,000,000 other snowbirds camping in the desert though, unless a guy is intimidated by bootable dogs wearing sweater vests and afternoon naps!

[ppine]

It is easy to build a trip in the SW around your interests. I really like the pre-historic Native ruins, especially Puebloan. You cannot go wrong with Canyon de Chelley, Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, Bandilier and many others.

Plenty of history in AZ and NM. Santa Fe was founded in 1604.
For some people it is rock hounding. I like to look at geology and birds.

[Kayteg1]

Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
I found boodocking with TC pretty hard to do. We like to shower every day and that gives us 2 days before we need to dump. 
That said, I discovered Burro Campground this summer, who is having hot showers. With senior pass it comes to $7 a night and this is the picture across dump station. 
You are in the middle of nowhere, observing the scenery and vultures.
No phone coverage, but I found it actually relaxing.

That's along highway 93 or 95 isn't it? I drove across that bridge and thought what a nice looking bridge. The northbound side not so nice but the area and campground had my interest coming back from Quartzsite. I could se down into the valley but your picture looks much better. There are a lot of places to camp. Just scan your map, pick a spot, and go.

93 about 150 miles from Vegas.
In last 2 years I drove that route 7 times and even when with car, we make pit stop in the valley.
It really is beautiful.
I took some dirt roads in AZ out of curiosity and checking real estate. Seem there are farms everywhere, the farmers like privacy and guns are very popular in AZ.
So no, I never try to camp out of Burro. I like to stay at rivers and lakes anyway and you have very limited places that stay wet in AZ.
I found Phoenix one of the most boring places in the World.

[ppine]

Bring plenty of water, and don't get stuck. You cannot depend on cell service in remote areas. Keep your tank full when you get a chance. Get out and walk in an area if you are not sure about the traction. Bring some equipment to get unstuck like a shovel, come along, tow strap, handyman jack, etc. You can be a long way from help. Use some caution. 4wd just gets you stuck in worse places.

Timing is everything when hitting the deserts. NM is cold compared to southern AZ in winter. All but the low deserts can have some cold weather. Too much heat is the worst. It is hard to run any AC without a large generator and there is little shade. Bring some. Keep an eye on your pets. Elevation makes a big difference.

There is lots of room out there for everyone. No need to camp with other people unless that is all you are used to.

I will be out near Death Valley next week and will hardly see anyone.

[work2much]

Tons and Tons af free BLM land camping in AZ, CA and NM. Use free campsites. net, compedium, allstays.

We are here tonight near the Cibola wildlife refuge.

[burningman]

Truck campers usually do charge from the truck while driving, but only very weakly.
That’s because the truck usually has small light-gauge wires to the connector plug, the plug itself is light duty, and the wiring in the camper is light duty.
The solution is to run much larger dedicated charge wires. I use 2-gauge, from the truck battery to the bed of the truck, to an Anderson 100-amp connector. Then I’ve got more 2-gauge going from the other half of the Anderson connector to my camper batteries.
You can control it however you like, from as simple as plugging or unplugging the connector when parked, installing a heavy duty solenoid, or a large isolator.

If you do this you’ll get great charging current to your camper. The stock wiring just can’t do it.

[Camper_Jeff___K]

Kayteg1 wrote:
I found boodocking with TC pretty hard to do. We like to shower every day and that gives us 2 days before we need to dump. 
That said, I discovered Burro Campground this summer, who is having hot showers. With senior pass it comes to $7 a night and this is the picture across dump station. 
You are in the middle of nowhere, observing the scenery and vultures.
No phone coverage, but I found it actually relaxing.

That's along highway 93 or 95 isn't it? I drove across that bridge and thought what a nice looking bridge. The northbound side not so nice but the area and campground had my interest coming back from Quartzsite. I could se down into the valley but your picture looks much better. There are a lot of places to camp. Just scan your map, pick a spot, and go.

[Geterdone]

To All:

We actually are on our trip to AZ, now in Alabama. Hope to get there by the time it quits SNOWING IN AZ. Here we thought of dessert, and SUN.

Big question, I will post in right section too....Will my Lance TC, take a charge to camper (2) batteries while driving our Dodge Dually 2014 truck?
If so, how many amps will it divert to camper battery? If not do I have to do something to have it charge from truck to TC. (I have solar but it has been cloudy and raining for 900 miles PA to Alabama)

Thanks, I will hopefully post some highlights of our trip to AZ.

steve and patti

[Wheeldog]

This is our 11th winter Staying in Bouse, AZ. About 25 miles from Quartzsite. We have a 5th wheel that we leave here year around (we we are snow birds from Alaska). Use a pickup camper to wander around the south and we have lots of fun.

Around here you can get permits to stay free for 14 days on BLM land then you have to move to another area. Think the price for the long term areas is around $180 for the season. You can check out the info https://www.blm.gov/arizona


Verizon doesn't work very well at our place, AT&T isn't too bad. However, when things get busy (Jan & Feb) the cell towers can't handle the volume of all the people so any system will be sporadic.

If your into TV, it can be tough getting it off your antenna. We don't get any here in Bouse. Most folks have some sort of satellite TV set up.

In AZ you don't need a concealed carry permit, but I don't know about the other states you are going through. This is the best place to check it out.... https://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

On paper you are supposed to be able to transport any firearm through states if it is properly secured. However, some states have different laws. For example a 15 round pistol clip is illegal in CA, so if you bring one through, you may get in trouble. You need to do your homework if you are transporting pistols and check out the laws of each state you are going through.

I have an Alaska and a non resident Arizona concealed carry permit. I can carry most places except the north east and the west coast states.

[kendall69]

https://freecampsites.net/#!Arizona&query=region

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBPhAV7WZSo

[bigjimcruising]

So many great things to see and do in both states. Make sure you the caverns in both states. Take the tour in Carlsbad, certain tours they take you deep inside and have you sit on a bench. Then they turn the lights out!

Do make a list of the tourist things to do in both states if this is your first trip there. I have also camped far off the highways many times in both states. I rarely had cell coverage. I'd recommend one of those emergency sat devices that several companies sell if your worried. Well worth the peace of mind if you don't have ham radio as a backup.

Definitely keep a firearm and flashlight in your lap when out enjoying the night sky. I have been stalked far to close for comfort by various critters and a good bright flashlight usually scares them away. But I still keep the handgun ready just in case one or a group are just to hungry to pass up some "people buffet" food!

[whizbang]

When are you going?

Northern NM, Santa Fe, Farmington, Chama, etc are 5 to 8000 feet elevation.

You can expect freezing overnight lows into March or April.

BTW --- We are going back to the southwest in April (Phoenix, Flag, Tucson, T or C, ABQ, Santa Fe and Farmington) --- the 3 F's: Friends, Family, and fishing.