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Boondocking help

Anmacc2
Explorer
Explorer
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!
Me & Her since 1977
TV 2014 Ford E350 Superduty
TT 2015 keystone Passport Elite 23RB
Boat 20' TriumphDC
28 REPLIES 28

2_Retired
Explorer
Explorer
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!
Two young retirees restless to GO!
Life is too short to wait too long to do all we want to do!!
Go and enjoy!!

troubledwaters
Explorer III
Explorer III
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
Explorer
Explorer
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.
2011 Bighorn 3055RL, 2011 F350 DRW 6.7L 4x4 Diesel Lariat and Hensley TrailerSaver BD3, 1992 Jeep ZJ and 1978 Coleman Concord Pop-Up for remote camping
Dave & Renee plus (Champ, Molly, Paris, Missy, and Maggie in spirit), Mica, Mabel, and Melton

Oldfordman
Explorer
Explorer
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.
Life is full of choices. I choose to have fun!:)

TomG2
Explorer
Explorer
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
Explorer II
Explorer II
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
Nodwell RN110 out moose hunting. 4-53 Detroit, Clark 5 spd, 40" wide tracks, 10:00x20 tires, 16,000# capacity, 22,000# weight. You know the mud is getting deep when it's coming in the doors.

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
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
Explorer
Explorer
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!
2005 Rockwood 2104
2011 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7L 4WD
Equalizer
Prodigy

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
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.
2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2003 Fleetwood Yuma * 2008 K-Z Spree 240BH-LX
2007 TrailCruiser C21RBH * 2000 Fleetwood Santa Fe
1998 Jayco 10UD * 1969 Coleman CT380

ADK_Camper
Explorer
Explorer
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
Explorer
Explorer
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.
2022 Silverado 3500 High Country CC/LB, SRW, L5P. B&W Companion Hitch with pucks. Hadley air horns.

2004 32' Carriage 5th wheel. 860 watts of solar MPPT, two SOK 206 ah LiFePO4 batteries. Samlex 2,000 watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter.

azrving
Explorer
Explorer

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
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.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

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