Best Boondocking Rigs: Wander Off-Grid with These RVs
Five campers designed to take you way, way out there.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Ember
There was a time when boondocking was considered a style of camping best left to the truly adventurous (or the just plain foolhardy). After all, going off-grid in your rig usually meant sacrificing some of the luxuries that make RV camping so fun. But today, boondocking has surged in popularity with RVers looking for a bit of solitude. Fortunately, thanks to improvements in solar-panel efficiency and the rise of low-cost lithium batteries, it’s become easier than ever to escape to a remote and private campsite.
Don’t think that RV manufacturers haven’t noticed this trend. A number of them now offer models ready-made for off-grid camping for as much as a week or more at a time. These are our picks for the top options for anyone looking to live that free-range life. Here are some of our favorite rigs designed with boondocking in mind.
Photo Credit: Ember
Ember Overland Series 221MSL
As with all Ember Overland Series travel trailers, the 221MSL comes with a rugged off-road chassis and all-terrain tires, which grant easy access to remote campsites. This model also comes equipped with 1200 watts of roof-mounted solar, along with a 270 amp-hour lithium battery which can run all of the onboard appliances, including the A/C, for days at a time. Add in Starlink prep, a comfortable and space-saving Murphy bed and the infinitely configurable EmberTrack system, and you get a mobile base station perfect for any outdoor adventure. MSRP: $82,128; emberrv.com
Photo Credit: Airstream
Airstream Trade Wind 27FB
This trailer offers Airstream’s renowned build quality and excellent attention to detail, along with an 18.5 kWh battery pack. That’s enough to keep all of the electric appliances and HVAC system running for days no matter where you park it. MSRP: $162,900; airstream.com
Notable Features
- Available with a queen or twin beds
- Panoramic Windows
- Optional rear hatch brings the outside in
Photo Credit: Pleasure-Way
Pleasure-Way Plateau XLTW
A Class B+ model with a spacious and comfortable interior, this RV is built from the ground up for off -grid camping. It comes with a 500W solar panel, a 600Ah house battery and a 2500W gas generator. A wide-body Mercedes Sprinter chassis offers generous interior space, too. MSRP: $237,672; pleasureway.com
Notable Features
- Private wet bath
- Lots of onboard storage
- Entertainment center with Bose sound bar
Photo Credit: Escapod
Escapod TOPO2 Voyager
Teardrop trailers are always great off -grid camping options, and this one is particularly well-suited for the job. The lightweight and nimble Voyager comes with a 190W solar panel and a 100Ah battery—perfect for powering its lighting systems, water heater and other features. MSRP: $43,990; escapod.us
Notable Features
- Easily towable with nearly any vehicle
- Amazing outdoor kitchen
- Made for four-season camping
Photo Credit: Pebble
Pebble Flow
With its 45kWh battery and 1100W solar panel, the all-electric Pebble Flow charts the course for the future of RV camping. The travel trailer is sleek and ultramodern inside and out, with a bevy of high-tech features, including auto-hitching to a tow vehicle. MSRP: $139,500; pebblelife.com
Notable Features
- Versatile sleep/work/play living area
- A spa-like bathroom
- Auto Dump takes the hassle out emptying the black tank
This article originally appeared in Wildsam magazine. For more Wildsam content, sign up for our newsletter.
Kraig Becker is a writer in the RV, outdoors, and adventure travel space. Over the course of his career he has contributed to such outlets as Popular Mechanics, Outside Online, Business Insider, TripSavvy, Digital Trends, GearJunkie, The Adventure Blog, and countless others. An avid runner and cyclist, he enjoys camping, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and just about any other outdoor activity. His travels have taken him to seven continents and on many amazing adventures.
