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--- opinion:frater_secessus:successful_boondocking [2022/05/08 13:24]
frater_secessus [provisioning]
+++ opinion:frater_secessus:successful_boondocking [2023/10/18 15:02]
frater_secessus [timing your arrival]
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 Do you have enough fuel (vehicle, cooking, etc), food, [[water:drinking|water]], and [[electrical:12v:intro|power]] to make it through your outing?
-==== timing your arrival ====
-=== day of the week ===
+===== finding a spot =====
-Boondocking spots are often relatively open on weekdays and crowded on weekends;  locals swarm public lands on late Friday through Sunday when they are off work.  Since some will take off an extra day you may find the **most open spots** if you arrive Tuesday through Thursday.
+Not every spot is good for every boondocker.  Some like shady areas while those dependent on solar may want open field.
-The worst time to arrive is during a holiday or other 3-day weekend when even the most casual of Weekenders drags out their long-neglected RV.
-=== time of day ===
+==== apps and websites ====
-Arriving with plenty of daylight left is highly preferable.  You will be able to:
+It is common to find spots on [[https://freecampsites.net/|freecampsites.net]], [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samchristiansen.ioverlander.droid|iOverlander]], Campendium, [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thedyrt.wayfinder|the Dyrt]], [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.freeroam.main|FreeRoam]], etc.  Since others are using those same sources of information you may want to consider the spots as //general areas to start looking//.  The area near the lat/long will often be the most crowded, so if you go a bit further down the dirt road you will likely have fewer neighbors.
-  - find the campsites
+Some terms to be aware of:
-  - see how close any neighbors will be
-  - see obstacles and other issues with the campsites((I've found places in the dark then saw a huge cow carcass when the sun came up))
-  - get camp made before the sun goes down.
-If you arrive mid-morning you may be able to hear where the generators are.
+  * trailhead:  an area where people park to go off hiking or riding.  Likely to be quite busy.  Might be a pit [[lifestyle:faq_toilet|toilet]] there.
+  * day use:  only for day use (and may require a fee).  No overnight camping.
+  * OHV area:  **O**ff **H**ighway **V**ehicle area for quads, dirtbikes, UTVs, etc.  You can camp there but noise and dust are in the forecast.
-Arriving in darkness can be stressful.  It may be best to pull over into a temporary spot at night then resume your hunt when the sun comes up.
+You can use an app like [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.twostepsbeyond.uspubliclands|U.S. Public Lands]]((written by experienced nomads [[https://www.youtube.com/c/Technomadia|Technomadia]])) to ensure you are still on public lands while you wander.
-===== finding a spot =====
-Not every spot is good for every boondocker.  Some like shady areas while those dependent on solar may want open field.
-==== apps and websites ====
-It is common to find spots on [[https://freecampsites.net/|freecampsites.net]], [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samchristiansen.ioverlander.droid|iOverlander]], etc.  Since others are using those same sources of information you may want to consider the spots as //general areas to start looking//.  The area near the lat/long will often be the most crowded, so if you go a bit further down the dirt road you will likely have fewer neighbors.
-You can use an app like [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.twostepsbeyond.uspubliclands|U.S. Public Lands]]((written by experienced nomads [[https://www.youtube.com/c/Technomadia|Technomadia]])) to ensure you are still on public lands while you wander.
 ==== fitting your rig ====
-A 40' Class A or big trailer is going to take up more room than a minivan.  If you want to be especially polite you might the smaller spot that will fit your rig instead of the bigger spot that a bigger rig needs.
+A 40' Class A or big trailer is going to take up more room than a minivan.  If you want to be especially polite you might take the smallest spot that will fit your rig instead of the bigger spot that a bigger rig needs.
@@ Line 60: / Line 45: @@
 === flat ground ===
-Flat ground is nice, but if you carry [[https://amzn.to/3ycY9x8|leveling blocks]] you can stay level even on uneven ground.  If your vehicle rolls off when you put it in Park consider using the parking brake to lock in the position before shifting out of Drive.
+Flat ground is nice, but if you carry [[https://amzn.to/3ycY9x8|leveling blocks]] you can stay level even on uneven ground.  If your vehicle rolls a bit when you put it in Park consider using the parking brake to lock in the position before shifting out of Drive.
@@ Line 76: / Line 61: @@
 Apps like [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ratana.sunsurveyor|Sun Surveyor]] can help verify the number of hours of sun you will get in a spot/position.  [[https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UpN5ldB83k8|This video]] is shaky and rotated, but you can see that the app plots the path of the sun across the camera view as you look around. Particularly useful for picking out the best spot in a heavily-shaded area like a forest.
+=== wind ===
+Trees and other features can help limit the effects of wind.  Camping on the edge of a cliff, mountaintop, or in a saddle may increase winds.
 === neighbors ===
@@ Line 82: / Line 71: @@
 If you drive by and see large RVs with generators outside you can expect them to run the generators quite often.  Some "contractor"-style generators are obnoxiously loud.
+Folks who value solitude over social interaction may want to find sites:
+  * further down crappy roads
+  * further away from published coordinates
+  * away from conspicuously-gorgeous views
+  * away from OTA tv reception
+  * away from cell reception
+  * in areas where larger rigs can't (or won't) go
+These factors tend to weed out the less-motivated boondocker.
 === proximity to the road ===
@@ Line 136: / Line 136: @@
+=== further reading ===
+  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXNcTz1vo3Y|camp cook's guide to weather]]

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