Ten Must Have Boondocking Gear Items - Full Time RVing

[@tomtompkins6779]

Thank you! Great video. Always good to see real information from actual experience. Rvers. But you guys are having way too much fun.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thank you. We will try to tone down our joy. 😂😂. Thank you for the nice comment! 😃😃

[@tracylong4333]

My wife and I are getting ready to start RVing full time and your videos have been so helpful. Please keep them coming.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Tracy. We love hearing that! 😃

[@HomeARoam]

Solar is such a big one. 🌞 I thought we had tons of solar (400W) until we met some people with really serious setups with 2-4X as much. (I forget how much you guys have) Still, we didn't use our generator the entire trip. Which is good since it's an oldschool super loud noisy one. 😁

[@TheBorderHookups]

You’ll get there! 😃 Hope you guys are doing well!

[@Deontjie]

I got nothing....

[@MaxFriz]

It's nice to watch fun people. You make it interesting, useful and fun!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Max! We appreciate that! 😀😀

[@edluiszer4985]

Lot's of good information, will look into the levelers.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Ed! Yes, they are great! Be well! 😃

[@EdwardGomillion]

I used to be anti fire ring because I like the natural wood smoke and flame. Until I got a fire ring for no burn days. What a game changer. No waiting for the coals to burn out, no wet fire pit from dowsing the previous nigjts fire, etc. Great tip.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Right??? Thanks for watching Edward! 😃

[@david_reynolds3660]

These are the exact kind of videos that someone like me needs because I am kind of planning for the future to start RVing for retirement! And you guys are so informative when you do these types of RVs about what we need and what we don’t need! The niceties in there for technology and all that! Would like to see some prices on the hotspots, and the jet packs!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Jacqueline found the jet pack through Verizon. I would also look into Starlink.

[@jeannespiess7499]

You guys are great! Dedicated Hotspot! Cracked me up!! :)

[@TheBorderHookups]

😂

[@OldSoulPammy]

🤣Best intro AND outro I've ever seen!! You guys cracked me up + excellent recommendations = Great Video! Thanks guys! ☮️❤️😎

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thank you!!! 😀😀

[@moore_2_explore]

Uncanny! Nearly Everything on your list are things we carry AND we are full time for exactly 2 years now as well. Can't agree more about the propane fire pit. Really well done video!!👍

[@TheBorderHookups]

Love it! Happy to hear that we are not completely off base! 😃 Thanks for the compliment! Here’s to 2 more years! 🚎

[@vista39]

Love watching you guys.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Glenn!!! ❤️😃🚎

[@kevinsterner9490]

Good advice. Loved the ending 😂

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Kevin!

[@patdubois4204]

Like it! Dedicated Hotspot 😂. Like the Champion dual fuel generator. All great ideas. We will be getting the Viair air compressor. We also have a Berkeley water filter so we can reduce buying plastic water bottles to reduce trash etc. Thanks for another fun video.

[@TheBorderHookups]

100 percent agree! 😃😃

[@fry5family]

You two really put out some great contact... Thanks! We love your joyful spirits. We're slowly working our way across Texas toward New Mexico and Arizona. Boondocking when we can. Heading for some free ACOE camping this week. In a couple months we'll be in South Dakota to hook up with America's Mailbox. What an awesome lifestyle!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Have fun! Thanks for watching and safe travels!!!! 😃❤️🚎

[@Tom-x3m9g]

Good tips.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thank you! 😀😀

[@rayettakirkley1663]

Love the video as always!!!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Rayetta! 😃

[@El_CID801]

Cute couple! You guys are kewl…. Great tips!

[@TheBorderHookups]

❤️❤️

[@luannkelly5071]

I boondocked last month with no solar, no generator, no power except my truck. It got down in the 20s. Blankets and two large dogs kept me warm. We did warm up in the truck a few mornings until 🌞 it warmed up. I can't afford solar or a generator yet. I am on disability. Finally getting the duel fuel generator this month. Many things on your list are quite affordable and worthwhile. Great video!!. Keep gas in your tank and 10 extra gallon water jugs.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks for commenting Luann. It can definitely be done without all of the bells and whistles, as you have proven. Super cool that you are making it happen!!! 😃❤️🚎

[@gypsycrossroads]

I always say, it's not a camp fire if you don't smell like smoke! lol. Great tips!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Lol. We’ll put! Thanks for watching!

