Hi all. I’m in a situation where I’m going be setting up a camp off the grid that we will use frequently throughout the year. A couple things about the place, we have windmill water but no electricity. This water will be good enough if I want to treat it to use for showers/toilet, etc. I will be using an inverter generator since it gets a tad bit warm in Texas during the summer/fall and we will need to be able to run the AC all day at times. Town if close by so if I need to haul 50 gallons or so of fresh water for the trailer that is doable. I’ll plan to haul black water to town in a tote and dump black water there so I’m not planning to build a septic at this point. Now, I’m looking at how to handle the water. The windmill water is not where I’ll be camping and I’ll have to haul it, not a problem using a transfer pump and tanks. I’m going to setup probably a 200-300 gallon water tank in camp that will be elevated so that I can use a gravity fed if necessary but I am also looking at an on demand water pump because I will need water outside for tasks. Has anyone done a setup like this for the on demand pump? I planned to run a splitter off of the pump to run a hose with a sprayer and an outdoor sink. And other advice tips on what I’m trying to do here? I’ve used generators before but not really a 24/7 setup. Doing research now on what type I’d like to buy but I’m open for suggestions here as well.Thanks in advance.

You can use a 12 volt pump like the one you have in your trailer to pump water from your portable tank to your trailer or outside sink. I bought one from Northern tools that uses alligator clips to hookup to one of my batteries.https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_water-pumps+12-volt-pumps

Thanks. I had been looking at one that was AC powered but the 12v May be a better way to go so that I don’t have to use the generator when it is needed.

Are you looking at any solar/battery/inverter equipment? May not be practical for running the air unless you were there full time and could have 3+ kW. Still could do a small system to keep the fridge running on propane while you are gone.If I was running a generator 24/7 at times it would be an Honda inverter with extended run fuel tank.

Not really planning on solar. In the summer months are trips will be really short and infrequent. 1 day a month max. At most we will probably need to run the air during September/October maybe 2 days at a time twice a month. After that during the winter I think it would only be used sporadically. I know the Honda’s and Yamahas are the best but they come with a price. I’ve been eyeing the champion 3400 inverter since it can be had for under 1k and has a decent warranty compared to some of the other knock off inverters.

Save lots of money and get the Champion. You will be glad you did.

Off grid camp setup | Good Sam Community

rexmitchell
Explorer
Nov 18, 2019
Grit dog wrote:
Solitude! Nice place!
Where's this years buck? See the meat pole ready to go...

One down and I’m going to chase the other one this weekend.
pnichols
Explorer II
Nov 19, 2019
rexmitchell wrote:
Just wanted to circle back for those that helped out earlier in the year. Here is what our camp setup looks like now. We have a 100 gallon water tank, an on demand water pump that I run the trailer off anytime the generator is on (also the hose), and a shed to run the generator in bad weather. Also helps to keep the noise down even though the honda is pretty quiet. I have a 65 gallon leg tank that I haul water out in anytime we need to top off the 100 gallon tank. First 4 day weekend we only used one tank of gas on the Honda the entire trip which is pretty great.

Here are some of our views off the back side of the camp.

Looking at that plastic water tank on a platform: When it's nearly empty of water before you top it up ... if strong winds come up is it going to stay put?
rexmitchell
Explorer
Nov 19, 2019
pnichols wrote:
rexmitchell wrote:
Just wanted to circle back for those that helped out earlier in the year. Here is what our camp setup looks like now. We have a 100 gallon water tank, an on demand water pump that I run the trailer off anytime the generator is on (also the hose), and a shed to run the generator in bad weather. Also helps to keep the noise down even though the honda is pretty quiet. I have a 65 gallon leg tank that I haul water out in anytime we need to top off the 100 gallon tank. First 4 day weekend we only used one tank of gas on the Honda the entire trip which is pretty great.

Here are some of our views off the back side of the camp.

Looking at that plastic water tank on a platform: When it's nearly empty of water before you top it up ... if strong winds come up is it going to stay put?

Not sure honestly. It’s about 35-40 lbs but we get some pretty good winds out there. I don’t plan on letting it get below half full but if for some reason we get it really low I’ll mount some 2x4s vertically to keep it upright.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Nov 19, 2019
Holy snikes! What a deer!
Makes me want to move to TX....thx for posting.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Nov 19, 2019
Well, it looks...desolate? Definitely not for me, but you're the only one that has to like it. Not my choice, but dif'rent strokes...
rexmitchell
Explorer
Nov 20, 2019
fj12ryder wrote:
Well, it looks...desolate? Definitely not for me, but you're the only one that has to like it. Not my choice, but dif'rent strokes...

30 miles from the nearest town, miles from the nearest human, at least 3 miles from a public road, exactly how we want it. Beautiful country out there, I could stare at those views all day long. Love some west Texas.
CFerguson
Explorer
Nov 20, 2019
Summer in TX with limited AC ability? 1 word: shade.

(and I sure could camp there! beautiful)
ppine
Explorer II
Nov 20, 2019
A 12 volt solar powered pump will change what it is like to be there.
rexmitchell
Explorer
Nov 20, 2019
CFerguson wrote:
Summer in TX with limited AC ability? 1 word: shade.

(and I sure could camp there! beautiful)

Summer trips out there will be limited but when we do go the Honda easily takes care of the AC. It's West Texas and the tallest tree is about 10 feet high! Not much shade out there unfortunately.
pnichols
Explorer II
Nov 20, 2019
rexmitchell wrote:
CFerguson wrote:
Summer in TX with limited AC ability? 1 word: shade.

(and I sure could camp there! beautiful)

Summer trips out there will be limited but when we do go the Honda easily takes care of the AC. It's West Texas and the tallest tree is about 10 feet high! Not much shade out there unfortunately.

We briefly visited the Texas Panhandle during August, once, in our small motorhome when rockhounding. For lunch in the RV, we had to run both the rooftop AC (generator running) and cab AC (engine idling) ... in order to get and keep the rig cool enough to eat.

It was remote and beautiful ... but boy plenty of AC should be available for RV camping out there.

But then again, IMHO "any self respecting" RV should have good air conditioning capability - just in case.