“Freebie” Site Review – Sycuan Casino, El Cajon (San Diego), CA

Hiking the hills near Sycuan Casino

A very spacious free parking spot ~20 miles East of San Diego

Location: Sycuan Casino, El Cajon 
Coordinates: 32.787428,-116.826650. Link to map location HERE
Cost: FREE (overnight). Possibility to stay longer if you request it.
How We Found It: From CasinoCamper.com
Nearest Dump/Water: Lots of dump stations around San Diego. Nearest is Circle RV Resort in El Cajon. There is also a free dump station in Mission Bay (San Diego).

1. Access – 5/5 Super-easy access here. Road is paved throughout and RV/oversize parking area is a HUGE asphalt lot (easily sized for 20-30 RVs of any size) up on the hill at the back of the Casino.
   Directions: As you enter the Casino go straight -> you will pass the Casino on your right and self-parking on your left. Continue straight to the back and past the employee parking lot. At very back the road will curve to the left and up the hill. The RV/oversize lot is the first lot on your left on the hill directly above the employee parking lot. Shortly after you arrive security will come by to check you in and ask how many nights you’re staying.
2. Nature – 3.5/5 For an “urban” setting this is pretty nice. The parking area itself is just a big asphalt lot, but it is surrounded by rolling hills with access to “unofficial” hiking directly from your RV.
3. Isolation – 2/5 Isolation is actually pretty decent considering you are parking your RV in the middle of a Casino. The RV parking area is behind and up the hill from the Casino so you’re separated from all the “regular” folk, plus it’s HUGE so easily lots of space to yourself. You are parked just above the employee lot however, so you will see/hear employees coming and going. Plus security does make rounds.
4. Pet Friendliness – 4/5 Great spot for pooch. You have lots of space around your RV to hang out, plus access to hiking in the hills surrounding the Casino. Of course doggie can’t access the Casino so that’s the only negative.

Overall Rating = 3.6

Summary: If you’re looking for a spacious and easy spot to stay a few nights for free near San Diego, Sycuan Casino is a very decent site. Located in El Cajon just a few miles off the beaten track it’s peacefully set in rolling hills. What’s particularly nice is that the RV/oversize parking area is behind and up the hill from the main Casino giving you separation, lots of space and relative quiet. On arrival security comes by to check you in and ask how many nights you are staying, but otherwise they leave you be and you are free to extend slides, put down jacks and make yourself at home as you please. The Casino itself is accessible from the back of the RV parking lot via steps and it is so-so (in my opinion), but it has lots of slots/games and offers a free buffet if you sign-up to the Players Club (look online for a coupon). There is opportunity to hike in the surrounding hills, plus you are only a few miles away from the Sycuan Resort which has an excellent golf-course. When we were there we were the only RV and had a nice shade tree and oceans of space to ourselves. Would definitely stop again if we needed a spot to overnight.

Extra Info: Flush toilets in the Casino. Verizon smartphone and aircard worked well (3G only). NO hookups or dump station.

Extra, Extra Info – OTHER BOONDOCKING: There are actually lots more Casino’s that allow free RV parking in and around San Diego. The two most popular are Barona (small RV parking area) and Viejas (allow up to 3 days stay).

View of the massive RV/oversize parking area

View to right side of RV. We were parked by a big shade tree.

View towards the back of our RV. Employee parking lot is directly below and Casino is in the background.

View to right side of RV. This is the employee parking lot. There's access to hiking in those hills in the back

View of RV/oversize parking lot. Literally oceans of space here.

"Arial" view of parking area from hills. That's us in the middle. The large structure on the left is regular car parking. Casino is out of view to the left.

Boondocking Site Review – Rockhouse Canyon Road, Clark Dry Lake, Borrego Springs, CA

Early morning hike in the hills by Rockhouse Canyon Road boondocking area

A lovely, large boondocking area just ~7 miles from Borrego Springs and right next to Anza Borrego State Park in SW California.

Location: Rockhouse Canyon Road, left-turn off S22 ~7 miles NE of Borrego Springs, CA
Coordinates: Approx. 33.2954N,-116.2893W (= SW corner of boondocking area). Link to map location HERE
Cost: FREE (no official stay limit at the moment, although this may change with State Park acquisition – see “summary” below)
How We Found It: This is a fairly well-known boondocking spot in the area. We first discovered it when we met a guy who was staying there our very first year in the area. The RV forums also talk about it, as do other bloggers. Much of this area is still private land so there is no “official” info on the place, but it’s a well-known/well-used location.
Nearest Dump/Water: Nearest dump at Borrego Palm Canyon campground  inside Anza Borrego State Park ($8 fee). If you’re headed east there is also a free dump at the ARCO station at the corner of S22 and Hwy 86 by the Salton Sea.

1. Access – 4.5/5 Very easy access for any sized-rig here although as usual a little extra effort is needed to access the best spots.
   Directions -> From Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs take Palm Canyon Drive (S22) east towards Salton Sea. Drive ~7 miles until you see Rockhouse Canyon Road on your left.
   Boondocking Spots-> Take Rockhouse Canyon road, up a short hill and past the “no trespassing” sign. Initial 100-ft of hill is paved, but road becomes reasonably firm dirt/sand after this spot. Boondocking spots are all over the desert after the sign, many off dirt spurs that depart from either side of the road. You’ll see plenty of cleared-out spaces with home-made fire-rings used by previous folks. Most people stay closer to the entrance (best Verizon signal here), but there are lots of really nice (and very private) spots further in. Some of the dirt spurs can be rather sandy/rough so check out the road before bringing in a big-rig.
2. Nature – 5/5  Fabulous nature spot. You are in the middle of the desert valley surrounded by scrub with outstanding views of the mountains all around. Good and easy-access hiking on nearby Coyote Mountain too.
3. Isolation – 4.5/5 Good to great isolation here depending on where you park. Only slight ding is this is a fairly well-known boondocking area and the Verizon signal is strongest near the entrance (closest to S22), so if you want a spot with good internet, you’ll likely get some rigs in your view.
4. Pet Friendliness – 5/5 Another great pet spot. You have days-worth of hiking and exploring in the surrounding hills, plus lots of space to hang out in camp. Also this is mostly “scrub” desert so not alot of cholla around which is a big positive for paws on the ground.

