by Bill Moeller
definition of, 1;
reasons to boondock, 2–6;
sample trip, 6–12
boondocks, definition of, 1
bulk charge stage, 98
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recreation areas, 14–15
California campgrounds, 152–53
campfire cooking, 42
campground directories, 20–21, 23
campgrounds and parks: campsite selection, 15, 16;
cost of staying in, 3;
exploring and evaluating without rig, 15, 150;
facilities, 17, 150;
favorite campsites, 21–22, 151;
finding, 20–23, 151;
generators and, 116;
keeping clean, 38;
private boondocking sites, 18–20;
public boondocking sites, 14–18;
size restrictions, 14, 15, 24, 31, 156;
state listings, 151–62
campground water sources, 17, 35
camping rigs: breaking down, 19, 56;
rented rigs, 1–2;
selecting, 30–31;
size considerations, 14, 16, 24, 31;
slideouts, 7, 16, 31;
types of, 25–30, 31
Camping with the Corps of Engineers (Hinkle), 17, 166
Camping World: amp-hour meters, 95;
propane detectors, 41
Cape Lookout State Park, Oregon, 22, 159
carbon monoxide (CO), 47, 48, 50, 114, 116
carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, 47, 48, 50
carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, 47, 50, 116
casino parking lots, 12, 19, 154, 155, 159, 161
catalytic heaters, 47–49, 48, 51
cell phones, 55–56, 58
ceramic heaters, 49, 51
charge acceptance rate, 65, 69
Charge Wizard adapter, 116
cigarette lighter sockets, 93, 125, 126
circuits, electrical, 64
Class A motorhomes, 25, 28–30, 29
Class B motorhomes, 25, 26
Class C motorhomes, 25, 28–29
Coast Distribution System holding tanks, 37
Code of Conduct (Escapees RV Club), 20
cold cranking amps (CCA), 75
Coleman portable generator, 115, 121, 128
Colorado campgrounds, 153
combiner box, 147
combiners, 112
commercial boondocking sites, 7, 12, 18–20
communications, 55–59
computers, 57–58, 123, 125
conditioning stage. See equalization stage
Connecticut campgrounds, 153
constant amperage/constant voltage charging. See two-stage charging
constant-voltage charging. See tapered charging
controllers, solar: function of, 138–39;
maximum power point tracking (MPPT), 140–43;
recommendation, 143;
selecting, 139–43;
types of, 139
convenience camping, 5–6, 7, 12, 18–20
converters/chargers: charging with, 9, 10, 11;
function of, 113, 116–17;
testing, 118–21, 120;
types of, 116, 117–18
cooking, 34, 42–45;
pans and baking dishes, 44;
recipes, 44
cooling options, 51–54, 52, 53
costs: fifth-wheel trailer trip, 4;
fuel, 4;
of RVing, 3;
solar power systems, 131
county parks, 5, 17
cranking amps, 75
current, 65, 80
Dayton relay, 124
DC (direct current), 64
DC/AC inverters, 63. See also inverters
DC (direct current) appliances, 62–63, 78–80, 118, 125
DC (direct current) fuses, 128
deep-cycle batteries, 67–71, 98, 100
Delaware campgrounds, 153
depth of discharge (DOD), 76, 80, 93, 94, 101–2, 103, 118, 119, 120, 121
Devil’s Gate, Oregon Trail, 18
diffusion rate, 65, 99
"dinghy" (towed vehicle), 6
diode isolators, 111–12
directories, 20–21, 23
driveways, parking in, 6, 20
dry camping, 1
dump stations, 12, 17, 37
Dutch ovens, 42
Ed, Bob, 23
Ed, Viva Lee, 23
electrical systems: circuits, 64;
components, 62–63;
fuses, 128;
ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), 128;
safety precautions, 128
electricity, 64. See also AC (alternating current);DC (direct current)
