Unfiltered Tips for Safe Boondocking
Security is a subjective concept. As we gear up for a winter in the Baja peninsula of Mexico, we hear nothing but a sharp contrast of warnings and fear paired with folks who enthusiastically travel to the peninsula year after year, seeking a getaway from the cold winter weather.
As a first-generation Arab American, I am no stranger to the impact of fear. I have experienced the same fear that led to innocent people being targeted in the post-9/11 world. This experience, unfortunately common among minority groups in America, influences my approach to life on the road. I embrace an open mind while maintaining boundaries, always trusting my instincts. This balance, especially challenging for a recovering people pleaser like myself, became evident during our past year on the road, bringing forth some unfiltered tips.
Table of Contents
A Not-So-Fun but (true) Story
Unfiltered Tips for Safe Boondocking
Trust your instincts
Be aware of your surroundings
Read iOverlander reviews
Not everyone is your friend
Communication, accessibility, and emergency preparedness
Security systems
Social media
Educate yourself
Pushing past your fear can be rewarding
A Not-So-Fun but (true) Story:
Our gut has not always been right. During our time in Oregon, we were parked near an RV couple that seemed incredibly kind and harmless. We struck up a conversion, and next thing you know we are hanging out with them in their RV talking about life and having the best time!
As the conversation unfolded, the couple, unfortunately, revealed a side that was far from kindness. They began expressing prejudiced views, particularly towards black people. The atmosphere quickly shifted, and it became clear that their sentiments were deeply troubling.
At that moment, as my disbelief was evident, they abruptly asked for my name and posed an uncomfortable question: "You aren't black, are you?"
Not everyone you come across will share the same values as you do, and it comes down to knowing when to get up and leave. For me, my values are my guiding principle.
Here are my unfiltered tips for safe boondocking in your Skoolie or RV:
1. Trust your instincts: there is a reason this one is number one. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn’t. Leave a situation if you feel uncomfortable.
During our time in Phoenix, we decided to join a reputable farm work program. While we stayed there for three days, upon arriving my gut was screaming that something was off. It took me a while to learn the difference between the discomfort of going out of my comfort zone to have a new experience vs. when something is genuinely off. The nomad community can be incredibly vulnerable and susceptible to coming across harmful groups that exist on the road. We also learned that certain places operate cult-like groups and these can exist on public land, and we wouldn’t be the first bus lifers to come across a situation like this. At the end of the day, your gut will get you far, but you must be willing to listen to it.
2. Be aware of your surroundings: keep an eye out for strange activity.
Once while boondocking on an extremely large and empty piece of public land in Arizona, a car parked several feet from us and rolled their windows down to stare at us (for hours). When there is wide open space and someone parks several feet from you or uncomfortably close to your rig, this is a red flag.
3. Read iOverlander reviews, even if you visit the same place often.
Season to season, things can change even if you have visited the same place before. iOverlander is a great source for seeing the type of activity that may be happening before you arrive.
During our second visit to a piece of land in Joshua Tree, we found it filled with trash, several RVs were burned down, and the vibe had completely changed from several months prior. We did our best to clean up the trash we could, but ultimately decided it was time to move on.
More than that, be aware of local regulations regarding overnight parking and camping. Some areas may have restrictions, and violating these rules could result in fines or other consequences. On more than one occasion, we have been parked on a piece of land where those rules change (literally overnight). Always remember that you're on public land, and if it's not treated responsibly, it can be shut down.
4. Just because someone drives the same rig as you, doesn’t mean you’ll be friends.
Before we hit the road, we thought that the skoolie community was all about good vibes and positivity. However, as our time on the road unfolded, we realized that this community, like any other, has its challenges. It is essential to remember that humans will be humans, regardless of how many followers they have on Instagram.
5. Communication, Accessibility, & Emergency Preparedness
When choosing a location for your skoolie or RV, make sure it's accessible for your vehicle. Check the condition of the road and any potential obstacles that may affect your route, especially during the winter season. For instance, we didn't know that the snow melt in Yosemite would cause floods, and we had to leave quickly to reach a safer destination. If you're not familiar with the mountains, it's essential to research what a season is typically like in a place before you go.
Being prepared for fires is crucial when traveling through California and the Pacific Northwest during the summertime. We constantly navigated fire maps, and once, while in the North Cascades, we received an evacuation notice. Other times, we parked in areas that had prescribed fires during the fall, and our bus filled up with smoke in the middle of the night. Sometimes, these situations are avoidable, so it's essential to learn from our mistakes.
