Boondocking / Dry Camping
Camping without any hookups — no shore power, no water, no sewer connections. Boondocking relies entirely on your camper's onboard systems: battery bank, solar panels, fresh water tank, and holding tanks. Popular on BLM land, national forest roads, and dispersed camping areas throughout the West. Your boondocking range depends on battery capacity, water tank size, and how efficiently you manage resources. Many truck campers excel at boondocking due to their self-contained design.
Related Terms
An external AC electrical hookup (typically a 30-amp plug) that connects your camper to campground or household power.
Photovoltaic panels mounted on the camper roof (or carried as portable units) that charge the 12V battery bank from sunlight.
Lithium iron phosphate batteries that have largely replaced lead-acid in modern truck campers.
Free camping on public lands (BLM, National Forest, etc.