How to RV State Parks on Limited Hookups: Maximizing Your Water, Power, and Sewer Systems
👩🏻💻Visit our website for your FREE RV Budget Spreadsheet download- liketheresnoto...
🏞️ Want to know How to RV State Parks on limited hookups? In this video, we're sharing our expert tips and tricks for maximizing your water, power, and sewer systems, so you can enjoy extended stays in beautiful state parks without sacrificing comfort! 💧⚡🚽
As experienced RVers, we know firsthand the challenges of camping with limited resources, especially in a larger rig. We'll guide you through the process of choosing the right state parks for your setup and provide practical solutions for managing your water usage, conserving power on 30amp, and handling waste efficiently. 🌿🔌♻️
From investing in the right gear to developing smart habits, we'll cover everything you need to know to make the most of your state park adventures. We'll also share our favorite tools and techniques for monitoring your consumption, so you can stay on top of your resources and avoid any unexpected setbacks. 📈🔧
Whether you're a seasoned boondocker or new to the world of limited hookups, this video will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to tackle any state park camping challenge. 💪😊
So, grab a notebook, hit that subscribe button, and let's dive into the world of RVing on limited hookups in state parks! 📝👍 Join us on this exciting journey and discover how to create unforgettable memories in some of the most beautiful natural settings across the country. 🏞️🌄
🔹Collapsible Bin/ Wash Tub amzn.to/4abVy8G
🔹Parchment Paper Sheets. amzn.to/3QLOMzk
🔹Water Splitter amzn.to/4bJHdkZ
🔹Water Pump amzn.to/3wGrGmX
🔹 3/4" Male GHT x 1/2" NPT Female Connector, Brass Garden Hose Fitting amzn.to/4dLQACv
🔹Water Bladder amzn.to/3UHMSRp
🔹Water Flow Meter. amzn.to/3wGrGmX
🔹Newport Trolling Motor Smart Battery Box Power Center Newport Trolling Motor Smart Battery Box Power Center amzn.to/3wGrGmX
🔹Dogbone 30 to 50 power extension amzn.to/3xTb4bW
🔹Power Watchdog Surge Protector EMS- amzn.to/3QkHZwf
🔹Doggie Poo Bags. amzn.to/44MYtUc
🔹RV Tank Waste Tote amzn.to/3K49dnm
🔹Camco RV Tote Tank Gauge RV Tote Tank Gauge amzn.to/4bk2EJv
Sewer Adapters we use:
🔹Camco 3 in 1 Sewer Adapter. amzn.to/3wGrGmX
🔹Camco 4" x 3" Sewer Hose Seal amzn.to/3QLOMzk
00:00 Introduction
00:32 State Park Camping PROS
04:16 State Park Camping CONS
07:20 FREE RV Budget Tracker
08:15 WATER MANAGEMENT
14:30 How to use a Water Bladder
23:46 ELECTRIC/ENERGY MANAGEMENT
26:32 WASTE MANAGEMENT
29:58 How to use a Waste Tote
👨⚖️ LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW- All Rights Reserved
*This channel for entertainment purposes only. We are not travel or RV experts. We share our opinions and what works for us, but you should do your own research and make your own decisions.
Tags: How to RV State Parks, RV state parks, limited hookups RV, RV camping, RV boondocking, RV water conservation, RV power management, RV sewer systems, RV dry camping, RV off-grid, RV tips, RV tricks, RV hacks, RV gear, RV tools, RV techniques, RV monitoring, RV resources, RV adventures, RV lifestyle, RV couple, RV family, RV travel, RV nature, RV outdoors, RV memories
Пікірлер: 86
I love that there are so many ways to RV. I recently did a vid where I talk about how to have a 23 gallon black tank last 26 days. That means I had to super conserve on fresh 46 gallons) and grey (35 gallons) water too. The issue is less about the tank being mostly empty causing smells than it is about the P-trap under the sink drying out if it’s not being used. Running a small amount of water in the sink to refill the P-trap often solves the odor problem. Same is true after a travel day on bumpy roads -that can slosh the water out of the P-trap too.
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Excellent insights. Thank you Sally
For those wanting other options for plates/bowls, Amazon has many options for compostable and biodegradable dinnerware. 😊
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Nice!
If I was able to have a van or RV I will definitely go for an incinerator toilet. No water and no black water tank to worry about 😊.
