Battery-generator-charging upgrades?

Our '05 Starcraft hybrid had a (useless) Elixir converter.

The shakedown for the new TT was 2 weeks of no-hookup camping. Current mods:
All LED lighting including the hood fan.
2-G29 12V batteries. To do over I'd go with 2 GC batteries.
An IOTA 55A deck-mount converter in the pass-through to suppliment the factory WFCO (disconnected.)
Honda 2000i generator. It runs everything except the AC.
2-gallon accumulator tank on the water system.
I didn't realize the slide-mounted fridge has vent fans, an added draw.

I try to run the generator an hour a day but can go 2 days on the batteries.
I have a macerator pump and 30 gallon barrel mounted in the bed of the truck. Didn't want a tote, and this works for me.
Also have a 15 gallon barrel for hauling fresh water. We refill it whenever we're out.

DiskDoctr wrote:
This year will be our longest boondocking trip to date 7-10 days and want to upgrade our camper for this trip. I'd appreciate some suggestions and feedback to make sure we spend our limited budget wisely ;)

We currently have a Group 31 deep cycle battery (few yrs old) and Elixir ELX-45 converter "dumb charger" system. We converted MOST of our lights to LED a while back. I installed a water pressure tank to reduce pump running time a few yrs ago.

Our bathroom exhaust fan is new, but not a Fantastic fan :(

Thanks for any input and suggestions.

Since it seems you're only talking one trip but have already made the decision to purchase a 3100 watt Champ genset that you can use not only with the trailer but also at your cabin I see no need to do any more than that. Your current converter may not be the best and your G31 is now a "few years old" but if both otherwise still work I'd see no need to replace them. Certainly a pair of GC-2s would offer greater reserve capacity but considering you'll have a genset available for daily recharging there's really no advantage with that extra reserve capacity. Why fix that which isn't broken? :h

mbopp wrote:
Honda 2000i generator. It runs everything except the AC.

I think I've mentioned this to you before but if you add a soft starter kit to your A/C you would be able to successfully power it with your EU2000i. :B

mbopp wrote:
I didn't realize the slide-mounted fridge has vent fans, an added draw.

It also has a climate control circuit and it's 12 vdc electric heating element also unnecessarily draws down your valuable battery reserve. :M Some have a switch to turn this circuit off but many these days don't ... if yours doesn't the solution is to add your own.

I would go with the boondocker. If you dont use a lot of house furnace your gp 31 may be fine. I dont know if I would wire the building for 12 volts vs using led 120 volt bulbs. The led have come way down in price. If you ever want power to the cabin it would be ready with 120v.

rjxj wrote:
I dont know if I would wire the building for 12 volts vs using led 120 volt bulbs. The led have come way down in price. If you ever want power to the cabin it would be ready with 120v.

Depends - if this cabin is eventually going to have 120 vac service then sure 120 vac LED lighting makes sense, but it it's never going to have power then I would think 12 vdc LED would be the better solution.

Thank you for the fast and helpful replies.

Here is a little more info related to what you guys posted.

1. We've gone up to 10 days on our black tanks. We are older, let the kids we take use the CG except for emergencies. Mostly for us it is early am, late night, middle of the night....yeah go ahead and laugh, LOL.

2. Fresh water tank. We made it right at 10 days and were spitting the last day. We take a couple of aquatainers for fresh spring water from home. They are for coffee, cocoa, tea, cooking, etc. The house water is for very minor dishes (usually a spoon, knife, etc), hand washing, brushing teeth, toilet... We make a trip to the CG sinks with all dishes in a tub to wash after a meal. We use a lot of paper, but not always. Cooking utensils and silverware mostly need washed.

3. Having aquatainers, if we run out of fresh water, I *could* manage a jug or two reload of the tank if needed.

4. Our fridge is RM2652 and has a shutoff for the door heater and a "propane only" switch option. No fans internal or external. We keep freeze pops in the freezer, which are a nice treat and helps the thermal mass stay cold. HOWEVER- It could be quite a bit warmer in the camper than usual, using the A/C only enough not to burst into flames (!) LOL.

5. Hood fan....PLEASE offer a low draw and QUIET replacement!!! We have to replace it anyways, sounds like a Cessna flying over.

