The Complete Book of Boondock RVing: Camping Off the Beaten Path [Paperback]

Bill Moeller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 2007

Here’s Your Guide to Camping Off the Beaten Path

Ever feel frustrated by crowded RV parks? Yearn to camp out in the wild beside a babbling mountain brook or before a remote panoramic vista? Bill and Jan Moeller have been doing just that for more than thirty years, and The Complete Book of Boondock RVing is their complete guide to camping without hookups (aka "dry camping"). Whether you’re planning to spend an occasional overnight in a parking lot or an extended stay in the wilderness, you’ll learn how to equip your rig for boondocking, find great campsites, manage and conserve electricity and water, and camp in complete RV comfort and convenience.

• Increase your independence by learning how to camp "off the grid"
• Save money by finding cheap or free campsites anywhere--even in large cities
• Ensure your comfort, convenience, and safety when camping in the boonies
• Learn how to conserve and manage electricity, water, and waste, and to establish reliable communications
• Enjoy the quiet, solitude, and beauty of nature by getting away from crowded RV campgrounds

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Here’s Your Guide to Camping Off the Beaten Path

Ever feel frustrated by crowded RV parks? Yearn to camp out in the wild beside a babbling mountain brook or before a remote panoramic vista? Bill and Jan Moeller have been doing just that for more than thirty years, and The Complete Book of Boondock RVing is their complete guide to camping without hookups (aka "dry camping"). Whether you’re planning to spend an occasional overnight in a parking lot or an extended stay in the wilderness, you’ll learn how to equip your rig for boondocking, find great campsites, manage and conserve electricity and water, and camp in complete RV comfort and convenience.

• Increase your independence by learning how to camp "off the grid"
• Save money by finding cheap or free campsites anywhere--even in large cities
• Ensure your comfort, convenience, and safety when camping in the boonies
• Learn how to conserve and manage electricity, water, and waste, and to establish reliable communications
• Enjoy the quiet, solitude, and beauty of nature by getting away from crowded RV campgrounds

Bill and Jan Moeller have been fulltime RV campers for more than three decades. They have written several bestselling RV books, including RVing Basics, RV Electrical Systems, and Complete Guide to Full-Time RVing, along with a nationally syndicated newspaper column about RVing.

About the Author

Bill Moeller has been a full-time RV camper for more than three decades.With his wife, Jan, he has written several bestselling RV books, including RVing Basics, RV Electrical Systems, and Full-Time RVing, and a nationally syndicated newspaper column about RVing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (October 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071490655
• ISBN-13: 978-0071490658
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 0.4 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Physics > Acoustics & Sound
  • #20 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Hiking & Camping > Camping
  • #47 in Books > Travel > Reference > General

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 68 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent prep and guidebook! July 25, 2008

By Vernon R. Bruce

Format:Paperback

This book has it all! Written by a couple who have been "living the life" for many years, every word has the feel of authenticity and experience-based knowledge. A lot of the material might be found in other sources but we needed a guidebook to read AND have on the shelf for reference. My wife and I have been "fulltimers" for 11 years, but have spent little time dry-camping, or "boondocking." We wanted more information on solar panels and water maintenance and we found it all here. I found no negatives about this book.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well thought out book, informative September 23, 2008

By Thor

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This books covers a wide range of subjects associated with boondocking in an RV. Am quite impressed with it, especially the parts about batteries and electrical systems. Most stock RVs are not designed for being "off the grid" for very long at all (without running a noisy and $$ generator) and it really helps you design improvements in boondocking capability. At least, it'll let you speak the language of electrical systems if you go to professional to have improvements made. There are books that offer more detail in the subjects covered, but that means buying several books. This one will get you started and then some. All the info in the book is useful, researched and concisely written. Have fun and we'll see you on the road.

110 of 124 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Expected June 8, 2008

By HeyJude

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a well written book, but geared toward people with large RVs. There is an extended section on Boondocking electricity, monitoring batteries and engine alternators. Then a chapter on solar and wind power, which is all very nice, but not what we were looking for and not what a large majority of people can afford. We have an 18 foot super light-weight trailer and use a Honda generator. I guess we thought this book would be more about places to go that were interesting. The list of "Selected" Boondocking sites was very limited. If You are looking for a better choice try the FREE Campgrounds book by Don Wright, either the Western or Eastern edition. Lots of great sites listed in this book.
The bottom line is that the Complete Book of Boondocking will go on our next garage sale.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent detailed book November 26, 2010

By Indy Fritz

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought several books to get up to speed on RV camping with a special interest in camping 'off the grid'. I have an Aliner Ranger popup camper. My primary concern was having sufficient power while off the grid and I planned to do a lot of upgrade work to my Aliner myself. Boondock RVing provided excellent, extensive, detailed help on my electrical issues (batteries, chargers, generators, controllers, solar power, etc.) It gives specific numerical data and recommendations on top suppliers. It has the best discussion I've found on battery types (e.g. flooded cell, gel-cell, AGM, etc). It provided the information I needed to make extensive upgrades to my Aliner electrical system. The book covers other issues too; e.g. water, heating, cooling, etc. In contrast, the book "RV Electrical, Computer, Solar, and Communications Systems" by Meyer was of very little help, concentrated too much on computer issues which are common knowledge now and offering only very general information on electrical systems.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars not much help November 26, 2011

By K. dillon

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

got this book and was real excited to see insights to places to stay and hints on staying off the beatin path. it is mostly about equipment. we have been full time for some time now so that was of no interest to us. I think the book was misleading and unless you are very new at this and need to equip your rv exclusively for boondocking, don't bother to buy this book. I think there is one page on places to stay and they were real innovative like parking lots and national and state parks.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and easily understood. March 31, 2011

By Fletch

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Not only was this a thorough treatment of RV electrical systems AND easily understood, but this will also become a great reference volume which I'll refer back to again I'm sure. With some of the author's recommendations I now have the hardware and the knowledge needed to spend extended time in back-country areas and get away from crowded campgrounds. Early chapters might make it seem that it will be a very basic book, but the author soon starts thoroughly covering ground on essential subjects like storing food, cooking, heating/cooling, communications, navigation, cell phones, internet access and electrical. The electrical discussion is where the author expertly covers the nuts and bolts of batteries, alternators, generators, converters, inverters, solar, wind, sizing your system and even some installation issues. The pictures and diagrams are very good as well. I highly recommend the book for all RV'ers.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars NOT for the average Rver January 13, 2012

By RVingFT

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I guess if one wanted an encyclopedia from an engineering perspective, this would be the text book.

For an average RVer who wants to learn about the intricacies of boondocking, it was way too technical and boring actually, for me to stick with.

The verbage was wordy, wordy, wordy and went on way too long to hang with for long. What seemed could be covered in a paragraph or two turned into 6 pages of repeat information, said 3 different ways.

Am sure engineers turned RVers would absorb most of the information, but the rest of us .... uhhh, not. I've gotten more out of bloggers explaining how/what/why they added a solar system to their rig ... in 3 or 4 posts total.