OK... full-timers ! question about solar !
I would really like to know..... if anyone is full timing and using ONLY solar. i realize that it takes alot of batteries and alot of solar panals and you have to have the right vehicle to accommodat...
Forum Discussion
You mention you have the money to do the solar install so we'll share our very very recent install (Oct 2014 completed). Thanks to a lot of input and patience with our zero knowledge at the start from many kind folks on Escapees forum and Jack Mayers website on solar (wonderful detailed writes up!). He also assisted Howard and Linda Payne of RV-Dreams.com with their install, and they have a great write up as well = just in case it helps you.
We are not FT yet, but rarely stay in an organized CG, preferring to Boondock/Dry Camp on our many travels of up to 8 weeks often. We installed 1000w solar and have 880amp hrs batteries (8 x Costco) installed last year after our 12 year old Nevercold fridge died and we replaced it with a residential one = so far so good. Wonderful 4 day weekend, central vacuumed twice with it, TV on about 3 hrs each night, microwave, hair dryer after showering, kettle and toaster used lots and four nights free camping = worked wonderful, and feel albeit very very early days best thing we ever did. The $2500+ we saved on replacing the old fridge with another RV one we applied to the $6000 of the full from scratch solar and new batteries install plus all monitors, inverter etc. I'm sure you can do it a lot cheaper but we opted for some name brand and high grade components that were highly recommended by many.
That's our story thus far FWIW.
We are not FT yet, but rarely stay in an organized CG, preferring to Boondock/Dry Camp on our many travels of up to 8 weeks often. We installed 1000w solar and have 880amp hrs batteries (8 x Costco) installed last year after our 12 year old Nevercold fridge died and we replaced it with a residential one = so far so good. Wonderful 4 day weekend, central vacuumed twice with it, TV on about 3 hrs each night, microwave, hair dryer after showering, kettle and toaster used lots and four nights free camping = worked wonderful, and feel albeit very very early days best thing we ever did. The $2500+ we saved on replacing the old fridge with another RV one we applied to the $6000 of the full from scratch solar and new batteries install plus all monitors, inverter etc. I'm sure you can do it a lot cheaper but we opted for some name brand and high grade components that were highly recommended by many.
That's our story thus far FWIW.