Wisconsin has absolutely beautiful State Parks ;)
@liketheresnotomorrow
13 күн бұрын
We can’t wait to get up North. So much to see!
County and City parks are great finds too. Near Chicago, Kane county has 2 parks that are great. Water and 50A hookups. 2 week stays. In Elgin and in Big Rock.
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Oh that’s great to know. We have family near chigago
Thank you! Thank you! I love your KZread channel. I'm subscribed to many full time RV ers. Your content is a step above.
@liketheresnotomorrow
21 күн бұрын
Wow! Thanks so much for your kind words. We are certainly trying hard. lol welcome aboard.
I've learned through experience I can have 3 people in my Springdale for 6 days being judicious in water and toilet use. I learned some hacks from OJT and KZread. It can be done as long as you know your rigs capacity.
@liketheresnotomorrow
19 күн бұрын
That’s awesome. Appreciate you sharing
So you have touched on in this video and I saw it in another one that is near and dear to my heart: using paper plates and other disposable things when boondocking to save water. There is a quote from Annie Leonard, former executive director of Greenpeace USA: “There is no such thing as ‘away.’ So, when we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.” My wife and I are about to be full-time in a few weeks (amazing it is so close!) intending to mostly boondock. One of the main reasons is we are doing this is to enjoy this amazing Earth. It seems counter-intuitive to me that one of the things we do to make this lifestyle easier on us is to use a lot of one-time-use things that will end up in landfills. My thinking... I know that when folks tent camp or camp in small teardrops that don't have gray tanks, they wash their dishes outside and allow the water to just run off into the woods. I think we can really reduce how quickly we fill up the gray tank by washing dishes outside when that is permitted. On the note of the paper in the toilet vs doggy bags, we are 100% on board with that! We have gone one step further: we installed a composting toilet, so we won't ever have a black tank to empty!!!!! (P.S. I do make sure the bags are designed to be biodegradable )
@liketheresnotomorrow
2 ай бұрын
You have a great plan and outlook. Go with your heart and always do you. Thanks for your input. Awesome insights.
Awesome video guys. So helpful and clearly organized. You both are now pros on camera!!
@liketheresnotomorrow
2 ай бұрын
Now, I dunno about that “pros” but we just try and keep it real. So glad you thought the info helpful. Thanks so much for watching. We have so much more to share. 😜👍
We are on the road about 20+ weeks out of the year in the Spring and Fall for the past 6 1/2 years. Over the past 3+ years, we have stayed at very few private campgrounds. We stay almost exclusively at State Parks (and CoE Parks, National Forest/BLM, City/County Parks). The quality of the camping is far superior to private parks. Like you, I don’t care about the lack of “amenities”. I don’t need a pool, or a trampoline, or a mini-golf course. Yeah, not having full hookups is a little less convenient, but using the dump station on the way out is not a big deal. It is the best way to RV (in my opinion) and it isn’t used by so many RV’ers…which is fine by us!
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Yes!!!👍👏👏👏
Hey there! You may want to consider a macerator pump. It allows you to have the black tank in the truck bed. You won't have to pull it and you can go much further when you are boondocking. I really upped this by getting a 100 gallon black water bladder. I also got a Gen Y to free up the bed space.
@liketheresnotomorrow
Ай бұрын
Indeed. We have one. In this video we just wanted to show he traditional method as most state parks have a pretty close dump. We’ll have to do one using the macerator pump next time. Great reminder
@kellycharliesophia3450
Ай бұрын
@@liketheresnotomorrow Do you guys have a macerator pump?
@liketheresnotomorrow
27 күн бұрын
@@kellycharliesophia3450yes. We use it often when boondocking
Another banger, Darlene and Barry. You're doing a great service. 32:10 This alone sounds like it's worth that dumpster's full weight in gold.
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Thank ya!
on your pump wiring you can install a $2 toggle switch on 1 of the wires to turn off and on instead of it coming on when attaching the wires to the battery
@liketheresnotomorrow
7 күн бұрын
Great idea thank you
Great video guys, thanks!
@liketheresnotomorrow
2 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
Honestly, managing water has been my biggest fear for boondocking and staying at state parks. I have a little one so it is hard to get most things done, otherwise it wouldn't be an issue. Thanks for covering this very helpful topic!
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
You can do it!