6. LED lights. Have a couple of tricky ones left. Fridge inside light, stove hood light, some odd shaped chandelier lights over the table. Suggestions? On a side note, the ones I replaced in all the overhead lights are still working GREAT!

7. Fans? I'm thinking about getting some DC powered fans. I am thinking it would be better to run on the large GC2's rather than D battery types, right? I can add 12v plugs wherever. We only have the bathroom vent on the opposite end of the camper from our bed, plus the "Cessna fan" over the stove.

I'm thinking a fan for a breeze vs A/C and generator- except for "emergencies" as I do have some health issues that are behaving at the moment but overheating is rough. I've been known to sit in a vehicle's A/C on Nader days, but hopefully that is behind us now.

8. Generator enclosure? It is rated at something like 58db at 25ft, but I try to be courteous to other campers and not really keen on idling the diesel, either. Likely our first coffee will be from the prior night, reheated in a kettle on the stove...unless the neighbors' gennys start up.

9. Monitoring batteries. I'm thinking about something like this: bayite DC 6.5-100V 0-100A LCD Display Digital Current Voltage Power Energy Meter Multimeter Ammeter Voltmeter with 100A Current Shunt

Don't want to spend a bunch on monitoring command centers, as this won't be that common, but don't want to get surprised with flat battery and warm fridge in the am, either.

10. Battery charging....what is the "fastest" charging I can do for the GC2s? I was looking for the Costco 6v but I couldn't find it online. Likely either those or the Trojans. What is the maximum amps I could use to charge them? Do I need to go with 75 amp charger, or is 55 max, or what???

Sorry for the machine gun questions, but many of you already do this and have worked out the options already :)

Thanks!

SoundGuy wrote:

rjxj wrote:
I dont know if I would wire the building for 12 volts vs using led 120 volt bulbs. The led have come way down in price. If you ever want power to the cabin it would be ready with 120v.

Depends - if this cabin is eventually going to have 120 vac service then sure 120 vac LED lighting makes sense, but it it's never going to have power then I would think 12 vdc LED would be the better solution.

IF, being the key word

SoundGuy wrote:

rjxj wrote:
I dont know if I would wire the building for 12 volts vs using led 120 volt bulbs. The led have come way down in price. If you ever want power to the cabin it would be ready with 120v.

Depends - if this cabin is eventually going to have 120 vac service then sure 120 vac LED lighting makes sense, but it it's never going to have power then I would think 12 vdc LED would be the better solution.

It will always be off-grid. The new generator may be available, but like this camping trip, only as absolutely necessary.

I'll put a 100lb tank up there and maybe a little solar, but we are in a deep valley. Direct sun is about 10:30am-10:32am LOL

Probably enough there to help a battery, but we're planning to have an axle-mounted water tank with battery that gets towed up with ATV when camping there. Store the battery in the garage, keep the water fresh. If it was occupied a night or two every 2 months, that would be a LOT.

It might get day use as our friends have dogs that can't stay alone for long and our house isn't indoor pet friendly. We'll eventually have an outdoor enclosure/run and of course they will have inside privileges.

It isn't going to be fancy. Rough lumber and small to start. Outhouse. Eventually hope to make it a small camp with room for tents, a gazebo, woodshed, whatever.

This is why 12v LED lights would be nice. Run on battery (maybe our current Group 31 from the camper), and might get an RV converter setup and fridge. I have a couple of fridges that I can surely get one repaired and charged to use.

The generator should be able to slip right in there and power/recharge nicely. Like a camper, we plan on having some 120v outlets as well that only work when the generator is on. That is where the remote start will come in handy in both situations.


The cabin location isn't very remote from the house. Maybe 600 yds? Far enough not to carry too much by hand without a backpack. We're in the woods here anyways.

Hope this helps you all to see our plans.

BTW, when it is done (spring maybe?), I'll put up some pics. We are pretty easy going folks, so feel free to come for burgers and take a tour once it's up ;)

rjxj wrote:
IF, being the key word

True, I should mention it will always be off-grid, but have the generator available as needed.

That is why we were thinking about doing the camper-style power to allow battery operation with the generator option as needed.

Heat will be a central woodburner, propane cooktop and RV-style fridge.

These are the kinds of points and questions that really help choose the options. I appreciate the discussions :)

Have you considered a percolator coffee maker rather than an electric drip one? That way it will run on the stove, or even over the campfire, instead of using electric with the generator on.