Busted with a bad battery out in the boonies
Well, it took us 4 hours after leaving the main road (if that is what you want to call it) to get to the lake. A beautiful place! Gonna have some great fishing in the morning! Looking forward to a few...
Forum Discussion
While some are responding in the way I read the OP's message, which he was suddenly and without warning stranded. Even more so he was; "This Close" to being executed by the growing crowd of his once loving and loyal citizens.
Well, I wish to thank the OP for posting a situation that WILL happen to all of us in different ways if we choose to put ourselves into situations that are beyond civilized areas, where we can just walk next door to summon assistance. Or call our AAA Roadside Surface. Personally, I prefer the remote and the solitude being beyond the populated areas.
What have each of you done to work through this scenario? Sure, lets debate the longevity of our OEM batteries. But lets just agree that the batteries are dead now and the wolves are howling at the door of your TC.
Me, I have built my rig with redundancy and have too, found myself with the Truck dead, in a remote area for various reasons; ran down the battery, OEM battery finally failed or just used it for demands it was not intended for.
Lets say there is no one around to jump your truck. No outlet nearby you can plug into and don’t have jumper cables long enough to use the house batteries, from their current position, for jumping the Truck batteries.
What can you do?
Following my number one rule; everything going into my truck camper must have more than one use. I have used the following scenario to start my Truck Battery when it has died due to forces beyond it reasonable uses.
I start up the Generator (I have 2 for redundancy), which is something all experienced Boondockers understand to have even it is only for emergencies. Pulled out my extension cord (who doesn’t have one of these?), pull out my battery charger (I have 2 for redundancy). Plugging the extension cord into the generator (preferred), or one of the TC 110v outlets and thread it to the OEM Truck’s battery location. Attach the (-) (+) clips of the charger to the terminals of the now dead battery, plug in the charger to the extension cord, set the controls and let it charge for a few minutes (check to see if the dome light comes on). After 5 minutes or so, start the truck. If it starts, and most cases it will, let it run for a few minutes but immediately disconnect the battery charger.
If this does not work, then start evaluating the people you have with you and whom should be eaten first. This is done so the remainder might survive this terrible situation you now find yourself in. As well as the possibility you might never be rescued. Think here, Gilligan’s Island. Who isn’t singing the theme song to themselves now?
Ask yourselves;
“Do I have a plan to self-rescue? If not, should I start planning for this contingency?”
Travel Safely.
b
Well, I wish to thank the OP for posting a situation that WILL happen to all of us in different ways if we choose to put ourselves into situations that are beyond civilized areas, where we can just walk next door to summon assistance. Or call our AAA Roadside Surface. Personally, I prefer the remote and the solitude being beyond the populated areas.
What have each of you done to work through this scenario? Sure, lets debate the longevity of our OEM batteries. But lets just agree that the batteries are dead now and the wolves are howling at the door of your TC.
Me, I have built my rig with redundancy and have too, found myself with the Truck dead, in a remote area for various reasons; ran down the battery, OEM battery finally failed or just used it for demands it was not intended for.
Lets say there is no one around to jump your truck. No outlet nearby you can plug into and don’t have jumper cables long enough to use the house batteries, from their current position, for jumping the Truck batteries.
What can you do?
Following my number one rule; everything going into my truck camper must have more than one use. I have used the following scenario to start my Truck Battery when it has died due to forces beyond it reasonable uses.
I start up the Generator (I have 2 for redundancy), which is something all experienced Boondockers understand to have even it is only for emergencies. Pulled out my extension cord (who doesn’t have one of these?), pull out my battery charger (I have 2 for redundancy). Plugging the extension cord into the generator (preferred), or one of the TC 110v outlets and thread it to the OEM Truck’s battery location. Attach the (-) (+) clips of the charger to the terminals of the now dead battery, plug in the charger to the extension cord, set the controls and let it charge for a few minutes (check to see if the dome light comes on). After 5 minutes or so, start the truck. If it starts, and most cases it will, let it run for a few minutes but immediately disconnect the battery charger.
If this does not work, then start evaluating the people you have with you and whom should be eaten first. This is done so the remainder might survive this terrible situation you now find yourself in. As well as the possibility you might never be rescued. Think here, Gilligan’s Island. Who isn’t singing the theme song to themselves now?
Ask yourselves;
“Do I have a plan to self-rescue? If not, should I start planning for this contingency?”
Travel Safely.
b
