New-to-me truck and camper
I thought it would be a good idea to join this forum, as I just bought a truck and camper. I will be full-timing for at least a year, possibly longer. I would love your thoughts, tips, tricks, hints...
Forum Discussion
For sure, and at minimum, get a 2nd 150 panel. Get the poly as it will do better in the shade. What charge controller type is it? PWM, MPPT or neither?
The MPPT is the best, and the most expensive, but ebay has them for $50 and up.
What will you be using the electric for when not hooked up? Inverters are power hogs, the propane heater fan is a power hog, tv and laptop charging is power hog.
Get LED lighting.
You said, batteries? You will need at least two.
You will need two propane tanks, but I think that TC has it.
Learn to take cold showers to minimize the times running to get more propane (I know the wife won't go for that…).
Propane refills are cheaper than the tank exchange.
Don't poo.
The big 3 when boondocking are:
Need more water
Need more propane
need to dump waste water.
If you can diminish the need for these three things then life gets easier.
Personally, I just got rid of the propane fridge for an electric one to save propane.
I rarely heat the camper as that is huge propane loss, but to save pipes freezing I will.
I got rid of toilet (use a throw away method), so do not use the black tank.
I let the gray water drain onto the ground when I can. legally of course, so never go looking for a dump station and never have to smell rancid water.
If you are soloing then these work great, but if you have another person then it needs to be agreeable for both.
On your weight be sure to pack all your stuff before hitting the scales. People say their stuff adds 1,000 lbs.
Camper weights never include liquids, but sometimes dont include the options like Air Cond, or anything you have but might have been an optional add-on. Rarely do campers weigh what you are told.
With your 350 you should be just fine though. These truck are over-loaded all over the country with not issues.
Winter will be here soon, so don;t let the pipes freeze. You may end up somewhere where it freezes at night that you did not plan on… Have a plan to keep pipes warm, or to winterize them. Inspect your compartments so you know how and if they are insulated and what areas will freeze first…
The MPPT is the best, and the most expensive, but ebay has them for $50 and up.
What will you be using the electric for when not hooked up? Inverters are power hogs, the propane heater fan is a power hog, tv and laptop charging is power hog.
Get LED lighting.
You said, batteries? You will need at least two.
You will need two propane tanks, but I think that TC has it.
Learn to take cold showers to minimize the times running to get more propane (I know the wife won't go for that…).
Propane refills are cheaper than the tank exchange.
Don't poo.
The big 3 when boondocking are:
Need more water
Need more propane
need to dump waste water.
If you can diminish the need for these three things then life gets easier.
Personally, I just got rid of the propane fridge for an electric one to save propane.
I rarely heat the camper as that is huge propane loss, but to save pipes freezing I will.
I got rid of toilet (use a throw away method), so do not use the black tank.
I let the gray water drain onto the ground when I can. legally of course, so never go looking for a dump station and never have to smell rancid water.
If you are soloing then these work great, but if you have another person then it needs to be agreeable for both.
On your weight be sure to pack all your stuff before hitting the scales. People say their stuff adds 1,000 lbs.
Camper weights never include liquids, but sometimes dont include the options like Air Cond, or anything you have but might have been an optional add-on. Rarely do campers weigh what you are told.
With your 350 you should be just fine though. These truck are over-loaded all over the country with not issues.
Winter will be here soon, so don;t let the pipes freeze. You may end up somewhere where it freezes at night that you did not plan on… Have a plan to keep pipes warm, or to winterize them. Inspect your compartments so you know how and if they are insulated and what areas will freeze first…
