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wbwood's avatar
wbwood
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013

Help with shopping list

Ok it looks like I may have some money on the motorhome to get it more prepared for dry camping. Dry camping will mainly be 3-4 days, possibly a week every now and then. We willaimly be im the mountains with some occasional trips to places like the outer banks. Can you help me think of what else I may need in addition to the list?

-Another battery or 2 6volt batteries
- a couple of fantastic fans with covers for 2 of the 3 vents (1 is on bathroom and has all fan for it)
- some water containers with possible fold up cart to move them around. Not planning on a pump of any kind right now and will just use the 6 gallon ones.
- already have a portable waste tote if needed.
- already have water thief.
- on the fence with solar. Willing to spend up to around $500 icludimg installation, but don't think I could get anything worthwhile for that. Could be portable though.

10 Replies

  • wbwood's avatar
    wbwood
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2013
    I bought a champion 2000i last year to use with the TT we had. Never used it, but have it at home in case of power outage.

    Also forgot to mention that we have one of those portable mr heater propane heaters also to knock off a chill inside if needed.
  • milo's avatar
    milo
    Explorer II
    Jul 07, 2013
    JiminDenver wrote:
    Is solar worth it? Had I set it up first I may not have LEDs or the generator that we haven't needed for charging on the last two trips. Even the panel flat and only morning sun, the battery is a none issue.


    Yeah solar is worth it .. All our inside lights are LED and we have 2 Honda 2000's to run the A/C when stuck @ a rest area in 110 degree weather because hiways are close due to fires, it's happened 3 times in Nevada. We also have a 130 watt portable solar panel we use when we're boondocking in the FSCG's so we don't have to use the gens. Worth every penny, so are the gens & LEDs.
  • wbwood's avatar
    wbwood
    Explorer
    Jul 07, 2013
    Question about solar panels on the roof. What about hail storms? Anyone have one get broken from hail?
  • dcason's avatar
    dcason
    Explorer II
    Jul 07, 2013
    We take some 1 gallon OJ jugs to use for flushing toilet and if we should need water to flush we can get that kind of water anywhere...like streams or whatever.
    Donna
  • JiminDenver's avatar
    JiminDenver
    Explorer II
    Jul 06, 2013
    Is solar worth it? Had I set it up first I may not have LEDs or the generator that we haven't needed for charging on the last two trips. Even the panel flat and only morning sun, the battery is a none issue.
  • hmknightnc's avatar
    hmknightnc
    Explorer
    Jul 06, 2013
    Mello Mike wrote:
    Solar is well worth the investment. You can buy a pretty decent system for $500 if you shop around and do the installation yourself. About 200 watts of solar panels would serve you well with the size of the your battery bank.


    X2. below is an example of a complete 200W system for under $500. Pesonally I would use a Morningstar controller but I imagine this system would work just fine

    Complete 200W solar system
  • Mello_Mike's avatar
    Mello_Mike
    Explorer
    Jul 06, 2013
    Solar is well worth the investment. You can buy a pretty decent system for $500 if you shop around and do the installation yourself. About 200 watts of solar panels would serve you well with the size of the your battery bank.
  • wbwood's avatar
    wbwood
    Explorer
    Jul 05, 2013
    I forgot to mentions I already have the led lights for inside as well.

    2oldman - most places out here that we would use have paved roads. Ad I've seen others use those carts I mentioned.
  • korbe's avatar
    korbe
    Explorer
    Jul 05, 2013
    We installed some LED lights and also have some solar path lights, the flat kind, that we use as night lights. While in conserve mode, the water and sewer tanks will last a week - it does for the 2 of us anyway.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Jul 05, 2013
    wbwood wrote:
    - some water containers with possible fold up cart to move them around. Not planning on a pump of any kind right now and will just use the 6 gallon ones.
    Those fold up carts may not be strong enough for 50lb. And with the small hard tires, may not tote well through rough terrain. And I hope you have some good arm strength.

    A good hand truck with pneumatic tires is handy for that and many other things, like your sewer tote.

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