electricity usage: air conditioners, 46, 51, 107;
amp-hour ratings and, 73–75;
conserving and managing, 62–63;
daily needs, calculating, 76–80;
designing charging systems, 127–28;
heaters and furnaces, 46;
phantom loads, 8, 82–83, 125–26;
refrigerators, 8, 79, 82, 126
electrolyte level, checking, 87–88
electronics, advances in, 2, 55–60
e-mail, 56–57
emergency situations, 56
engines: high-output alternators and, 107;
multistage regulators and, 107
equalization stage, 99, 100
equipment and amenities: examples of, 1–2, 7, 62–63;
extended boondock camping, 6
Escapees magazine, 5, 23
Escapees RV Club, 5, 20, 23
extended boondock camping, 6
fans, 52
Fan-tastic vent fan, 52
fifth-wheel trailers, 4, 25, 27–28, 109
firewood, 42
flame arresters, 115
float stage, 99–100
flooded-electrolyte batteries. See wet-cell batteries
flooding concerns, and campsite selection, 16
Florida campgrounds, 153–54
food: cooking, 34, 42–45;
planning meals, 42, 43;
potluck dinners, 44–45;
recipes, 44;
repackaging, 38–39, 43;
stocking pantry, 41–42;
storing, 43
Forest Service (USFS) campgrounds, 15, 115
free camping, 3
friendships, 8, 44–45
fuel costs, 4
furnaces, 46,49. See also propane heaters
fuses, 128
garbage. See trash
gas line leaks, 41, 47
gassing, 66, 69,84, 95–96, 99–100
gel-cell batteries, 68;
advantages and disadvantages, 69–70;
charging rates, 99;
charging voltages, 96;
life cycles, 101;
maintaining, 85;
sizes and specifications, 71–72
generators: charging with, 9, 11;
designing charging systems, 127–28;
drawbacks, 116;
function of, 63, 113, 114;
safety precautions, 128;
selecting, 115;
types of, 114–15
gensets, 114–15
Georgia campgrounds, 150, 154
Global Sun Oven, 42, 43
golf-cart (6-volt) batteries, 68;
advantages and disadvantages, 69, 73, 81;
charging and recharging process, 99, 100;
equalization stage, 100;
float charging and, 100;
life cycles, 101;
parallel and series wiring, 81;
self-discharging, 100;
sizes and specifications, 71–72, 73, 82
GPS (global positioning system) receivers, 56, 59–60
gray-water tanks, 9, 36, 37–38
ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), 128
guidebooks, recommended, 14, 16, 17, 166
heaters. See propane heaters
Heliotrope solar contr
ollers, 141–43
high-output alternators, 106–7, 109
highway overlooks, 17–18
Hoback River, Wyoming, 21
holding tanks: auxiliary tanks, 9;
emptying, 38;
monitoring, 9;
places to empty, 12, 17, 37;
portable, 37–38;
reducing waste going into, 36–37;
size of, 36;
trip planning and, 14;
types of, 36
house batteries, 61, 62, 63, 67, 98, 105–6. See also batteries;
battery charging and recharging
Hydrocaps, 66
hydrogen gas, 66, 67,69, 84
hydrometer, 86–87
hypoxia, 47, 48
Idaho campgrounds, 154
Illinois campgrounds, 155
insolation, 134–36, 135
International Dutch Oven Society (IDOS), 42
Internet access, 7, 11, 57–59
Internet resources, 21
Internet satellite dishes, 57, 58–59
inverters: amperage draw, 126;
amp-hour meters, 94;
battery bank size for, 127;
battery charger in, 124;
designing charging systems, 63, 127–28;
function of, 7, 113, 121;
fuses, 128;
generators and, 116;
ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), 128;
high-output alternators and, 107;
phantom loads, 83, 125–26;
safety precautions, 128;
sizes, 103, 123;
transfer switch, 124, 128;
