No, most RV boondockers are not poor. If anything, they’re frugal. Boondockers don’t “need” to save money, they just “want” to save money. They prefer to live with less, repurpose things, and leave a lighter footprint on the world. Many boondockers have more than enough funds to get by with. For them, it’s not about how much money they can make, but how little they can get by on.
Are RV Boondockers Generally Poor People?
RV Boondockers Have Other Reasons
Most boondockers are interested in getting away from crowds and being out in nature. They love being self-reliant and learning how to get by with less. They enjoy and doing more of their own fixes and improvements. Boondockers already have some kind of sufficient income source.
But there are still a lot of RV boondockers that are financially motivated. However, it’s not because they can’t afford to stay in an RV park. Rather, they just hate having to pay more than they have to. For them, it’s a source of pride to pay less and less each month. They enjoy sharing their successes in trimming costs with other boondockers.
Many boondockers hate the idea of calling up RV parks to inquire on available spaces. They hate being put on hold, having leave a message, or being transferred around. More and more RV parks are becoming crowded as RVing increases in popularity. One of the big reasons why so many RVers turn into boondockers is because the process of finding available RV park space becomes so aggravating.
It’s Less About Money, and More About Lifestyle
While the cost of RV boondocking can be cheaper than the cost of living in a brick-and-sticks home, boondockers are not really cash-strapped.
For starters, it costs a lot of money to buy an RV. Most boondockers use a trailer, which means it also costs them a lot of money to buy a truck.
The challenge of living comfortably on the least amount of money possible is a source of pride and joy for boondockers. It’s actually entertainment to experiment with ways to live on less money. It’s a form of geekism.
But it’s also something ingrained into many boondockers’ minds. They need to feel more free from financial obligations. The monthly onslaught of bills, taxes, fees, and penalties is enough to drive some people into becoming boondockers.
Boondocking is also a way for other people to leave a smaller footprint on society. Consumerism is a huge turnoff for many boondockers, and as a result they strive to produce less trash, recycle more, and seek ways to live more naturally.
Urban Dwellers Versus RV Boondockers
People who live in their RVs or vehicles within the boundaries of cities and suburbia do so primarily for career reasons. They have a job to show up to regularly. Some of these workers cannot afford to travel dozens of miles away from the forest or desert, and instead stay inside town. These are not really boondockers, but urban dwellers.
But that’s not the story with boondockers. Full time RVers who choose to set up camp well into the woods, mountains, and deserts, do so because they can afford it, and really love it there.
Most RV Boondockers Are Motivated
Boondockers are generally highly motivated people because it requires a lot of energy and commitment to live off-grid and manage an RV entirely yourself. Instead of putting all that motivation into working a job at an organization, they put it into their own day-to-day survival.
While saving money by boondocking is often a source of pride for most RVers, it’s often not what motivates them.