New Jayco 18' TT - 2 families were to camp from Friday - Sunday... I took the trailer up on Wed to hold the area before the rest came up on Friday.. Got there about 2:00 in afternoon and it was pretty chilly. Switched the Fridge over to Gas, used the interior lights very sparingly, supplemented with an LED battery lantern. Turned on the Furnace. Used water pump 3-4 short times - Thursday warmed up a little about 10 AM so turned off the furnace. Turned it on again about 9:00PM for bed ..... apparently the battery died in the middle of Thursday night, as when I woke up, my onions were frozen. (No... I mean that literally) It was so cold that the vegetables inside the trailer froze solid. Now, I'm extremely hesitant to dry camp based on that.. The rest of the family arrived Friday afternoon, and I had a dead battery for the rest of the weekend for them. The battery was fully charged when we left home, and with the minimal use - except the furnace blower - the best I got from that battery was about 2 days. First time trailer owner, so I didn't know what to expect as far as duration goes, but I thought I did everything I could to maximize my electrical usage..... I guess I'll have to upgrade to the LED lighting, and get another battery. I hate to spend the money for the 6V golf cart ones, but - I may have to... How do you use a generator?? - Do you use it only when you run something electrical, or do you use it to actually charge/recharge a trailer battery??

The furnace is probably the highest amp user of all the 12v stuff in an rv. And, of course, the warmer you want it to be, the more it will be on. Another battery will help, you would probably have made it to Fri afternoon or evening!! The battery that the dealer put in is usually a lower priced, lower capacity than you really need. 2 6v's are a great combo, and 2 quality 12v's will do almost as much, and maybe more than 2 cheap 6v's.We have two, 4 yr old Costco 6 volts in our trailer, they usually will go 3 to 4 days in the weather you experienced this last weekend. We have a small generator that only goes with us in the spring and fall, or on week long trips to the mountains. It is used for charging the batts up and an occasional microwave popcorn snack!! We have gone 7 to 8 days without a charge in the summer and warmer weather.As to led bulbs, they are a great idea, but another expense, in my opinion. I have changed out all the interior bulbs to lower candlepower ones. Only one in the bathroom is an original since the wife likes it brighter in there. We also have a fluorescent fixture over the sink. And in the evenings (if stuck inside!), we use a couple of led bulb-ed lanterns. As to heater at night, usually set only at 55 degs and lots of warm blankets and 2 boxers!!

Yep, 2 nights running the furnace will drain the battery. A second battery may get you a third night. You will need to run a generator to get enough power to use the furnace that much. How did you keep your plumbing from freezing?

Add another battery?Yep for starters. Should about double what you have if you get same size. Hope your current battery is new, so newest battery will match up with what you have already. Or if you have a small battery so might want to replace with bigger (if you have room)Then the other stuff you talked about in your posting. We plan one 1 night 1 battery when it is cold. That is 1 night 1 battery, not 1 day (24 hours) that is 1 night, like 10 pm to 6 am. Furnace loves batteries.Generator-(my term)generates elec which is stored in your battery and available to you when you turn stuff on like your furnace. If stored elec is not replaced, the stuff you want to run, won't.

Is that a group 24? Think 2 group 29, GC2, SCS225, J185H etc (large batteries)Do you keep it plugged in at home or let it run down between trips?Did it actually get below freezing? That will be a lot of furnace time as you get below 35F and really drain the battery. You also risk general fresh water system freeze and damage if you are not running the furnace.Minimum 2 batteries if you will be running the furnace off grid.For the price of a generator you can have a nice solar charging system to maintain the battery when camping or in storage. Otherwise a Honda/Yamaha 2000 will work fine.If you do get a generator you also need to review the converter is adequate for charging in reasonable time.The 12 Volt Side of Life

Yep that's about right has you described it for battery life. Couple of things to consider in your future planning- If you thought the battery was fully charged because you had the trailer plugged in at home using the converter, it might not be as charged as you thought depending on the converter. Could take days to fully a large battery- Yes, for boondocking you need at least 2 batteries. The costco/Sams 6v batteries gives many of use excellant use and they cost about the same a marine gp24 battery. The 2 six volts will give you about 50% more usable power than 2 GP24 12 volts for about the same price- Use a generator just like you plug your TT in to 115AC service. Plug it in and power up. If you don't need your AirCond then a 2kw generator will do it. If using AirCond you will need at least 3kw. Many of use the twin 2k honda setup (expensive but works great - quiet & low fuel use)

Add another battery? | Good Sam Community

TUCQUALA
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
The furnace is probably the highest amp user of all the 12v stuff in an rv. And, of course, the warmer you want it to be, the more it will be on. Another battery will help, you would probably have made it to Fri afternoon or evening!! The battery that the dealer put in is usually a lower priced, lower capacity than you really need. 2 6v's are a great combo, and 2 quality 12v's will do almost as much, and maybe more than 2 cheap 6v's.

