Hi all. This weekend is the first trip with our new to us camper. Last was used primarily as a tent on wheels when we had no hydro. Didn't have onboard water and only ran the fridge on electricity. This one is complete. We have no power this weekend. I will have the fridge running on propane. Shouldn't need the furnace. What kind of battery life should I expect using the trailer lighting (conservatively we don't really spend time in the trailer) the water pump, the electric tongue jack and whatever the normal parasitic draw is off things like the co detector and what not? I realize there cant be specifics but I'm inexperienced and looking for a stat. Thanks. I do have a small solar panel if needed although our sight is full shade. Last concern would be if I get it wrong and drain the battery, to hitch up will plugging in to the running truck be sufficient to operate the tongue jack? Thanks. Any tips appreciated.

To many variables to give you a definitive answer. Do you have led bulbs in the lights or incandescent? Is the battery a true deep cycle or combination start/deep cycle? What's the age of the battery? I had 2-6 volt golf cart batteries in my RV and was able to boondock for a week with conservative use. Some people can run a battery down in a day. Your truck battery should be able to power the tongue jack. If you complete discharge a battery it shortens the life.Parasitic drains,even your frig will use power on propane for the electric portion, radio, propane detector, and other small draws. A conventional batery can be discharged in as little as a week from parasitic drains.

its a group 31 deep cycle, about 4 years old. takes full charge. no history on it (only owned it a week). reading 12.6 volts at full charge

Opps forgot lights are LED. Have no intention of running the battery dead just thinking of hypotheticals and trying to wrap my head around everything. would assume the water pump is drawing the most right?

Any electric motor will draw the most power. Water pump or furnace blower motor. I added more info to my original post. 4 years is getting old for a RV battery. Some people use a very small quiet generator or solar to charge the batteries during the day. Some of the very best camping spots are off grid.

Thanks for the nudge in the right direction. We are only going local for 2 nights and there is a TSC (hardware on steroids) down the road. Perfect for a shakedown. I realize the battery is nearing its end and will likely be demoted to trolling motor duty at the end of this season (if it makes it that far)

realistic power usage | Good Sam Community

RoyB
Explorer II
May 16, 2019
Carrying Jumper Cables with the truck is a great idea... What you don't want to do however is run your truck start battery down as this is your only way to get back home... One of my GIBBS camping rules is don't mess with your truck start battery for camping needs... We also carry a 2KW Honda Inverter Generator secured in the tail gate section of my covered and locked truck bed... This is out of sight until I drop the tail gate to use it... This alone has saved me on my off-grid outings on many many occasions...

Camping off grid takes good planning including great Plan B's - just can't show up and go camping... It will get dark on you about 9PM doing that.. Than what's you gonna do...

Roy Ken
MFL
Nomad II
May 16, 2019
I think you'll be good for a couple nights, if you are conservative. The tongue jack, and furnace fan will be the bigger drains. If the battery was not down completely, plugging into the truck should run the tongue jack for hookup. If you have a set of good jumper cables, you could add some power back to battery, if needed, by connecting direct to truck battery, using the truck alternator.

Jerry
Tvov
Explorer II
May 16, 2019
We usually go 3 days relatively easily on one battery. We use battery camping lights in the camper at night to help conserve the battery. Be careful using a vent fan - those can use more power than you would think.
Jebby14
Explorer
May 16, 2019
Thanks for the nudge in the right direction. We are only going local for 2 nights and there is a TSC (hardware on steroids) down the road. Perfect for a shakedown. I realize the battery is nearing its end and will likely be demoted to trolling motor duty at the end of this season (if it makes it that far)
colliehauler
Explorer III
May 16, 2019
Any electric motor will draw the most power. Water pump or furnace blower motor. I added more info to my original post. 4 years is getting old for a RV battery. Some people use a very small quiet generator or solar to charge the batteries during the day. Some of the very best camping spots are off grid.
Jebby14
Explorer
May 16, 2019
Opps forgot lights are LED. Have no intention of running the battery dead just thinking of hypotheticals and trying to wrap my head around everything. would assume the water pump is drawing the most right?
Jebby14
Explorer
May 16, 2019
its a group 31 deep cycle, about 4 years old. takes full charge. no history on it (only owned it a week). reading 12.6 volts at full charge
colliehauler
Explorer III
May 16, 2019
To many variables to give you a definitive answer. Do you have led bulbs in the lights or incandescent? Is the battery a true deep cycle or combination start/deep cycle? What's the age of the battery?

I had 2-6 volt golf cart batteries in my RV and was able to boondock for a week with conservative use. Some people can run a battery down in a day. Your truck battery should be able to power the tongue jack. If you complete discharge a battery it shortens the life.

Parasitic drains,even your frig will use power on propane for the electric portion, radio, propane detector, and other small draws. A conventional batery can be discharged in as little as a week from parasitic drains.

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