A large water tank allows you to stay off-grid for longer, which gives you more freedom when planning a trip. When it comes to off-grid camping, arguably the most important feature your van needs to have is a large water tank. This is helpful in cloudy or foggy weather, or when you are parked in the shade for days at a time. With a large lithium battery bank, you should have plenty of power to last you a few days without any charging. Unlike other battery types, lithium batteries can be safely discharged all the way to zero percent. In addition to solar panels, it’s a good idea to utilize an oversized lithium battery bank if you plan on doing a lot of off-grid camping. Even on cloudy days, solar panels can often harvest enough energy to keep you charged. Solar panels mounted on the roof of your van supply a reliable source of electricity anywhere the sun shines. Without electric hookups, how will you ensure that your van’s 12-volt batteries stay charged so you can continue to use your lights, fan, charging ports, and more? The most common solution to this issue is to utilize solar panels to keep your batteries charged. There are endless features and modifications that can make a van more capable of extreme off-grid camping, but with some basic features you can boondock safely and comfortably. Some challenges of camping off-grid include a lack of sewage, water, and electric hookups, no immediate access to food or propane, and traveling in remote locations, often on dirt roads and without cell service. What Does Your Camper Van Need to Camp Off-Grid?Ĭamper vans designed with off-grid camping capabilities have some features that make doing so safer and more enjoyable. They may even be able to point you in the direction of some great off-grid campsites, if you’re not already sure exactly where you want to stay. Rangers are usually more than happy to fill you in on exactly where you are allowed to camp and whether any restrictions are in place, such as fire restrictions or bear safety protocol. It’s always a good idea to pick an area you’d like to boondock, and then call the local ranger’s office to learn more about dispersed camping within their jurisdiction. Although camping is generally allowed in these areas, there may be local restrictions. While this is awesome news, it’s also not quite that simple. The types of land listed above leave you with hundreds of millions of acres where you can legally camp off-grid for free. These exclude National parks, but include: Unless otherwise stated, it is generally legal to sleep in your vehicle within federally designated lands.
Before you go on a trip, you should research the area you’re visiting to determine whether there are places you can legally and safely camp off-grid. If you want to camp off-grid, you can’t just pick a point on the map and go camp there. Nothing beats waking up with an entire stretch of land to yourself, but make sure to follow the advice in this guide to safely and responsibly enjoy off-grid camping. Dispersed camping has the major upside of solitude and remote beauty, but you will be lacking the amenities and hookups found at most campgrounds.
Boondocking guide how to#
There are many places where off-grid camping is allowed, and we will get into the details of how to find campsites later on in this guide. Off-grid camping is different from “normal” camping in that you camp somewhere on public lands where overnight stays are legal, but you aren’t in a developed campground. Many people aren’t familiar with off-grid camping because they’ve never done it themselves. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered with some insider knowledge on how to safely camp off-grid, and have fun doing it. Camper vans, especially 4×4 Sprinter vans, allow you to do so in style.įor those who are used to sticking to established campgrounds or RV parks, off-grid camping might seem appealing but a bit intimidating. The ability to get out and camp away from crowds on public lands, often for free, is more appealing now than ever. Photo credit: Alex Azabache from PexelsOff-grid camping, otherwise known as ‘dispersed camping’ or ‘boondocking’, is one of the best parts of owning a camper van.
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