24' cargo trailer with 2 Pop-out tent beds
Thanks to all the information from this site and a few others I had lots of answers when my mom dropped the "I am ready for a new trailer" bomb. She currently has a Starcraft Starter that has serve...
Forum Discussion
This sounds really nice. Is it a custom unit or something that you can find in a brochure?
What will they pull it with? Taking along 8 kids almost means a E-350 van with towing package and the 5.4L V8 or 6.8L V10. That van can seat 10 easy, or 15 in a pinch, with all the factory installed seats in place with the extended window van. It also comes with rear A/C and heat, so everyone is comfortable while driving there.
I like the idea of bringing along a golf cart. I guess the Yamaha can charge it too? Usually 36 or 48 volts, with a 15 amp charger using 600 or 750 watts respectively.
I am courious about the 50 quart ARB refrigerator. How does that work? Compressor refrigerator that can freeze too? That would be handy, and no need to run it all the time, it is a well insulated chest type- I would guess?
I like the idea of the "Battery Cart" however it is ungamely. Or difficult to move around. Each golf cart battery is about 70 pounds, the inverter needs to be away from the golf cart battery gas, and putting it all into a cart means the cart should be strong (that means heavy). The generator should not be near the charging battery *giving off hydrogen*. Some things are just not meant to be together.
I would rather see the batteries strapped down and with hydrocaps on them. Then wire this to the inverter inside the trailer - where it will not walk away.
The generator "Should" be kept as far away as possible for both noise and CO reasons, you do not want to breath the exhaust gas. A 50' long #12 gauge extension cord will come in handy for this. Yet the RV 30' standard power cord is normally sufficient, to get the exhaust gas away, while the generator is still in your campsite.
Why the 3600 watt inverter? I have used them, and normally use my 150 watt much more than the 1,500 watt one that is built in and easy to turn on than plugging in the 12 volt to a cigarette lighter next to my TV and VCR. THis is because the larger capacitors and transformer in the 1500 watt are not as energy efficient as my Trace 1500 watt 12 volt inverter. I can measure the amp draw with a "E-Meter" and see that I can save about 1 to 1.5 amps while watching TV, using the Direct TV system or DVD, and this adds up to 10 - 15 amp hours difference per day.
I also have a pair of 120 watt solar panels, pair of 45W panels, and 75W panel, giving me up to 30 amps per hour into the batteries. This is plenty to make up 120 amp hours per day used while dry camping. The panels are installed all the time, charging the battery every day, so it will not become sulfated, and die a early death.
SunElec.com
I think you should re-consider the inside kitchen. Your mom is not getting any younger, and just as a tent is not the same as a tent trailer, the upgraded kitchen will see a lot of value once she starts using it. And resale value will be greatly reduced by having something so unique that it is only suitable for a family like yours.
Washing hands before meals is very important. Having running hot water is one of the great advantages of a RV instead of a tent. Having a stove that can be used inside or out is also very handy. You might find that you are interested in expanding the 30 gallon fresh water tank sometime, with 8 - 10 people using the water over a 3 day weekend.
I agree that Fantastic fans and Maxx air covers are a great idea for any RV. I use them a lot, and keep the fans open in the rain. Very handy.
Why a 3600 watt inverter? Are you planning on using a microwave on it? I would not recommend the microwave, and the compressor in the A/C unit can not run on a reasonable priced modified sine wave inverter at all, while a higher priced pure sine wave will run it, only a couple of hours before the 6 batteries will be dead, and you will need to run the generator anyway. I would suggest a 300 - 500 watt inverter to run things like a TV, DVD, charge cell phones, run small items. Laptops are a very energy efficient way to watch a DVD, more energy efficient than running a TV set.
The 300 watt inverter will not have much "Parasitic Loss" - that is loss from siting there with 120 volts available. While it might have a 0.5 amp draw above the energy it is putting out (say you are running a 50 watt item, that is about 5 amps in and 0.45 amps out at 120 volts AC. ) while a 3.600 watt inverter would be consuming 1.2 amps sitting there, and power a 50 watt load with 6.8+ amps in and 0.45 amps out at 120 volts AC.
