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TerryandKim's avatar
TerryandKim
Explorer
May 08, 2016

dry camping needs ??

Hi Guys,
I would like to get our trailer set up for camping without being hooked up to services, ie state / provincial parks. What do I need to get done? We will be about a week at each non-serviced site. I guess we need a generator but that's as far as my know how goes for this. Advise please. Thanks, Terry
  • Try it out in your driveway or an RV Park. Don't plug in, don't attach the water hose, don't hook up the sewer. How long can you go?

    Now you will have a better understanding of what you'll need for dry camping.

    For me, I could go a week with one my group 31 AGM battery and a tank full of fresh water with no problem. But, I camp simple - no 110v appliances, puck lights and lanterns to supplement lighting, propane stove, extra blankets and Mr Heater Little Buddy propane heater if absolutely needed for heat, supplement water supply by using campground facilities and campground water when convenient.
  • Thank you for your consideration of others regarding the generator. We have a 4-5 day limit on dry camping due to small water tank. Our twin deep cycle group 27 will take us strongly through three nights of evening video's, furnace etc,. We do use a Honda EU 1000 generator and a 40 amp battery charger to bring the batteries back up. Takes about two hours in middle of the day. Best of luck.
  • It really depends on how you use your trailer. Furnace blower is the largest draw. With furnace expect 1 nigh of use per battery. In a mild climate figure 2 nights per battery.

    After that wanton use of lights will be a big draw unless you have LED bulbs.

    It's easy for us to spend your money. I'll bet that four 6 volt batteries and 300 watts of solar will put you back $1000 without even knowing if you even need to spend it. My opinion is I would use two 6 volt batteries from Sams Club or Costco wired in series. Charge the batteries full, get a set of jumper cables and go camping. If your batteries get low hook the jumper cables from the vehicle to the trailer and let it idle for 2 - 3 hours. If you make it three days then add solar and you'll probably make it a week without having to haul another 100 lbs of tongue for extra batteries.
  • Hey that's great info. Thanks! I'm going to get two more six volts and look at getting a solar panel set up.
    I like the no generator way of doing it comments, sounds good (pun intended)
  • We have 3 12v batteries, we can go 6 days , but we watch what we use. This is with 36 gallons of water. Have a Honda generator but yet to use it, as we hate the noise. But if we need it we have it.
  • I am set up with 2 6v batteries and 300 watts of solar. Gets us a week pretty easily. And that's been in the winter using the heater. However, we use zero 110v appliances. Not even a microwave. No inverter. Some day I will do some leg work to get four 6v batteries. We either cook outside on the BBQ or inside with the stove and oven. I am also in the group that discourages running generators. I will eventually have one, but it will only be used in emergencies. And in our trailer an emergency isn't "needing to use a hair drier"!
  • Try four 6 volt batteries and a pure sine wave inverter. Then about 300 watts of solar.
  • We prefer the dry campgrounds and we also enjoy the quiet solitude that goes with it. We do not use a generator, even the purring types, as they all effect the enjoyment. Our batteries allow us to dry camp for about a week. I wish more people would try and dry camp, within the campgrounds, without having to run their generators. JMHO