Destination limits due to coach size

Hi,

100 gallons will do a little over an hour of "run time". Showers every day are probably not "on the menu" unless there is a source of water for refilling--and a place to dump. That could be extended by recycling grey water to flush the toilet. That will require an additional water pump with a filter.

As far as the electrical system goes, I doubt finding a used unit that has an adequate system for non generator use.

Running a generator may use 1/2 gallon of fuel per hour of run time. Since the plans are to full time, I would upgrade to as much solar as the roof can accommodate (no shade). Plan on at least 3 days of battery reserve. That possibly means considering LI batteries. Consider 24 or even 48 volts for the system, with a DC to DC converter for the 12 volt needs.

Any recent 40 footer may have a 50 amp service. That means for off the grid solar that twin inverters may be needed. I would look seriously at the Magnum 24 volt 4000 watt hybrid units. Doing so provides redundancy on the house battery charging system.

Hybrid inverters allow the system to supplement shore or generator power with energy stored in the battery bank. I chose Magnum because they are the most recent "entry" into this category, as well as being cost competitive.

Here is a simple flow chart.

Budget-->Energy Audit-->Battery bank size-->number of watts-->PWM or MPPT. What ever type of controller is chosen, make sure it has adjustable set points and a temperature probe that is on the battery.

One rule of thumb is between 60 and 150 watts of panels per 100 amp-hours of storage. The smaller the battery bank the higher the wattage needed (per 100 amp-hours). Again, if you full time, maximizing the wattage is the way to go as it is a one time cost as opposed to 3 to 6 hours of generator use per day at a cost of $10 to $20 dollars per day. If running the air conditioner is required, a cheap campground makes sense.

Here is a link to the rather special spreadsheet which includes an energy audit, that N8GS has created to help size solar battery charging systems!

Solar Spread Sheet N8GS

For a nice explanation of solar, try this link:

Golden rules of solar

Miramichi cruiser wrote:
The units I am looking at have for the most part 100 GAL freshwater and twice that grey and black combined. I am hoping that will suffice for most times. We don't expect to boondock all the time but probably a 50/50. Just a guess and we will know when time comes. Keep in mind we are substantially younger than the typical demographic owning a 42' DP only meaning we would probably be more active or adventurous.

I will definitely be upgrading the power system if it hasn't been done already with large solar capacity, just makes sense to me.

Thanks for the feedback!

Miramichi cruiser wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

If you plan to not rely on campgrounds that suggests boondocking. My own opinion is that size greatly affects the ability to do that, with medium size units getting quite an edge. I don't think many folks who go 42 foot boondock much at all.

Not relying on campgrounds means providing power, and possibly the most economical way to do that is a large wattage solar system.

Water is always a premium item for boondocking too. My RV came with 40 gallon and 26 gallon fresh water tanks. This gives me about 45 minutes of pump "run time" before refilling is necessary.

The units I am looking at have for the most part 100 GAL freshwater and twice that grey and black combined. I am hoping that will suffice for most times. We don't expect to boondock all the time but probably a 50/50. Just a guess and we will know when time comes. Keep in mind we are substantially younger than the typical demographic owning a 42' DP only meaning we would probably be more active or adventurous.

I will definitely be upgrading the power system if it hasn't been done already with large solar capacity, just makes sense to me.

Thanks for the feedback!

Miramichi, keep in mind that a 42 ft. motorhome will have a lot of 'stuff' on the roof limiting your solar placement. You will have at least 3 air conditioners, max air vents (probably 3), a satellite dome/dish, a digital antenna, awning cup wind protectors, sewer pipes, CB and radio antenna's, etc.

You will need to leave yourself room to walk around too.

Good luck on your search.

MM.

I agree that I do not see many 40+ DP's where we boondock in our 42' DP. We like the USFS ones where you cannot reserve a site plus there is not a host and you put your money in a metal tube. The beauty of a BIG DP is the BIG tanks that let you go a week (two people) without cutting back on water usage.
Not sure how people who do not have a BIG rig know so much about where you can camp in one. Other than the NE and CA we have not had a problem finding Public CG sites big enough in the last 10 years. Sure it's harder and DO NOT show up Friday without reservations BUT on Monday there will be plenty of sites.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

If you plan to not rely on campgrounds that suggests boondocking. My own opinion is that size greatly affects the ability to do that, with medium size units getting quite an edge. I don't think many folks who go 42 foot boondock much at all.

Not relying on campgrounds means providing power, and possibly the most economical way to do that is a large wattage solar system.

Water is always a premium item for boondocking too. My RV came with 40 gallon and 26 gallon fresh water tanks. This gives me about 45 minutes of pump "run time" before refilling is necessary.