Hello. WE really need to meet up one of these days. In the last video you were at the Sturgis Escapee whoya (I was in the Black Hills, who knew?! haha).. I have not attended one of those yet... a little nervous about that. Anyway... my comment was.. if in a state park with toilets, dump the dish water in the sink or toilet at the restrooms if concerned about dumping on ground. Some say yes, others say no... but that is a compromise.. I think... Thanks for sharing. Safe Travels.
@liketheresnotomorrow
Ай бұрын
100%. It depends. If you only have a little water you might be able to do that. We were a ways away, but you totally could. You’d just be going over there a lot! Sometimes they even have sinks for washing dishes near the restrooms. It’s just easier to dump into the tote after a week and be done with it:
State Parks I recommend, everyone I have been in Michigan has been wonderful. My favorite was the Wilderness State Park, about 7 miles west of Mackinaw City & Mackinaw Bridge. Wilderness State Park is right on Lake Michigan and is just beautiful! Between Wilderness State Park and Mackinaw City is the Headlands Internation Dark Sky Park which we stopped at in the evening. They often have presentations around 8pm. Mackinaw City is the southern location to catch a ferry to Mackinac Island. Mackinac Island is a MUST-see, there are no cars, all the transportation is horse and buggy, bicycle, or foot.
@liketheresnotomorrow
2 ай бұрын
We are so putting this on our list.
I’m a new follower and trying to convince my family to consider full time rving, and I really enjoy your videos! You guys have excellent and very informative content! Great job!
@liketheresnotomorrow
Ай бұрын
Welcome aboard… and thank you!
Very informative guys! Love the parchemin paper on the counter, great idea! Thank you.
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
You are so welcome!
Could you talk about how your are able to get reservations for the full two weeks? Do you plan 6 months out? I would love a video that really gets into the nuts and bolts of planning for full time as we are about 8 months out! :~)
@liketheresnotomorrow
Ай бұрын
Will do!! I’ll try and do a trip Planning video for you sometimes soon.
Excellent video guys!!! Love the cheap state parks too and most are big rig friendly as you mentioned. Our TH is 48ft and some change, so recon on google earth is your friend!!! We have the same bladder and a 12V water pump too. What we did is got the Anderson connectors and a roll of 10 gauge wire. I made a 20 ft pigtail off our 8 lithium battery bank with a female Anderson connector. Then I attached a male Anderson connector to our the same thing 12V water pump, Vair air compressor, and our 12V portable macerator pump we use to pump our black tank to the sewage tote. It’s a fairly easy project and simplifies and streamlines the process. 👍😃🍻
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Excellent info. We also use a macerator pump for times when the dump is too far from us to tote and we need to put it in the truck bed. We’ll probably do a video for the people the next time we do that.
VA has amazing state parks. Shenandoah State Park will have some sites that will fit your rig and it is right up by the northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park.
@liketheresnotomorrow
2 ай бұрын
Sweet! We will add it to our list. THANKS!
Thanks for all the great ideas. On your water pump from the bladder what about mounting that pump inside a pelican case and use quick disconnect water hose fittings and then make a simple power connection in your bed with a power switch? Lot of explanation but basically put that pump in a water proof box with a power plug and switch ? Keep the ideas coming.
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Yea, I saw another channel do that. Great idea
Thank you for the video! Great information ☀️
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
You are so welcome!
I can’t even get into a state park in California, I have been trying to get into Carlsbad State Beach for over 3 years lol. So apparently wherever this is at must either be Hot, Humid, or have lots of bugs 🤣🤣 Yes I will dump dishwater, and leftover black coffee. All those things are great but they all take room and in a Class B you just don’t have it.
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
It really is dependent on your area. Ca by far has been our hardest state to get into state parks. We literally gave up. Maybe because the weather year round is decent. In other parts of the country there is shoulder season when it’s more available. Summer, however, is always hard to get in. Maybe get out of CA! lol
We’re getting in to more State Parks too. We’re a big rig (45’ Toyhauler). Our biggest issue has been reservations… and availability. We work full time too so the during the week thing works and we run out on the weekends anyway, so that is a great flow for us too! So far our favorite is Cherry Creek State Park in the Denver area. We haven’t done that campground review yet but that’s coming!
