Full-timing in a camper + TT
Instead of asking small bits and pieces which could be taken with wrong contexts, I've decided to post our potential plan. Hopefully you guys can tell me if this will work or not. I'll get the budg...
Forum Discussion
Photomike wrote:
A few things I came up with:
- Extra fuel - I have carried extra fuel but honestly have found that stopping when you are around half, or higher if this is the last stop for a while you do not need a lot of extra fuel. I have a policy that I fill up when it is convenient or close to stopping for the night and I have yet to get low.
I guess this is more for the peace of mind. Perhaps I am scared to drive the TT into the gas station. :) Or boondock longer than I had planned. Just trying to be (perhaps over) cautious.
- Batteries - carrying too many batteries is a waste of weight and space. Get a couple good solar panels, a direct line from the alternator or even a small generator for those really big draw times. Heavy battery packs cost in lower MPG and less weight available. If you are also having a TT then you have two roofs to use to gather solar and unless you are a real power user you will be topped up in no time.
We are power users. I've used the Excel load calculation worksheet and it works out to be more than 300Ah per day if we do everything we want to do. Things seems to accumulate fast when you list every single potential power consuming devices. We will go with the lithium batteries and I have been following the progress of them used in RVs for the past two years by various RVers. And since most of the batteries are on the truck, I will need to max out solar panels on top of the camper's roof. I'm not going with the generator on the camper but there will be a diesel one on the TT. This setup is also nice since this gives us the option of taking our truck out (where cell signal is strong) and work for extended time without moving it with all that available power.
I understand you idea and have thought of it myself One thing to think about is you do not necessarily need two fridges, bathrooms, showers, etc, etc. You could shed some weight by not doubling up on everything. Load the TCer with what you need for a day or two and unload when you come back.
We like the fact that we have the option of having two homes - a small one that is barely sufficient but can go anywhere (but with lots of battery power) and a big one that is usually hooked up or driven by a quiet/efficient but powerful diesel generator with plenty of fuel stored in the truck bed.