You have done a lot of good planning.
Fred.
What will they pull it with? Taking along 8 kids almost means a E-350 van with towing package and the 5.4L V8 or 6.8L V10. That van can seat 10 easy, or 15 in a pinch, with all the factory installed seats in place with the extended window van. It also comes with rear A/C and heat, so everyone is comfortable while driving there.
I like the idea of bringing along a golf cart. I guess the Yamaha can charge it too? Usually 36 or 48 volts, with a 15 amp charger using 600 or 750 watts respectively.
I am courious about the 50 quart ARB refrigerator. How does that work? Compressor refrigerator that can freeze too? That would be handy, and no need to run it all the time, it is a well insulated chest type- I would guess?
I like the idea of the "Battery Cart" however it is ungamely. Or difficult to move around. Each golf cart battery is about 70 pounds, the inverter needs to be away from the golf cart battery gas, and putting it all into a cart means the cart should be strong (that means heavy). The generator should not be near the charging battery *giving off hydrogen*. Some things are just not meant to be together.
I would rather see the batteries strapped down and with hydrocaps on them. Then wire this to the inverter inside the trailer - where it will not walk away.
The generator "Should" be kept as far away as possible for both noise and CO reasons, you do not want to breath the exhaust gas. A 50' long #12 gauge extension cord will come in handy for this. Yet the RV 30' standard power cord is normally sufficient, to get the exhaust gas away, while the generator is still in your campsite.
Why the 3600 watt inverter? I have used them, and normally use my 150 watt much more than the 1,500 watt one that is built in and easy to turn on than plugging in the 12 volt to a cigarette lighter next to my TV and VCR. THis is because the larger capacitors and transformer in the 1500 watt are not as energy efficient as my Trace 1500 watt 12 volt inverter. I can measure the amp draw with a "E-Meter" and see that I can save about 1 to 1.5 amps while watching TV, using the Direct TV system or DVD, and this adds up to 10 - 15 amp hours difference per day.
I also have a pair of 120 watt solar panels, pair of 45W panels, and 75W panel, giving me up to 30 amps per hour into the batteries. This is plenty to make up 120 amp hours per day used while dry camping. The panels are installed all the time, charging the battery every day, so it will not become sulfated, and die a early death.
SunElec.com
I think you should re-consider the inside kitchen. Your mom is not getting any younger, and just as a tent is not the same as a tent trailer, the upgraded kitchen will see a lot of value once she starts using it. And resale value will be greatly reduced by having something so unique that it is only suitable for a family like yours.
Washing hands before meals is very important. Having running hot water is one of the great advantages of a RV instead of a tent. Having a stove that can be used inside or out is also very handy. You might find that you are interested in expanding the 30 gallon fresh water tank sometime, with 8 - 10 people using the water over a 3 day weekend.
I agree that Fantastic fans and Maxx air covers are a great idea for any RV. I use them a lot, and keep the fans open in the rain. Very handy.
Why a 3600 watt inverter? Are you planning on using a microwave on it? I would not recommend the microwave, and the compressor in the A/C unit can not run on a reasonable priced modified sine wave inverter at all, while a higher priced pure sine wave will run it, only a couple of hours before the 6 batteries will be dead, and you will need to run the generator anyway. I would suggest a 300 - 500 watt inverter to run things like a TV, DVD, charge cell phones, run small items. Laptops are a very energy efficient way to watch a DVD, more energy efficient than running a TV set.
The 300 watt inverter will not have much "Parasitic Loss" - that is loss from siting there with 120 volts available. While it might have a 0.5 amp draw above the energy it is putting out (say you are running a 50 watt item, that is about 5 amps in and 0.45 amps out at 120 volts AC. ) while a 3.600 watt inverter would be consuming 1.2 amps sitting there, and power a 50 watt load with 6.8+ amps in and 0.45 amps out at 120 volts AC.
You have done a lot of good planning.
Fred.
