During our many snowbird winters, we have found ourselves exploring the US SouthWest desert area. We’ve discovered there are many beautiful and free or very cheap places to dry camp (AKA Boondock). We love the awesome scenery, wide-open spaces, and have each year embraced boondocking more and more.
Here is an archive of all my boondocking related articles with many containing video clips. Some are howtos, tips and tricks, and reviews. Others are detailing the many gorgeous camp spots we have enjoyed.
Boat’s Solar Charging System – Charging 2 Lithium House Battery Banks
I’m back with an update on our boat’s off-grid solar charging setup for 2026. It’s always evolving, and this year I’m running two MPPT controllers: a 50-amp SRNE DC-DC Charger with…
3 Year Review Update – Xantrex 240Ah LiFePO4 Batteries and Inverter/Charger
I’m back showing another piece of my boat’s off-grid power setup. After covering the solar panels and one lithium house bank, this time I’m looking at the second bank made…
BougeRV 60A Sunflow Solar Charge Controller Review
In this video, I give you a look at the new BougeRV Sunflow 60 amp MPPT solar controller installed into my fifth-wheel trailer off-grid power system. The 60 amp controller…
Our Boat’s Solar Panel Setup – 1440 watts on a CHB 34 Foot Trawler
We’re enjoying ourselves on the boat again, cruising the BC coast, and I thought it was a good time to update you on this season’s solar panel setup. We made…
BougeRV Portable On-Demand Propane Camping Shower Review
In this first video, I go over the main features and demonstrate a new, lightweight, portable, on-demand propane camping shower from BougeRV. I think this little unit is going to…
Bluetti Elite 300 Power Station Review – Big Power in Small Package!
I’m back with another review for Bluetti, this time on their new Elite 300 series portable power station. I’ve previously checked out their smaller AC70 and Elite 100 models, which…
DJI (Power 1000 Mini) Portable Power Station Review
I’m back with another DJI product review (Link to my DJI Power 2000 Review), this time on their new Power 1000 Mini. They call it the smallest 1,000-watt-hour power station…
Testing Out Renogy’s New ShadowFlux “anti-shading” Solar Panels
This month, I’m testing a new Renogy solar panel called the ShadowFlux. It’s designed for better shade tolerance with 16 bus bars and 28 bypass diodes, plus it offers higher…
DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station Review
In this video, I’m checking out a new power station from DJI, the company famous for drones. They have the Power 500 and Power 1000, but this is their new…
Bluetti Charger 2 DC-DC Power Station Charger Review
I’m back with a first look at Bluetti’s new Charger 2 DC-to-DC charger. If you remember, I reviewed their Charger 1 last winter, did a couple of videos on it,…
Renogy Off Grid RV Power System Installation
Over the years, I’ve had requests to do a video series showing the installation of a typical boondocking system from start to finish. Something a little more basic than the…
450W Folding Portable Solar Panel Review – ZOUPW
In this video, I take a look at and demo a 450W folding portable solar panel from ZOUPW. The panel is very similar in design to the Renogy 400W I’ve…
BougeRV 600W DC-DC Alternator to Power Station Charger Review
In this video, I tested BougeRV’s new DC-to-DC alternator charger (model DC600) for charging portable power stations from your vehicle’s battery. They call it a charger, but in reality, it’s…
Bluetti Elite 100 V2 Portable Power Station Review – Big Power in Small Package!
In this video, I review the latest offering from Bluetti, the Elite 100 V2 portable power station, a new power station set to release on July 1, 2025. I’ve been…
Sunster Diesel Heater with Auto Temp Control + CO Detector
I’m back with another diesel heater to test. This one’s an interesting new offering from Sunster. I’ve been running a BougeRV brand heater under the rig to heat the area…
Bluetti B1232 LiFePO4 Battery Review – 314Ah with Self Heating
Today, I dive into Bluettie’s latest entry into the standalone lithium battery world: their brand-new B1232 12.8V 314Ah LiFePO4 powerhouse. As you know, I’ve reviewed a bunch of their power…
Heated Blanket Review – BougeRV 12VDC 45W
So, following up on the BougeRV diesel heater from last video, I’m also testing their new 12V electric heating blanket, 48W DC, with zoned heating (full body, upper, core, foot,…
BougeRV Portable 12V 5KW Diesel Heater Review
In this first of several planned review videos, I unbox and test out a new portable diesel heater from BougeRV. I show the items provided, hook everything up, and fire…
Portable Air Conditioner Review – BougeRV 3500 BTU
Today, I’m excited to share a sneak peek at a new product I’ll review this summer on our boat—a portable air conditioner from BougeRV. Our boat doesn’t have built-in air…
Storing/Adding Extra Fresh Water for Extended Off Grid Cruising
We enjoy summers exploring the gorgeous BC coast aboard our 34′ CHB trawler-style liveaboard boat, often in remote areas without many services. To stay out for weeks, I rely on…
Off-Grid Power Updates for Summer 2025 – Dual Lithium Banks
In this video, I provide an update on the latest iteration of the boat’s off-grid power system. The most significant change has been the addition of a second house bank…
GoBluTech AR3 XLt 10″ Water Filter System Review
If you’ve been following me, you know we spend a lot of time camping off-grid. This winter, we’re in the desert for about four months of off-grid camping. During the…
2024/25 Snowbird Trip Update – Nevada to British Columbia – End of Trip!
Related Links: LYRV&B Harvest Host Affiliate Link – 20% Off Code = LYRV20 Google Map our Stops 2024/25 Snowbird Trip Video Playlist Coho Ferry Trip Raw Footage – Port Angeles…
Fun Spot to Camp! Alpaca Ranch near Carson City, Nevada
On the recent leg of our snowbird trip from Nevada to California, I stumbled upon a gem of a stopover. Anne and I were camped at Sportsman Beach Campground on…
2024/25 Snowbird Trip Update – Western Nevada Trip up HWY 95
When I last updated you, we were boondocking outside of Ehrenberg, Arizona, and had just replaced our worn trailer tires after a fast leak event. As I planned our course…
Renogy DuoHeat Tech Battery – Super Compact w/Low Temp Heating
In this video, I test and tear down a new LiFePO4 battery offering from Renogy. The DuoHeat Tech—Core Mini 12V 100Ah is one of the most compact 100Ah lithium batteries…
Baby Bluetti Power Station Demo + 200W Folding Solar
Here is a look at the smallest Bluetti power station in their product lineup. The AC2A weighs only 7.9 lbs and has dimensions of 9.8inｘ6.1inｘ6.8in. Even though it is small,…
Demo *Inexpensive* 12VDC Macerator & Fresh Water Pumps
In this video, I demo a pair of inexpensive liquid transfer pumps from Magam. One is a macerator pump for draining our RV waste tanks, and the other is a…
Big Power in Small Inexpensive Package – WattCycle Mini 280Ah LiFePO4
I’ve done quite a few reviews on lithium batteries, mostly focusing on the higher-end, pricier models like Lion Energy, SFK, and Xantrex. But recently, I’ve been encouraged to look at…
USA-Made Lithium Battery Review – SFK 300 Amp Hours
In this part one video, my first look and a quick test of an interesting 12V 300Ah lithium battery from a company called SFK (SunFunKits). Don’t let the funny name…