Overall Rating = 4.75

Summary: This is probably one of our absolute favorite boondocking spots.  It has easy access, lots of space, gorgeous desert nature and simply fabulous mountain views all around. Although it’s fairly well-known amongst boondockers, Borrego Springs is a lightly-visited town so there are lots of opportunities to find space to yourself. In boondocking circles you’ll sometimes hear this called “Clark Dry Lake” although the boondocking area is actually up the hill before the dry lake bed.  The spot is only ~7 miles NE from town, right off S22 on Rockhouse Canyon Road which is an easy dirt road that takes you back into the boondocking area. Front area (nearest S22) is super-easy to access and has the best Verizon signal, but is also the most popular. Further back on Rockhouse Canyon (nearer to the dry lake bed) the spots get much more isolated, but Verizon signal fades fast. We chose a spot a few miles down the dirt road which had very poor Verizon signal (just barely usable w/ our external antenna/amp), but really great privacy. The area is on private land inside Borrego Springs so there are no “official” rules about camping (this also means no restrictive dog rules), but that may change! According to our info a large part of this area was just recently acquired by the State Park, so it’s probable that boondocking will still be allowed in the future, but possibly with a stay limit and most likely some dog rules too. Lots to do & explore in the surrounding area including the cute town of Borrego Springs plus no end of historic trails and natural beauty in Anza Borrego State Park. Overall a fabulous spot and one we’d come to again and again.

Extra Info: No water or facilities (nearest dump/water inside Anza Borrego State Park). Good Verizon 3G signal near the entrance (closest to S22), but poor to zero signal further back.

Extra, Extra Info – OTHER BOONDOCKING? There is actually a ton of other boondocking around Boorego Springs

1. PEG LEG - This is actually right next to Rockhouse Canyon Road and is a great “beginner” boondocking area. It’s a large, flat and super, super easy-access “dirt parking” area right off Peg Leg road next to the Peg Leg monument. Cute little area and always rigs around. There’s a free book-swap in the mailbox. This is the same area where the annual Peg Leg Liar’s Contest is held. More info HERE. Free and no official stay limit.
2. GALETTA MEADOWS - This private land inside Borrego Springs allows free camping (3-day limit). Great for sculpture viewing! Contact Galetta Meadows for more info.
3. ANZA BORREGO STATE PARK - One of the unique things about Anza Borrego State Park is that they actually allow free, no-permit back-country camping anywhere within the state park as long as you stay within 1-vehicle length of the road, don’t trample vegetation and stay 100-feet away from any water source.  There are lots of dirt roads leading to interesting spots around the park, but for those looking for a specific spot there is “official” free back-country camping at Blair Valley (could fit big-rig at the entrance), Yaqui Pass (easy, large area), Yaqui Well, Culp Valley, Sheep Canyon, Arroyo Salado, Mt. Palm Springs and Fish Creek. Download the State Park magazine for more info HERE.
   NOTE/ If you have a dog be aware that Anza Borrego State Park does *not* allow dogs on any trails or in any wilderness areas. So if you go back-country camping w/ pooch you can only walk him/her on-leash on the park road.
4. OCOTILLO WELLS SVRA - This large off-road vehicle area east of Anza Borrego SP off Hwy 78  allows free 30-day camping anywhere within the area. It is also surrounded by BLM land. More info HERE.

"Aerial" view of our very private boondocking spot from Coyote Mountain. You can see S22 snaking off into the distance in the far background.

Another "ariel" view towards some nicely-spaced rigs near the back-end of the boondocking aera.

View of our boondocking spot from dirt spur off Rockhouse Canyon Road

Typical boondocking site. You'll see clear-out spaces and fire-rings like this all around.

Another site view, with another rig parked in the background

View of short, paved section near entrance of Rockhouse Canyon Road. Boondocking are starts right after the "no tresspassing" sign

Dirt-road section of Rockhouse Canyon Road. This is near the entrance with some rigs parked right off the road.

Biking around the dirt roads w Polly in the boondocking area

Very approximate map of Clark Dry Lake boondocking area. Borrego Springs in on the left. S22 constinues to Salton Sea on the right.

Boondocking Site Review – Ogilby Road, Imperial County/Yuma, CA/AZ

Polly and I check out an old ore shoot in the hills by our boondocking spot

A huge, easy lesser-known boondocking area with tons of interesting mining history ~14 miles west of Yuma, AZ on the CA side of the AZ/CA border.

Location: Ogilby Road, CA, S34 (no official info on the web, but there’s a very crude map of Yuma BLM areas HERE)
Coordinates: Approx. 32.817215N,-114.837856W (= SW corner of boondocking area). Link to map location HERE 
Cost: FREE (2 week stay limit)
How We Found It: We asked around about Yuma boondocking sites on the RV forums and this was one of the options given. It seems to be one of the lesser-known areas with no “official” info (that I could find) on the web so it took a bit of “digging” to get to.
Nearest Dump/Water: There is water, propane and dump at the Shell Station at 611 Sidewinder Rd directly off I-8 a just few miles east of Ogilby Road.

