If you’ve been watching our channel for any amount of time, you already know… we didn’t start out as boondockers.
We went from full hookups… to figuring things out the hard way… to now spending 200+ days off-grid some years.
And along the way, we’ve tested a LOT of gear.
Some of it worked…
Some of it absolutely didn’t…
This is the gear that actually stuck.
These are the products we use every time we’re out boondocking that make off-grid RV life easier, more comfortable… and honestly, a lot more enjoyable.
🎥 Start Here (If You’re New)
👉 Watch our full Boondocking Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVGl8nh6RndTAXPaap8pzGi1q_WVSqz3I
This isn’t just gear — it’s how we actually live this day-to-day.
💧 Water Setup (This Changed Everything)
👉 Watch how we fill our water bladder:
https://youtu.be/b_jtAKlYxT4
If you plan to stay out for more than a couple of days, water becomes one of your biggest challenges.
This setup allows us to bring water to the RV instead of constantly packing up and moving.
What we use:
Potable Water Bladder (35–110 gallon options)
https://amzn.to/40tvWBEWater Storage Cubes
https://amzn.to/4sc0xjc12V Water Transfer Pump
https://amzn.to/4scEhpD
This has been one of the biggest upgrades to how we boondock.
Pro Tip (This is HUGE)
👉 Don’t wait until you’re empty to refill
We top off early because:
Water sources can be 20–30 minutes away
Lines happen
Pumps fail
Plans change
Running out of water off-grid is NOT fun
💩 Waste Management (Keep It Simple)
The Truth About Waste Off-Grid
You’ve got two options:
Option 1: Traditional Tote (Great for Beginners)
👉 Traditional Camco tote (how-to):
https://youtu.be/XlzGre0rUPY
Cheaper
Simpler
Works fine for short stays
BUT…
👉 You’ll be making more trips
👉 And dealing with more handling
Option 2: Waste Bladder (What We Use Now)
👉 Our CURRENT waste bladder setup:
https://youtu.be/FmsBC9NlCng
This changed everything for us.
Larger capacity
Fewer dump runs
More time staying put
The BIG Lesson We Learned
👉 Waste is what ends your stay… not your view
You can have all the solar in the world…
But when your tanks are full, you’re moving.
Tote Accessories- What We Use
- Macerator Pump- Impoerant to push the waste into the tote or bladder in the truck.
https://amzn.to/3P2vh7R
Liquified RV Tank Treatment– This is the ONLY Tank Treatment that we have used that actually worked to keep the smells at bay, no poop pyramids and sensors working.
Use code: TOMORROW15
https://liquifiedrv.com/?rfsn=8900679.41cb6fLiquishine- Liquishine RV Wash & Wax – love this for boondocking since it doesn’t require lots of water! Works really well on the black streaks and bugs.
https://liquifiedrv.com/?rfsn=8900679.41cb6f
Pro Bladder or Tote Tips (Hard-Won Lessons)
Always carry backup fittings (ask us how we know 😅)
Use clear connectors so you can see flow
Rinse longer than you think you need to
And most importantly…
👉 Don’t rush this process. Ever.
🔋 Power Setup (Off-Grid Essentials)
If there’s one thing that separates “this is cool for a night or two” from “we can stay out here as long as we want”… it’s your power setup.
Early on, we were constantly thinking about power:
What can we run?
How long will it last?
Do we need to fire up the generator?
And honestly… that gets old fast.
The shift for us was moving to a lithium + solar + backup system — and more importantly, changing how we think about power.
The Most Important Lesson We’ve Learned
Most people ask:
👉 “How much solar do I need?”
But that’s actually the wrong question.
👉 “What do I want to run — and for how long?”
That determines everything:
Battery size
Solar capacity
Backup needs
We walk through this exact thought process in our solar videos and tools, and it’s the same framework we used to build our system.
🔋 Batteries — The Foundation of Everything
For us, lithium batteries were the turning point.
We’re running Redodo lithium batteries, and they’ve been a sweet spot between performance and affordability.
👉 Save an extra 8% with code LIKE8
https://www.redodopower.com/?ref=bbmdkrve
Why we like them:
More usable capacity vs lead acid
Faster recharge times
Easy to expand as your needs grow
And this is straight from experience — once we upgraded to lithium, it completely changed how long we could stay off-grid.
⚡ Portable Power (Where Bluetti Comes In)
Even with a full solar setup, we’ve found a lot of value in having portable power in the mix.
👉 https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101568695-16981946
👉 BLUETTI Elite 300
https://bit.ly/3OULDz7
Use code AFF5OFF for 5% OFF
Bluetti systems (like the Elite 300 + expansion batteries) are built around LiFePO4 tech with integrated battery management and protection systems, which is a big part of why they’re so reliable for RV use.
Why we actually use them:
Backup power if something goes sideways
Portable power outside the rig
Running specific loads without tapping your whole system
👉 It’s not about replacing your main system
👉 It’s about adding flexibility
🔧 A Simple Hack That’s Been a Game-Changer
One thing Barry has shown (and we use all the time) is how you don’t always need your entire system to run everything.
You can take a small portable battery (like a Redodo) and power specific 12V gear directly.
We’ve used a small battery to run things like:
Macerator pump
Water pump
Air compressor
This is huge because:
👉 You’re not cycling your entire battery bank
👉 You’ve got a portable “problem-solver” you can grab and go
👉 It gives you redundancy if your main system is tied up
It’s one of those little things that doesn’t sound like much…
…but when you’re out boondocking, it’s the kind of flexibility that makes life way easier.
The Reality About Power (That Nobody Talks About)
Solar is incredible… but it’s not magic.
👉 Big loads change everything
Things like:
Air conditioning
Electric cooking
Space heaters
…will drain even a solid system fast.