[@PeeWeeHenson]

I'D ADD 1 THING (IF ONE FINDS IT WORTHWHILE TO HAVE, I DO) A CARGO TRAY THAT FITS ON TO THE RECEIVER HITCH ON THE REAR OF THE RV. I USE ONE WITH A 300 LB WEIGHT LIMIT. COMES IN HANDY FOR 20 LB PROPANE BOTTLE, GAS CANS, FIRE WOOD, ETC. MY PICKUP HAS 6 1/2 ' BED AND SPACE IS A PREMIUM THERE.

[@TheBorderHookups]

100 percent agree! I used to have one and they are great. In our case we use our receiver for our bike rack. Love the suggestion!!! Please keep them coming!

[@campingalan]

Good afternoon!! Thank you thank you for these awesome recommendations!!! Safe travels!!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Alan! 😃

[@pauly4736]

Awesome channel, please keep them coming.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Paul! 😀😀

[@DONKEYdaDON]

1st time viewing...withing the first 0:10 seconds and I gotta subscribe immediately!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Hi and welcome!! Thanks so much, that makes it all worthwhile!! 😀💜

[@gayemeyer172]

GREAT video you two!! You missed the most important thing! Having Gaye and Robert near you at all times😘

[@TheBorderHookups]

Lol! It goes without saying! ❤️❤️

[@PlanFree]

Thanks for the reminder on the propane fire bowl. We had it on our list to add for this year, and now that our home region is on fire, all the more reason to get on it.🥂

[@TheBorderHookups]

Yes, there are far more opportunities to use it than having a real fire. 😄😄

[@shep5556]

Levelers? I just dig a hole for the tire on the high side to drop into. Works as a chock and levels the camper. Fill it in when you leave.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Good point. 😀

[@OurSecondLife]

Great list! Will have to get a water bladder now. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thank you for watching! 😀😀🚎

[@harleynavis5218]

When we picked up our outside rug,there were scorpions under it...we stayed in the Q a couple weeks to long..love your videos sax man out

[@TheBorderHookups]

Hey Harley! Good to know. I always expect to see a snake under the rug. Yikes! Be well!

[@carlgomm9699]

New subscriber here, such a nice show, very sound and solid advice too, am a retired over the road truck driver, my RV is 23 yrs old and nearly ready for the road, lost my wife 3 years ago, don't like to stay in the same place for very long, have been in all the lower 48 states and 5 Canadian provinces many times, still have a few things I want to see

[@TheBorderHookups]

Hi Carl - welcome aboard. We’re very sorry to hear about your wife. It’s great that you are getting out there! Thank you so much for watching and for commenting. Safe travels! 😀❤️🚎

[@Godishere247]

Awesome 👏🏽 video! Thanks for the information! Cute couple! Dedicated Hotspot! 🥵 😂

[@TheBorderHookups]

😂 yes!! Thank you so much!!!

[@Godishere247]

@@TheBorderHookups you’re very welcome! You two are awesome

[@gorvlivin]

Just found y’all. Love artificial grass for a rug. Thanks for the video. Gary at RV Livin’

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Gary! Welcome aboard! 😀😀🚎

[@stv111play]

Fire ring a good idea. east coast lacking in boondocking spots/ but still find places. thnks

[@TheBorderHookups]

@@stv111play Yes, much more difficult in the east. However, we were moving fast, so we didn’t do a lot of research. Thanks for watching and for the comment! Safe travels! 😀😀

[@rockybridges4820]

great tips guys!!! stay safe and warm

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Rocky! 😃

[@karlmopete]

All great suggestions. We have the ryobi battery operated chainsaw. It’s small and quite strong. it takes about the same room as a Bow saw. Really enjoy your channel.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Hey Peter. I am going to check that out for sure! We appreciate you for watching and commenting!😃

[@marcusaponte1287]

With your set up, how many solar batteries and panels were the “right” amount? Do you think going solar will eliminate the need for a generator?? Love the videos! Can’t wait for the wife and I to get going.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Hey Marcus. We have 1280 watts on the roof and 3 100 amp hour Lyon lithiums. That is a good balance for us. You won’t regret it. It’s a good investment! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@PlanFree]

Going to even a basic solar set up drastically reduced our generator hours, as we discuss in our "How to Boondock longer" video. This simple change allowed us to go from 4-5 generator hours every 2 days, to around 2 generator hours per month. The exception being the very odd use of our a/c which is about 0-1 time per year. Happy Boondocking!🥂

[@TheBorderHookups]

Good call! Happy boondocking!!