1. Access – 4.5/5
   Very easy access for any sized-rig here although as usual a little extra effort is needed to access the best spots. 
   Directions -> From Yuma, AZ take I-8 west ~14 miles to Ogilby Road (S34, Exit 159) and turn right to go north. Drive approx. 5 miles on Ogilby Road (easy, paved road) until you cross some railroad tracks. Immediately after the tracks there will be 2 wide, flat, firm dirt roads going off to your right. The first is Sidewinder and this is where the majority of rigs seem to boondock. The second is American Girl Mine and seems to be lesser used.
   Boondocking Spots -> BLM land surrounds both of the dirt roads going back multiple miles and you will see “14-day camping” signs all around. For easy boondocking simply drive down either dirt road and pick a spot close-by. For more scenic spots drive several miles back towards the hills and take anyone of the many ”dirt spurs” off the main road. Towards the very back the dirt roads can get washed out, narrower and bumpy so scope out these areas before bringing in a big-rig.
2. Nature – 4.5/5
   It’s all nature out here, but might be considered a bit “barren” for some. This is dry, scrub-like desert. The boondocking area is mostly flat-land with large barren spots, some shrubs here and there, a few smaller trees and some ocotillo cacti. The hills towards the back are rocky mining areas. Lots of interesting browns, minerals & texture, but not alot of wildlife or green.
3. Isolation – 4.5/5
   Very good isolation with only one (very minor) ding. This is a huge area and seems lesser-used so if you’re willing to drive around and explore you can certainly find a spot to yourself. Only very minor ding is there can be some noise from the railroad tracks depending on where you park.
4. Pet Friendliness – 5/5 
   Another great pet spot. You have days-worth of hiking and exploring in the surrounding hills, plus lots of space to hang out in camp. Also this is “scrub” desert so not alot of cactus around which is a big positive for paws on the ground.

Overall Rating = 4.6

Summary: This area seems to be one of the lesser-known boondocking spots around Yuma and took a bit of “digging” to find. It’s a large, flat easily accessed spot ~14 miles West of Yuma and ~5 miles North of I-8 on Ogilby Road. Once you get to the area 2 wide, flat dirt roads take you back across several miles of open, flat boondocking landscape. We chose American Girl Mine Rd and drove as far back as we could towards the hills finding a lovely and quiet spot by ourselves, but you can choose to be closer to other rigs too. Most of the area is very flat, firm/rocky and fairly barren, but the hills are a fascinating place to explore esp. if you take the time to discover the old mines. Lots to do and see in the surrounding area. We had a most relaxing time here and would certainly come back.

Extra Info: No water or facilities (nearest dump/water at the Shell Station exit 164 off I-8). Good Verizon 3G signal.

Extra, Extra Info – OTHER BOONDOCKING? There is actually a ton of other boondocking around Yuma. 

1. LVTA SITES - For long-term stays there are four official LVTA BLM sites at Imperial Dam, Pilot Knob, Tamarisk and Holtville Hot Springs (LVTA fees apply at all sites). See more HERE.
2. FREE (14-day limit) SITES - These are a little harder to find with less “official” info available on the web, but here are a few that I’ve discovered:
   - Mittry Lake - This is ~18 miles NE of Yuma and can (apparently) accommodate any sized-rig. More info HERE
   - Pilot Knob – Aprox. 1 mile west of Pilot Knob LVTA there is apparently a separate free 14-day stay area.
   - KOFA National Wildlife Refuge – North of Yuma on the 95 (towards Quartzite). More info HERE.

View of our spot back by the hills on one of the "dirt spurs" off American Girl Mine

View of a "site" along American Girl Mine. You'll find people have built home-made fire-rings all over the place.

Another nice "site" view by the back hills

View of the wide flat-land to the right side of our boondocking site

"Aerial" view of our boondocking area off American Girl Mine Rd as seen from the hills in front of our RV. Not alot of folks out here.

"Aerial" view towards the rigs boondocking near Sidewinder Road. Again, taken from the hills in front of our RV. This seemed to be a more popular spot.

View of one of the many "dirt spurs" leading off American Girl Mine. As long as you see this 14-day camping sign you'll know you're still on free boondocking BLM land.

"The beast" driving on American Girl Mine Road. This is a firm, wide dirt road.

Very approx. map of Ogilby Rd free boondocking area. I-8 is at the bottom and the railroad tracks are in red.

Boondocking Site Review – Dome Rock, Quartzsite, AZ

Lovely desert views at Dome Rock

A very easy and natural boondocking spot ~6 miles west of Quartzsite in east-central AZ

Location: Dome Rock, Quartzsite, AZ (info on camping HERE)
Coordinates: 33.64203N, -114.31374W. Link to map location HERE 
Cost: FREE (2 week stay limit -> free pass provided by camp-host)
How We Found It: I initially heard about Quartzsite several years ago on the RV forums and found more detailed info on the individual camping areas from the web (links at bottom).
Nearest Dump/Water: Water and dump are all available in nearby Quartzsite.

