Recommended Dry-Camping Mods to a Small TT
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!
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!
