Top Boondocking Modifications

Yes, I know most will say you should not do this... but I never learned the meaning of NO. Originally I did not have room for 8 batteries or the money.:B Also, I only recently found the long narrow ones that would fit in the back.
#1. They are all AMG with close to the same amp/hour rating.
#2. 24 hours after fully charging and then separating they all have the same
voltage of 12.75 to 12.8. While holding hands, I doubt one knows the
difference as long as all have the same voltage and capacity.
#3. Each year after testing, if one tests below 12.6-.7 I'll probably replace it with a new battery.
I may split this into two banks as my 2000W inver/charger takes too long to charge this large a system. Having another charger could cut my generator time in half. If I split it I'll put a high amp diode between the two and run the new charger off my block heater outlet.

Maybe this should be another discussion in another post.

Ivylog wrote:
Ivylog 850 amps AGM Wow.. housed in how many batteries?
Eight batteries 6 @ 105 amps and 2 @ 110 amps... they are long and narrow and fit at the back of each rack. Originally I only had one rack which I lowered to make enough room for the upper one. I do have 250 watts of solar but we run our office out of the MH and use a lot of power.

From your picture and your response, I understand that you have mixed your batteries with different age and type, as well as specifications? Why would you do that?

b

Ivylog 850 amps AGM Wow.. housed in how many batteries?
Eight batteries 6 @ 105 amps and 2 @ 110 amps... they are long and narrow and fit at the back of each rack. Originally I only had one rack which I lowered to make enough room for the upper one. I do have 250 watts of solar but we run our office out of the MH and use a lot of power.

Jerry.. that IS some setup, and I clicked your link in your profile but it doesn't want to go there.

pnichols wrote:
Jerry,

That's quite the setup you have there!

Looking at your equipment inventory, you should also be able to boondock almost with inverter+solar powered air conditioning in the desert heat ... which is a very difficult thing to do except for the most extreme RV rigs.

You didn't list much about your cold weather capabilities. If they're also good, your Crown could be the ideal 4-season RV - good for 4 seasons at all altitudes - with no need to head for the mountains in the summer.

Air Conditioning takes about 2000 watts. We don't have it and don't need it.
For the winter we have a wood stove and 30,000 BTU heater BUT, I'm leaving in about an hour for the Southwest US until April where it is much warmer. That's my solution to the winter.
If the sun shines my batteries are full at noon or 1:00. In December it will be about 3 or 4 if I leave them flat on the roof.

Jerry,

That's quite the setup you have there!

Looking at your equipment inventory, you should also be able to boondock almost with inverter+solar powered air conditioning in the desert heat ... which is a very difficult thing to do except for the most extreme RV rigs.

You didn't list much about your cold weather capabilities. If they're also good, your Crown could be the ideal 4-season RV - good for 4 seasons at all altitudes - with no need to head for the mountains in the summer.

95 gals Fresh Water
Filtration to .1 microns
65 gals gray water
35 gals black water
1580 watts Solar
1600 amps in 8 L-16 HC 6 Volt batteries
3000 watt Sine wave inverter
2 70 amp Outback MPPT controllers
2000 watt inverter Generator ( seldom used )
Electric Frig
LED running and interior lights
All my electrical tools saws etc.
Toaster, coffee maker, bread machine etc.
Many types of batteries and chargers, Electric Bicycle, RC Multirotors, Metal detector etc.
Diesel Engine runs on waste vegetable oil.

bka0721 wrote:
2oldman, not sure if you were asking others about the water transfer,

No, just saying it's a good mod to have. I'm satisfied with my setup.

Ivylog wrote:
850 amps AGM

Wow.. housed in how many batteries?

LED lights and TVs. 850 amps AGM and diesel for the generator. Have 100 gallons water so no need for a different shower head.

2oldman, not sure if you were asking others about the water transfer, but for me I haul the Wal-Mart 6.2 gal (51lbs) on the back of my Motorcycle. I love it when there is a NPS Campground around, as I can drive right under the fill station and fill up without removing them from the bike’s rack.

I have used a 10’ conduit tripod for various reasons, for many years now, and use this to fill my filler on the side of my TC. I wish I had the luxury of a TT, like profdant139, where I only needed to lift the jugs elbow height. My filler is about 7’ above the ground, so I need to be higher for the gravity feed. I use a 5 gal bucket with a bulkhead fitting and plastic tube that extends into the filler. Works really great. Then, last year, I ended up with one of those slick SHURflow Revolution water pumps, so I mounted it on a scrap piece of plywood and wired it with alligator clips, to attach to my battery bank with a toggle switch. Pumps my water effortlessly. So I have redundancy with the Tripod and Water Pump, as well as a backup pump if the House Water Pump quits.

pnichols wrote:
You think the way I do ... even though we don't camp off-grid as long as you do. However, once we're out there (rockhounding), we don't want to have issues to deal with that aren't covered by some form of redundancy ... ESPECIALLY ... we don't want to have to cut a trip short because some(dumb) thing failed.
The longest boondocking (without trips into town, with truck and refill of fuel tank of F550 was 2½ months and camping in 4 different desert locations.

On one occasion, I had my House generator quit, right after I arrived in Yellowstone and the nights were in the 20s. There was no way I was going to stop and leave, just because of a broken generator.

I would like your cut on something - what's up with those composting toilets, anyway? For instance:
- How long before you "empty" them? When the container is filled up or the next time I arrive at a location where I am able to dump it.
- How do you empty them? Tipping the container into the refuse pile or outhouse.
- Do they smell? Yes, but not anymore than the bathroom of most RVs. You can notice it, but it is minimal.
- Where do you empty them? Various locations, outhouses (it’s all organic) or locations where cattle are found.
- What's their disadvantage(s)? None that I can see. It is no more work than using a dump station and I go to the dump station less often. What you didn’t ask, but I will interject here. I use the compost for #2 and the RV’s dry bath for everything else. Doing it this way, the black tank can go for months using a Water Bottle, for rinsing (as I have described in water conservation posts) and not using the potable water pump and water.
- Why don't all RV's nowadays use them if they have so many advantages? Because they are something that reverts back to the Outhouse days. Also, maybe a little of the comments I receive about my extreme boondocking procedures, people get out of tent camping to have a few luxuries that an RV provides. They spent the money and want the benefits. JMHO

- Etc.? If you ask, I ‘ll try to answer it, find the answer or there are many more informed posters than I am, on various topics, here.

P.S. - Regarding use of an iPad out in the middle of nowhere ... how do you get amplified signals into them from a cellular band roof antenna that feeds a 12 volt cellular band amplifier inside the coach? (I can do this with my 12 volt powered laptop.) I don’t really need to have internet all of the time. I really enjoy having internet accessibility, but don’t miss it when I don’t. (I use a Verizon Mi-Fi Device) What has been a great help, is my Wi-Fi (AT&T/Verizon/Sprint) APP on my iPhone. I can determine the availability before arriving in a location. Rural/remote areas are becoming more internet serviced every day. One of my favorite backcountry backpacking locations in Yellowstone, has internet (I can surf on my iPhone) in my tent, but it won’t work at the trailhead. So just be flexible and check. Oh, I don’t use any amplified hardware, so if you are, you will be at a greater advantage than I.