That’s why we’ve learned to:
Chase better weather when we can
Be intentional about when we use big loads
Build a system around our lifestyle, not a house
The Setup Mindset That Changed Everything
Once we stopped trying to “power everything like a house” and started building around how we actually live…
👉 Boondocking got WAY easier
Because now:
We’re not constantly stressing about power
We’re not running generators all the time
We can stay out longer (which is the whole point)
Simple Advice If You’re Starting Out
If you’re building your system, here’s what we’d focus on:
Start with what you actually use daily
Invest in good lithium batteries first
Add solar to support your usage
Have a backup (portable power or generator)
Because at the end of the day…
👉 Power = Freedom
And once you dial this in…
everything else about boondocking gets a whole lot easier.
What we use:
Redodo Lithium Batteries
Code: LIKE8
https://www.redodopower.com/?ref=bbmdkrveBluetti Power Systems
Code: AFF5OFF
https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101568695-16981946Bluetti Elite 300
https://bit.ly/3OULDz7
Macerator Pump for Waste Tote/Bladder filling – https://amzn.to/3P2vh7R
Water Pump for Fresh Water Filling from bladder- https://amzn.to/4scEhpD
Viair Portable Compressor Kit- https://amzn.to/3NCIy6D
🐾 Pet Safety (Peace of Mind)
So let me paint you a quick picture…
We were at the Grand Canyon.
Not “run to the store for 20 minutes”…
👉 We were gone for HOURS.
Hiking. No service in spots. Not anywhere near the rig.
And that’s when this stuff really hits you…
Because when you’re boondocking:
You’re not plugged in
You’re not running the AC all day
And your RV basically becomes a sealed box sitting in the sun
And the question in the back of your mind the whole time is:
👉 “What’s going on inside right now?”
The Part Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think:
👉 “Well we’d never leave our pets without AC running…”
Yeah… same.
But when you’re off-grid, that’s not always realistic.
So instead, what matters most is this:
👉 You need to know if something changes.
Not guess. Not hope.
Know.
🐾 What We Use (And Why It Matters)
👉 Waggle Pet Monitor Lite
💥 Use code WAGGLE10 for an extra 10% off
Here’s why this one works so well for how we travel:
It uses its own cellular connection (huge for boondocking)
You set your temp range
If things go outside that range…
👉 You get an alert immediately
So back to that Grand Canyon day…
We weren’t wondering.
We weren’t guessing.
👉 We knew everything was fine.
And if it wasn’t… we would’ve known right away.
👀 If You Want That Extra Peace of Mind
We also like having the ability to just check in.
Not necessary… but really nice.
👉 RV Mini Camera (small and great for inside the rig)
💥 Code: RVMCAM10
👉 4G Mini Camera (Love this for monitoring the RV outside as well. )
💥 Code: WAGCAM10
So if we ever want to…
👉 We can pull up the app and literally see Hugo just laying there like nothing’s going on.
Bottom Line
When you’re hooked up at a campground… this is nice to have.
When you’re boondocking…
👉 This is peace of mind.
🔐 Security (When You Leave the Rig Out There)
Let’s be honest… this is something we get asked about a lot:
👉 “Aren’t you worried leaving your RV out there like that?”
And here’s the real answer…
Most of the places we boondock?
👉 They’re actually pretty quiet. Pretty safe.
But…
👉 You’re still leaving your entire home sitting out there.
And when we leave — whether it’s to go hike, explore, or like that day at the Grand Canyon…
👉 We’re gone for a while.
Not just a quick run to the store.
What Barry Always Says (And It’s True)
We’re not trying to turn our RV into Fort Knox.
👉 That’s not realistic… and honestly, not necessary.
But what we DO want is:
👉 To not be the easy target.
That’s the goal.
Because most problems aren’t about someone trying to break into your rig specifically…
👉 It’s about opportunity.
The Approach We Take
We keep it simple. Consistent. And repeatable.
Lock it up the same way every time
Don’t leave things sitting out
Add a few layers that make someone think twice
Because again…
👉 You don’t have to be perfect
👉 You just don’t want to be easy
🔒 What We Use
5th Wheel King Pin Lock (When We Leave the Rig)
👉 https://www.etrailer.com/King-Pin-Locks/etrailer/e98896.html?etam=a0053
This is one of those things you don’t think about until you do.
If someone wanted to hook up and take your rig…
👉 This stops that from being quick or easy.
And that’s really the point.
🔗 Chain Lock (For Bikes & Gear)
If we’ve got anything outside — bikes, gear, whatever…
👉 It gets locked up.
Again, not trying to make it impossible…
👉 Just not convenient.
🔒 Folding Lock (Quick, Easy Option)
This is more of a grab-and-go option.
Something quick we can use without overthinking it.
💡 Everyday Gear That Just Makes Life Easier
These aren’t flashy, but we use them all the time.
What we use:
Ogery Camp Light
Code: Y3RQA8H4
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DM4M71X6Collapsible Wash Bin
https://amzn.to/4ruqYAzParchment Paper
https://amzn.to/4uO7TeLRubber Gloves
https://amzn.to/4svy9ZP
Small things… big difference.
❄️ Staying Warm While Boondocking
When temperatures drop, these help us stay comfortable without burning through propane.
Heated Jacket
https://amzn.to/40FR086Heated Vest
https://amzn.to/4rLl1OPHeated Hand Warmer Muff
https://amzn.to/47fToGi
🏕 Final Thoughts
You don’t need all of this gear to start boondocking.
But having the right setup can:
Keep you out longer
Reduce stress
Make the experience more enjoyable
And ultimately…
It gives you the freedom that RV life is all about.
Now let’s get out there… like there’s no tomorrow.
