Charging battery inside the TV

[Mariner14]

Hey guys, a noob here. We are doing a 3+ week trip this summer including a week in yellowstone dry camping. I have a 30' TT with 7 people total including kids and in-laws. I am borrowing the trailer actually so I don't want to invest too much money and I have been thinking through how I am going to keep the battery charged for a whole week. I don't want to buy a generator and it seems like the cheaper solar options might not push enough amps. Plus I'm not sure of sun availability/shade in the campsite.

The cheapest option I may have found was to install a battery isolator in my TV and run a wire to the rear of SUV and put the TT battery in there and connect it to charge off the chassis battery/alternator while we drive around the park each day or every other day. I figure we'll be in the car for at least 1.5 hrs a day since yellowstone is so big (and crowded in July). It may not charge it all the way, but at least it will get us through the night. Obviously the TT would stay in the campsite during the day, so it wouldn't be hooked to the TV for charging while we drove.
Here is one product I found on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/WirthCo-20092-Battery-Doctor-Isolator/dp/B0058SGDFK

Thoughts? Thanks.

[time2roll]

If you want to charge with the vehicle just get some big jumper cables and go direct battery to battery and let it idle. Need #4 wire for best results. Or just buy the wire and make your own. Still need to idle for one or two hours to get some charge in a low battery. Charging takes time.

The other side is conservation. You need a solid 12 volts to run the fridge and water pump etc but they do not draw a lot. The real hog is incandescent lights. If you have LED you will do far better. Consider just using flashlights or some portable lanterns. Do not use the furnace, bring warm bedding or bags.

Renting a Honda 2000 is a viable option.

You cannot remove the battery or the fridge will stop working. You would have to get a second battery to charge all day while you drive.

[SoundGuy]

MrWizard wrote:
if/when you take the battery out of the trailer and connect it to the SUV

the fridge will shut down and be off until you return and connect it

you may not want to buy a generator, BUT it is the BEST option

Disagree, genset hours in Yellowstone campgrounds are restricted so the BEST option is to take along a second battery that will keep the trailer powered while the first battery is being recharged. 😉

OR simply reserve a site in Fishing Bridge and be done with it. 😉

[bikendan]

You dont have to buy a generator, just rent one.
That's the easiest solution.

[MrWizard]

if/when you take the battery out of the trailer and connect it to the SUV

the fridge will shut down and be off until you return and connect it

you may not want to buy a generator, BUT it is the BEST option

[SoundGuy]

Mariner14 wrote:
SoundGuy, really? They would let me just leave my battery and charger at a gas station or ranger station for the day? And I hope it wouldn't walk off I guess. Have you done this before?

12 yrs ago at Grant Village so I can't provide any guarantees but slip a ten$ to the attendant and he should be happy to accommodate you.

I don't expect to be very successful at teaching my 7, 9 and 11 year old how to conserve power and water.

You'd better, if not your best alternative is an electric site in Fishing Bridge. Heck, depending on the size of trailer you're "borrowing" you may not have much choice anyway as sites in Yellowstone campgrounds other than FB that are large enough to accommodate larger trailers is limited. Grant Village is dry but so too are most sites which are not particularly suited for larger trailers. FB makes all these issues go away but if that's the choice the sooner you reserve the better. 😉

[Mariner14]

2oldman,
we'll be in a campsite close to water, flush toilets and showers, but I take your point.

[2oldman]

Dry camping with 7 people? You may want to do a trial run for a day or two.

[Mariner14]

SoundGuy, really? They would let me just leave my battery and charger at a gas station or ranger station for the day? And I hope it wouldn't walk off I guess. Have you done this before?

I was trying to avoid the Fishing Bridge parking lot. Also it was going to be $360 vs. $120 at Grant Village for the week w/ Senior Pass discount (can't say father-in-law never did anything for me). But we might should just do that so I'm not all stressed about the battery dying. I don't expect to be very successful at teaching my 7, 9 and 11 year old how to conserve power and water.

[rv2go]

With 7 people, I would try and get into Fishing Bridge. It has full hook ups.

[SoundGuy]

Mariner14 wrote:
Hey guys, a noob here. We are doing a 3+ week trip this summer including a week in yellowstone dry camping. I have a 30' TT with 7 people total including kids and in-laws. I am borrowing the trailer actually so I don't want to invest too much money and I have been thinking through how I am going to keep the battery charged for a whole week.

You won't get enough charge from your tow vehicle to replace what you pull out of the battery each day. Instead, take a second battery and a stand alone charger, alternate the batteries each day, take the depleted battery & charger to anywhere in the park there's 120 vac shore power to recharge. There are several gas stations located within YP so worst case ask if you can leave the battery on the charger for the day while you're out exploring. AND teach those 7 people how to conserve power. 😉