BOONDOCKING
Boondocking for RV-ers is when you camp without being hooked up to any utilities. You must completely rely on the campers onboard systems for electricity, water, and disposing of waste water.
The boys and I just returned from a great weekend at the race track "boondocking". After my previous log entry I installed the new water tank and connected the old pump which didn't work. After an hour of disassembly and head scratching I found the problem only to be that the rubber valves had stuck in the closed position when the pump last dried out. I lubricated them lightly with silicone spray and the pump now works amazingly well. Loud but reliable. The pressure switch works as intended, when the pressure drops on the outlet side of the pump it automatically turns on until the pressure builds in the pipes again after the faucet, or toilet is turned off.
Since the '73 Argosy doesn't have a gray water tank I had to use a tote-along(?). You set it under the camper and it catches sink and shower water. The "black" water tank still holds all the toilet waste. We left with a full water tank and after doing the dishes late on our second day I noticed that the fresh water tank had become almost empty (note to self...stick to paper plates and cups when boondocking). I had a 5 gallon water jug that we filled twice and emptied into the tank to replenish most of our supply. For drinking water we had a 5 gallon water cooler type bottle with a "Dolphin" pump in the top. With the temps in the 90's we 3 drank most of that bottle in just 3 days.
The biggest headache of the weekend was the fridge. Burdened by the heat it could only make ice over night and barely kept liquids cool during the day. I had left the fridge thermometer at home so I don't know if the temps reached were dangerously low. The biggest factor is probably that we were parked in full sun the whole time (note: bring cooler to keep store bought ice in). I was able to keep the interior of the camper pretty cool using "reflective bubble wrap". I would bungie it to the top of the window when open and it made a great canopy for each window. I'll photograph an example and add it here:
Since the front of the Argosy is gutted I simply threw a full size futon on the floor for the boys to sleep on. They loved it...and any mattress that allows sanctioned wrestling is always a pleasure for them. I slept high and dry on my twin mattress from the NH trip.
I installed a makeshift canopy using an old canvas tarp and some tent poles that worked pretty well. I don't have the budget for a real canopy but I'm sure that I could refine the system for a better fit. Since I forgot the camera this weekend I don't have any pictures, sorry.
The boys and I just returned from a great weekend at the race track "boondocking". After my previous log entry I installed the new water tank and connected the old pump which didn't work. After an hour of disassembly and head scratching I found the problem only to be that the rubber valves had stuck in the closed position when the pump last dried out. I lubricated them lightly with silicone spray and the pump now works amazingly well. Loud but reliable. The pressure switch works as intended, when the pressure drops on the outlet side of the pump it automatically turns on until the pressure builds in the pipes again after the faucet, or toilet is turned off.
Since the '73 Argosy doesn't have a gray water tank I had to use a tote-along(?). You set it under the camper and it catches sink and shower water. The "black" water tank still holds all the toilet waste. We left with a full water tank and after doing the dishes late on our second day I noticed that the fresh water tank had become almost empty (note to self...stick to paper plates and cups when boondocking). I had a 5 gallon water jug that we filled twice and emptied into the tank to replenish most of our supply. For drinking water we had a 5 gallon water cooler type bottle with a "Dolphin" pump in the top. With the temps in the 90's we 3 drank most of that bottle in just 3 days.
The biggest headache of the weekend was the fridge. Burdened by the heat it could only make ice over night and barely kept liquids cool during the day. I had left the fridge thermometer at home so I don't know if the temps reached were dangerously low. The biggest factor is probably that we were parked in full sun the whole time (note: bring cooler to keep store bought ice in). I was able to keep the interior of the camper pretty cool using "reflective bubble wrap". I would bungie it to the top of the window when open and it made a great canopy for each window. I'll photograph an example and add it here:
Since the front of the Argosy is gutted I simply threw a full size futon on the floor for the boys to sleep on. They loved it...and any mattress that allows sanctioned wrestling is always a pleasure for them. I slept high and dry on my twin mattress from the NH trip.
I installed a makeshift canopy using an old canvas tarp and some tent poles that worked pretty well. I don't have the budget for a real canopy but I'm sure that I could refine the system for a better fit. Since I forgot the camera this weekend I don't have any pictures, sorry.
posted by Fixxer at 7:29 PM
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