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
I hear ya. We are headed through the Dakotas, Wyoming this summer and CO in the fall. Most were already booked. So we’ll mostly boondocking now. Which is fine if the temps behave,
@MileHighBeach
3 ай бұрын
@liketheresnotomorrow The reservation thing is so bad I think it's CA wants to do something about it. We've been in places where we checked the reservation and it all looks booked. You ride through that same park and it's virtually empty for the time we requested. It really makes booking a challenge. Especially when most states require the reservation months in advance. We're trying to figure out how to Crack that code! Oh, another one.... we're also getting into city, county, COE and Fairground parks. Same idea 💡
Great video guys. Love our state parks.
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Us too! Thanks for watching. 🥰
Great tips! We love state parks! We have a water bag too. The first one I busted because I did not have the bag at tailgate and had to move it after the fact. Not good. lol. Also- you might want to consider getting a SoftStartUp.
@liketheresnotomorrow
2 ай бұрын
Hey friend. Thanks for the reminder about soft starts. We have them on all the acs. Totally forgot to mention that (duh), hope to see you guys again soon.
Another great video with lots of great information
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
Just to let you know, Charlestown State Park is in Southern Indiana, not Ohio. We hosted there in August of 2021. Very good video.
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Whoops. lol thanks for that correction. We’ve been at so many lately I think I got them mixed up. lol
We stay at state park alot. We wash dishes in tub keep 5 gallon free pickle bucket by door and dump dish water in it till near full all the state parks we stay at have grey water dump in camp area every 10 or 15 site a we dump it there. Not on the ground.
@liketheresnotomorrow
2 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing. Great idea
Thank you for the info.
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
You bet!
Have you ever thought about taking a garbage bag and putting it one or two of them over the toilet seat putting some horse bed pellets they are little pellets that are made of ground up wood that they soak up urine etc and when you're done you put your trash and everything in it and then you bag it up tied up and you throw it in the dumpster. No worse than babies dirty diaper. And it doesn't smell because the pellets soak up all the urine. I've had to use 5 gallon buckets for many years. And when I found out about the horse pellets that are betting pellets that absorb urine. You can buy them at tractor supply store. It made a world of difference.
@liketheresnotomorrow
Ай бұрын
Wow. Now that’s an idea… but I’m afraid I’m not willing to go to that level of commitment and effort. lol I Love how you have it figured out and working for you though.
Falls Lake state Park North Carolina electric and water Goose creek state Park full hooks there North Carolina.
@liketheresnotomorrow
2 ай бұрын
Oooohhh thank you…adding to the list !
How long is your rig? And how far in advance do you recommend for reserving a spot for two weeks at state parks?
@liketheresnotomorrow
Ай бұрын
We are 44ft. For two weeks I’d say book as early as they will allow you for holiday or summer travel. Most state parks open up booking 6 months in advance, but it varies. Off season I got a full two weeks within a couple of months before but even if you don’t go that far in advance, just keep checking for cancellations. I have booked a week and then caught a second week later.
30 Amp = 3600 wat.. 50 Amp = 5000 wat... soft start on ur a/c makes a huge difference
@liketheresnotomorrow
2 ай бұрын
Us too, we put soft starts on all the ac’s as well. Hoping to cover that in future videos.
Try over $50 a day in California.
Do you have to purchase state park stickers for each state to be able to camp at those places?
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Most of the time, no. They generally include it in your reservation fee... however, we have had a couple where we had to pay the $7 entry fee once. They usually list that info on the state park website when you book. There has been one park where it was a daily fee, and we decided not to stay there because of it. That has been the only one we came across doing it this way. Of the ten state parks we have stayed at only one asked us to pay the entrance fee one time.
Of course I’d dump my dish pan. What do people think tent campers do they have no tank
@liketheresnotomorrow
2 ай бұрын
Exactly! You’d be surprised what some people say. lol crazy
@ArleneWalsh-tq7os
Ай бұрын
We used to tent camp and we would wash our dishes in the sink outside the bathrooms, or wash them in a tub and then dump the tub at the sink. All the state parks that we have been to have a big sink. It’s gross to dump your dirty dish water at a campground and it attracts animals.
Dishwater is ok to dump
@liketheresnotomorrow
3 ай бұрын
Thanks for saying that…and we totally agree.
Yes don’t Drink that water that hasn’t been Filtered.
@liketheresnotomorrow
2 ай бұрын
I know, right!?