Hypothetical Winter Camping Electrical Limits
Hi, I used to have a very old tow-behind trailer that I used during the winter in Colorado; 2 batteries, 2 propane tanks. Since the furnace had no fan it was easy to be out a week, dry. Now I did...
Forum Discussion
Hi Bill.
On occasion, we get those that wish to go full-timing, all for different reasons. One of the biggest myths is the belief that this will save them money. The reality is that it will cost you LOTS of money, to begin. Take as an example, when you buy your first house. For the first few years you will be buying hoses, grills, garage door openers and the list goes one. Many of these items can be taken with you, when you move to your next home. The same thing here, be prepared for needing things and costs you never expected. For me, it was almost 2 years, but I didn't have someone to help or walk me through my beginnings. The people here on this forum were a fantastic help, but I wish I had someone that Full Timed to have learned from. There are quasi full-timers, ones that go for long periods of time and or stay in a stick home/5th wheel/cabin for part of the year. Always qualify the person sharing with you that this recommendation is for long time use in a Truck Camper.
Lets review some of basics.
Revenue Stream ~ Have sufficient income every month to finance your adventure. Live with a budget. If you don't have a budget, make one. Without one you will be shocked at what your costs will be.
Be able to adapt ~ Things will begin to be different, than what you originally thought or planned. Be able to be ok with that and adjust when necessary.
RV that best suits your needs ~ Depending what your personality allows or adapts to, find out which size fits you. Go to a Rally or RV Show. Borrow or rent one, if possible.
Slide or not to Slide ~ A slide provides you an excellent spacial solution. If you are using one in cold and windy climates, don't get one. The heat loss is terrible and they leak dust, no matter how good the seals are. A slide will require more heat. Older and one without Winter Used designed are not a good match for multi season use. Many manufacturers are producing RVs that are not useable/accessible without extending slides.
Heated Tanks ~ Fantastic to have for TC tanks. Few manufacturers provide them and most require basement models. Heating elements are prohibitive for normal TC battery banks. As is any appliance with a heating element, Coffee Makers/Heating Pads/Space Heater. A separate power source will be necessary. Solar is incompatible for heated tanks, due to most periods of winter periods are without enough sunny days and or hours.
Solar ~ When I upgraded to Solar it was a life changing event for my full-timing. It meant I was no longer needing to charge my batteries every day for 2 to 3 hours. This meant running a generator. For winter use, plan on having 3 times the solar needed for remaining time of year. As well as a compatible sized battery bank. This is due to approx 60% loss of battery capacity when Batt Temps begin to fall below 55*F. Also, The landscape on the roof of a TC is very limited, for installing, sizing and orienting solar panels.
Personal Items ~ You will need to plan for multi year seasonal clothing, groceries and entertainment items. Having a storage location, or trailer, will satisfy this need. But this addition will limit your ability to access remote areas and cities.
Redundancy ~ Prepare for periods when things break, in the middle of the night or far away location. Make a list of Priority items, such as; Power, Water, Food and Transportation, then a solution when these are not available for your use and or need. Such as when your furnace stops at 3 AM and it is 8*F outside and you are 200 miles from a source for repair.
Temperature Changes ~ Your daily habits will need to be adjusted for different seasons. The body and environment creates humidity inside your RV. The larger the RV the less noticeable the humidity build up, will be. You must establish a routine to dry out your RV. Weekenders and Short Trippers don't experience this issue, to a serious degree, as there are long periods of no longer introduction of humidity into their RV. So they dry out before the next use. Sources are; Breathing, Cooking, Wet Clothes, Heating and Inclement Weather. Minimising these sources are important. As well as isolating the possibility of humidity growing mold in clothes and other organic material (removal from cabinets and proximity to outside walls).
Heat ~ The normal solution is to use a furnace. Heating in below freezing weather is not a matter of turning down the thermostat at night/day, as you need to keep your core temperatures high enough for keeping your camper pipes and stores from freezing. Forget all about turning down the thermostat at night when sleeping or to save/conserve fuel. So expect to use more heating fuel (propane). The need to force air into areas preclude the solo use of a Radiant Heater (Plat Cat/Wave Heaters). Having remote/wireless thermometers in problem areas alerts you to dangerous temperatures, for those areas. A plan for heating these areas is important for sub zero periods.
Well, Bill. There is a lot to address, research, as well as decisions you will need to make. Start simply and have a strategy. What type of camper? What type of truck to carry TC and the equipment and supplies?