types of, 122–23, 125–26;
waveforms produced by, 121–22;
wiring for, 126
Iota Engineering chargers, 117, 118–19
Iowa campgrounds, 155
isolators, 111–12
JuiceBox genset, 114–15
Kansas campgrounds, 155
Kmart parking lots, 19, 20
Lamoille Canyon, Nevada, 21, 22, 157
lead sulfate, 64–65, 66, 67
local parks, 5, 17
Louisiana campgrounds, 155
macerator pumps, 37, 38
MagneTek converter, 116
Maine campgrounds, 155–56
maintenance-free batteries, 68, 71
maps, 20–21
marine cranking amps (MCA), 75
Maryland campgrounds, 156
Massachusetts campgrounds, 156
maximum power point tracking (MPPT), 140–43
mechanical-relay isolators, 112
Michigan campgrounds, 156
Minnesota campgrounds, 156
Mississippi campgrounds, 156
Missouri campgrounds, 156–57
modified-sine-wave inverters, 122–23
modified sine waves, 121–22
Montana campgrounds, 22, 157
motorhomes, 25, 28–30, 29, 67, 109
multimeters, 92–93
multistage charging: converters/chargers and, 117–18;
generators and, 116;
process for, 99–100;
solar power systems and, 140;
testing, 119–21, 120
multistage regulators, 99–100, 106, 107
national forests, 15, 22, 115
National Park Service (NPS) campgrounds, 16
National Park Service Camping Guide (Herow), 16, 166
nature and natural settings, 4–5
navigation equipment, 56, 59–60
Nebraska campgrounds, 157
Nevada campgrounds, 21, 22, 157
"New England" boiled dinner recipe, 44,45
New Mexico campgrounds, 158
New York campgrounds, 158
No-Rinse products, 34
North Carolina campgrounds, 150, 158
North Dakota campgrounds, 158
Northeastern states, 150
Ohio campgrounds, 158
Ohm’s Law, 80
Oklahoma campgrounds, 159
open-flame heaters, 49, 51
Oregon campgrounds, 22, 159
ovens and stoves, 42–43, 51
oxygen depletion, 47, 48
oxygen depletion sensors, 48, 49
parking lots, camping in, 5–6, 7, 12, 18–20
parks. See campgrounds and parks
Pennsylvania campgrounds, 159
phantom loads, 8, 79, 82–83, 125–26
photovoltaic (PV) cells, 131–32
pickup campers, 25, 26–27
PocketMail e-mail, 56–57
polarity, 64
police stations, 23
portable generators, 115, 121, 128
portable holding tanks, 37–38
portable inverters, 125–26
portable water tanks, 35–36
potluck dinners, 44–45
power, 80
primitive camping, 1
private boondocking sites, 18–20
private campgrounds, 3, 4
Progressive Dynamics: Charge Wizard, 116, 117–18;
converters/chargers, 117–18
propane detectors, 41
propane heaters: connecting, 51;
power usage, 46;
safety precautions, 47, 48, 51;
types of, 47–49, 51
propane supply, 40–41;
gas line leaks, 41, 47;
managing and conserving, 42, 43;
safety precautions, 8, 41
public boondocking sites, 14–18
pulse-width modulation (PWM), 140
pure-sine-wave inverters, 123
Quartzsite,Arizona, 6, 152
recommended reading, 14, 16, 17, 166
Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), 4
refrigerators: Off position when traveling, 8;
phantom loads, 8, 79, 82, 126
relay. See transfer switch
reserve capacity ratings, 75–76
resistance, 65, 80, 107
resources, 163–65
rest areas, 12, 17–18
restaurant parking lots, 19
retail store parking lots, 5, 7, 19
Rhode Island campgrounds, 159
road grades, 22, 150, 154, 161, 162
roast beef recipe, 44
RV Electrical Systems (Moeller and Moeller), 67, 105, 166
Rule of Twenty-Fives, 103–4, 127
sample boondocking trip, 6–12
satellite dishes, 3, 57, 58–59
satellite radio, 59
