Tags
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.
From time-to-time, we have guest bloggers post on our site. The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author.
Craig S. FL~ “I am extremely pleased with the service I received. Your representative kept in constant contact with me to make sure everything was going as planned. I never felt like I was in this by myself. Thank you!!!!”
You have loaded up your RV and have finally pulled out of your driveway. Your much-anticipated camping trip has finally begun. You’re cruising down the highway when you see a tow truck stopped on the side of the road to help the unfortunate traveler who has had a flat tire. What do you do?
The Move Over Law originated in the U.S. after James Garcia, a paramedic from South Carolina, was struck and injured at an accident scene on January 24, 1994. It was about 6:30 a.m. and a driver was distracted while looking at the accident scene when he hit Garcia. The driver slowed down to 45 mph but it was still too fast. Garcia smashed into the windshield and bounced off over the van. He was extremely lucky that his only injuries were a broken left leg and arm. Garcia spent the following year working with his state legislature, and on March 1996, the United State’s first “Move Over Law” was passed.
“I have attended far too many funerals of friends and colleagues who have fallen victim to drivers not paying attention,” said Bud Gruber, president of Bald Eagle Towing & Recovery, Inc in Naples, Florida. Bud was also the former chairman of the Towing and Recovery Association of America’s (TRAA) Communications Committee where he tirelessly advocates for the safety of tow truck operators and other roadside assistance providers.
At some point it happens to most of us, and when it does it’s good to be prepared. I am referring to what happens when your RV breaks down and you need to have it towed. It is important to understand the processes involved in and how to prepare both your recreational vehicle and yourself in the case of a breakdown.
At Coach-Net, your safety is their top priority. As an RV owner, you owe it to yourself to have the protection you need when you need it most. You can rest easy knowing that Coach-Net has you and your family covered.
Personal safety is always important, especially in these days of heightened security awareness. For those of us who travel by RV, it’s imperative to always be aware of our surroundings in order to keep ourselves and our property as safe as possible. This starts with where you choose to park your rig at night.
Recreational vehicles are very safe as long as owners follow general guidelines and don’t neglect their rigs. This article will cover a few safety-related topics.
The dealership is not trying to hold your coach “hostage”, they are simply trying to ensure the safety of your family and those around you.
If your CO or LP detector goes off, turn off all appliances, exit the vehicle immediately, and turn off the propane source. Have your propane system checked before using it again.
In terms of 120V troubleshooting, if you are plugged in and lose all power, first measure the voltage directly at the park pedestal outlet. Invest in a home circuit tester; they are inexpensive and can be found at any home improvement store. Using a 30-15A adapter, plug the tester into the park pedestal. It will indicate if the outlet is correctly wired. This simple device, along with a surge protector, can prevent damage or personal injury. Surge protectors are expensive, but well worth the investment. I highly recommend the use of a surge protector, as many RV parks have power problems that can damage your coach or cause injury. Surge protectors are insurance against this.
If the park power checks out, verify the RV circuit breakers have not tripped, especially the main 30 or 50A breaker. Measure the voltage coming into the main breaker. If you have power at the park pedestal, but no power at the main breaker, the problem likely lies with the power cord, or transfer switch if you have one. If you have voltage when using shore power but not when running off generator, check the generator breakers. If you don’t have a transfer switch and need to plug the shore power cord into a generator outlet, measure the voltage at that outlet. If the generator breakers are not tripped and you don’t have voltage at the generator receptacle, the generator is likely not outputting voltage and must be professionally serviced. Otherwise, there may be a problem with the transfer switch. If there is power when running on generator, but not on shore power, and you have ruled out the power pedestal, the problem once again likely lies with the transfer switch.
Only the first receptacle in a protected circuit is required to be a GFCI receptacle, the outlets downstream may be regular outlets. If the first receptacle trips, all receptacles downstream lose power. If you lose an outlet or appliance in your coach, check for GFCI outlets to make sure they are not tripped or damaged. Depending on the size of your coach, you may have one or two GFCI branch circuits, and each one will likely have a single GFCI receptacle, but additional outlets or appliances downstream. This is the single most common cause of 120V circuit problems.
By far the largest volume of technical support I provide to RV owners is related to the electrical system. This is not surprising however, considering the electrical and propane systems basically comprise the entire house system. Many owners struggle with both these areas, but the electrical system remains the most elusive. Over the next few weeks, I will be discussing the RV electrical system.
A logical place to start is with the 12V DC system. The 12V system provides power to all the interior lights (although there may be some 120V lighting in some coaches), range hood, water pump, vent fans, and some entertainment systems. It also controls many of the LP, and even 120V AC, appliances. This causes many owners to scratch their heads when troubleshooting AC or propane problems with their coaches, not realizing that the root of the problem lies with the 12V system.
Navigating your RV through urban traffic is never fun, but toss in an RV trailer tire blowout at the same time and things can get life threatening if calm heads don’t prevail. The strength of your RV driving skills is measured by how you handle unpredictable situations like blowouts. Unfortunately the only way to determine where you stand is to actually experience one of these calamities, which is exactly what happened to us while maneuvering in a mess of interstate traffic.
“We have Coach-Net! That’s what it’s there for!” I pleaded. “You have good life insurance but I really don’t need a dead husband!” I added for extra drama. Maybe that’s what did it, but he relented and with a grumble said “Fine, call them.”
Waiting for it to be over was the hardest part, but we learned much from the experience. For starters, watching the repairman do his job made one thing obvious: he knew exactly how to park diagonally behind us so that if a car hit us all, his truck would take the impact first. Those RVers who try to do it themselves without a buffer of protection on the freeway practically guarantees a tragic outcome.
When you’re pulling your travel trailer behind you, it’s essential (depending on weight/length of your trailer) to use a weight distribution or equalizer hitch that will balance out your ride. Otherwise, too much weight in the front of the trailer will place excessive weight on the back of the towing vehicle, raising the front of your tow vehicle and causing loss of steering control, hitch dragging and braking difficulties. The key is to balance the weight over the axles and the hitch.
You can easily get your RV weighed for a fee at a truck stop; they’ll even give you a weight slip that shows the front axle and total weight. (For motorized RVs, it is recommended that the front axle account for approximately 33-35% of total weight.) Ultimately, you should take your RV to a professional weighing agency to make sure it isn’t overweight on the corners or axles.