1. Access – 4.5/5
   Very easy access here although a little extra effort is needed to access the best spots. The Dome Rock BLM area is a large, open spot on the south side of Hwy 10 just west of Quartzsite. You enter the BLM from either side of Dome Rock Road which parallels Hwy 10 (west entrance is at exit 11, east entrance exit 17). Dome Rock is paved and easily drivable and you can boondock anywhere off the pavement on either side. Towards the Quartzsite side (east) the boonocking area is large and flat with super-easy sites even for a large group of rigs. Towards the back (west) it gets more hilly with many dirt roads leading off in various directions towards the hills. If you want to stay in the hills, which I would consider the prettiest, be prepared to scope out the area before you bring in your big-rig. All dirt roads/spots are super-firm with space and support for any sized-rig and lots of choices of spots. Only minor ding is that if you want to get really back and remote in the hills the dirt roads can become rather narrow and uneven/bumpy. 
2. Nature – 5/5
   Lovely nature here. Up on the west end by the hills you have sweeping vistas of Quartzsite in the valley together with pretty views of the surrounding hills. Days worth of hiking and exploring in the hills as well as the prospecting mines hidden therein.
3. Isolation – 4/5
   Very good isolation with a few minor dings. The hills provide lots of open knolls and “hidden” boondocking spots so you can easily find a site with good privacy and no neighbours in sight. The BLM area also seems one of the lesser-used in Quartzsite so generally very few rigs around. The only minor ding is that you are ~1-1.5 miles from Hwy 10 so unless you are well back in the hills you will hear some noise from the freeway. Plus you will occasionally get locals coming to do some ATVing in the area. We found neither to be bothersome, but if you’re looking for perfect quiet this may not be the spot.
4. Pet Friendliness – 5/5 
   Fabulous pet spot. You have days-worth of hiking and exploring in the surrounding hills, plus lots of space to hang out in camp. Also this is mostly “scrub” desert so not too much cactus around which is a big positive for paws on the ground.

Overall Rating = 4.6

Summary: Dome Rock is one of 5 “designated” limited-stay boondocking sites around Quartzsite (see below for info on the others) and is probably our favorite in the area. It’s super-easy to access off paved Dome Rock Road (which parallels highway 10 for ~6 miles west of town) and has the attraction of being somewhat higher than the town and right “in the hills” giving lovely sweeping views of both Quartzsite and the surrounding area. Free Boondocking is allowed on either side of the paved road and accessed by firm, dirt roads that run back in all directions into the hills. The far east side of the BLM is flat and open, but the far prettier section is towards the west side in the hills. Lots of knolls and gently hilly sites with good privacy, yet enough areas firm and flat enough for small multi-rig groups. It’s easy to find a site and you’ll see plenty of fire-rings from previously used locations all around the area.  The only dings we can give this place are that it does get some noise from Hwy 10, plus it is sometimes used by ATVers. However neither bothered us and if you’re adventurous you can drive far enough back into the hills that neither will be a problem. A lovely spot and we will most definitely come back.

Extra Info: No water or facilities (nearest facilities in Quartzsite). There is an on-site camphost (near exit 17) where you can check-in and get your free 14-day pass. FULL Verizon 3G signal so great data & voice access.

Extra, Extra Info – OTHER BOONDOCKING? There are 4 other “designated” limited-stay boondocking sites in and around Quartzsite (Hi Jolly, Plomosa Rd, Scaddon Wash and Roadrunner) as well as long-term (LVTA) sites in La Posa. Dispersed camping is also allows on BLM land outside these areas unless otherwise posted. Detailed info and directions to all sites in these links:

• Quartzsite Camping – from TGIF – let’s RV (pictures and description)
• Quartzsite Camping – from RV Camping (detailed maps & location)
• Quartzsite Camping – from Your RV Lifestyle (description)

Our spot in Dome Rock

Another view of our spot from up the hill. You can (just barely) see cars on Hwy 10 in the far background.

Front view of our site

Our spacious "sitting area". Not another rig in sight.

Typical "site" view. You'll see home-made fire-pits and flat spots all over the landscape.

Another RVer tucked into a spot. The dirt road in front leading to the rig is typical of the roads in the area. Quartzsite valley is in the background.

Walking with Polly along some of the more uneven dirt roads further back in the hills. There's a lone truck camper in the back left.

An RVer camped in the very flat section of the BLM near the east entrance.

Driving down Dome Rock Road from exit 11. Camping is on either side of this paved road

Map showing general Dome Rock boondocking area. We parked on the hilly side.

RV Solar Part IV – Panel Tilting & Winter Solar Optimization

Paul and Alex go a-panel tilting

It’s been almost a year since we made the leap to solar on “the beast”. For those of you who missed the chair-gripping series I’ve got the whole exciting detail of how we decided what to buy and install in Part I (discovery), Part II (equipment) and Part III (installation). Since that time we’ve been geeking out and enjoying our panels through extensive dry-camping travels from FL to CA. I’m happy to say our panels have served us perfectly. On good sunny days we’re usually fully recharged on the batteries by noon plus the panels easily keep-up with our daytime power usage even if we’re on the internet all day. There’s honestly not much we’d change.

But there’s always an opportunity to geek out a little more. As days grow long and the sun sits lower in the sky we’ve started to think about winter solar optimization. Now solar panels actually like cooler temps (their output increases at lower temps), but they have a problem with angle which opens up all kinds of fun thoughts and experiments on tilting. And opportunities to blog, of course. So, here we go:

1/ Why Tilt Your Panels?

In winter the sun stays closer to the horizon

If you remember my lessons from last year, getting the best out of your solar system is all about minimizing loss. The same lesson applies to tilting too. The power density of a solar panel is always at its’ maximum when the solar panel is exactly perpendicular (at 90-degrees) to the sun. The further you get away from perpendicular the more power you lose and so the less power output you get. Since sun angle varies by both latitude and time of day that means your power output is varying all the time. So, how do you know what to do?

Well, in summer the sun will get pretty high in the sky and stays there for quite a few hours (as an example, here in Palm Springs it gets to ~70-degrees elevation) so your panel output will be pretty darn good even if they’re flat. However in winter everything changes -> the sun stays closer to the horizon (here it only rises to ~30-degrees) and your power output plummets. Sunearthtools.com has a really geeky cool page that’ll give you the exact angle of the sun any time of year for any direction and spot (just plug in your location):

Solar Diagram for Palm Springs, CA from Sunearthtools.com. The top line shows the sun angle in mid-summer, the bottom line for mid-winter.

