First time boondocking report

[rvshrinker]

Took family for four days and three nights of dry camping. Really happy with how it went. Everyone got one shower, and we were able to carefully do our dishes and dump that in the black tank. At the end of the weekend we'd barely touched the propane, had used 1/3 of fresh, 1/3 of grey, 1/3 of black, and 1/3 of battery, all according to sensors which of course are just guesstimates. We only ran the heat a few minutes every morning as we had highs in 60s and lows in 40s. Now we feel confident we could go five to six days in a pinch, and certainly 2-3 days of skiing this winter.

[memtb]

goducks10 wrote:
Buy a Mr Heater to run in the mornings or whenever. We've had the little Buddy for 7 years and it's been worth every penny. No need to fire up the noisy power robbing furnace. If I had to do it again I'd opt for the big Buddy. It's set up to use a quick disconnect if needed. You can tap into your propane line and run a hose to the heater.

The problems with an auxiliary heat source (not forced air), is additional humidity introduced into the camper and no heat going to the tanks. Unless of course, you do not have enclosed, heated underbelly ....which means no water and no bathroom! The auxiliary heat source is only practical if the temperatures do not get very cold at night and warm (well above freezing) during the day!

[goducks10]

Buy a Mr Heater to run in the mornings or whenever. We've had the little Buddy for 7 years and it's been worth every penny. No need to fire up the noisy power robbing furnace. If I had to do it again I'd opt for the big Buddy. It's set up to use a quick disconnect if needed. You can tap into your propane line and run a hose to the heater.

[memtb]

rvshrinker wrote:
i’d like to be able to go one night skiing. seems if the battery dies the worst that can happen is i start up the truck to get battery power to the trailer.

As mentioned, you’ll likely “only” get a trickle charge from your tow vehicle. With most vehicles, the heater amp draw, will exceed what you are supplying with the tow vehicle....even with the vehicle running, you likely will be “losing ground”! You can run a separate, larger wire (fused) directly from your vehicle battery into your tow vehicle plug! Though....you must disconnect the tow vehicle from the camper when the tow vehicle isn’t running, or it will drain the TV battery!The easiest (by far), and most efficient....is to get a small generator. A little 2000 watt generator, plugged into the shore power connection on your trailer, will put many more amps to the battery (s)!
We spend three plus’s weeks at a time fall/winter camping, often seeing single digit temperatures. You will use a lot of battery running the heater and lots of propane. Preparation for these expected issues, will make the trip more enjoyable!

[memtb]

rvshrinker, Your doing it the right way....baby steps! It takes a little experience, especially with kids, to get the “hang of it”! Extended boondocking, especially when cold, can be a challenge! If your planning on ski trip boondocking, assuming that you will see some single digit temperatures, will test the wintering capabilities of your RV with water in the system! Winter rv’ing, can be the best rv’ing! Enjoy!

[mowermech]

rvshrinker wrote:
i’d like to be able to go one night skiing. seems if the battery dies the worst that can happen is i start up the truck to get battery power to the trailer.

Quite a few of us would like to do that, but due to the lack of space to carry batteries, and the power requirements for the furnace blower(s) and parasitic loads, we know that in below freezing temperatures it just isn't likely.
Yep, we been there, did that, learned the hard way.

[bikendan]

rvshrinker wrote:
i’d like to be able to go one night skiing. seems if the battery dies the worst that can happen is i start up the truck to get battery power to the trailer.

you'd probably need 8 hours easily, to recharge a dead battery that way. most inefficient way to recharge a battery since most tow vehicles only provide a trickle charge.

[marcsbigfoot20b]

Just did 9 days dry camping on the rim in AZ with the GF. Used 40 of the 54 gallons of water....we are getting pretty good at it now, 2-3 gallon showers.

I wash my hands using the outside shower over a 5 gallon bucket. All usable water that can be goes there every day to put out the campfire at night. Like boiling corn on the cob, waste water goes in the bucket.

With 380 watts solar, 300 AH AGM, EU2200i, Onan 2500LP gen, we are only limited by the waste tanks, at least they are decent size at 44 grey, 40 black.

[Lwiddis]

“As for solar power, keep in mind that 100 watts of solar panels will only deliver about 8 amps to your batteries.”

An inaccurate statement. Solar panels deliver power to the controller, not the batteries. A 100 panel can deliver 5.7 or so amps per hour at max and mine deliver 4 to 5 amps three to four hours per day consistently...12 to 20 amps...plus the small amount you’ll get before 10 am and after 3 pm.

[2oldman]

rvshrinker wrote:
..start up the truck to get battery power to the trailer.

that's a very small charge amperage. You should plan on carrying at least one extra charged battery. But even with that, you won't last long. Cold camping also exposes your pipes to freezing, so keeping the heat at a reasonable level is important.

[rvshrinker]

i’d like to be able to go one night skiing. seems if the battery dies the worst that can happen is i start up the truck to get battery power to the trailer.

[mowermech]

Our very first trip in our very first class A motorhome was in fall temperature in the mountains of Central Montana. The temperature overnight was 35 to 40 degrees. The coach battery was one 8D unit, a huge thing.
At 3 in the morning, I was awakened by a strange noise; the furnace fan was groaning due to low voltage. That huge battery was nearly dead! I had to get up and start the chassis engine to get enough power to start the generator. It was COLD in that rolling house!
From then on, we made sure the battery(s) were fully charged before going to bed.
As for solar power, keep in mind that 100 watts of solar panels will only deliver about 8 amps to your batteries. Even if you have no load on the batteries, it will take several hours to charge them at that rate. Any useage of 12VDC power extends that charging time.
If you plan on doing a lot of boondocking, I see a generator in your future...

[bikendan]

rvshrinker wrote:
Not interested in a generator but solar and more batteries, maybe.

I don't get the furnace in winter issue. Doesn't that use propane?

The furnace is the biggest battery drain in your RV.
Propane can't self ignite nor does it run the furnace fan.
It takes electricity to do that, which the battery provides.
The furnace is also very inefficient so it really eats up battery power.
That why a single battery can be dead, by morning, if it's cold.

[2oldman]

rvshrinker wrote:
I don't get the furnace in winter issue. Doesn't that use propane?

I think you missed the explanation above.

[toedtoes]

The furnace fan use 12v and a lot of it.

[rvshrinker]

Not interested in a generator but solar and more batteries, maybe.

I don't get the furnace in winter issue. Doesn't that use propane?