I thought I posted this, but it hasn't shown up, so we'll try again. Sorry if it's a duplicate...We had our first dry camping experience. It was nice, but could have been a lot better and now I have some questions.First, I thought we had an inverter. I don't know why I thought that, except that I have never seen a 12-volt outlet in the trailer, only AC outlets. How would I know if the trailer has an inverter that might not be working correctly?Second, I thought the batteries should last longer. We only used the battery to run 1 light during the day (we were in the forest). Despite that, after a few hours, the monitor (that shows gauges for battery, fresh water, etc) showed 2/3. By the next evening it was teetering between 2/3 and 1/3. We decided not to risk overusing the battery and came home. Shouldn't the batteries last longer than 24 hours if all you're using is a single light?Third, when we were leaving, I was in a bit of a hurry. I failed to realize that I had the stabilizer jacks still down as I jacked the trailer up to get above the hitch. I don't see any damage to the jacks. Any chance I did any damage to the frame or anything, or do the jacks just retract if enough pressure is applied to force them to retract?

Your battery was not just running that one light, it was powering the smoke detector, co detector, the monitor that you were looking at to see the power level of the battery, the water pump, the control board on your refrigerator (even if you were running the fridge on propane), etc.

Well yes, I understand that. Am I expecting too much for it to last more than a day if the only additional use was a single light?

Sounds like you only have a single 12v battery?Even if you have an inverter or converter or whatever it's called to make 120v power out of 12v power (unlikely, as those are only "standard" in higher end rigs), it would have died sooner than 24 hours, unless you have a whole bank of batteries, solar or some other source of power to recharge them.There is a lot of other draws on the battery. The propane detector, and now they also have the O2 detectors hard wired in. The fridge uses 12v, too. If you had that single light on all day, and it was your standard 12v bulb, it could drain quite a bit too.Live and learn your rig is all you can do.. The furnace would use a ton of 12v power if you used it at all.If it's not enough power, you have to upgrade the 12v system to accomodate your amp hour needs and go from there.Good luck!Mitch

The on-board monitor is near useless. You'll need a decent digital voltmeter to monitor the battery and shouldn't let it go below 50% charge (11.9 to 12.0 volts, depending on whose chart you use.) Another load is the electronics for the water heater. And the standard G24 battery is good for a day or 2 with the usual useage, people who camp w/o hookups on a semi-regular basis have 2 batteries, and solar or generator (or both.)

oy, you’ll learn like we have. I hardly ever don’t dry camp. So many more beautiful places!

First Dry Camping Experience | Good Sam Community

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jul 14, 2018
oy, you’ll learn like we have. I hardly ever don’t dry camp. So many more beautiful places!
mbopp
Explorer
Jul 14, 2018
The on-board monitor is near useless. You'll need a decent digital voltmeter to monitor the battery and shouldn't let it go below 50% charge (11.9 to 12.0 volts, depending on whose chart you use.) Another load is the electronics for the water heater. And the standard G24 battery is good for a day or 2 with the usual useage, people who camp w/o hookups on a semi-regular basis have 2 batteries, and solar or generator (or both.)
MitchF150
Explorer III
Jul 14, 2018
Sounds like you only have a single 12v battery?

Even if you have an inverter or converter or whatever it's called to make 120v power out of 12v power (unlikely, as those are only "standard" in higher end rigs), it would have died sooner than 24 hours, unless you have a whole bank of batteries, solar or some other source of power to recharge them.

There is a lot of other draws on the battery. The propane detector, and now they also have the O2 detectors hard wired in. The fridge uses 12v, too.

If you had that single light on all day, and it was your standard 12v bulb, it could drain quite a bit too.

Live and learn your rig is all you can do.. The furnace would use a ton of 12v power if you used it at all.

If it's not enough power, you have to upgrade the 12v system to accomodate your amp hour needs and go from there.

Good luck!

Mitch
oyarsa
Explorer
Jul 14, 2018
Well yes, I understand that. Am I expecting too much for it to last more than a day if the only additional use was a single light?
2chiefsRus
Explorer
Jul 14, 2018
Your battery was not just running that one light, it was powering the smoke detector, co detector, the monitor that you were looking at to see the power level of the battery, the water pump, the control board on your refrigerator (even if you were running the fridge on propane), etc.

Forum Discussion

First Dry Camping Experience

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Owners experiences sought

A crappy experience

Subaru Outback experiences

Need your experience

My 2018 F150 Towing Experience