How much of a deal is this, power-wise? In Palm Springs in summer you really don’t lose anything by keeping the panels flat whereas in winter you’ll lose more than 50% of your power output if you keep them flat. It’s HUGE!! To demonstrate this here’s another cool tool that’ll calculate daily flux (= an approximation of the total amount of energy hitting your panels) based on location, time of year and tilt.

2/ How Do You Tilt?

Our home-made tilt bars

The fanciest type of tilting systems are “sun trackers” that exactly track the sun all day long, but these are not exactly practical on a free-wheelin’ RV roof. Some RVers keep their panels mobile and just bring ‘em out to tilt/track the sun manually whenever they need them. With 6 heavy panels to lug around that wasn’t an option we wanted on our “beast” so it made a lot more sense for us to permanently attach the panels and look for other tilting options.

Our solution was to get the AM Solar mounts (highly recommend them, even if you aren’t going w/ AM Solar for the rest of their gear), and then add-on home-made tilting bars. Some basic 1/4″ aluminum stock from Home Depot cut to whatever length you want with holes drilled in (you can even drill multiple holes to have multiple tilt options). Combine with screw/nuts and you’re good to go!

3/ What’s The Best Tilting Angle?

If you’ve made it this far and manage to remember what we talked about in #1, then you know that what we’re looking for is to get your panels as close as possible to 90-degrees to the sun. The cool sunearthtools.com link will tell you what angle the sun gets to in your area, and some simple geometry will give you the optimal tilt angle:

At our current latitude and time of year we’re talking around 60 degrees tilt at noontime for best results. Now, obviously the sun moves diagonally across the sky during the day and rises/sets somewhat southerly in winter so that number doesn’t stay constant and the real (max. total energy) formula is a rather more complicated (the cool tool shows that). But if you face your RV East-West and tilt panels facing due south more or less at the 90-degree noon-spot you’ll get pretty darn close to getting the best out of the sun.

4/ Beware the Shadow Monster

See ma...NO panel shadows!

Tilting is just like everything in solar. You’ve got to make sure you avoid ALL shadows. Together with Marvin we were very particular when we installed our panels last year to make sure they had NO shadows from anything on the roof whether tilted or not, even with long winter shadows. I’ve seen shading models that show just 3% shading of a solar array can lead to a 25% decline in efficiency, with 10% shade producing up to 50% decline! The losses are dramatic and could mean the difference between a system that works and one that doesn’t. Even panels that have special “bypass diodes” (meant to help the shade problem) will suffer voltage loss for each cell shaded. Don’t be caught by the shadow monster!

5/ And Our Results Were….?

We conducted our little tilting experiment out in Owl Canyon BLM. Our tilt-bars only go to ~45-degrees so we knew we wouldn’t get optimal output, but we expected a pretty significant boost. Mid-morning with panels flat our 600W system was putting out ~20Amps. With the tilt we hit ~30 Amps, a 40% improvement. As the day wore on our boost got even better with the MPPT charger kicking up output to a stunning peak of~45 Amps at around noon (MPPT really shines with higher-voltage panels in colder temps). Coooool!

We plan to do even more detailed tracking experiments later this the winter and will undoubtedly share these exciting results with our readers, but for now this is a good start. There is also much more geekiness that can be done with solar so don’t expect to see the last of this sunny series.

Boondocking Site Review – Rocky Point, Eagle Lake, CA

Lovely Eagle Lake as viewed from the side of our rig

A lovely, natural BLM boondocking area on very pretty Eagle Lake in NE California.

Location: Eagle Lake, CA (info on camping HERE)
Coordinates: 40.68785,-120.747605 (approx.). Link to map location HERE . Also see HERE
Cost: FREE (2 week stay limit)
How We Found It: I initially found the developed BLM campground (North Eagle Lake) on uscampgrounds.info, but it was too small for us (and we confirmed this on arrival), but I then discovered that the BLM allows dispersed camping in two other areas (Rocky Point East & Rocky Point West) which looked like they might be a possibility. A call into the local BLM office regarding road conditions & access confirmed it was worth a try.
Nearest Dump/Water: Water is available at the BLM campground (North Eagle Lake) just past the turn-off to Country Road A-1. Several dump-stations near Susanville, CA.

1. Access – 3/5
   There are 2 main boondocking areas at Rocky Point -> one on the east side and one on the west of the “point”.  Access is good except for short areas of each point:
   -> Rocky Point East - From Hwy 139, take County Road A-1 (good, paved road) around 5 miles to the left turn-off at Lakeside drive (very wide, firm & flat dirt road). Follow Lakeside ~1/2 mile down to a smaller dirt road that turns right along the east shoreline of Rocky Point. This last road is the only “difficult” access. It is fairly narrow and bumpy in spots, but there are no trees and you need only drive ~1/2 mile to get a good, wide parking area with a view. I would not advise big-rigs to drive further than the first 2 parking spots since road conditions get much bumpier plus turn-around could be difficult after this point.
   -> Rocky Point West - This area is only ~1 mile further on from Rocky Point East. So, from Hwy 139 you take County Road A-1 ~6 miles (all paved). After you’ve crested the hill at the end of a long downhill you’ll see a road go along the west shoreline of Rocky Point to the left. The only major obstacle here is the initial 50 feet of the road is a rather steep, S-shaped downhill (but do-able, I thought). After this the road is a decent dirt road with some mix of sand, but firm enough to support bigger rigs. Lots of sites along this road once you get down here, all quite large with ability to turn-around.
2. Nature – 5/5
   Simply beautiful nature here. You have sweeping views of Eagle Lake, with a background of hills from the “point”. Lots of space to explore and hike including all along the shoreline. Fishing on the lake available too.
3. Isolation – 4/5
   Very good isolation here. The only folks that seem to come down to Rocky Point are campers and fishermen. The dirt roads are off the main road and very quiet. You’ll have a distant view of the small villages on each side of Rocky Point, but nothing else man-made.  While we were there no-one was in sight and only ~2 cars travelled down the road to go fishing.
4. Pet Friendliness – 5/5 
   Great pet spot. You are right next to miles of shore-line walking by Eagle Lake including lots of space around your campground. Plenty of areas to explore and let doggie run.

