Keeping the candle burning in the Window

IdaD wrote:

ReneeG wrote:

laknox wrote:
I like the fact that there's 140w solar STANDARD, FROM THE FACTORY! I still can't figure out why ONE company here doesn't offer an "off-grid" or "boondock" package, with factory-installed solar and extra batteries; maybe even larger holding tanks. I know, I know; got some bad weed years ago and it still causes flights of fancy...

Lyle

I would suspect that it's not offered here because it's very expensive. "Most" new RV'ers aren't experienced and go for full hookups to begin with. As they "mature", they find out about boondocking and the advantages of it. We've boondocked for years but it wasn't until our fifth RV that we finally installed solar. It was very expensive because we had a dealership do it for us. We would never go back to not having it.

I don't think that's true out west. If your profile info is up to date as to your location just look around on an average summer weekend. There aren't very many campgrounds in Idaho with hookups and most people camp without them, whether they're in non-hookup forest service campgrounds or just in primitive sites dispersed throughout the national forests. The only time we ever use hookups is when we're vacationing in our fifth wheel, which is different than camping. Nationwide what you're saying may very well be true because there's much less public land in the midwest and back east, not to mention more people.

As far as solar goes, I think most folks just use a generator to charge up as needed. It's cheaper, it gives you the option of running your A/C or microwave, and a lot of people have them for other reasons as well so they're multi-tasking - whether it's for emergency power, running a welder or other power equipment off the grid, or etc. I own two different sizes of them.

You're right, I meant generally nationwide. We boondock a lot or use FS CG's with no hookups. That's the way we prefer it. When we first started camping, our non hookup camping was at FS CG's, but sought out state parks in our travels for hookup sites. Before solar, we used out generator to recharge. We still carry it, but seldom need to use it with our solar. Now, when staying at state parks or FS CG's with hookups, we use the dry sites because we can and most often they are more scenic.

RobertRyan wrote:

ReneeG wrote:

laknox wrote:
I like the fact that there's 140w solar STANDARD, FROM THE FACTORY! I still can't figure out why ONE company here doesn't offer an "off-grid" or "boondock" package, with factory-installed solar and extra batteries; maybe even larger holding tanks. I know, I know; got some bad weed years ago and it still causes flights of fancy...

Lyle

I would suspect that it's not offered here because it's very expensive. "Most" new RV'ers aren't experienced and go for full hookups to begin with. As they "mature", they find out about boondocking and the advantages of it. We've boondocked for years but it wasn't until our fifth RV that we finally installed solar. It was very expensive because we had a dealership do it for us. We would never go back to not having it.

Boon docking is very much more common in Australia.So Solar, Lithium batteries, specialised suspensions are everywhere

Nice. Thank you.

ReneeG wrote:

laknox wrote:
I like the fact that there's 140w solar STANDARD, FROM THE FACTORY! I still can't figure out why ONE company here doesn't offer an "off-grid" or "boondock" package, with factory-installed solar and extra batteries; maybe even larger holding tanks. I know, I know; got some bad weed years ago and it still causes flights of fancy...

Lyle

I would suspect that it's not offered here because it's very expensive. "Most" new RV'ers aren't experienced and go for full hookups to begin with. As they "mature", they find out about boondocking and the advantages of it. We've boondocked for years but it wasn't until our fifth RV that we finally installed solar. It was very expensive because we had a dealership do it for us. We would never go back to not having it.

I don't think that's true out west. If your profile info is up to date as to your location just look around on an average summer weekend. There aren't very many campgrounds in Idaho with hookups and most people camp without them, whether they're in non-hookup forest service campgrounds or just in primitive sites dispersed throughout the national forests. The only time we ever use hookups is when we're vacationing in our fifth wheel, which is different than camping. Nationwide what you're saying may very well be true because there's much less public land in the midwest and back east, not to mention more people.

As far as solar goes, I think most folks just use a generator to charge up as needed. It's cheaper, it gives you the option of running your A/C or microwave, and a lot of people have them for other reasons as well so they're multi-tasking - whether it's for emergency power, running a welder or other power equipment off the grid, or etc. I own two different sizes of them.

ReneeG wrote:

laknox wrote:
I like the fact that there's 140w solar STANDARD, FROM THE FACTORY! I still can't figure out why ONE company here doesn't offer an "off-grid" or "boondock" package, with factory-installed solar and extra batteries; maybe even larger holding tanks. I know, I know; got some bad weed years ago and it still causes flights of fancy...

Lyle

I would suspect that it's not offered here because it's very expensive. "Most" new RV'ers aren't experienced and go for full hookups to begin with. As they "mature", they find out about boondocking and the advantages of it. We've boondocked for years but it wasn't until our fifth RV that we finally installed solar. It was very expensive because we had a dealership do it for us. We would never go back to not having it.

Boon docking is very much more common in Australia.So Solar, Lithium batteries, specialised suspensions are everywhere

laknox wrote:
I like the fact that there's 140w solar STANDARD, FROM THE FACTORY! I still can't figure out why ONE company here doesn't offer an "off-grid" or "boondock" package, with factory-installed solar and extra batteries; maybe even larger holding tanks. I know, I know; got some bad weed years ago and it still causes flights of fancy...

Lyle

I would suspect that it's not offered here because it's very expensive. "Most" new RV'ers aren't experienced and go for full hookups to begin with. As they "mature", they find out about boondocking and the advantages of it. We've boondocked for years but it wasn't until our fifth RV that we finally installed solar. It was very expensive because we had a dealership do it for us. We would never go back to not having it.

1ofmany wrote:
Do not care much for the exterior or interior appearance...personal choice, nothing to do with point of origin.

Agree.

goducks10 wrote:
JMO but I think it goes beyond style and color. I would be interested in seeing what types of hinges and closures are used on the cabinets. How comfortable is the booth dinette seating? How's the frame made, what materials are used, etc? You can't always judge a book by it's cover.
Just wondering if that 5th wheel has sawdust laying all over behind the cabinets, cover plates on crooked, misaligned trim with staples showing, cheap draw strings for cheap blinds, etc.
It would be nice to see a side by side comparison of construction and materials.

That is the problem with US RV's , they are very cheaply made.. If the quality was there, you would have no complaints about being " flimsy". Even the European light weight Caravans are much better.
Sawdust over Cabinets? That would be awful. The 5vers here are mainly custom units, with owners helping the office staff as volunteers
Talvor, manufacturing arm of the Rental Company Apollo Motorhomes, had some Caravans built in the US, the interiors were done in Australia, they were absolutely abysmal. Then they imported the Winnebago Minnie Winnie's, that never sold. Now They are attempting to build " Winnebago's" locally

JMO but I think it goes beyond style and color. I would be interested in seeing what types of hinges and closures are used on the cabinets. How comfortable is the booth dinette seating? How's the frame made, what materials are used, etc? You can't always judge a book by it's cover.
Just wondering if that 5th wheel has sawdust laying all over behind the cabinets, cover plates on crooked, misaligned trim with staples showing, cheap draw strings for cheap blinds, etc.
It would be nice to see a side by side comparison of construction and materials.

NJRVer wrote:
Very nice looking and bright. Sleek would be a term I would use.
I happen to like "contemporary" style.
My house is contemporary passive solar design.

I think this thread brings both views, US Traditional versus, Contemporary. US Traditional is very similar to the " wood look" we had in the late 80's
Very light pine version of the "Wood Look" circa 1983, you had much darker tones as well

Very nice looking and bright. Sleek would be a term I would use.
I happen to like "contemporary" style.
My house is contemporary passive solar design.