dry Camping Without A Generator

my wife and I are thinking about wintering in the southwest for the first time this coming year. We have a 28' fifth wheel without a generator. We are interested in a couple of the cg's that advertise that they do not take reservations, but they do have an overflow area and a fair system to allow all to utilize the FHU sites. I am wondering if anyone knows the average length of stay in an overflow site out there. Secondly, what kind of trouble am I going to get into with no generator to replenish my batteries or run the air conditioner? Third, is there anyone experienced with extended dry camping periods (my expertise with it is Wal-Mart parking lots and the Flying J) in an uncontrolled setting who might give a newbie some sound advice? Thanks.

We drycamp and boondock extensively. But we're setup for it with many solar panels.

Are you looking at Military campgrounds, or public RV Parks also? Where in the SW? We spend may months in the Arizona desert. The military campgrounds in this area (and the deserts of California) are very busy in Winter. Plan on a couple weeks, or more to move into a hook-up site. Personally, I would recommend a generator. You probably won't need it for A/C in the Winter, but a small Honda to run the microwave and charge the batteries.

Although it's not for everyone, we enjoy the freedom and beauty of the desert during these Winter months. We can stay free on BLM land all over the place for 2 weeks. Then we move 50 - 100 miles to another location and start over. There are "Long Term" BLM areas that you can stay up to 6 months for only $150 (I can't remember the exact price). The Long Term area will have a central location to dump and water fill. We stay our 2 weeks in the Short Term area, head into Desert Breeze (Yuma Marine Corps) to dump and fill up with fresh water, buy propane and do laundry, then head out for another 2 weeks somewhere else.

We join up with friends for a few weeks and have a great time. If you're in Arizona (Quartzsite) in late January, you're welcome to join us. Perhaps we should have a "U.S. Military Campgrounds" website users 'muster' out in the desert?

So designate a date/location for the laager and we'll see who shows up. Besides us, that is.

Appreciate the response. The only thing I have ever done in the desert southwest is drive through it from southern california to sweetgrass montana. we were on our way to calgary, alberta. Yes, we were looking exclusively at military cg's for our wintering. most of the folks in our area travel to florida or georgia, or maybe the gulf coast. not too many winter in the southwest. i have heard that the drier air is better for all around good health. southern florida is awfully congested and sports a high crime rate. though i would love to watch spring baseball (red sox). for the time being, what i am learning, i am learning through this website, and my military living's RV campground book. thanks again.

AAAHHHHHH !! Another Red Sox fan -- have spent time in southern Florida for the Spring games myself a few times ... nothing quite like that after a winter without baseball ... but some teams spring train in the SW too ... can't remember which ones, but baseball is baseball, no matter where it's played.

larry

You have created an entity (call it a monster or a new life form) and eventually you will have to sponsor a rally or a muster (or perhaps another condiment).

You have quite a few loyal fans and giving them an opportunity to get them together will allow you to learn first hand what they are thinking about the website and your software. It will also give them an opportunity to talk about some of the subjects that have come up and perhaps put together plans to resolve some of the issues.

I'd suggest that you have already had the first muster when we met for breakfast at Quartzsite in January. Do it again and call it the "second annual". The people who show up for it can plan the "third annual."

You, sir, are the leader of a movement that in the next few years will do more to improve military campgrounds than anyone has ever done before. A lot of people want to help you, let them do it.

Glenn