[@johnadams7323]

Jacqueline is a doll. 😊

[@Repairguy2]

Great info guys thanks you !!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thank you! We appreciate you for watching!! 😀😀

[@kristanricketts5028]

Liked and subbed because of the flag and the "she's obsessed with some convoy thing" bc... Same. Didn't know I wanted to live in an RV until that thing started. Stay safe and hop on to one of the live stream chats and promote your channel (haven't seen this name in any of em). 💚🇺🇲🇨🇦 Yall

[@TheBorderHookups]

❤️🇨🇦!!!! We will for sure! Thanks for watching and commenting! 😃❤️🚎

[@snake2bake]

Thanks, I will like to start RV-in but dono how to start. I have watched lots of videos and people are so discouraging saying that it is a lot and hard, lots of work. I haven't got a rv as yet but that's not my problem my problem is all the negative things people saying.

[@TheBorderHookups]

It’s like anything else. There are ups and downs. For us, the ups definitely outweigh the downs. 😀😀

[@snake2bake]

@TheBorderHookups thanks for replying. Question, is hard for one person to handle,I really want too , I need some encouragement.

[@jimbuckley4986]

Great advice. Have most of the items, but have not ventured into the hot spot arena yet

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thank you! Internet is so crucial for us to have on the road! 😀😀

[@e-square9976]

Knuckleheads! Love the Outro moves!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Lol. Thanks!

[@noahriding5780]

Curious if you'll add snow tire chains to your list. But maybe you aren't going to snowy areas also... so its fine if you don't have it.

[@TheBorderHookups]

No. Trying to miss the snow at all costs. 😀🥶. Just traction boards at this point.

[@noahriding5780]

@@TheBorderHookups I don't like to drive in ice and snow either. thanks for the video.

[@bairfreedom]

Switch your A/C unit to a mini split and you can run AC on your current solar setup.

[@TheBorderHookups]

We have talked about getting a 12 volt fridge. They are spendy little buggers.

[@waynecornwell2321]

Thanks for the advice!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Wayne!

[@jackchivvis4188]

Coming from a river rafting background we use a fire pan on legs (see my channel) that we can also cook on. We keep all our drinking water in half gallon stainless steel jugs. Towing a 10 ft. home built canned ham we prefer to be as low tech as possible. Small solar lights, wood stove for heat. 2 coolers for food.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Agreed. Simple is oftentimes better. Fewer moving parts.

[@heidyroberts5051]

Great 👍🏼 love this !! Ty

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Heidy! 😃

[@gracecallowayable]

Awesome!!!👠🚌👠

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thank you! 😃

[@larryjanson4011]

watch out on the trade in tanks. as some are only 1/3 to 3/4 full but you pay for a full one.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Right????

[@user-01Bigmac50]

By Ring a Chinese tub that keep cool

[@muffinflowersrvad485]

We are starting our full time adventure in April of 2026. The travel trailer we are getting has one 200 watt solar panel and we were going to add another and get a good size lithium battery. Maybe 400Ah.I'm worried how much we would have to spend for enough to run air conditioner. We will have a 500 watt inverter generator. Initially we were thinking one or 2 more panels. If we have enough $ left after we by the trailer maybe more. It's a Jayco 280RKS 34'.

[@TheBorderHookups]

That’s a great question! We can run our AC for about 2 hours with 1290 watts and 3 100AH batteries.

[@roc5292]

Min. You need a 2000 watt inverter

[@muffinflowersrvad485]

@@roc5292 I made a typo and that was supposed to say 5,000 watt generator.

[@muffinflowersrvad485]

My comment was supposed to say 5,000 w.

[@dougd9944]

Hi guys..😉

[@TheBorderHookups]

Hey Doug! 😃

[@birdman5223]

Good stuff U2🌝

[@TheBorderHookups]

Thanks Mark! 😃

[@gearsofbaird3529]

What exactly is boondocking? Just camping with an RV or "glamping" as my mom would call it?

[@TheBorderHookups]

Different people see it differently. Generally it’s camping in an RV without shore power or water hookups. Glamping is not far off. 😀

[@ChaseYourDay]

You left out the geetar. Mine is mandatory any style of camping. We had four is us picking and grinning at our campsite last weekend. I also always forget my levers since going to a 5th wheel. Knock on wood, haven’t needed it yet. It’s going in the trailer storage now though.

