Boondocking help

[Anmacc2]

DW and I don't generally boondock. However, because of the busy Labor Day weekend we could only get a primitive site. No water/no problem. No sewer/no problem. No electric/hhhmmmmm......... We are currently in the northern portion of the lower peninsula of Michigan so no A/C/no problem. Propane tanks are full so hot water and cooking is no problem. We have lanterns so lighting is no problem. Here's the problem! I only have one 12 volt battery and it has to last 48hrs to run the control panels and alarms. Will I make it? What can I "do" to make this work? Thanks for the help!

[2_Retired]

Take bottled water to flush your toilet - no need to use the water pump! Did this many times when winter camping in PA! Can always refill them at the bath house!

[troubledwaters]

I've made it a 5 days in the smoky mountains just running the bare necessities. You should have no problem for 48 hours. We used flashlights and table top type battery operated lights for lighting. The only power draw was frig control bd, water pump when necessary, water heater control bd, alarms, and the parasitic draws.

[ReneeG]

Ok. I'll be the terminology police here 🙂 a primitive site in a CG is not boondocking. Both are dry camping, but boondocking is camping for free off of public lands. Boondocking is also referred to as dispersed camping. I'm not sure about the definition of Primitive camping. It could be boondocking, dispersed camping, or camping in a FS CG with no hookups.

[Oldfordman]

Trackrig wrote:
If you have a slide that needs to be opened, use the jumper cables while operating it so the battery will last through everything else.

Depending on the brand one could also extend the slide manually.

Mine can be cranked out with a wrench similar to the one used on stabilizer jacks. Save battery and get a little cardio at the same time. Good job for an energetic teen too.

[TomG2]

Use a cooler and shut the refrigerator completely off for the weekend. Shut off the antenna amplifier. Do not run the furnace as they really kill a battery. You will be in great shape and enjoy your holiday.

[Trackrig]

If you run just the control panels, using the lanterns for lights, I'd expect the single 12V to last for 48 hours if it's in decent shape. Use the jumper cables if needed. If you have a slide that needs to be opened, use the jumper cables while operating it so the battery will last through everything else.

Use the water pump minimally for the toilets - use the camp ground toilets.

Bill

[time2roll]

Anmacc2 wrote:
Here's the problem! I only have one 12 volt battery and it has to last 48hrs to run the control panels and alarms. Will I make it? What can I "do" to make this work? Thanks for the help!

Yes I think you will make it. Get a voltmeter and watch your voltage.

You should start fully charged at 12.7 and get down a bit as you go. 12.2 is getting low and below 11.9 is too low.

You could unplug tonight and see how it goes 24 hours but then get plugged back in so you will be fully charged for the off-grid adventure.

The 12 Volt Side of Life

[webwrangler]

Good advice above. If your battery is in good shape, you should be able to go 48 hours if you use your lanterns instead of the TT lights. Use the suggested voltmeter to check your battery every a.m., and if it gets toward 12 volts, use the suggested jumper cables to charge it from your TV. I love my solar setup!

[SoundGuy]

Anmacc2 wrote:
What can I "do" to make this work?

The obvious solution is to invest in a second battery. ;). And yes, turn off the fridge climate control heating element.

[ADK_Camper]

We boondock a lot in the adirondacks. We used to have trouble making the battery last even though we used no dc powered devices (lights, water pump, radio, etc.) the only things we used were the co detector and the refrigerator (on gas). Turned out the refrigerator had a heat element in the door to prevent condensation and it could not be turned off. Check your manual to see if your heater element can be turned off. If it can't, you can disconnect the wire providing power to the heater. Search this forum for instructions to do it if you can't figure it out from your manual. Without the heater we have never had condensation problems. In Michigan I doubt you would either.

[corvettekent]

Before we got solar I would use jumper cables from the truck to trailer batteries and run the truck for 30 minutes each morning.

Do you battery a big favor and get a volt meter, you can get one for $10 or less. Do not let your battery get below 12 volts.

[azrving]

Yep, charge with Tow vehicle. Where are you camped?

[Lwiddis]

Easy answer is buy a 1000 watt inverter generator. Possible answer is buy two date matched deep cycle batteries to replace the one you have. Best answer was a modest solar system but you don't have time.

[Mfan]

Maybe, how about jumper cables to recharge battery from your tow vehicle?