In our 2020 Cedar Creek 29RW it came with one battery. I added another as soon as I got it home but the battery compartment/bin only has enough room for these 2. We don't boondock often but it seems I only have enough capacity to keep things going for about 24 hours. Most of this is eaten up by the refrigerator. If we use other things like heat, it dwindles faster. We do have solar and it's more than enough to keep them topped off when not in use. I do have a stand alone generator but it's big and would rather not tote that monster everywhere. So I was thinking of doubling up my batteries but no idea where to put them. I guess I could make a tray in the front compartment near the other 2. Anyone install a "remote" tray" somewhere else in your RV?

We need more information, to give a good reply. Are you running the fridge on gas or electric? What about the hot water heater? What type of lights bulbs are you using. Do you use a inverter to power your ac devices? What type of batteries are you using? Size 24,27, standard lead? Sounds like you have a very small solar panel that will only trickle charge your battery. Basically useless if so.

JMO, I'd not want to deal with a huge battery bank, for just an occasional boondock. I'd rather buy a light wt 2K gen, that can easily handle the charging needs. I have a Champ 2K 100565 for my seldom no electric campouts. Works great for all but AC.Jerry

The fridge is all electric residential and runs on the inverter when not plugged in to shore power. The water heater is dual fuel, either electric or LP. So LP when not on shore power. Batteries are Diehard model 24 12v - 2 of them wired parallel.the stand alone genny I have is for the house and it's a 6KW - way too big to be lugging around. If I did get another Genny I'd probably opt for one that could run at least one AC.

I moved the battery bank out of the front compartment and into the main cargo bay after relocating the wall back quite a bit adding storage and room for my solar equipment. There was also wasted space under the staircase where I mounted a DIY Lithium battery bank on a sliding tray.The blue tape on the floor is the stock wall location.The area that used to carry the battery is now used for a chest style fridge/freezer.

MFL wrote:JMO, I'd not want to deal with a huge battery bank, for just an occasional boondock. I'd rather buy a light wt 2K gen, that can easily handle the charging needs. I have a Champ 2K 100565 for my seldom no electric campouts. Works great for all but AC.JerryI'd lean towards MFL's suggestion of a small 2k, but first, if you have group 24 or 27s, i'd go bigger with group 31s. (IF they'll fit in your battery box).

Adding extra batteries - where do I put them? | Good Sam Community

2112
Explorer II
Nov 22, 2021
I hope you grabbed one while at that price. It's up to $765 now
way2roll
Navigator II
Nov 21, 2021
pianotuna wrote:
way2roll wrote:

I will replace it with one that we can take with us. My requirements:
Run one AC at a minimum and quiet. I know Hondas fit the bill, but are there cheaper options that are small and quiet enough to handle this given that we would use it so sparingly?

Thanks all.

Two choices:

1. Champion 3400 with remote electric start

2. Predator 3500 with electric start.

If my batteries are low I'll use the remote start when making meals. I won't sleep with a generator running--but it is nice to have the remote when I wake up.

While poking around I found a champion 4500 for what I thought was a low price on Amazon for $636. Is there a reason this one is is so much cheaper?

4500 link
pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 20, 2021
Time2roll,

A nice system indeed. I can't imagine when you would need it--so propane is a more or less perfect choice for you.
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 20, 2021
I have a small 700 watt Ryobi propane generator just to keep the battery up if the solar should prove inadequate for an extended period.

https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/46396019240

Been rebranded as the Baja at Home Depot.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Baja-900-Watt-Propane-Powered-Inverter-Generator-BAI911LP/306283803

I prefer to avoid the gas can and storage issues of gasoline. I added a fitting to connect to my existing propane. Very light. I think the noise is on par with a Honda when running under load. None are exactly quiet and it does idle down when minimum power is needed. Although it is small enough that it could be overloaded with many converters. May need a small battery charger in the 20 to 30 amp range. Works for me.

BTW I replaced my 4x GC2 like this:
pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 20, 2021
way2roll wrote:

I will replace it with one that we can take with us. My requirements:
Run one AC at a minimum and quiet. I know Hondas fit the bill, but are there cheaper options that are small and quiet enough to handle this given that we would use it so sparingly?

Thanks all.

