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boondocking, boondocking safety, dry campig, RV, RV Life, RV Safety, RV Tips, Safety, Travel Safety
Far too many people skip the amazing experience of boondocking out of concern for their safety. Not only is this unfortunate, it is also downright silly. You see, by properly preparing for the experience, campers of all ages can boondock just as safely as they might by staying in a campground.
Because robberies and other attacks by people are highly unlikely while boondocking, this is not something most dry campers concern themselves with. Instead, they tend to focus most of their energy on preparing for other unfortunate circumstances.
Here are some tips that may help you do the same.
#1: Know Where You Are
The very nature of boondocking involves, well, staying in the boonies. However, that doesn’t mean you have to be unaware of your surroundings. Make an effort to keep tabs on where you are at all times in case you must direct an emergency vehicle to your location.
#2: Bring Backups
When boondocking in extreme weather or in a very remote location, it is highly important that you bring backups of important supplies. Flashlights and batteries should be kept on hand in case something should go wrong with the RV’s power system. Likewise, a secondary way to keep warm should always be close at hand.
Other things to consider packing include extra gasoline for the generator and vehicle, bottled water for emergencies, and matches for starting a fire should it become necessary.
#3: Consider Weather Safety
Weather can really put a kink in your boondocking plans. Thankfully, by going in prepared, you don’t have to let it ruin your life plans too. For this reason, it is always a good idea to keep a weather radio on hand and have a shelter in mind in case the weather turns ugly.
#4: Keep a First Aid Kit
Injuries happen, especially when you are taking part in outdoor activities. However, with a well-stocked first aid kit, this is not something you need to worry about too much. In fact, a good solid first aid kit could provide you with the tools you need to keep a friend or family member safe while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
#5: Charge Your Phone
In an emergency, one of the very first things you are going to want to do is call 911. However, a dead phone battery can make this impossible. By keeping your phone well-charged at all times, you can avoid this issue.
Additionally, it is important to do your best to stay in places where cell signal is available. If you boondock often, consider carrying phones with two or more providers to increase your chance of having a signal.
#6: Consider Pepper Spray
Just because an attack is not likely to happen, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Besides, bears and other wildlife could very well find their way into your space. For these reasons, keeping a can of pepper spray on hand and learning to use it properly couldn’t hurt.
By using these tips and a bit of good old-fashioned common sense, you’ll be well on your way to having the happy and safe boondocking adventure of your dreams! So what are you waiting for? Get out there and have an adventure!
About the Author:
Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.
You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.
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Great post!
Since I spend more than half of my life boondocking in the wilderness, I’ve come to appreciate my greatest safety asset: my dog. She tells me when there’s a cougar or a bear hanging around, so I can go inside and let it pass (or in the case of a persistent cougar, when it’s time to leave the area). Last week she correctly identified a “bad man” who later ended up in the hands of the police.
My experiences with pepper spray have been all about why it isn’t always the best idea: one time the canister went off by itself when I was climbing a tree, resulting in burns to my thigh adjacent to where the canister hung on my belt (the safety came off). Another time I was attempting to repel a bear, but the wind shifted and by the time I was able to see again, the bear had run out of patience/curiosity and left! Now I skip the spray but heed my dog’s nose, and vacate the area when she alerts me to the presence of a predator, whether the four-legged or the two-legged kind.
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I like nature, but some how being out away from people makes me nervous. Being retired military, we often stay at Military RV parks. I never worry about my family not being safe, or things being stolen. Even if I wanted to do it, getting my wife out into to nowhere won’t happen.
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