[@TheBorderHookups]

The guitar goes without saying! 😃❤️🎶

[@gratefuldude7511]

Do you have a DC to DC charger?

[@TheBorderHookups]

We do. 😃

[@TheBorderHookups]

Love the KZbin handle by the way.

[@mikemuha7537]

So how much solar did you start with and how much did you move up to?

[@TheBorderHookups]

Hi Mike. We started with 450 watts. I believe it was around $1500 but that was almost 4 years ago. We didn’t add the VictronConnect inverter until we added the additional solar.

[@BenedictHilda-u4l]

Wilson Gary Jones Daniel Miller Daniel

[@XBlaziX]

Im thinking of going into rv boondocking since me and my wife both work remotely and we love to have our privacy and don't spend time with other people much anyways. How much do you think it'd be to get started? and i just mean with a basic rv and nothing fancy at first?

[@TheBorderHookups]

Hello. That’s a really tough question. For us… 40k fifth wheel. 40k truck. 10k solar and batteries. There are endless variables when it comes to choosing your setup. I know that this is vague. 😀

[@HomeOnWheels320MKS]

Did you get with Mountain Beaches this week to cover 31 boondocking tips🙂? Nice dancing and presentation skills.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Lol! We were just sitting with them in Mexico talking about our coincidental episodes. 😂

[@derrybrant5505]

When towing with a class C what is recommended for a trailer or dolly

[@TheBorderHookups]

Hello. That’s a really good question. I have experience with neither. I would suggest checking out RV Miles’ page. Jason and Abbey give advice about everything RV. And they are great people. Thank you for reaching out! 😃

[@derrybrant5505]

@@TheBorderHookups thank you

[@TheBorderHookups]

You are very welcome! 😃

[@stevedenoyer5956]

What do you do with your trash? How do you get rid of it? Also, what about emptying your tanks?

[@TheBorderHookups]

Hi Steve. A lot of wayside rests have dumpsters or we pay at a gas station. Or you can break it into smaller bags and leave at the pump receptacles. For the tanks we use a dump station app to find spots. It’s never really an issue. Hope this helps.

[@starwoodstudios1]

First comment.. like #2....lol!

[@TheBorderHookups]

Lol! Hey Nathan! 😃

[@JFoxman]

Where do you store all that?

[@TheBorderHookups]

Creative storing. 😀. Everything has its place.

[@JFoxman]

@@TheBorderHookups Please give more details. Trying to learn something here.

[@TheBorderHookups]

I will have to rewatch that video and get right back to you. 😀

[@TheBorderHookups]

@@JFoxman I took a look at our show notes and here is a breakdown of where we store these items. I hope this helps. :-) We appreciate you for watching and commenting! Camco Levelers: amzn.to/3DXZOdg - Stored next to our leveling controls in the pass-through for easy access. Air Compressor: amzn.to/3JEBZZn - We keep this in the cab of the truck so that it is always with us. Generator: amzn.to/3O1Pc1J - Stored in the bed of the truck in the rear for easy access. Always locked. Contractor Garbage Bags: We keep these in the pass-through for easy access. amzn.to/37y4daC Verizon Jetpack Hotspot: Kept inside of the camper.amzn.to/3xcD7Rj Camp Saw: amzn.to/35WiH3E Kept in the bin under the rig. We don't use it a lot. Camp Hatchet: amzn.to/38tTcHM Same as the saw. Propane Fire Ring: amzn.to/3KsiWTf We keep this in the bed of the truck next to the gennie. Camper Rug: amzn.to/3upl4oV This sits under the cover lip right behind the cab of the truck so that it won't blow out on the road. Water Bladder: amzn.to/3upjzqS We store this in the bin with items that we don't use everyday. It stores very small. Water Jugs: amzn.to/3NYl7jw These ride under the camper rug so that they don't blow out. Solar Setup: Refer to: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIunq6R3rptriJI These are on the roof of the camper.

[@JFoxman]

@@TheBorderHookups Thanks for that. I am quickly discovering that storage space is the "first big hurdle" to overcome in RV life.

[@RichardMBlain]

Well you had me until the lady started spewing antiquated "healthy eating tips" that were never true in the first place.

[@TheBorderHookups]

Please explain. 😀

[@mikef6973]

Get a hotel why dont you

[@TheBorderHookups]

We have. 😂

[@jwlindem1]

We don't care what you bring.