Overall Rating = 4.25

Summary: Well, this spot was simply lovely! It’s the kind of boondocking spot that you (or at least I) always dream about. Lots of surrounding nature, beautiful lake views, isolation and quiet, yet you still have excellent internet signal and a space large enough to allow not just one, but two “beasts” to hang out. The BLM area at Eagle Lake covers most of the NE portion of the lake (the west side is actually covered by the Forest Service, which has camping too). The best dispersed BLM camping (in my opinion) is at Rocky Point which you can access from either side on dirt roads along the shore. There are a few small access difficulties (see above), but very decent considering the area. We found a simply lovely spot for both our rigs only ~1/2 mile down at Rocky Point East and were the only folks in sight during the time we were there. If you go I’d advise scoping out the area in your toad (or other vehicle) before bringing in the rig since the road can get bumpy in areas. This is a great spot and I’d most certainly come back.

Extra Info: No water or facilities at either boondocking location. FULL Verizon 3G signal at Rocky Point East (!) so great data & voice access.

Extra, Extra Info – EASIER BOONDOCKING? The entire NE corner of Eagle Lake is BLM land and this extends down south from Country Road A-1 along Hwy 139. So, if you’re not keen on driving to Rocky Point you can actually pull directly off Hwy 139 at several easy boondocking spots (quite easy to spot too) with decent lake views. Not as isolated as Rocky Point, but an easier alternative for those who need it.

View of our spot at Eagle Lake (Rocky Point East). We had full lake views along the side.

Another view of our rig

The two rigs and the main, dirt road

View of the two rigs from the shoreline

View down the shoreline road from our boondocking spot

Alex driving his rig on the dirt road from Rocky Point

Hanging out with Polly by the lake-side

General map showing the 2 BLM boondocking areas around Rocky Point

“Freebie” Site Review – Valley River Center, Eugene, OR

Lovely views from the Riverbank Trail in Eugene, OR

One of the nicest “freebie” overnight parking spots we’ve ever encountered, right in downtown Eugene, OR

Location: Valley River Center, Eugene, OR
Coordinates: 44.069704,-123.110905. Link to map location HERE 
Cost: FREE
How We Found It: Word of mouth plus Laurie and Odel’s post.
Nearest Dump/Water: Several dump stations available around Eugene. For a full listing click HERE.

1. Access – 5/5
   Super-easy access here. The mall has a spacious parking lot and all access roads are wide and paved.
2. Nature – 4/5
   For an “urban” setting you have spectacularly good nature access here. You are right by several of Eugene’s best downtown green parks (one of which is literally across the bridge), plus next to miles of the lovely river-front hiking/biking trail.
3. Isolation – 1/5
   This is a city location and it’s a known “freebie” spot so expect some company.
4. Pet Friendliness – 5/5 
   Great pet spot. You are right next to miles of river-walk trails including large, green parks and access to the water. There is even a fabulous off-leash dog-park ~2 miles down the trail in Alton Baker park.

Overall Rating = 3.75

Summary: Although I’ve written about “freebies” on the blog before I rarely review the spots we go to since most of them are simply parking lots. This one is different and deserves a shout-out. If I were to describe my “ideal” urban parking spot this would probably be it -> Want a spacious site? Access to shopping and a movie? Directly next to hiking/biking trails and green parks?  A nice river? Throw in a first-class off-leash dog-park? If it’s a “yes” to all then this is your spot. The spot is located nicely in the SW corner of Valley River Center on a lesser-used part of the parking lot. You are RIGHT next to the Ruth Bascon Riverbank hiking/biking trails (in fact you can park with your door open to the trail), plus plenty of green parks (right across the bridge) and all the shopping you need next door in the mall (incl. movie theatre). You can even hike the 2 miles down the river trail to a huge, gorgeous off-leash doggie park. The lot is open to RVers, allowing slides out/jacks down and patrolled by security who will usually come around and give you a free ”pass” (2-day limit) to stay. We were there during a Ducks game (a BIG DEAL around here) so it was a lot more crowded than usual and they didn’t bother issuing passes, but it still felt very safe and quiet. My only possible ding is that you do get noise from the trains a few miles away, but it’s a minor point. If we need a few free nights in Eugene we’d have no hesitation coming here again.

Extra Info: Flush toilets in the mall and across the bridge in the park, plus garbage in the lot, but no water or other facilities. Verizon smartphone and aircard worked. Laure and Odel have more info and detailed driving instructions to this spot on their blog here.

The parking lot at Valley River Mall. It was more crowded than usual because of the in-town Ducks game.

View from our RV towards the mall and the Regal Movie Theatre (on right)

Another view of the parking lot. The river trail is directly by the trees on the left

RVer parked by the river trail (on the right)

The lovely green park just across the walkway from the mall

Walking the riverwalk trail with Polly

Free Overnight RV Parking = Finding “Freebies”

Gotta love free parking at Walmart!