The units I am looking at have for the most part 100 GAL freshwater and twice that grey and black combined. I am hoping that will suffice for most times. We don't expect to boondock all the time but probably a 50/50. Just a guess and we will know when time comes. Keep in mind we are substantially younger than the typical demographic owning a 42' DP only meaning we would probably be more active or adventurous.

I will definitely be upgrading the power system if it hasn't been done already with large solar capacity, just makes sense to me.

Thanks for the feedback!

WILDEBILL308 wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Buying used is an easier task for an experienced RV'er. Buying used the first time out is full of potential expensive pitfalls for a Rookie.
There is some merit/value to buying new for a newbie.
The most important thing to consider when buying new is that depreciation is for real.
Only buy new if you are committed to the RV for the long haul.
If you sell a fairly new rig within the first few years there will be a huge financial hit. However if you keep the rig for 10 years plus depreciation becomes a non factor

I just had to through a flag on this.
I never recommend you buy new on your first coach. I know of a bunch of people who thought they knew exactly what they wanted. After living with their new coach they found things they wanted different. After you have some experience then you might want to look at a new coach. This could be extremely costly if you bought new. But it's your money and I love those who by new so there is a great supply of economical use coaches for me to look at when I am ready to replace my current coach.
Bill

I will agree with you. I won't emtertain buying new now nor possibly ever as I dont see the value. In my original post I was trying to determine best used models to buy that would be easier to sell when I figure out our needs based on our personal ownership experience.

I realize I have to try and find a floor plan that meets our needs but I am willing to sacrifice some of that for ease of resale.

Hi,

If you plan to not rely on campgrounds that suggests boondocking. My own opinion is that size greatly affects the ability to do that, with medium size units getting quite an edge. I don't think many folks who go 42 foot boondock much at all.

Not relying on campgrounds means providing power, and possibly the most economical way to do that is a large wattage solar system.

Water is always a premium item for boondocking too. My RV came with 40 gallon and 26 gallon fresh water tanks. This gives me about 45 minutes of pump "run time" before refilling is necessary.

Lantley wrote:
Buying used is an easier task for an experienced RV'er. Buying used the first time out is full of potential expensive pitfalls for a Rookie.
There is some merit/value to buying new for a newbie.
The most important thing to consider when buying new is that depreciation is for real.
Only buy new if you are committed to the RV for the long haul.
If you sell a fairly new rig within the first few years there will be a huge financial hit. However if you keep the rig for 10 years plus depreciation becomes a non factor

I just had to through a flag on this.
I never recommend you buy new on your first coach. I know of a bunch of people who thought they knew exactly what they wanted. After living with their new coach they found things they wanted different. After you have some experience then you might want to look at a new coach. This could be extremely costly if you bought new. But it's your money and I love those who by new so there is a great supply of economical use coaches for me to look at when I am ready to replace my current coach.
Bill

Thank you Dan. I unfortunately think we are stuck on 42+ Footer or as you refered to as a rolling condo. We have so much outdoor type camping in Canada that wouldn't even require us to get more than a tent trailer to enjoy. We really want to enjoy the travel and not rely on CG's. I could be wrong in our needs but we will find out!

Thank again,

Steph

Camping VS Rolling Condo

The comments that you can always find a place near the park and use your toad are true. But at 45 ft your MH is mostly a rolling condo that rarely gets to camp in the good places.

More good camping at 40ft and even better at 36 ft.

Once you go smaller you no longer have a rolling condo, but you have MUCH greater camping opportunities.

We are full timers and want a rolling condo, but want the smallest rolling condo we can live with so we can still camp more often.

holstein13 wrote:

tropical36 wrote:
I really liked the place for the surrounding area along the water and especially for it's bike paths. We even did the Queen Mary tour and with the Catalina Express docking nearby the park, it made for a real nice setting.

That sounds exactly like my recent stay. I loved the bike trails, we did the Aquarium and the Queen Mary and we even took the Catalina Express. I loved Golden Shores even if it was a tight fit and there was lot's of smog from the refinery next door, oil on the beaches and the polluted marine sanctuary next door stunk at low tide. Long Beach is one of the most polluted cities in the country with the rest of LA close behind. Next time, I'll try Dockweiler's State Park but I wouldn't hesitate to stay at Golden Shore for a short time.

We also stayed at Dockweiler and one of our favorites, even though it's just a big parking lot on the beach. Now talk about a bike path (even has a dividing line on it) and it goes for a good 23 miles or so along the beach and right between your rig on the front row and the pacific ocean. You've got to like airplanes though, as it sits right below LA International. The park is run by LA county and they do seem to have their act together and much better than the state does. We also used it for a jump off point to Santa Monica, Hollywood, Marina Del Ray and other places.
We spent a good month on the CA coast that trip, which began in San Diego and ended in Petaluma, just north of San Francisco, before turning east again.