Two choices:

1. Champion 3400 with remote electric start

2. Predator 3500 with electric start.

If my batteries are low I'll use the remote start when making meals. I won't sleep with a generator running--but it is nice to have the remote when I wake up.
way2roll
Navigator II
Nov 20, 2021
Revisiting this - So we never ended up boon docking and I am glad we opted for a site with electric. It got much colder than predicted and our furnace ran quite a bit to keep things comfortable. Our FW, while better insulated than previous MH's, with high ceilings, massive slides, much more sq ft, takes a lot more to heat than I am used to. That's fine but it was educational. My batts would have been dead on night one. Add to that, that DW has a point in that we bought an RV for all the comforts of home and not shivering in blankets, putting things in a cooler, etc just to save amp hours. No offense at all to those that favor that sort of thing. We started out tent camping decades ago so I get it.

So I mentioned I have a 6500 home genny to use in power outages that frankly we haven't used in years and when we did it was only to keep the fridge going. I think it has like 5 hours on it. SO - My plan is to sell that one since it's not practical to lug camping, and it's LOUD.

I will replace it with one that we can take with us. My requirements:
Run one AC at a minimum and quiet. I know Hondas fit the bill, but are there cheaper options that are small and quiet enough to handle this given that we would use it so sparingly?

Thanks all.
laknox
Nomad
Nov 12, 2021
work2much, that is a gorgeous setup.

Check out my cousin's bus build at www.beginningfromthismorning.com (or on YT). Gutted a '64 GMC bus and rebuilt it as a SOFTA RVs (state of the art). 3500w of solar on the roof and the coach battery is out of a Nissan Leaf. Dozens of build videos. BusGreaseMonkey visted them for a couple weeks and he's got several videos of their time there. Both have awesome solar setups.

Lyle
pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 10, 2021
way2roll wrote:
Clearly I have more homework to do. I have no idea how many watts the current solar panel is. And I have no idea how difficult it would be to add another panel - if I should even bother.

Here is a simple way to find out.

1. disconnect the solar

2. fully charge the battery bank on shore power.

3. Plug the RV into a kill-a-watt meter. Plug the meter into a 15 amp shore power circuit.

4. Leave the fridge and converter running for 4 days. Use the lights and other low loads as if you were dry camping.

5. Read the number of kilowatt hours used. That will be the consumption. Divide the number of watt-hours used by 2.

6. divide that number by 5.

That may be the minimum number of watts of solar necessary.

It also infers the size of the battery bank in watt-hours.
MFL
Nomad II
Nov 10, 2021
way2roll wrote:
The fridge is all electric residential and runs on the inverter when not plugged in to shore power.
StirCrazy
Moderator
Nov 10, 2021
way2roll wrote:
pianotuna wrote:
way2roll,

400 to 600 watts of solar will run everything except for the roof air conditioner. Your battery bank will love you.

Clearly I have more homework to do. I have no idea how many watts the current solar panel is. And I have no idea how difficult it would be to add another panel - if I should even bother.

I agree, My theory is always go with as much panel as you can aford as they are dirt cheep right now. I couldnt find your model details on line but does it not have a propane option for the fridge, I am assuming not. so is it a residentual or a 12v danforth style?

I have four good 6V batteries in the 5th wheel right now, and 480 watts of solar. this is just enough for me to go indefinatly in the summer, but I dont think it would be enough solar for a 12V fridge. I would be looking at putting as close to 1000 watts of solar as you can get and a few deicent batteries. it may sound daunting but solar panels are dirt cheep now. up here in the lad of the frozen I can get a 400 watt panel for about 240.00 and I know there a heck of a lot cheeper in the US. also I recal you mentioned space to put batteries was an isue (the reason for this thread) if you decide you like boondocking and some of the more remote areas and your not camping in freezing conditions I would seriously recomend looking at LFP battries as an option. at 1/3 the size and 1/4 the weight (for the same usable AH) and the ability to put them anywhere that is another option even if you can't upgrade the solar. if you size a LFP bank properly so you could camp for a week with out charging then any solar is just a bonus. now this could be pricy and the best way to get the real small foot prints is to buy the prismatic cells and put them togeather your self, but it could be done with off the shelf LFP also.

Steve