Forum Discussion

Jbrowland's avatar
Jbrowland
Explorer
Jan 31, 2015

Yosemite, battery, propane, heating, March

Hello everyone and thanks for your time and answers in advance.

My wife, daughter and I have a five day trip scheduled to Yosemite the last week in March. We are new to RVing (long time tent campers) and have only done three weekend trips here in California so far in our RV. I guess my question(s) is a two parter. Honestly I have read so much about batteries and other things that I am reaching information over load. I am trying to figure out how we can stay warm and conserve battery and propane with no hookups, limited generator hours and limited propane and gas.

For background, we own a Four Winds 23a class C with one new house battery and a 12 pound propane tank on board. I have just converted all lighting to LED.

1. AVerage temps range from 32 to 62 for Yosemite in the valley in March. A few weekends ago when camping I noticed our battery gets pretty low the next morning after using the furnace for only one night when it was 30 degrees. I was in a no generator facility so I had to go for a drive in th morning to charge my battery. So, I understand that the battery capacity decreases as temps drop. I get that I may likley need to add more batteries or larger batteries to get more capacity. I realize I need to turn off lights. I have looked into a catalytic heater (and thoughts?) to conserve battery. What am I missing? Any more tips or tricks besides dressing warmer? Maybe it really is that easy. Like when we tent camped. :) Can we make it five days in Yosemite on one tank of propane without driving out if the park to fill up? So we wake up in the morning and our batteries are low. What is the best option after running our generator? Do we just run the engine for a while or take a drive?

2. Tire chains! I have dual tires in the rear. Any suggestions for a specific model? Tips and tricks? I have read about people who charge $20 to install them for you on the side of the road. Is that reality?
  • Jbrowland's avatar
    Jbrowland
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    Naio wrote:
    Jbrowland wrote:
    I noticed the small electric heater we have cut out after an hour when using it plugged in and wouldn't turn back on even with a fully charged battery and shore power so we used the furnace instead. Why would it do that?


    Was anyone or any thing (chair leg, etc) in front` of the heater when it cut off? Or did it tip over or tilt?

    They have safety features, designed to prevent them from starting your rig on fire. Usually they shut off until you turn the heater off and on again (sometimes you have to wait a bit). Or you could try unplugging it. Some have a reset button. The worst ones, you had to open up the case to reset, but I don't think anyone is making them like that any more.

    Or it could just be defective.


    Yeah it seemed odd to me. Didn't tip over. Just shut of and wouldn't turn back on for some time. It works well at home and has never done that before. Only happened in the RV.
  • Jbrowland's avatar
    Jbrowland
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    CA Traveler wrote:
    Jbrowland wrote:
    I have a V8 E350 Ford. I noticed it takes about 40 minutes for the battery to charge when idling or driving the few times I have done it.
    Charge how much? The typical rig meters especially the idiot lights are primarily for the salesman to sell the rig.

    I'm sure your batteries were "charged" but unlikely 100% SOC. Not at all being critical just saying investigate, learn, etc.

    Darn now I want to go back to Yosemite. Last time we enjoyed the ice skating - do they still do that?


    That whole battery not really charged completely thing I just learned last night. Explains a lot. I spent some time on a good blog/site called The 12 Volt Side of Life. Good stuff.

    Yes they still have a rink. I believe it closes some time in March. Amazing place isn't it? I remember the first time we parked at Tunnel View. My Wife got out and started crying for joy. It was about then that I realized when I am on my death bed that I won't regret a minute or a dime spent on visiting such places. Life changing not to mention getting to watch my 6 year old daughter climb every rock in site. I hope you get back real soon! :)
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Jan 31, 2015
    Jbrowland wrote:
    I have a V8 E350 Ford. I noticed it takes about 40 minutes for the battery to charge when idling or driving the few times I have done it.
    Charge how much? The typical rig meters especially the idiot lights are primarily for the salesman to sell the rig.

    I'm sure your batteries were "charged" but unlikely 100% SOC. Not at all being critical just saying investigate, learn, etc.

    Darn now I want to go back to Yosemite. Last time we enjoyed the ice skating - do they still do that?
  • Jbrowland's avatar
    Jbrowland
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    Thanks everyone! Keep it simple seems to be a good rule. I seem to have fallen victim to the "my RV will be as convenient as my house" syndrome but is isn't. For example, I forgot that when tent camping we run a small catalytic heater in the tent for an hour before bed and then again when we wake up in the morning to take off the chill. Getting back into the tent camping mentality solves a lot. Heck, sleeping in our RV without the furnace on is still warmer than out tent in March.

    Tire chains....dual tire chains that cover both rear tires or tire chains and or tire cables for only the outside tire? Maybe this is another thread question.
  • Golden_HVAC's avatar
    Golden_HVAC
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    You probably will not find anyone sitting on the side of the road offering to install tire chains for $50 - or anything more or less. It is just cold out there, and nobody is sitting around waiting to make a few bucks.

    Put on the chains yourself, it will not take that long. And when I was there in February 1989 and light snow on the road. I did not need chains, and made it into the valley without a problem. Finding a campsite was another problem, the 'sites' where under 1/2" of snow, so you can not see the black paved sites, only white everywhere! I did figure out that the tall parts are paved, and pulled into a site, paid for it, and went to sleep.

    I did not need to worry about battery power on that trip, as my camper did not have a furnace at that time. (I traded up to a Coachman camper a few months later. It had a furnace and refrigerator).

    On another trip, I had a 300 watt solar system, and 4 golf cart batteries. I only had to worry about overfilling my grey water tank (42 gallons) and needing to drain it after a few days. A short trip to the dump station, and I Was able to recharge the batteries by running the main engine a bit, as well as empty the grey and black tank, then fill the fresh water. It took about 1 hour.