Install reliable weather apps on your phone or tablet to receive real-time updates, and don't just dismiss them when you hear a loud beep. Consider a NOAA weather radio for more accurate and detailed information, especially in remote areas. While having satellite internet that can connect you in any location is important, it's also crucial to ensure you have the power and a backup power source to power it if needed.
6. Security Systems
Having a camera inside and outside our skoolie gives us peace of mind, but everyone's needs are different. For us, being able to monitor our pets while we're away is crucial. During the first few months on the road, I was terrified to leave the bus and often couldn't leave our cats alone.
My advice is if something is causing you stress or anxiety, it's worth investing in something that will bring you peace. We track the temperature of the bus, and the level of our batteries, and keep notifications on for any activity around our bus. There are multiple tracking devices hidden in the bus, and we always take the keys with us if we leave it.
More importantly, making friends on the road and traveling with a trustworthy community that shares your values is the best peace of mind for us. Having someone back at 'camp' can be extremely beneficial, and in my opinion, is the best 'security' you can have on the road.
7. Social Media
I have mixed feelings about posting my location on social media. It's not something I overly concern myself with, but I do usually post in real-time while keeping the location broad. For example, although we may be parked in a boondocking spot outside of Seattle, I'd post as if we're in Seattle. There's so much public land around cities that it would be challenging for someone to find our physical location, which could be up to a couple of hours from a city in any direction. That's a lot of places to cover in the short time we're there.
Ultimately, do what makes you feel comfortable and be careful about trusting or meeting up with strangers over social media if you're not getting a good vibe online. While being open-minded has led us to unexpected friendships, it's also essential to strike a balance and limit your judgment of others before they have a chance to show you who they are.
Social media can make us feel like we know each other through our curated and planned online presence, but at the end of the day, what people choose to share is limited. We find it's best to meet someone in person to feel their energy, intuition, and gut. Despite all of my stories, I've learned that most people are good.
8. Educate Yourself
When you're in a beautiful boondocking site, you're likely sharing it with some wildlife in the area. Be aware of what wildlife might be present and know what to do in case you encounter a potentially dangerous animal. We've boondocked with cows and seen herds of wild burros in some parts of Arizona (and they're adorable). In the PNW, we often saw deer, elk, owls, and other beautiful creatures. It's incredibly rewarding and magical when these moments happen, and it's the reason we got into this life. But it's crucial to respect the animals and give them their space.
On the flip side, we've also had encounters with aggressive carpenter bees (look them up, they're fascinating!) and had our bus swarmed by an entire hive of bees for reasons still unknown for an hour in Sedona. Sometimes strange things happen. If you have a camera outside your bus, it can be fascinating to see all the different wildlife that roams around at night.
Do your research, but also be prepared for unexpected situations to arise. Remember, you're sharing the land with everything else that inhabits it.
9. Pushing past your fear can be rewarding
I believe in staying safe, but I'm also a big advocate for going out of your comfort zone. We've heard so many warnings on the road, and if we had listened to them all, we would have missed out on incredible experiences. Often, iOverlander will say that certain spots are not big rig-friendly when, in fact, they can be. This takes a lot of research, such as using Google Maps satellites, looking at photos of the rigs currently there, having a backup spot, and having a lead car to check it out can be incredibly helpful. It's essential to know your limits and your rig's limits without pushing it too far. It's okay to be a little conservative in the beginning and ease into certain things.
I have learned it is important to form your own opinion on places on the road. People tend to have different preferences and travel styles, so it is best to not always let opinions sway you one way or another. We've been given coordinates to a friend's 'favorite spot' only to find it was our least favorite spot. We have also been told not to bother going to Baja or Quartzsite, but we ended up having a great time there. Keep in mind that these are opinions, and you are allowed to form your own.
Conclusion:
As we head to Baja, navigating the mix of cautionary tales and the excitement behind the nomads that travel there every year is a reminder to use your values as your compass. The truth is, not everyone on the road will be for you, and that is okay. It may take a long time to find your people. Our journey had unexpected experiences like an RV hangout in Oregon that took an unexpected dark turn and the realization that Instagram connections do not guarantee genuine connections. Here are my unfiltered takeaways: trust your gut, stay alert, consult iOverlander, respect the local rules, acknowledge wildlife’s unpredictable side, keep your online details vague, and let your intuition guide the way if you are meeting buddies on the road.
My mantra: Safety leads and curiosity is close behind.
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