I recently presented my Boondocking 101 seminar at the Seattle RV Show.
One topic that came up a couple of times was staying connected in the boondocks which is something I never thought to include in the seminar. It seems that many of us in the over fifty crowd are interested in the current and emerging communication technologies, but reluctant to take the next step.
Obviously cell phones are an invaluable asset to an active RVer and carried by all, but as we become more dependent on the internet the question arises on the best way to get online while living the nomadic lifestyle called boondocking. My wife and I recently added email capability to our cell phones for a modest fee, but choose not to include full internet access due to the monthly cost. Currently, prior to departing on an extended boondocking trip, my wife records the locations of all the known public hot spots along our route. McDonalds, libraries, and community colleges are just a few of the places where a free wireless internet signal can be secured. Since we move frequently from one boondocking spot to another, we typically can secure an internet signal every 4 to 7 days allowing us to pay bills, send files, etc. When we are boondocking and need information that we would normally access via the internet, say like the weather prior to exploring a slot canyon, I email my daughter who looks up the information online and sends it to me as an email. However, as our dependency on the internet grows even more, I can foresee the need for ready internet access while boondocking. My thought here is to find a cell phone provider that offers internet service that can be turned on when we are on the road and turned off when we are home. In addition, I think I would like a cell phone that provides a mobile hot spot allowing my wife and I to access the internet via our laptops saving us from squinting at the tiny cell phone screen. When we make the upgrade, I will share the information. All in all, I can’t think of a better time in the history of RVing to be boondocking. Staying in the sticks and staying connected one the best adventures in RVing!
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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