11 UNWRITTEN Rules of RV Boondocking

With 2 years of RV boondocking experience under our belt on our full time RV living journey, we're sharing all rules and boondocking etiquette that we've learned!

Camping off grid in your RV can be intimidating, but don't let the fear of the unknown stop you from living your best RV life! Join us today as we journey from one boondocking spot on the east coast to another and ease your mind about all the unwritten rules of RV boondocking.

➡️ Want to keep up with our travel route as we head east?

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Pennsylvania Boondocking Spot
1:45 Rule 1 - Making Plans
3:10 Rule 2 - Lights
4:42 Rule 3 - Dogs & Leashes
6:01 Rule 4 - Arrival Time
6:57 Rule 5 - Leave no Trace
9:52 Rule 6 - Dumping
11:15 Rule 7 - Repairs
13:12 Rule 8 - Scouting
17:39 Rule 9 - Costs
18:32 Rule 10 - Proximity to neighbors
21:26 Rule 11 - Generators

*Who are we?*
We’re Victoria & Craig, a full-time travel couple currently living the RV lifestyle! In 2021, we realized life was too short to wait to chase our dreams, so we purchased a used fifth wheel camper and completely renovated it. After selling our house in Florida, we set off on our journey as full-time RVers. Full time RV living has taken us across the United States, Baja Mexico, and Canada, where we’ve fallen in love with boondocking in stunning locations and living an epic adventure travel lifestyle. In 2023, we upgraded to a brand new Brinkley RV Model Z 3100.

[wildrvlife]

What's your number 1 rule when it comes to boondocking?

[mr_burky]

I'm a truck driver with many yrs experience. My motto is if you aren't using all the space available when making a turn you aren't turning wide enough. Using 4 ways when backing is a great way to communicate safely in any big vehicle. Y'all be safe out there✌️

[sarahseevinck]

Rule #3 / #4 - I love my dogs off leash too, but after being in a bunch of pristine boondocking spots that were sadly covered in dog poop, I've started keeping mine on long leashes even if there aren't other dogs around. That way I can be 100% sure I've picked up EVERYTHING. Please pick up (which means you have to notice them pooping) - it ruins gorgeous places for the next visitors if you don't.

[BuellXBSDucati]

I use a mini vacuum to get rid of bugs and spiders. One tip is leave a bathroom light on at night to attract the inside bugs into one location. Then suck em up with the vacuum.

[justsomeguy]

I adopted an 11 year old Jack Russell and he wasn't good with any other animal. A lady in a park had her German Sheppard dog off leash and it ran up to my dog. I Immediately picked up my dog and held her high over top of her dog. All she said is "My dog is good with other dogs"/ I let her know "Mine isn't and that is why he is on a leash". She didn't get it!

[jameshyatte]

Here's what I did when the stink bugs invaded our RV. Got a pump sprayer with a good amount of dawn dish soap and just a very small amount of bleach. Sprayed the entire RV outside, top, bottom, sides and slides, around windows and doors. Rinse thoroughly. Stink bugs are following scent trails left by ones before them, doing the soap and bleach and rinse will remove or mask the trail. Before we were getting dozens a day in the RV, once I sprayed the numbers reduced immediately and by 7 days we had zero stink bugs. Be extra generous around slides that's where they were coming in mostly. Do this anytime you see stink bugs. Simple and cheap problem solver.

[jackbrown]

What I hate about boondocking is when you're parked in the middle of nowhere with no one around and then someone else arrives and parks 20 feet away from your RV.

I've parked in the middle of nowhere left my RV and went shopping with my towed car came back a few hours later and and found two RVs parked within 20ft of my RV despite there being lots of parking farther away.

I quickly packed up and was getting ready to leave. One of the men from the other RV asked me if this place was good. I told him that I'd only arrived a few hours earlier but since you arrived and parked next door I was going to leave now. I told him I like to boondock to get away from people. He was offended that I'd leave just because they parked so close.

[keepitreal]

I love the 2 rubber bumper pads you put on the pantry door handle to avoid denting your Fridge doors!!! I hope it was not thought of after the fact!!!! I try to anticipate any potential issues such as that to avoid damage you wouldn't normally face. Just the way my mind is job!!!! Love the new RIG btw and I am looking into the Brinkley now as well. Getting close to retirement and starting to plan a bit....

[acwinicker]

I don’t think I’m buying an RV as big as yours but the scouting, route planning, and planning turns, getting out and looking was great advice and follows a lot of the stuff I learned when I got my cdl.

[Gendreau]

A good rule too, is MEASURE YOUR HEIGHT.... If you know how tall your rig is, you can safely cruise under low bridges and areas with height markers without worry. You could measure your width, but its not as important....

[dougstinton]

We spent a few nights at Upper Teton View this past summer. That place gets packed almost every night. But the view makes it all worth it. There was an older Class A there. They ran their 7500w LOUD genny all night. The next day my wife left them a very well-crafted note on their door. No more all night genny after that!!

[nancyfuller]

I get so much push back when I talk about solar being almost useless on the East Coast. Out west there is just so much more open space and fewer trees that solar works far better. I always say solar is great when the sun shines!!! And I was in western NC a few weeks ago and the stink bugs were awful. I’m still finding them coming out of the crevices! I was in the same campground, same time last year with no stink bugs so this must be a great year for them.

[vicperry]

Always leash my Greyhound, I would like to see all dogs/pets leashed

[Doghouse]

Thanks for the info. We are new to traveling and this has helped us a lot.

[GerardPalmeri]

Under "Rule 4: Arrival Time" I think you need to add what may be obvious which is "Know what time it will get dark". That's the struggle I've had traveling like that. And watch out crossing time zones that you know exactly what time you think it will be at your destination.

[cindyshields]

Welcome to Pennsylvania where you actually can wake up with a bit of snow and go through all 4 seasons in one day! The other thing we say is there are only 2 seasons here. Winter and construction. Be safe on those backroads and mountains.

[karenmajor]

Thx for the video. I’m considering RV living & I’ve been enjoying watching your journey while learning a few things. 🥰🥰

[ChuckPerry-lr]

We use the Walmart Atlas for United States. Tells where Walmarts are at how far off Interstate and fuel and if you can stay overnight.

[itsjustthatez]

Love your energy. I have a small rig and plan to take off in January. Great info. Enjoy your journey, as I will watching you both.

[ritalamers]

Yes, we’ve been majorly battling stink bugs. We also have a Brinkley and the only bugs we’ve found in our camper are stink bugs. So MANY stink bugs! I’ve found five or so of them in just the last few minutes haha. We’re in North Carolina so nowhere near where you’ve been finding them.