Outlets Off while Boonedocking
My wife and I are gearing up for boonedocking, and we just discovered that none of our outlets in the trailer work when not connected to Shorepower. Aside from a generator, what alternatives to we ha...
Forum Discussion
MrWizard wrote:
2oldman wrote:
RPreeb wrote:
The end message is that boondocking takes a different mindset. Conservation and minimalism is an important key to success.
Doesn't have to be that way. I have all the comforts of home when off grid, except for a bathtub.
yes so do i
and you have 800w of solar and i have 600w+ of solar and a generator
and 500 pounds of AGM batteries
the question is, what does the OP want to power ? how much load ?
and for HOW LONG, how often
over night stops while traveling, watch a movie or TV
get a another battery and a 300w inverter
want Drip coffee or MW or hair dryer, while boon docking
buy a 2000w generator, he can add solar and more batteries later
if he wants to
generator works rain or shine, cloudy or sunny
and cost less than a big inverter plus batteries plus solar
Well stated, MrWizard!
We have all the comforts of home, too ... plus some we don't have at home.
After reading these forums for years ... I'm pretty much convinced that it's a bit more difficult to achieve with a towable RV than with a motorized RV because of the built-in verus portable generator difference and coach access to the engine alternator difference. Boondocking power discussions seem to be a big(ger) deal with towable owners because of all the approaches and conditions they have to consider.
Having a 2500 watt or larger built-in generator available at the push of a button powered by the same fuel as the engine from it's large tank in a motorhome (or some truck campers) - makes boondocking life a whole lot easier in all kinds of weather, all drycamping locations, all drycamping altitudes, any time of day, and in all seasons.
When boondocking we charge our batteries with the engine alternator or with one of two generators (with one of them being built in). Quiet charging when needed is not an issue, either, because the idling main engine is whisper quiet and vibration-free. By my definition boondock camping implies no other campers being around, anyway.
Quiet boondocking coffee and bacon is not a solar/inverter issue either because I prepare java on the propane cooktop and can cook bacon in the propane oven. Air conditioning out in the middle of warm weather nowhere when living in the RV or when leaving the dog in the RV while rockhounding is also a welcome piece of self-contained nirvana.
