The Holy Grail (cheap, efficient, easy)

[daveb]

Plenty of places to boon dock out here although they're clamping down on that kind of camping in small phases every year as time goes on.

If you think about it, the fridge and keeping it going 24-7 is probably one of the more important issues when it comes to backcountry travel. Even a memory foam cushion thrown in the back of a van and a good sleeping bag is better than a tent in crappy weather but a fully converted van makes for a better traveling experience IMO.

[GrumpyBadger]

Originally Posted by Surfmore72

Having never been rving I am trying to figure out what we'll need to keep us both happy for this extended period of time are we likely to find boondocking spots on rivers or streamd out west?

Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah have many many possibilities in the National Forests and BLM lands. Closer to national parks can be more difficult as the feds may have limited boondocking in places where it used to be allowed some years back (e.g. around Yellowstone, Arches, Canyonlands, etc.). I am less familiar with Idaho, Arizona, and the coast states (someone chime in), but I am guessing that a good deal of the "clamping down" on boondocking is probably along the coast states where the population - and therefore usage - is higher. I've not noticed (not to say it hasn't happened) any significant decline in opportunities in the Rocky Mountain states. Only thing I've noticed is more and more people even in "off" times of year when I used to see no one (20 years ago Moab was essentially empty from December through February, not so anymore).

Finding boondocking back east is considerably more difficult... there is SOME, but I found it WAY more limited in my experience (admittedly limited as my experience is), and I mostly had to settle for campgrounds while I lived in SC and east TN to be near the places I wanted to be near... someone from back that part of the country please chime in!

(hope that helps a little )

[hogasm]

Are there some places near Yellowstone to boondock. We should be there by Wednesday next week.

[BrianW]

Originally Posted by hogasm

Are there some places near Yellowstone to boondock. We should be there by Wednesday next week.

There are a few places west of West Yellowstone, off of Hwy 287 and on the backside of Hebgen Lake.

Last summer we stayed overnight en route at a free MT Fish/Wildlife campground right on the Madison River. See Raynolds Pass Montana FWP | Near Cameron Montana Not scenic, nor private, but it's free, has toilets and the occasional picnic table, etc. It's about 30 miles from West Yellowstone.

[accrete]

Greetings Surfmore and all : )

This thread was an enjoyable read and added to my notes, and much of below is simply my 2cents on what others have stated above from their experience and am grateful for reading them all.

On #VanLife? Totally with you on that! My wife and I fully intend on doing same in our #AWDvan once the 9to5 is behind us. For now we take ~a week off a month~ during the months of April through October for mini-adventures.

Some things that come to my mind (& other random brain synapse firings)

On the used to be a backpacker: My wife and I were tent campers and have slowly moved into the van style (~five years in the making~). We've chosen to keep things simple even with all the possibilities of including things with a more "Modern" approach to onboard systems such as wonderful DC fridges, pluming hot/cold water, microwaves/convection ovens etc...
You see We LOVE, yes LOVE the simplicity of some of the rigs out there and near-stubbornly refuse to go beyond what one might call a _rolling dry cabin_ sort of build.

Take for instance these simple solutions:

1) Hot water. We have no plumbing pipes to freeze/maintain. If we want hot water we boil a pot of water on the camp stove. It's not "Instantly" available, but it is too hot to touch in a couple minutes.

2) Cold beverages/food. We regularly get ~10 days of 40 degree upper layer temps and below 33d temps in lower layer in our 80qt Engle Deep Blue ice cooler. We begin on the bottom w/a 20lb bag of ice on the bottom (a ~$3 expense. Yes I know it adds up, but works for some of us in the food budget/build), place any frozen items, then a layer of ~3/4" closed cell sleeping pad, then place all items like veggies/yogurt/etc (refrig items) above the pad and then place another matching CCF pad above before closing the lid. No power needed.

3) Shower inside. It can be as easy as mixing an ambient kettle of water with a hot kettle in a gravity bag or garden sprayer and string up a shower curtain and use a cement-mix-tub from Lowes/HD (like we do) < < yes this is girly, girl, wifie approved. YMMV. I just happen to luck out and marry a wonderful MacGilver that dreams up this stuff.

4) On cooking. We don't cook inside, even when it is inclement weather outside. We will boil a kettle of water and pour into a pouch meal, but that's about it as we really enjoy cooking outside. Even when we had our 15ft fiberglass TT behind the van (and pop up years before that behind our TACO) we still cooked outside.

5) Sleeping comfort. When we are in a camp for more than a couple nights we set up our hammocks/stands, otherwise we are sleeping on a permanent bed utilizing a Froli Sleep System and two Big Agnus Q-Core insulated sleeping pads (makes a 50" x 78" bed). The storage under bed is well used to organize the camp gear.

As others mentioned the added-to-base van weight of build needs to be thought of in the mix. Our 1/2 ton / 1500 chevy awd build would not have worked at all really if we'd not had the desire to build in the spirit of a WESTY. Light, simple, and functional. I'd have to dig, but I recall the base rig somewhere around ~5500lbs~ and we roll just under the GVWR of ~7300lbs. It can be done, but one should think simple systems/build if not going up to a 3/4 or 1 ton platform.

Well that's what came to mind after reading the thread. Beyond it all I wish you the best in the next leg of your big adventure.

: ) Thom

[Otter]

Originally Posted by Surfmore72

Having never been rving I am trying to figure out what we'll need to keep us both happy for this extended period of time are we likely to find boondocking spots on rivers or streamd out west?

Though not technically boondocking (as in free), I've always enjoyed the Forest Service campgrounds out here. Many in my neck of the woods are free or $5. I use the term "campground" loosely, since a lot of them are barely cleared out spaces in the woods or - my favorites - next to a river. They usually have water, but sometimes things don't work, so you'll want to be prepared. What I like best about them is most folks with serious RV requirements avoid them like the plague. Works just right for me.

Campground Directory and National Forest Campgrounds

[accrete]

Originally Posted by Otter

Though not technically boondocking (as in free), I've always enjoyed the Forest Service campgrounds out here...

Agree 100% w/U Otter. My wife and I frequent the USFScgs from Randle WA down into Oregon. Fav's so far are Lower Falls Campground near Cougar WA and Sunset Falls CG near Battle Ground WA.

Like u we avoid the "RV" type hook up parks once out on our ~monthly~ adventure...we do full time in a 43ft toyhauler though and have all the trimmings thanks to that 50amp service! < < but it is rarely moved from the coast.

: ) Thom

[Kingskid]

I might do it a little differently. If you purchase a cargo van for less than $8K with a factory trailer setup and then spend a couple of grand on a 14-18 ft camping trailer (hard side), you can get on the road within the month. You may decide to forego the conversion and may even decide to use the van in your new business. Your choices for parking may be diminished, however, you will find plenty of parking locations. There are books on camping sites for less than $12/night. Apps are numerous for locating free parking sites. Many Walmarts, casinos and other locations allow free overnites.
Get a vehicle that is reliable and a small camping trailer and you increase your options, gives you time to figure out the details and lets you focus on where you want to settle and what business you want to start.