The Complete Book of Boondock RVing Camping Off the Beaten Path

by Moeller, Bill

• ISBN13: 9780071490658
• ISBN10: 0071490655
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-11-02
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press

Summary

Here's Your Guide to Camping Off the Beaten PathEver feel frustrated by crowded RV parks? Yearn to camp out in the wild beside a babbling mountain brook or before a remote panoramic vista? Bill and Jan Moeller have been doing just that for more than thirty years, andThe Complete Book of Boondock RVingis their complete guide to camping without hookups (aka "dry camping"). Whether you're planning to spend an occasional overnight in a parking lot or an extended stay in the wilderness, you'll learn how to equip your rig for boondocking, find great campsites, manage and conserve electricity and water, and camp in complete RV comfort and convenience. Increase your independence by learning how to camp "off the grid" Save money by finding cheap or free campsites anywhere--even in large cities Ensure your comfort, convenience, and safety when camping in the boonies Learn how to conserve and manage electricity, water, and waste, and to establish reliable communications Enjoy the quiet, solitude, and beauty of nature by getting away from crowded RV campgrounds

Author Biography

Bill Moeller has been a full-time RV camper for more than three decades.With his wife, Jan, he has written several bestselling RV books, including RVing Basics, RV Electrical Systems, and Full-Time RVing, and anationally syndicated newspaper column about RVing.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. vi
What Is Boondock RVing?	p. 1
Why Boondock?	p. 2
Extended Boondock Camping	p. 6
A Sample Boondocking Trip	p. 6
Where to Go Boondock RVing?	p. 13
Public Boondocking Sites	p. 14
Boondocking Sites: Private and Commercial Property	p. 18
How to Find Boondocking Sites	p. 20
Selecting a Rig	p. 24
What's Available?	p. 25
Selecting Your Rig	p. 30
Water, Sewage, and Trash	p. 32
Water	p. 32
Holding Tanks	p. 36
Trash	p. 38
Food: Stocking, Cooking, and Storing	p. 40
Propane Supply	p. 40
Stocking the Pantry	p. 41
Cooking	p. 42
Storing	p. 43
Good Food, New Friends, Great Fun	p. 43
Heating and Cooling	p. 46
Heating	p. 47
Cooling	p. 51
Communications and Navigation	p. 55
Cell Phones	p. 55
E-Mail	p. 56
Internet Access	p. 57
Satellite Radio	p. 59
Global Positioning System (GPS) Receivers	p. 59
Boondock Electricity Made Easy	p. 61
Basic Boondocking	p. 62
Your RV's Electrical System	p. 62
Battery Basics	p. 63
Types of Batteries	p. 67
Battery Capacity: The Elusive Amp-Hour	p. 72
Building a Battery Bank	p. 76
Phantom Loads	p. 82
Wet-Cell Battery Safety	p. 83
Wet-Cell Battery Maintenance	p. 85
Monitoring and Charging Your Batteries	p. 89
Monitoring Your Batteries	p. 89
Charging Your Batteries	p. 95
Charging Methods	p. 96
Battery Life Cycles	p. 100
The Rule of Twenty-Fives	p. 103
Charging Devices	p. 104
Engine Alternators	p. 105
Alternators and RVs	p. 105
Voltage Drop	p. 107
Testing Alternator Efficiency	p. 110
Battery Switches, Isolators, and Combiners	p. 111
Generators, Converters/Chargers, and Inverters	p. 113
Generators	p. 114
Converters and Battery Chargers	p. 116
Inverters	p. 121
System Size	p. 127
A Few Words of Caution	p. 128
Sun and Wind Power	p. 129
Solar Power	p. 130
Selecting a Solar Power System	p. 131
Solar Panels	p. 131
Solar Panel Tests	p. 136
Solar Controllers	p. 138
Installing Your Solar Power System	p. 143
Wind Generators	p. 148
A Selected List of Boondock Campgrounds	p. 150
Resources	p. 163
Recommended Reading	p. 166
Index	p. 167
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.