Perry Mack
Put the Amp in Camp with the Blueti EB70S. It can power a host of devices with it's 800W rating
Words & Photos by Perry Mack
There is a specific kind of silence that only exists when you are miles away from the nearest cell tower, tucked into a canyon or perched on a ridgeline. It’s the reason many of us traded the manicured lawns of RV resorts for the unpredictable dust of the backcountry. But that silence comes with a trade-off: when you go off-pavement, you are your own mechanic, your own navigator, and your own power utility.
To successfully navigate the backroads, you need to move beyond standard camping supplies. True self-sufficiency is a blend of rugged hardware and the wisdom to know how to use it.
Resource Management: Water and Food
When the nearest spigot is fifty miles away, every gallon counts.
Hydration and Filtration
Don't just rely on your freshwater tank. Carry a high-quality portable water filter or purifier. If you’re camped near a stream or lake, you can replenish your drinking supply without moving the rig. Collapsible water jugs are also a space-saving way to carry emergency volume.
Provisions
Focus on high-density nutrition. While the fridge is great, keep a stash of high-quality dehydrated meals or shelf-stable rations. They are lightweight, last for years, and provide the necessary calories if you end up spending more energy than planned on a vehicle recovery.
Powering the Remote Lifestyle
Perry Mack
Off-road RVing is essentially an exercise in energy management. To stay out longer, you have to rethink how you generate and store power.
- Solar and Lithium: The gold standard for the modern boondocker is a lithium battery bank paired with a robust solar array. Lithium allows you to use nearly all of your stored power without damaging the battery—crucial when the sun stays behind the clouds for a few days.
- The Inverter: To run standard household appliances or satellite internet, you’ll need a pure sine wave inverter to convert battery power into usable AC electricity.
- Portable Backups: A small portable power station is excellent for charging tablets or headlamps outside the rig without draining your main house batteries.
Recovery: The Art of Not Staying Stuck
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Perry Mack
Traction Boards work to get you out of mud, sand and snow
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Maxtrax
Traction boards work to get you out of mud, sand and snow.
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AfraidKnotRopes.ca
Afraid Knot Ropes makes kinetic recovery ropes for every job. Get a rope rated for your rig. Probably 'knot' this one.
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Perry Mack
Buy a compressor with enough power. Our trailer tires need to inflate to 65 psi and our truck tires to 80 psi. This dual piston compressor with gauge can handle both quickly. Many cheaper gauges and compressors won’t.
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Perry Mack
Most of us carry a spare, but the road doesn’t care how many flats you get on a single trip. Tire repair kits are a cheap, easy to use bit of insurance to keep us rollin’ on.
It’s not a matter of if you’ll find a soft patch of sand or a muddy rut—it’s when. Getting a heavy RV unstuck requires more than just a heavy foot; it requires the right mechanical leverage.
The Recovery Kit: Why It Matters
Traction Boards: The quickest way to extricate yourself from sand, mud, and snow.
Kinetic Recovery Rope: Uses the energy of a second vehicle to "pop" you out safely. It is NOT the same as a standard tow rope.
Portable Compressor: Essential for "airing down" tires to increase grip and airing back up for the highway.
Heavy-Duty Tool Kit: Should include a tire plug kit, extra fuses, and a reliable torque wrench.
Come Along: While a vehicle winch is ideal, a Come Along is a more affordable manual option for essential self-recovery.
Pro Tip: If you aren’t familiar with recovery points or winch safety, practice in a controlled environment first. The middle of a washout is the wrong place for a learning curve.
Navigating the Unknown
In the backcountry, a "road" is often a subjective term. Relying solely on a smartphone is a recipe for a dead-end—or worse.
Redundant Navigation Systems
The goal is to never rely on a single point of failure. I recommend a three-layer approach:
- The Planner: Use specialized mapping software to ensure your rig’s height and weight are compatible with the initial approach roads.
- The Scout: A dedicated off-road GPS unit is built for the rugged nature of the trail. It tracks pitch, roll, and topographic detail that standard highway maps ignore.
- The Fail-Safe: Never underestimate the power of a high-quality paper atlas and a magnetic compass. Batteries die and signals drop; paper is forever.
Staying Connected
Perry Mack & Jason Tansem
Zoleo allows you to text from and to anywhere in the world.
If things go south, you need a way to call for help that doesn't rely on cellular bars. Satellite messengers like the Zoleo allow you to send SOS signals or simple check-in texts to family from almost anywhere on the planet.
The Rewards of the Road Less Traveled
Once the logistics are handled, gear enhances the experience. A set of high-quality binoculars for wildlife, a portable projector for movies under the stars, or an inflatable kayak for a hidden alpine lake—these are the items that turn a survival exercise into a lifelong memory.
Final Thoughts
The backcountry is unforgiving, but it is also the most rewarding playground an RVer can ask for. Respect the terrain, invest in quality over quantity, and always leave the land better than you found it.