    Your have an advantage. There is no "Run time limit" for your main engine, and it probably has a 100+ amp alternator. It is the generator that is limited to running between certain hours. I would run the generator for about 1 hour at the beginning of the generator run limit, and an hour before it ends. It is the first hour of running the generator that gives the most amp hours, then the batteries accept power at a much slower rate per hour later.

    Good luck!

    Fred.
  • toedtoes's avatar
    toedtoes
    Explorer III
    Jan 31, 2015
    CA Traveler wrote:
    Congrats on asking! As a tent camper you know and stated the obvious - warmer clothing.

    Furnaces take a lot of battery power and of course propane. Sure you can have more batteries and propane. Even drive to where you can run the gen but who wants to do that?

    Learn about the limitations - for example fully recharging batteries (100% SOC) requires many many hours of driving/gen time. So you're resigned to a 50-80% SOC recharge. ie You start the night at up to 20% discharged.

    Various heaters? Sure they work. But I have a personal adversion to running anything potentially deadly to me while I'm sleeping.

    Some have used sleeping blankets but likely require more battery power than you have.

    My advice: Take warm clothing, go and learn more about various options. It's been many years since we've been in Yosemite - I'm envious.


    I agree with this. As a tent camper, you're used to doing simple things to stay comfortable. Don't lose sight of that simplicity now that you have an MC.

    I camp in my C and have no generator, only 1 battery, and no hookups. I have not had to drive around or idle to recharge the 1 battery yet. It's not that difficult.

    Yes, warmer clothes are number 1. Extra blankets on the bed. Rather than running my furnace, I picked up a Mr Heater Little Buddy. It runs on the 1lb propane bottles. In the evening before bed, I light it up for a couple hours to take the chill out of the air. In the morning, I light it up again to warm things up while I start moving around. I have curtains separating the cab from the house - this reduces any drafts. I lower the blinds at night - this helps block the cold from coming through the window. During the sunlight hours, I open the blinds and curtain so the sun can warm things up.

    I find the above much easier to do than adding additional batteries, messing with a generator, finding ways to recharge batteries, etc., especially in traditional campgrounds that are popular with tent campers (who don't want to listen to a bunch of generators running every day of their trip).
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    Jan 31, 2015
    Jbrowland wrote:
    I noticed the small electric heater we have cut out after an hour when using it plugged in and wouldn't turn back on even with a fully charged battery and shore power so we used the furnace instead. Why would it do that?


    Was anyone or any thing (chair leg, etc) in front` of the heater when it cut off? Or did it tip over or tilt?

    They have safety features, designed to prevent them from starting your rig on fire. Usually they shut off until you turn the heater off and on again (sometimes you have to wait a bit). Or you could try unplugging it. Some have a reset button. The worst ones, you had to open up the case to reset, but I don't think anyone is making them like that any more.

    Or it could just be defective.
  • Jbrowland's avatar
    Jbrowland
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2015
    pianotuna wrote:
    Hi,

    I think you may be wrong about the size of the propane tank. 12 pounds is only a 3 gallon tank.

    Since you are in a class C some heating can be done with the engine. If it is a V-10 then it won't mind idling for hours at a time. Set the heater to defrost and it will blow air back into the living quarters.

    The generator is probably going to be a good source of charging. Be sure to run an electric heater to take off some of the load. You may as well max out what the generator can power--so if the water heater is dual gas and electric, run it too.

    I can do three days of heating at -36 c (-34 f) before I needs must have propane. My tank is 60 lbs.


    Ah yes thanks. You are correct about the tank. 12 gallons.

    Good idea. I need to make sure I am running that electric heater when the gen is on. I honestly haven't used the gen much as we have either had hookups or stayed only a day or two in one place so far. I noticed the small electric heater we have cut out after an hour when using it plugged in and wouldn't turn back on even with a fully charged battery and shore power so we used the furnace instead. Why would it do that?

    I have a V8 E350 Ford. I noticed it takes about 40 minutes for the battery to charge when idling or driving the few times I have done it. I assume other RVers were idling in Yosemite last we were there but we were tent campers so we didn't really take notice of it. I wonder if idling to charge the battery is a no no in Yosemite but it must happen I guess.

    Thanks!
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Jan 31, 2015
    Congrats on asking! As a tent camper you know and stated the obvious - warmer clothing.

    Furnaces take a lot of battery power and of course propane. Sure you can have more batteries and propane. Even drive to where you can run the gen but who wants to do that?

    Learn about the limitations - for example fully recharging batteries (100% SOC) requires many many hours of driving/gen time. So you're resigned to a 50-80% SOC recharge. ie You start the night at up to 20% discharged.

    Various heaters? Sure they work. But I have a personal adversion to running anything potentially deadly to me while I'm sleeping.

    Some have used sleeping blankets but likely require more battery power than you have.

    My advice: Take warm clothing, go and learn more about various options. It's been many years since we've been in Yosemite - I'm envious.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Jan 31, 2015
    Hi,

    I think you may be wrong about the size of the propane tank. 12 pounds is only a 3 gallon tank.

    Since you are in a class C some heating can be done with the engine. If it is a V-10 then it won't mind idling for hours at a time. Set the heater to defrost and it will blow air back into the living quarters.

    The generator is probably going to be a good source of charging. Be sure to run an electric heater to take off some of the load. You may as well max out what the generator can power--so if the water heater is dual gas and electric, run it too.

    I can do three days of heating at -36 c (-34 f) before I needs must have propane. My tank is 60 lbs.

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