Forum Discussion

CLUELESS19's avatar
CLUELESS19
Explorer
Jul 02, 2020

DESPERATE NEWBIE

Hello-
Please accept my apologies in advance for asking such an elementary question.
I made a COVID19 purchase last week. New Coachman 319MB leprechaun.
I have never even driven a truck. A very long and sad story has prompted this purchase. No need to go into details other than I really didn't have any other viable option.
It will be necessary for me to stay in the northeast for a few more months. I will need to stay in the RV full time. My question involves charging the battery. The place I would like to park and stay does not have a power supply. So cannot plug-in to 30. How long will I need to drive in order to charge the battery? Other than solar is there an acceptable way to charge? Assuming I will use AC, and want to keep the fridge running etc as well as my computers, microwave etc, how long will the charge last? When the power supply is running low is there an alert?
Is it worth spending $1800 plus at a private rv park? All of the lesser expensive state parks are full.
Class C
  • CC38EL's avatar
    CC38EL
    Explorer II
    Jul 02, 2020
    Do you have a generator? And will they let you use it?

    If so, don't drive until you need to get more gas. Run your generator to charge your batteries and power your 120vac appliances.

    Do you know if you have 1 battery or 2? If you have just one battery you're not going to like the time you can run on battery. It's probably just an hour or 2 depending on what you run.

    Do you know if you even have an inverter for your coach? That would power your 120vac appliances....but not for long.

    Need more information on what you have.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Jul 02, 2020
    Driving the motorhome when not going from A to B is the worst way to charge the battery.
    A/C won’t run on batteries.
    Buy a generator...3000 watts will be sufficient in most cases.
  • USAFBILL's avatar
    USAFBILL
    Explorer
    Jul 02, 2020
    I would look for a cheaper RV Park for electric-sewer-and water.
  • bgum's avatar
    bgum
    Explorer
    Jul 02, 2020
    Get you two Honda 2200i generators (one should be a companion) if you can use them where you are. Solar will not generate enough power to run AC etc.

    But usafbill has best solution above.
  • LadyRVer's avatar
    LadyRVer
    Explorer II
    Jul 02, 2020
    Unless you have a generator, the A/C will not run off the battery. Most motorhomes come with a generator. But, also, they will shut off at 1/4 tank of gas.
  • carringb's avatar
    carringb
    Explorer
    Jul 02, 2020
    You already have a generator. Go ahead and fire it up!

    If your park has quiet hours when you can't run the genny certain hourse, go ahead and run the motor. It still puts out about 30 amps to the house battery, and the V10 idles so quiet, nobody will notice its running.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Jul 02, 2020
    Welcome and sorry to hear about whatever happened.
    First, take a breath and slow down. It’s all good. You have a new RV with all kinds of features, apparently including a generator.
    Learn how that works and keep your batteries charged with it. It may run off the coaches gas tank or propane. If propane it uses it fairly rapidly. Remember it’s like any other engine. Needs oil checked and changed occasionally. Figure out what you have for house batteries and if you have an inverter on board. If you do, you can use it to power small AC appliances like charging computers etc. Air cond will require a plug in or running the generator.
    Good luck and try to have fun with the experience.

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