We purchased a 2017 HEARTLAND MALLARD M26 and we will be camping for 7 days. I need to know how long I can run the fridge/freezer on propane as well as will we be able to use the shower/hot water, cook etc? There are no hookups sadly. We do have solar panels we can charge a battery with. I know LED lights don't pull much but will we be able to use the lights inside and what about the awning? I am just clueless. Please help!Thanks in advance, Chel

"There are no hookups sadly"Lots of us don't hook at all. Nothing to be sad about! One week shouldn't exhaust a 20 bottle of propane for fridge, cooking and hot water. I'd tecommend buying a second bottle. One goes dry you just switch over. Detail your solar system and battery/ies.

Assuming you have two full 20lb tanks, no issue with going 7 days with fridge, cooking, and hot water. Difficult to provide a solid answer on the battery usage and charging without a lot more details on battery(ies), charging panel size, exposure (sun vs. shade), number of lights, number of times the awning will go in and out, water pump usage, etc. Generally, LED lights are not much of an issue. The biggest draw on the battery will be the furnace motor.Be careful to not run the battery down to low as it will impact the refrigerator. It requires 12V for its control board. A digital volt meter will allow you to monitor the battery health and adjust usage as required.

Why not camp in the back yard so you can learn all the things you need to know without being away from things... You can learn alot setting up in the back yard...We can find all we need to keep going from Lowes and WALMART haha...One big thing we learned early on is not to drain the 12V battery below its 50% charge state which is around 12.0VDC before charging back up to its 90% charge state. You will ruin your battery if you do this several time with out recharging right away...Roy Ken

"There are no hookups sadly" Just the opposite that is truly boon-docking and the best get-away! Unless traveling across the US we never hookup, nor do we go to a structured camp ground.Without the heater the propane will last a very long time. probably most of the summer. The heater draws the most propane.You will hear a lot of ways to check your propane. I hope this does not derail your thread but I think it applies. Once in a while take some very cold water (hot in the winter) and pour over the propane bottle, quickly feel down the side for a temperature difference, that is where your propane level is. I agree with Lwiddis that if you only have one bottle go buy a second.Enjoy your no hookups! Very exciting.

If you don't use the furnace, most folks find a single 20 lb bottle will keep the 'fridge cold, cook 3 meals a day, shower and do the dishes (provided you only turn on the water heater when you need hot water rather than leave it on all the time) for a couple months. The furnace, on the other hand, might last a week in frigid weather.

Newbie Questions | Good Sam Community

Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 25, 2017
I believe EquineChel is MIA.
Hannibal
Explorer
May 25, 2017
I'd suggest a few trips to a campground with full hookups for some trial runs. When water runs out, hook up the hose. When the battery dies, plug in shore power. If the holding tanks fill, empty them. Like said, unless you run the furnace, propane should easily last. We get several weeks out of each 30 lb bottle. Then you'll know how long you can go on each item.
EquineChel
Explorer
Jun 08, 2017
The place we are going will have showers but I hate port o potties. Yucky. We just have one of those harbor freight solar set ups I think 3 tall pannels. We use to tent camp and pull battery from truck so we could have a fan at night.we were planning to use the facilities there for showers but want to cook clean dishes etc most of all potty. I wish we could run the fan in camper but I don't think that is possible. Just so new this. I am so thankful for all the good advice. We will prob put awning and slide out and leave them unless windy. Also any ideas how to find a place that you can film up water and dump after close to where the campi ng will happen please?
EquineChel
Explorer
Jun 08, 2017
Sorry I was internetless. It's fixed now. Yay.
time2roll
Nomad
Jun 08, 2017
HF solar is maybe 45 watts? Keep them pointed to the sun with no shade and you will get maybe 2 or 3 amps for several hours. Not a lot but will help.
profdant139
Explorer II
Jun 08, 2017
The Harbor Freight solar is about 45 watts, I think. That probably won't keep up with your needs, no matter how frugal you are.

How many batteries do you have on your trailer?

You will find that over time, this gets a lot easier. We greatly prefer boondocking in remote places -- very peaceful!! No porta potties, nothing but silence.
EquineChel
Explorer
Jun 08, 2017
Well we would use the slide out and awning out. Maybe some led lights at night. We have battery lamps and candles for night time. I have a Ford excursion diesel so 2 batteries there I can pull but you really think I could only run those things 3 days? Man I wish we had power. We use a trickle charger at home would it help if we left it hooked and started truck every few days?
LOFAT36
Explorer
Jun 08, 2017
Deep six your single 12 volt battery and buy two 6 volt deep cycle ones. I could run our trailer for 5 days (including furnace) for 5 days without a problem.
EquineChel
Explorer
Jun 08, 2017
Hmmmm ok I was trying to use what I had but you guys know better. How do you recharge the battery aside from running someplace in the truck? We are going to be a festival so we can't just get up and move sadly.
BizmarksMom
Explorer
Jun 09, 2017
I use solar to recharge my batteries, but mine is 120 watts.
The other option is a generator.

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