Boondocking in a Class A Motorhome

Boondocking in a Class A Motorhome
How a Winnebago Vista became one couple’s ultimate off-grid RV.

By: Kenny & Sabrina Phillips

I’ve been working a lot of Overland Expos recently, and the crowds that attend these shows are all about camping unplugged and being on the go! While many people think of camper vans (like the Winnebago Revel) or small Class Cs (like the Winnebago EKKO) when they imagine off-grid boondocking, Sabrina and I use our 2016 Class A Winnebago Vista LX 27N in a similar way. 

In fact, we often consider our Vista as an extra-large van. We’re constantly on the move and often seek out dry camping spots along our route. In this article, I’m going to share why I think our Class A Winnebago Vista is the ultimate off-grid RV.

Not sure what boondocking (dry camping) is? Watch this beginner tutorial.

1. Large Fresh Water Capacity

One of the biggest limitations to spending days without hookups is water—we all need it, and it always seems to run out too fast. Our Winnebago Vista has a 64-gallon freshwater tank, and the gray and black tanks have a combined holding capacity of 96 gallons. On top of that, we typically carry two extra six-gallon water jugs.

One of the best features for water that our Vista has is a gravity fill, which lets us top off our water tank without needing a pressurized spigot. All our future RVs will have to include this feature as we use it on almost every trip.

The average RVer uses about five gallons of water per day, so between the two of us, we can go about eight days without a refill. When I’m traveling solo, I can stretch that to 16 days. We know people who get by on even less, but we prefer not to stress over every single drop of water.

Fun fact: The average American uses over 80 gallons of water per day at home.

2. Propane That Lasts for Months

When it comes to dry camping, propane is often overlooked, but it’s crucial for a comfortable unplugged experience in many RVs. While dry camping, our propane powers the furnace, heats our water, and lets us cook full meals.

Thankfully, our Winnebago Vista has an 18-gallon propane tank—that’s equivalent to more than three standard 20-pound tanks. We’ve also made two major upgrades to reduce our propane usage:

1. Water Heater – When our original six-gallon water heater needed to be replaced, we chose a Truma AquaGo. It has multiple settings, including an Eco mode that only activates the heater when we open a faucet. It heats only the water we use, not an entire tank, which makes it incredibly efficient and extends our propane reserves.
2. Refrigerator – We swapped out our 120V/propane fridge for a super-efficient 12V Norcold fridge that runs on our battery bank. That battery bank, in turn, is recharged via rooftop and portable solar panels.

3. Large Fuel Tank to Get Way Off-Grid

In the overlanding world, fuel is king. A big fuel tank means the ability to go further off-grid, and it often powers key appliances like generators and heaters.

Our Winnebago Vista scores another win here with an 80-gallon fuel tank. This gives us a range of over 600 miles, letting us venture deep into the backcountry and return safely. The fuel tank also powers our onboard generator and is designed in a way that it leaves us with enough fuel to get back to the main road.

4. Option for Additional Off-Grid Power

As I just mentioned, our Vista came equipped with a generator that can power the entire RV. That said, Sabrina and I don’t like to rely on the generator, especially for long periods. Thanks to our large cargo capacity, we were able to install a serious solar and lithium battery system.

We have 1,400 watts of solar, a little over 1,000 amp-hours of Battle Born Batteries, and a 3,000-watt inverter. This setup allows us to run everything in the RV just like we’re plugged into shore power. In mild weather (85°F or below), we can stay off-grid indefinitely without needing to run the generator or plug in. 

However, if it is above 85 degrees, we find we run our A/C often, and our time unplugged is reduced to a few days at a time since our solar is not enough to keep up with the high draw of our A/C. 

You can read more about our power setup in this article.

5. Enough Storage to Bring What We Want

At 28 feet long, I usually describe our Winnebago Vista as a small Class A. While that’s true, it doesn’t lack storage space. In fact, we have more room than we need, even after using some of it for our power system.

We have two pass-through storage bays. One of them is big enough to store both of our folding bikes, and this is a rare feature that we don't often see even in bigger RVs. (However, Winnebago does have quite a few options for storing bikes inside your RV. See a list here!) 

The extra storage means we can bring our outdoor grill, chairs, table, fire pit, Truma cooler, and more. Everything we need to enjoy the outdoors fits right in.

Inside, there’s also plenty of space. Our pantry can hold over a month’s worth of food, and our new 12V fridge has more capacity than our old one. So, we’re able to bring plenty of frozen food, drinks, fresh fruit, and veggies. We end up making some incredible meals in the middle of nowhere.

6. Comfortable Camping

I think the interior layout is where our Winnebago Vista really shines. Once we’re set up at camp and all three slides are out, it truly feels like home. There’s nothing we’re missing. 

Here are some highlights:

• A large kitchen with an L-shaped counter
• Dinette that seats four
• A 48" TV with surround sound
• Two captain’s chairs that swivel into recliners
• A full-size bathroom
• A walk-around residential queen bed

It’s so comfy, we often forget we’re on wheels. It really is our home away from home, and probably why it was so easy to travel in full-time for five years.

I also genuinely believe our 28-foot Winnebago Vista is the perfect size, big enough to be ultra comfortable with generous capacities, but small enough to fit into most campsites on or off-grid. Its shorter length makes it easier to maneuver in small towns and tight gas stations. I’ve even fueled up at 7-Elevens and Wawas. Being under 30 feet gives us a ton of flexibility in where we go and how we camp.

Final Thoughts on Boondocking in a Class A

A Class A motorhome, especially with a few smart upgrades, can be a self-contained, long-term, off-grid machine. If water weren’t the limiting factor, we could stay out indefinitely thanks to solar, lithium, and large fuel and propane storage.

I’d love to hear from you, what upgrades have you made to your RV for off-grid living? Drop a comment below so others can learn from your setup.

Take care and safe travels!