So, we’ve been avidly planning our route to OR these past two days. As is typical in summer most of the public campgrounds are booked solid, but we’ve managed to find a few sweet spots that we’re really looking forward to. For the couple of nights where we can’t book we’ll rely on free overnight parking along the way. Most people who full-time RV know this trick, but I thought it’d still be nice to do a quick post on it for those who don’t.

Free overnight parking is a convenience many old-timer RVers know about.

I call them “freebies” and they’re spaces where you can park for free (no hookups) for the night. In my mind this is not the same as ”boondocking” (= camping out in the boonies/nature). When you “freebie” you don’t camp and you don’t stay for the views. It’s simply somewhere convenient to pass the night, usually right next to the road. We did one on the way to Grand Junction staying overnight at Walmart locally the night before our 7AM RV appointment. Not only did it give us the chance to stock up on some groceries, but it was safe and a perfect location for the night. There are lots of places who offer this wonderful service and a couple of rules that I follow each time we use them.

Who Offers Free Parking?

Parking at an abandoned lot off the I-10 in Texas.

I’m always amazed at the number of places that’ll let you stay overnight, even a “beast” size like us. Here’s a short list:

• Walmart - Most Walmarts allow overnight RV parking unless there’s a city ordinance that prohibits it.
• Casino’s – Many Casino’s have secure parking areas where you can stay for more than one night. Some even give you a discount on a meal. Live.Work.Dream wrote a great post about them here. Also check out www.casinocamper.com.
• Flying J’s - Many Flying J Truck Stops have a separate RV parking area where you can spend the night.
• Big Stores – Some of the larger stores (K-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot, Camping World) will allow you to spend a night.
• Rest Areas – Some rest areas (in some States) allow you to stay overnight. The Interstate Rest Area Guide sells an e-book with all the details.
• Others - Plenty of other unusual spots allow one-night stays. You can find lots of additional listings at www.overnightrvparking.com and at the fabulous Escapees Days End Directory.

April 2012 Update – There is now a new service launched by the fine folks at Frugal RV Travel called Boondockers Welcome where you can connect with other RVers for the chance to overnight for free on private property. Another great resource!

What Are The Rules?

We always make sure we park in the very back of the lot where we won't be in the way.

There are really no “official” rules for free overnight stays, but there are a few unofficial ones which I always follow:

• Ask Permission - This is rule #1 and I think it’s critical. Unless you know for a fact that the spot allows overnight parking (i.e. it’s clearly marked), then the right thing to do is to ask for permission. Before we arrived in Grand Junction, CO I called ahead to ask Walmart if we could stay. There are actually 2 Walmart’s in the area and only one allows overnight parking (because of city ordinance), so the phone call was worth the trouble. If I show up at a spot without calling, I’ll go in and ask the manager on-site.
• Park Out of the Way – If you’re parking at a business chose a spot where you won’t get in the way of the regular daytime customers. At Walmart I’ll try to park at the very back of the lot.
• Don’t Set-Up Camp – These “freebies” are overnight parking, not camping. So, keep the slides in and the jacks up. We’ll sometimes put out one of the small slides (as long as it doesn’t hang into a parking spot) and we may run the generator in the early evening but I don’t push it further than that.
• Use Some Cash – This is not really a “rule”, but I like to spend some money at the spot I’m staying. It’s a way of giving back to the business for letting me stay for free.
• Be Courteous – Be nice to your “hosts” and your neighbours.
• Don’t Overstay Your Welcome - Most of these places are really just overnight parking spots. Some (like Casino’s) might let you legitimately stay more than one night, and others might allow it if you ask (and have a good reason), but for the most case it’s just a 1-night deal and it makes sense to support that policy.
• Leave It Spotless - It goes without saying that you shouldn’t dump gray water or leave trash at these spots. Leave it clean and spotless.

And the last thing, although it’s not a rule is more common sense. If you don’t feel safe don’t stay. Most of the big businesses are pretty safe, but there might be areas of town that are rougher (esp. in big cities). Overall I love ”freebies” and consider it a priviledge that I get to use them. Got any favorites of your own?

Is Boondocking Always Cheaper?

Beach boondocking at Sea Rim, TX

Boondocking is a word that frugal RVers love. The basic definition of boondocking (the way I use the word anyway) is camping for free or close to free ”in the boonies” on public land such as BLM and dispersed forest sites. It’s the best of the best -> open nature-acess, no neighbours (most of the time) and zip $$ out-of-pocket.  I mean, how much better does life get than that? Like most nature-lovers we love it and try to find spots to squeeze in the beast wherever we can.

Just for fun however, I wanted to explore the question from the side of pure cost. Now, you may think me mad to ask if there’s anything cheaper than free camping, but the truth of the matter is that boondocking has hidden costs for RVers and, from a purely financial standpoint, sometimes isn’t cheapest option even if you’ve got solar. Here’s some intellectual food for thought:

1/ Cost of Recharging Batteries – All the electric stuff in your RV runs off your house batteries so when you’re out in the boonies you need to find a way to recharge them. For most that involves running a generator and depending on how much electricity you use (and so how often you run the generator) that could mean a couple of hours everyday or every other day. Our generator uses ~1 gallon/hr of fuel at full load so that can add up to ~$8/day at current diesel prices. We have solar now and don’t need to worry about this anymore, but for most that will be a factor.

She's laughing 'coz she doesn't need to pay...lucky dog...

2/ Cost of Temperature Variations - We have pets and so we have to be sensitive to temperature changes in the RV. We simply can’t let internal temps fly too high, and if we’re in an area that requires air-conditioning then even our solar can’t keep up. Running aircon for 3-4 hours/day adds another $12-16/day of generator costs. When it’s really hot, getting an electric hookup can make a lot of financial sense.

