camping in public campground no hookups

toedtoes wrote:
I have camped for 4 days without issue on one 12volt battery only.


It's called going basic - no inverter and plug-in appliances; no microwaves, AC, heater, hair dryers, etc. Lights on only when needed to see. Enjoy the outdoors. Use battery-operated puck lights, lanterns and flashlights as backup. Water pump, fridge control, and the occasional light are all you need for battery power.

Pick up a cell phone portable charger to charge those as needed (turn them off when not being used to conserve their power).

Totally agree on the above.

OP: You have posted this question on many forums. I think you're overthinking this.

You're going for two days. You can definitely do it. Think of this as a challenge! :)

This seems to be your first dry camping experience. Test it out on this one trip and you'll find out if you even want to do any more dry camping. Why buy batteries or a generator if you don't need them?

Along with the above suggestion on conserving electric, get a stovetop coffee pot - makes better coffee than an electric. Butter your bread and plop it in a fry pan on the propane - excellent toast.

Forget all the electric appliances. You don't need them for 2 days. Don't turn all your lights on - just what you really need. It's summer so you won't need the furnace - the biggest draw. Your refrigerator will be on propane as will your hot water heater - or just heat a pot of water on the stove for dishes or a sponge bath. (Conserve propane? Turn off the hot water heater as soon as it gets hot - 10 min. or so. It'll stay hot all day.) If the wife needs a blow dryer, sometimes the park restroom will have an outlet. If not, complement her on her new 'do'. You definitely don't need a television for 2 days. Take some hikes.

Eat while it's still light out so you don't need lights to cook. Take flashlights. Take a headlamp and wear it to read by. Go to sleep early. Wake at dawn and enjoy the quiet morning with your coffee.

You can do it! Go for it!!!

I can easily camp for a couple days on one good 12 volt in the summer if not using AC or microwave. I do use a generator but that is only used for the ac and microwave which if you don't need either you should have no problem in the summer. Heck it stays light til 10 pm right now. As others said, all though I don't use solar if I didn't use a generator I would have one or two solar panels on the roof for sure. Besides you would have to spend a good sum of money to get a generator that people will tolerate. A inexpensive contractor generator makes a ton of noise. JMHO

Wife and I can go 5 days on a single group 24 12 volt battery with minimal use of heater (just in the AM to take off the chill). All of our lights are LED, and the other drains on the battery (fridge, explosive gas detector) are pretty frugal.

Back in the day we used the same battery in the TT as in the TV, and my dad would swap it into the truck before we went on any road trips for food/recreation/whatever. Not suggesting that as a solution, I think it only worked in that case because it was in a 1949 Airstream and only had to run a water pump for the sink and a couple of lights on occasion.:B

I have camped for 4 days without issue on one 12volt battery only.


It's called going basic - no inverter and plug-in appliances; no microwaves, AC, heater, hair dryers, etc. Lights on only when needed to see. Enjoy the outdoors. Use battery-operated puck lights, lanterns and flashlights as backup. Water pump, fridge control, and the occasional light are all you need for battery power.

Pick up a cell phone portable charger to charge those as needed (turn them off when not being used to conserve their power).

If your RV is wired correctly, the Rv battery will charge from the Tow vehicle or if a motorhome, off the engine. In a pinch, you can always hook up the tow vehicle and start the engine. You will not get a big boost, but will get you by to run the water pump, lights, etc, if you get low on battery power.

During the summer months without the furnace running, you will get by for several days easy IF you are careful about leaving lights on.

jarata1 wrote:
We are camping in a state campground with no electric all we have is the 12 volt battery on front.I was thinking of buying a generator but alot of people are against that.
Then i thought of the 2 6 volt batteris in tandem but that is way to expensive.
Would it be economical to just buy another 12 volt battery to replace the one on trailer when it runs out of juice or will one battery be enough for 2 days of camping

the first thing to do is get a dual battery setup, if you plan on doing more dry camping or boondocking.
the batteries should be matching ones that are the same age.

your statement "alot of people are against that" isn't necessarily true.
if you get a good INVERTER generator and the campground allow generator usage, then most campers will be ok with it.
if you manage it right, you'll only need to use the generator for 2-3 hours every 2-3 days.
what most people are against, are those who buy cheap contractor-style open frame generators that are very loud and have no place in a campground.

solar is great but has limitations. we camp in trees and shade and prefer our Honda 2000i generator. we can run the microwave and sometimes the a/c with it.

if you don't use the furnace and conserve power, you should be fine with only one battery.

3oaks wrote:

smkettner wrote:
Yes get a generator.... a solar generator. If two golf batteries from Costco or Sam's Club is way expensive you may have chosen the wrong hobby. Also need LED lights inside to conserve power. Maybe $500 to $800 (self install) for all this and you will be set up nicely. This will allow you to enjoy the journey far more in the long run.

Solar isn't the end-all, cure-all for every campers' electrical requirements. A lot of us prefer plenty of trees and shade. And although many, many people enjoy camping and nature at her finest , all those same people do not have deep pockets. :R

I see many families camping with very little frills and yet their children are having the greatest times. Much better experience for them rather than sitting home in front of the TV and playing video games all day long. ;)

Great for you to speak for the OP.... what is your solution?

As others have said, your one battery should be good for a few days if it is in good shape to start with.

I have a second battery that I use for a trolling motor and I take it along with me even when I don't take my porta-boat, just as a spare in case I need it. Thus far, I've never needed it. So if you ever plan a few days longer stay then a second battery may be a good idea...but, you should try to get your first battery charged back up ASAP when you get home. Probably a little bit of charging will occur on your drive home from your tow vehicles alternator, but likely not much.

smkettner wrote:
Yes get a generator.... a solar generator. If two golf batteries from Costco or Sam's Club is way expensive you may have chosen the wrong hobby. Also need LED lights inside to conserve power. Maybe $500 to $800 (self install) for all this and you will be set up nicely. This will allow you to enjoy the journey far more in the long run.

Solar isn't the end-all, cure-all for every campers' electrical requirements. A lot of us prefer plenty of trees and shade. And although many, many people enjoy camping and nature at her finest , all those same people do not have deep pockets. :R

I see many families camping with very little frills and yet their children are having the greatest times. Much better experience for them rather than sitting home in front of the TV and playing video games all day long. ;)

If you have room for 2 6 volt batteries, you should have room for 2 12 volt.