Recommended Dry-Camping Mods to a Small TT

granlobo wrote:
Thanks everyone for their thoughtful and informative posts on the site...I've enjoyed and benefited from them immensely!

I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts regarding the following:

We're looking to graduate up from tent camping to a small TT. Personal preferences and allegiances aside, the best overall choice for us (factoring in cost, features, tow vehicle appropriateness, sleeping capacity, etc) is an r-pod.

>75% of our anticipated use will be in a "dry camping" capacity in designated DCNR sites...we're definitely not "campground" folk. Most of our trips initially will be of the 2-3 day variety, with a desire to complete several 3-week-long "loops" across the country down the road.

I'd much rather roll certain "upgrades" into the initial loan/purchase of the r-pod instead of being confronted with deficiencies during our first full summer/fall of use next year.

A few things I thought of:

A) The 20 lb LP tank on front...recommended to upgrade to a 2-tank bracket configuration? Overkill for only 3 days when running only the water heater, fridge, and cooking stove for meals?

B) The unit comes "stock" with only one 12V deep-cycle battery. Seems like a good candidate for an upgrade. Will they sit 2 of them side-by-side in parallel? Have a 2nd one alone to "swap out" while the other is charged? Etc.

C) Any special wiring (significant enough that you'd want it installed at the dealership) to "trickle charge" 1-2 batteries with a solar panel?

D) Success/recommendations on which type of panel? I like the "mats" that drape over the contours of the r-pod itself...but a toughie if you're under a shade canopy. Stand-alone that can be moved and connected via a cord to a nearby, sunnier location?

E) I'm not overly excited about buying a generator...cost-wise OR the fact that state/national parks may not permit them around here. A good idea to purchase one of those 26-30 amp-hour "recharging stations" for any portable devices we have with us? And to dump into the deep-cycle battery in a pinch?

Anything else that I'm forgetting? I'd really like to get any bread & butter (expected) upgrades rolled into the initial loan/purchase so that we can focus on enjoying the unit and be confident in our ability to go off-grid for 2-3 days.

Thanks!

A: I would look at getting the twin bracket and an auto-changeover regulator. It means you always have a spare stored in a secure place.

B: Depends on the room on your trailer hitch. If width is an issue, but height isn't, I'd consider two six volt, deep cycle, golf cart batteries that are in series. That will effectively act as one 12 volt battery. This is a proven configuration that works for a lot of people on rv.net.

C: Make sure to get a multi-stage RV converter. A single stage will boil your batteries.

D: Not sure. If the "mats" work, go for it. Perhaps both, assuming you have room for the panel stand and the mat when packed up and on the road. I'd consider a MPPT charge controller... more expensive, but makes the most out of what limited panel space you have.

E: Not familiar with the "recharging stations". If they are the "power packs" that have a small battery in them, they are OK for running a CPAP overnight, but not much else. I'd highly recommend going for a 2000 watt Honda eu2000i model generator, which is also a known good solution that a lot of people found works well for them.