scenic overlooks, 17–18
sealed immobilized-electrolyte batteries, 68, 69–71, 85
security precautions, 17–18
series ammeters, 90–91
series-pass controllers, 139
sewage overflow, 37
shedding, 66
shortwave radios, 3
showers, 33–34
shunt ammeters, 91–92
shunt controllers, 139, 143
shutoff valves, 33–34
sine waves, 121–22
6-volt batteries. See batteries;
golf-cart (6-volt) batteries
SLI (start, lights, ignition) batteries, 67, 69, 100–101, 105, 111–12
slideouts, 7, 16, 31
smart charging. See multistage charging
SmoothTalker cell-phone booster, 56, 58
Solar-Boost 2000E solar controller, 141
solar panels: battery recommendations, 71;
campsite selection and, 15, 16;
charging capacities, 129–30, 132–34, 138, 139;
charging with, 8–9, 131;
choosing, 132–34;
costs, 131;
designing charging systems, 127–28;
efficiency, testing, 136–38;
function and components, 131–32;
insolation, 134–36, 135;
installing, 146–47;
placement and orientation, 8, 143–44;
testing, 136–38, 139;
tilting, 8, 144, 145
> solar power systems: advantages, 129, 130;
combiner box, 147;
controllers, 138–43, 141;
costs, 131;
installing, 143–47, 144;
selecting, 131
solenoids, 112
South Beach State Park, Oregon, 22, 159
South Dakota campgrounds, 159–60
specific gravity, 74, 86–87, 88
square-wave inverters, 122
square waves, 121–22
starting batteries, 62, 63–64, 67, 97–98
state parks, 5, 17, 21
storage space, 43
stoves and ovens, 42–43, 51
sulfation, 66
sulfuric acid, 64–65, 68, 69, 84–85, 86
Sun Ovens International sun oven, 42, 43
surface voltage, 103
SVR (sealed valve regulated) batteries, 69
swamp coolers, 52–54, 53
tapered charging, 96–98, 106, 109, 118–19
television sets, 3, 79, 83
temperature, 74, 96
tent campers, 25, 26, 31
Texas campgrounds, 160
Thomas Canyon Campground, Nevada, 21, 157
Three Sisters Wilderness, Oregon, 22
Tote-Along holding tanks, 37
Tote-N-Stor holding tanks, 37
tow vehicles, for travel trailers, 27–28
transfer switch, 103, 124, 128
trash, 38–39
travel trailers, 25, 27–28, 109
trip, sample boondocking, 6–12
trip planning: fuel costs and, 4;
information gathering, 14;
maintaining and managing resources, 14
TripTiks(AAA), 23
truck stop parking lots, 20
Truecharge battery chargers, 94, 119–21, 120
TurboKOOL Evaporative Air Cooler, 53
12-volt appliances. See DC (direct current) appliances
12-volt batteries: advantages and disadvantages, 73, 81;
parallel wiring, 81;
sizes and specifications, 71–72. see also batteries
12-volt plugs, 93
two-stage charging, 98–99, 140
two-stage regulators, 98, 99
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) campgrounds, 15, 115
Utah campgrounds, 160–61
Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, 25, 157
vent fans, 52
Vermont campgrounds, 161
Virginia campgrounds, 150, 161
voltage (volts), 64,65;
charging voltages, 95–96;
Ohm’s Law, 80
voltage drop, 65;
length of wire runs and, 109, 126, 145–46;
measuring, 91;
wire size and, 107–9
voltage regulators: multistage, 99–100, 106, 107;
tapered charging, 97, 98;
two-stage charging, 98, 99
voltmeters, 92–93, 95
VRLA (valve regulated lead acid) batteries, 69
Wal-Mart parking lots, 7, 19, 20
Washington campgrounds, 161
water: amount used, 32–33;
conserving and managing, 33–34, 36, 42;
protecting water supply, 37–38
water pumps, 35
water tanks: filling, 9, 34–36, 35;