The two suggestions I received, from others, is the best advice I can give in return;
1. Before beginning, take test trips in all types of seasons and weather conditions, before striking off full-time.
2. Surround yourself with the things you enjoyed and made you comfortable when you lived in a home.
b
On occasion, we get those that wish to go full-timing, all for different reasons. One of the biggest myths is the belief that this will save them money. The reality is that it will cost you LOTS of money, to begin. Take as an example, when you buy your first house. For the first few years you will be buying hoses, grills, garage door openers and the list goes one. Many of these items can be taken with you, when you move to your next home. The same thing here, be prepared for needing things and costs you never expected. For me, it was almost 2 years, but I didn't have someone to help or walk me through my beginnings. The people here on this forum were a fantastic help, but I wish I had someone that Full Timed to have learned from. There are quasi full-timers, ones that go for long periods of time and or stay in a stick home/5th wheel/cabin for part of the year. Always qualify the person sharing with you that this recommendation is for long time use in a Truck Camper.
Lets review some of basics.
Revenue Stream ~ Have sufficient income every month to finance your adventure. Live with a budget. If you don't have a budget, make one. Without one you will be shocked at what your costs will be.
Be able to adapt ~ Things will begin to be different, than what you originally thought or planned. Be able to be ok with that and adjust when necessary.
RV that best suits your needs ~ Depending what your personality allows or adapts to, find out which size fits you. Go to a Rally or RV Show. Borrow or rent one, if possible.
Slide or not to Slide ~ A slide provides you an excellent spacial solution. If you are using one in cold and windy climates, don't get one. The heat loss is terrible and they leak dust, no matter how good the seals are. A slide will require more heat. Older and one without Winter Used designed are not a good match for multi season use. Many manufacturers are producing RVs that are not useable/accessible without extending slides.
Heated Tanks ~ Fantastic to have for TC tanks. Few manufacturers provide them and most require basement models. Heating elements are prohibitive for normal TC battery banks. As is any appliance with a heating element, Coffee Makers/Heating Pads/Space Heater. A separate power source will be necessary. Solar is incompatible for heated tanks, due to most periods of winter periods are without enough sunny days and or hours.
Solar ~ When I upgraded to Solar it was a life changing event for my full-timing. It meant I was no longer needing to charge my batteries every day for 2 to 3 hours. This meant running a generator. For winter use, plan on having 3 times the solar needed for remaining time of year. As well as a compatible sized battery bank. This is due to approx 60% loss of battery capacity when Batt Temps begin to fall below 55*F. Also, The landscape on the roof of a TC is very limited, for installing, sizing and orienting solar panels.
Personal Items ~ You will need to plan for multi year seasonal clothing, groceries and entertainment items. Having a storage location, or trailer, will satisfy this need. But this addition will limit your ability to access remote areas and cities.
Redundancy ~ Prepare for periods when things break, in the middle of the night or far away location. Make a list of Priority items, such as; Power, Water, Food and Transportation, then a solution when these are not available for your use and or need. Such as when your furnace stops at 3 AM and it is 8*F outside and you are 200 miles from a source for repair.
Temperature Changes ~ Your daily habits will need to be adjusted for different seasons. The body and environment creates humidity inside your RV. The larger the RV the less noticeable the humidity build up, will be. You must establish a routine to dry out your RV. Weekenders and Short Trippers don't experience this issue, to a serious degree, as there are long periods of no longer introduction of humidity into their RV. So they dry out before the next use. Sources are; Breathing, Cooking, Wet Clothes, Heating and Inclement Weather. Minimising these sources are important. As well as isolating the possibility of humidity growing mold in clothes and other organic material (removal from cabinets and proximity to outside walls).
Heat ~ The normal solution is to use a furnace. Heating in below freezing weather is not a matter of turning down the thermostat at night/day, as you need to keep your core temperatures high enough for keeping your camper pipes and stores from freezing. Forget all about turning down the thermostat at night when sleeping or to save/conserve fuel. So expect to use more heating fuel (propane). The need to force air into areas preclude the solo use of a Radiant Heater (Plat Cat/Wave Heaters). Having remote/wireless thermometers in problem areas alerts you to dangerous temperatures, for those areas. A plan for heating these areas is important for sub zero periods.
Well, Bill. There is a lot to address, research, as well as decisions you will need to make. Start simply and have a strategy. What type of camper? What type of truck to carry TC and the equipment and supplies?
The two suggestions I received, from others, is the best advice I can give in return;
1. Before beginning, take test trips in all types of seasons and weather conditions, before striking off full-time.
2. Surround yourself with the things you enjoyed and made you comfortable when you lived in a home.
b
