Back up batteries for boon docking

One battery with minimal loads will last a day or two. Two six volt batteries in series should last 4-5 days.
Minimal loads I consider as refer, lights and some TV. Does not include furnace running for 6-8 hours.

Roads Less Traveled wrote:
The limitation for batteries on a fifth wheel is usually the size of the battery box. And generally, if you can fit four 6 volt golf cart style batteries in your battery box you are doing well.

Whether those batteries could last you 1 night or 3 nights while being charged only by driving during the day really depends on how much electricity you use.

If you are conservative -- not too much computer use, not too much TV or stereo, not too many lights for too many hours at night -- you're batteries will stay charged longer.

A generator doesn't require any installation, but can be a pain to drag out, plug in and keep full of gas.

Solar power can be a reasonable alternative. It requires installation at the outset, but once it is installed, you never have to think about it again (or feed it any gas). And it's quiet, it works all day while you're out doing other things, and it doesn't need any maintenance.

If you are interested in learning about solar power, you might start with some info we put together after doing three installations (two RVs and a boat) that we lived with full-time…

RV Solar Power Tutorial

Interesting! If solar is the way to go then maybe I should consider it. I will also wait to see if anyone can answer my OP. ;)You mention 6v golf cart style batteries. I thought they would be 12v car batteries?

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

Plan on adding a modest solar system. That way every trip will start with the battery bank brimming full.

I didn't wanna go down the solar route until I got it back to Oz. Wouldn't the batteries be 'brimming full' from a descent amount of driving most days?

The limitation for batteries on a fifth wheel is usually the size of the battery box. And generally, if you can fit four 6 volt golf cart style batteries in your battery box you are doing well.

Whether those batteries could last you 1 night or 3 nights while being charged only by driving during the day really depends on how much electricity you use.

If you are conservative -- not too much computer use, not too much TV or stereo, not too many lights for too many hours at night -- you're batteries will stay charged longer.

A generator doesn't require any installation, but can be a pain to drag out, plug in and keep full of gas.

Solar power can be a reasonable alternative. It requires installation at the outset, but once it is installed, you never have to think about it again (or feed it any gas). And it's quiet, it works all day while you're out doing other things, and it doesn't need any maintenance.

If you are interested in learning about solar power, you might start with some info we put together after doing three installations (two RVs and a boat) that we lived with full-time…

RV Solar Power Tutorial

Hi,

Plan on adding a modest solar system. That way every trip will start with the battery bank brimming full.