Searching_Ut wrote:
I hadn't thought about adding water to the fresh water tank. I have a couple 15 gallon portable tanks, and several 5 to 7 gallon tanks as well as a water thief, but the new 5er doesn't have a gravity fill so I can't just dump a few extra gallons in like I'm used to doing. I'll have to figure out a pump setup, and I'll need to explore the waste hauling options. Great inputs, and I am making list.
The battery bank, possible solar thing I need to think through. We only got to use the new rig for 3 short trips, 7 days total, all hookup sites so I don't know what to expect battery life wise from the 2 group 24's I have. I don't anticipate they will last long though. Although most of the lighting is LED, the fridge, water heater etc seem to be more power thirsty than the stuff in my old Timber Ridge. I have 2 champion 2000 inverter generators currently so I can hopefully run at least 1 ac unit in a pinch, or the microwave if really needed. historically though I've only used a single generator to run the hair dryer in the morning, and a couple hours every few days in order to charge the batteries back up to 80 to 90 percent. (I won't even try to explain the hairdryer while at a remote site) We never were out long enough that I worried about not bringing the batteries up to full charge while on the trip. Thinking about it now, that's not a good idea for weeks or months on end.
For water, get a bladder and a 12v transfer pump. Put it in the truck bed, head out to fill it up, then pump it in. Can be had in just about any size you want; though you don't have to fill it if you don't want to. :-)
I agree, 300-500w solar and 4 6v batteries will serve you well. I have a cheapo 45w solar setup and 2 6v golf cart batteries, and it gives me about an extra day without worrying about power with our normal use, when we boondock.
Lyle
