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
Bill001, I've been winter camping in TCs for 12 years now. First with a 2003 AF 1150 with Solar and currently with a Lance 861 no Solar. Solar makes a big difference as does battery selection. Batteries on my AF were aweful, started with 12V Group 27 batteries and they only lasted a few years and were not good the last year I had them. Switched to Optima Yellow top AGM batteries and they only lasted a few years, big waste of $$$. Past 7 years I've had a pair of Trojan 6V batteries in my 861 and they are spectacular, especially in winter. In the White mountains in January we're typically below 0F at night and single digits during the day, furnace runs basically full time. I have wet camped but since I mostly do wknd trips found it a PIA, full timing would be different. Also hard to find places to dump tanks in the winter around here. My AF had a 100W solar panel and that saved me with my aweful batteries. Plan on putting a panel on my 861 before this coming winter.
Note, if you run more than two batteries you need to make sure you know how you're going to keep them charged. I did this for a short period with a battery switch to go between my dual 12Vs in the battery compartment and my 6Vs in the genny compartment. I also bring a portable Honda E2000i with me during the winter.
If you have a long bed truck get a TC that can handle the bigger Propane tanks. My AF 1150 had 2 big tanks and that was huge, 861 can only fit 2 small tanks like you use for your grill at home though the nice option is I can run to local supermkt and do a Blue Rhino swap where with the bigger tanks you have to find someone in winter to fill them. You are correct that there's lots of sunshine in CO but there's also lots of snow so you're going to need to be able to get up on the roof and clear those solar panels off for them to work.
Best of luck. Winter camping is awesome, no bugs and usually get my pick of sites as there's so few of us brave enough to go.
Note, if you run more than two batteries you need to make sure you know how you're going to keep them charged. I did this for a short period with a battery switch to go between my dual 12Vs in the battery compartment and my 6Vs in the genny compartment. I also bring a portable Honda E2000i with me during the winter.
If you have a long bed truck get a TC that can handle the bigger Propane tanks. My AF 1150 had 2 big tanks and that was huge, 861 can only fit 2 small tanks like you use for your grill at home though the nice option is I can run to local supermkt and do a Blue Rhino swap where with the bigger tanks you have to find someone in winter to fill them. You are correct that there's lots of sunshine in CO but there's also lots of snow so you're going to need to be able to get up on the roof and clear those solar panels off for them to work.
Best of luck. Winter camping is awesome, no bugs and usually get my pick of sites as there's so few of us brave enough to go.
