A huge reason why we started full time RV living was to spend quality time with the people we care about. With our RV, we can visit friends and family across the country that we haven’t seen in years (especially throughout the pandemic). An added bonus is that they don’t even need space for guests as long as they can accommodate moochdocking.
What is moochdocking?
Mooching + boondocking = moochdocking. Moochdocking is when you stay in your RV on a person’s property or driveway for free, usually when visiting friends and family. Most moochdocking hosts allow their guests to shower, use the bathroom, do laundry, and hook up to electricity during their stay (be careful to not blow a fuse).
Why would you moochdock?
Moochdocking is the easiest way to visit friends and family when you’re full time RV living. You feel like less of a burden as a guest, and you get to spend a lot more time with your loved ones compared to staying at a campground nearby. That being said… it’s not always smooth sailing, especially if your hosts aren’t familiar with RV life.
We’ve blown fuses, shorted our A/C, killed our batteries, and had food spoil before we understood how to prepare for moochdocking. On the flip side, staying at loved ones’ homes has allowed us to spend holidays with family, make major repairs on our RV, and plan our routes to maximize our quality time.
Top tips for moochdocking:
Understand your host’s electrical system.
Ask, “Does your house support 30 AMP (or 50 AMP if your RV is a big boy) plug ins?” If your host does not know, either find a way to confirm that it does or DO NOT plug in.
We blew my mother-in-law’s fuse so badly that it required an electrician to come and fix it. It’s not worth it to plug in if you’re not sure!
Make sure they have level parking
Steep or curved driveways are not RV friendly. If you’re not level, your fridge won’t work correctly and you won’t have a comfortable night’s sleep. Make sure to tell your host how long your RV is so you can plan where you’ll park.
Check HOA restrictions
Not all neighborhoods allow RV parking. Ask your host ahead of time. If they don’t have an RV, they might not have thought about restrictions. You don’t want them to receive an HOA fine after your departure!
Ask about using their facilities ahead of time
We usually moochdock on properties with septic tanks or trucked in water (aka my mom’s ranch), which means that using their water non-stop can actually cause issues!
One way to test the waters about doing laundry at their house is to say, “Hey, do you know of a good laundromat nearby? We’re planning on doing some laundry while in town.”
If they don’t care about you doing laundry at their house, they’ll usually offer up their place. If they do care, they’ll probably give you a great recommendation… win-win!
Plan parking with your solar setup
If you’ll need solar while you’re moochdocking, talk about it with your host. Ask them if they have sunny spots in their driveway or street, and explain it’s because that’s how you charge your batteries.
Be upfront about working remotely
If you need to work remotely during your stay, make sure they understand when you’ll be working. Most people assume we’re on a 24/7 vacation, but that’s not the case! We usually set aside our mornings to eat breakfast in our RV and work while enjoying afternoons and evenings with our hosts. It also takes the burden off of them to entertain you all day.
Talk about your pets
Not all people love your dog as much as you do (and your dogs might not love people as much as you do). Hosts can have allergies or fear of dogs, so talk about what you’ll do with your pets ahead of time. For example, my own loving dad does not allow any dogs besides his own in his homes. There are many reasons for this, and we respect them by creating dog-safe outdoor environments for Ziggy and Ditto.
Charge all your electronics while moochdocking
Plug in your battery packs, portable speakers, computers, etc. while moochdocking. Homes usually charge electronics much faster than RVs!
Bring your host a thank you gift
If we stay at a Harvest Host before moochdocking, we bring our hosts a bottle of wine or farm-fresh food from one of our stays. It’s a fun way to say thank you and kick off on a great note! It’s all about making memories during your stay together.
Most people are so happy to see you that they’ll offer showers, laundry, food, drinks, and everything else to make you feel welcome at their home. Moochdocking truly is a fun way to visit friends and family. With some upfront communication, you and your host will have the best time catching up on each other’s lives and adventures.
Check out our 5 must-know tips for boondocking once your’re done with your moochdocking stay. Connect with us on social media for more full time RV content!