We have two, 4 yr old Costco 6 volts in our trailer, they usually will go 3 to 4 days in the weather you experienced this last weekend. We have a small generator that only goes with us in the spring and fall, or on week long trips to the mountains. It is used for charging the batts up and an occasional microwave popcorn snack!! We have gone 7 to 8 days without a charge in the summer and warmer weather.

As to led bulbs, they are a great idea, but another expense, in my opinion. I have changed out all the interior bulbs to lower candlepower ones. Only one in the bathroom is an original since the wife likes it brighter in there. We also have a fluorescent fixture over the sink. And in the evenings (if stuck inside!), we use a couple of led bulb-ed lanterns. As to heater at night, usually set only at 55 degs and lots of warm blankets and 2 boxers!!
WayneAt63044
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
Yep, 2 nights running the furnace will drain the battery. A second battery may get you a third night. You will need to run a generator to get enough power to use the furnace that much. How did you keep your plumbing from freezing?
path1
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
Add another battery?

Yep for starters. Should about double what you have if you get same size. Hope your current battery is new, so newest battery will match up with what you have already. Or if you have a small battery so might want to replace with bigger (if you have room)Then the other stuff you talked about in your posting. We plan one 1 night 1 battery when it is cold. That is 1 night 1 battery, not 1 day (24 hours) that is 1 night, like 10 pm to 6 am. Furnace loves batteries.

Generator-(my term)generates elec which is stored in your battery and available to you when you turn stuff on like your furnace. If stored elec is not replaced, the stuff you want to run, won't.
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 08, 2013
Is that a group 24? Think 2 group 29, GC2, SCS225, J185H etc (large batteries)

Do you keep it plugged in at home or let it run down between trips?

Did it actually get below freezing? That will be a lot of furnace time as you get below 35F and really drain the battery. You also risk general fresh water system freeze and damage if you are not running the furnace.

Minimum 2 batteries if you will be running the furnace off grid.

For the price of a generator you can have a nice solar charging system to maintain the battery when camping or in storage. Otherwise a Honda/Yamaha 2000 will work fine.

If you do get a generator you also need to review the converter is adequate for charging in reasonable time.

The 12 Volt Side of Life
hmknightnc
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
Yep that's about right has you described it for battery life. Couple of things to consider in your future planning
- If you thought the battery was fully charged because you had the trailer plugged in at home using the converter, it might not be as charged as you thought depending on the converter. Could take days to fully a large battery
- Yes, for boondocking you need at least 2 batteries. The costco/Sams 6v batteries gives many of use excellant use and they cost about the same a marine gp24 battery. The 2 six volts will give you about 50% more usable power than 2 GP24 12 volts for about the same price
- Use a generator just like you plug your TT in to 115AC service. Plug it in and power up. If you don't need your AirCond then a 2kw generator will do it. If using AirCond you will need at least 3kw. Many of use the twin 2k honda setup (expensive but works great - quiet & low fuel use)
Peg_Leg
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
With one battery a generator would need to ran each day to charge the battery back up. You just plug the trailer into the generator. The state of charge you get will depend on the converter you trailer has. A 3 stage converter will be easier on the battery and charge it quicker.

You might post what converter you have. It should be listed in the paper work some where. Or maybe inside the cover where the breakers and fuses are located.
Blazing_Zippers
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2013
We have two 6 volt batteries on our trailer. They last two nights with minimal light usage and heater. We also have a Honda 2000 generator. The combo works pretty good for us.
We stayed at a casino last spring, and the trailer next to us had their generator chained to the bumper and it apparently ran all night. The gen was quiet so it didn't bother anyone at all.
Keep looking and asking folks and you'll find a good combo that works for you.
Oh, you have great photos!
bigcitypopo
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
I can go 3 cccc-cold nights with two 12v batteries. in the spring /summer. i can go 6days(just wife and I) without having to run the genny. I swapped all of lights to LED, installed a kill switch for the radio, (huge parasitic load - display and such) and I switch off the tongue jack and stabilizing jacks. If i've got the kids, i can go 3 days...

I picked up another set of 12v batteries from costco, and when home... I charge them off the rig with a Black and Decker VEC1093DBD. When i am dry camping I have two banks of batteries. I just put them on a 4x4 frame to get them off the ground. We are good then. It's sooo nice to not have to run the generator. I am gonna eventually invest in a solar system.
mbopp
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
If your veggies froze it had to be pretty cold outside. And yes, your furnace blower is the biggest power (and propane) drain. Others have covered the dual batteries and charging options.
I'll add one more - a set of jumper cables from the TV to trailer battery. You'll need to run the TV at least an hour a day to put some charge into the trailer battery.
I'm running dual G29 12V batteries, LED lights, an upgraded converter, and a Honda 2000i generator.
facory
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
I have realized that the fridge can really chew up the batteries, even on gas. There is a switch that operates a 12 volt circuit for keeping condensation from forming around the door jam when it's real humid. I was getting shortchanged on battery life (dual batteries) until I turned the switch off. My battery life more than doubled. I have never really needed to run the condensation control so it made no difference in the performance of the fridge. My switch is located on the upper part of the door jam. If you find yours turn it off and see if that improves your battery life.