How Do You Get By Without Hook-ups?

THANK YOU for all the tips; we are going on our first ever RV road trip and I find your website insanely useful.

Q. I am looking at free campgrounds but was wondering on how to sustain without electricity/hookups.

A. The quick answer is that virtually all RVs are built to be used without hookups for a least a certain period of time.....with a separate (deep cycle marine) battery that runs all camper aspects and both fresh water and waste holding tanks that, with some conservation, should last at least two to three days.

Those who are serious boondockers with larger RVs have found other ways to increase this time...solar panels and generators are examples.

We drive a small RV and the batteries charge every time we drive. As long as we drive a bit every 3 days or so, our battery holds plenty of power for our requirements - lights, radio, water pump, ceiling fan (and furnace as long as it's not constantly running). The stove is propane and we always run the fridge on propane as well.

Hope this helps somewhat.

~Marianne