3/ Costs of Dumping/Water - As the old saying goes, what goes in has (eventually) gotta come out. Most RVers will need to empty their tanks weekly or every other week depending on tank size and if you’re in the boonies you’ll need to find a spot to do it. Some places allow free dumping, but many will charge a nominal fee (typically anywhere from $5 to $15). Not a biggie this one, but it does add to the costs.

4/ Cost of Travel - The best part of getting “out there” is getting out there, but it does mean you might be far away from sightseeing, groceries and other errands. The cost of fuel to/from things you want to do can add up. Having a small, separate vehicle (toad/truck) helps to cut driving costs, but sometimes staying closer to “stuff” can make more financial sense.

5/ Cost of Boondocking – Camping in dispersed (non-developed) sites on public land is very often free, but not always. Quartzite, a popular winter boondocking spot charges a seasonal long-term fee of $180. If camping in a “developed” public campground, even without hookups, there is usually some kind of daily fee.

All these costs mean you might be paying up to ~$18/day for boondocking, depending on conditions. How does that compare to the alternative?

1/ Savings On Developed Camping – Costs in developed campgrounds can sometimes  be very attractive, depending on where you’re willing to go.

It's hard to beat the deals in New Mexico State Parks

• State Deals – Our New Mexico State Pass is a deal at $225/year. So far we’ve used the pass for 30 days of camping and even if you add-on the extra fee for electric hookup ($4/day) that works out to ~$11/day in camping fees. Pretty darn competitive.
• Monthly Deals - Many private campgrounds offer a monthly deal and sometimes they can be very attractive. Out in Alabama we could’ve camped with full hook-ups by the beach for $355/month (~$12/day). We just passed a spot here in Taos that offered full hook-up for $275/month (~$9/day). Purely based on price, it’s hard to beat.
• Camping Passes – Passport America is (in my opinion) the best camping club out there offering up to 50% off at member campgrounds, depending on timeframe and season. You might need to be flexible to get the full discount offer, but with some planning you can get a full hook-up site for ~$15/night.
• Senior Discounts - When you reach the “golden years” you start getting a lot of juicy discounts. America the Beautiful can get you 50% off camping fees in National Parks and federal lands (BLM, forest). Some State Parks and even some private parks offer senior discounts too.

2/ Savings on Laundry – We happen to have a washer/dryer in the RV and, believe it or not, it can actually make sense for us to pay for full hookup when we need to do laundry. A typical load in a laundromat will cost ~$3-$4. Got 3-4 loads and you’re getting close to the cost of a discount site.

There’s no doubt boondocking is fabulous and the best way to get “out there” in nature. In temperate climates with solar panels and a fully stocked liquor cabinet nothing can beat it. But if you’re just starting out or camping in extreme temps there are other options that may be cheaper. Something to discuss over your evening glass, in any case

Boondocking Site Review – Calaveras Lake, San Antonio, TX

View from the banks of Calaveras Lake

This is an inexpensive dry-camping location just next to San Antonio. It’s not exactly a boondocking location, but doesn’t really qualify as a campground either, so I’ll rate it as a boondocking spot. Unfortunately it doesn’t make our favorites list.

Location: Calaveras Lake, San Antonio, TX
Coordinates: 29.305861,-98.298798. Link to map location HERE. 
Cost: $4/person/night
How We Found It: Using Don Wright’s “Free Camprounds” book.
Nearest Dump/Water: ?? Not sure.

1. Access – 4/5
   Very decent access here, but sites are mixed. The road into Calaveras Lake is paved and access inside the campground is decent. You can set-up anywhere around the lake once inside the facility. Most of the banks are very uneven/sloping, but there are a select number of flat areas and a few nicer spots right on the water.
2. Nature – 2.5/5
   Nature-wise this is a bit of a mix. On the positive side you are right by the Lake with access to fishing and water activities, but your view is marred by a large power plant on the right-hand side and the area around the lake has limited space/activity. A small nature trail on-site, but no real hiking.
3. Isolation – 1/5
   The Lake is outside of town and so does get bonus points for being “away from the city”, but its location makes it extremely popular with the locals. The park doesn’t seem to limit how many people access/camp here so don’t expect to be alone.
4. Pet Friendliness – 3/5 
   The park is pet-friendly, but there’s very limited area to hike/walk pooch. A strip of green along the back power-lines and a small nature trail pretty much make up the lot. Pooch does have access to the lake.

Overall Rating = 2.6

Summary: So, this was one of those spots that looked great on paper, but didn’t work out for us. Our experience was no doubt marred by the fact that we camped here during Spring Break, but there were also other aspects which made it less than great. Location-wise it’s a good spot -> only 10 miles from San Antonio, right on a lake with access to fishing and green for a mere $4/person/night. Camping is “free access” to wherever you can park on the banks of the lake. There are a select number (8) of designated sites on the North side that you can reserve beforehand. However the overall area is limited in size, there is a large power plant across the lake (mars your view) and the management doesn’t seem to limit how many people can camp there. So in busy times it literally packs in with as many folks as can possibly set-up on the banks.  When we first arrived it was fairly quiet and if we’d come here mid-week during low season we might well have found a nice (and somewhat peaceful) spot to enjoy the water and the area. However our experience that evening with the big build-up of people was, unfortunately, downright uncomfortable and we decided to leave. If we come back we’ll probably try a different location.

Extra Info: On-site flush toilets, but no water or other facilities. Verizon smartphone and aircard worked.

NOTE/ All below pics we taken when we first arrived (before the big build-up of people in the evening):

Front view of our parking site at Calaveras Lake

Side-view of our parking spot and the main campground road (on left)

View out the side-window of our RV.

Walking under the power-lines with Polly. View of the power plant in the background.