Know the Lingo

Boondocking Glossary

Plain-English definitions for every term you'll encounter in the boondocking world.

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14-Day Rule: The standard BLM and USFS limit: you can camp in one spot for up to 14 consecutive days, then must move at least 25 miles. After 28 days you must leave the area entirely.

AGM: Absorbent Glass Mat. A type of sealed lead-acid battery. Heavier and less efficient than LiFePO4 but cheaper upfront. Should only be discharged to 50% to preserve lifespan.
Amp-Hour (Ah): A unit measuring battery capacity. A 100Ah battery at 12V can deliver 100 amps for 1 hour, or 10 amps for 10 hours, etc. Most battery specs use Ah; most appliances use watts. Convert: Ah = Wh ÷ 12.

Boondocking: Camping without water, electric, or sewer hookups — typically on free public land. Also called dry camping or dispersed camping.
BLM: Bureau of Land Management. The federal agency managing about 245 million acres of public land, primarily in the western US. Most BLM land allows free dispersed camping for up to 14 consecutive days.
Black Water: Wastewater from the toilet. Stored in your black tank. Requires dumping at a dump station with RV sewer access.
Boondockers Welcome: A peer-to-peer hosting network where RVers host other RVers in their driveway for free. Small annual fee. Good for urban overnights when boondocking isn't available.

Converter / Charger: A device that charges your batteries from shore power or a generator. Most RVs have one built in. Often combined with an inverter as an "inverter-charger."
Cell Booster: A device that amplifies cellular signal inside your RV. Popular brands: WeBoost, SureCall. Helpful in marginal signal areas but cannot create signal where none exists.

Dispersed Camping: Camping outside of designated campgrounds, typically on national forest or BLM land. Usually free, no reservations, and no facilities.
Dry Camping: Camping without hookups — used interchangeably with boondocking, though dry camping can include paid campgrounds without hookups.
Dump Station: A facility where you can empty your RV black and gray tanks. Found at campgrounds, fuel stations, RV dealers, and some rest areas. Often free or $5–$15 to use.
Depth of Discharge (DoD): How much of your battery's capacity you use before recharging. AGM: 50% max; LiFePO4: 80–100%. Using more than recommended shortens battery life.

Gray Water: Wastewater from sinks and showers (not the toilet). Stored in your gray tank. Must be dumped at an approved dump station — never on public land.
Generator: A fuel-powered device for generating electricity. Common in RVs for supplementing solar or charging in cloudy weather. Most campgrounds restrict hours; BLM land varies.

Harvest Hosts: A membership program ($99/yr) allowing RVers to stay for free at wineries, breweries, farms, and attractions. One-night stays, no hookups. Good supplement to BLM boondocking.

Inverter: A device that converts 12V DC battery power to 120V AC power for running household appliances. Pure sine wave inverters are recommended for sensitive electronics.

LTVA: Long Term Visitor Area. BLM-designated areas (mainly in AZ and CA) that allow camping for up to 7 months for a flat fee. Popular with snowbirds in the Quartzsite and Yuma, AZ area.
LiFePO4: Lithium Iron Phosphate. The safest and most durable type of lithium battery for RV use. Lighter than AGM, can be discharged to 80–100% without damage, and lasts 2,000–5,000+ cycles. Expensive upfront but cheaper over time.

MVUM: Motor Vehicle Use Map. Official USFS maps showing which roads are open to motorized vehicles and where dispersed camping is permitted. Download free from the USFS website.
MPPT: Maximum Power Point Tracking. A type of solar charge controller that is more efficient than PWM controllers, especially in partial shade or at cooler temperatures. Recommended for any serious solar setup.

Navy Shower: A water-conservation shower technique: turn on water briefly to get wet, turn off, soap up completely, turn on to rinse. Uses 1–2 gallons vs. 8–10 for a normal shower.

PWM: Pulse Width Modulation. A simpler, cheaper type of solar charge controller. Less efficient than MPPT, but fine for small systems (100W or less).
Peak Sun Hours: The number of hours per day when sunlight intensity is sufficient for maximum solar panel output. Not the same as daylight hours. Southwest desert: ~6 hrs/day; Pacific NW: ~3–4 hrs/day.

Quartzsite: A small town in western Arizona that hosts the world's largest RV gathering each winter (January–March). Tens of thousands of RVers camp on surrounding BLM land, many for the full LTVA season.

Shore Power: Electricity from a campground hookup (typically 30A or 50A). The absence of shore power is what defines boondocking.
Solar Generator: A portable battery with an inverter and solar input port. Brands like Jackery, Goal Zero, and EcoFlow make popular models for boondockers. Not a traditional generator — no fumes or noise.
Starlink: SpaceX's satellite internet service. Offers RV plans with no fixed address requirement. Currently the best option for full-timers who need reliable high-speed internet in remote areas.

USFS: US Forest Service. Manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. Most national forests allow dispersed camping; check the specific forest's rules for restrictions.

Watt-Hour (Wh): A unit measuring energy consumption or storage. 1 Wh = 1 watt used for 1 hour. Used to size solar systems and compare battery capacities. Convert: Wh = Ah × 12.

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