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Camping off-grid & batteries/propane/solar

Chandne
Explorer
Explorer
A few of you are aware that I am picking up a Lance 1575 this weekend. I will, at time, camp in places where I will basically be off the grid in the sense that there will be no hookups. The dealer can do the following:

Replace one Group 27 battery with two Group 24s- brackets need to be welded and propane needs to be moved. That is $350. Maybe I could get a battery box for two batts but the front area is pretty narrow on the 1575.
I could possibly also do two 20-lb propane tanka or could I do a 30 lb propane?
Posting get a portable solar panel to charge the batteries.
Buy a Honda inverter generator for $1,000

So I am not sure which ones would be a good move, since I do not totally understand how things work. I'm trying to do some research beforehand, so I don't get what I don't need. I don't know what is 120 vs. 12 on this trailer either.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. In Colorado, I could go without the AC easily. The fan and lights would be useful to have though.
83 REPLIES 83

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
mike-s wrote:
I carry a couple of the 5 gallon collapsible ones. Unlike the rigid ones, they take almost no space and can be stuffed in out-of-the-way places in the camper.


I wish those I had years ago when we first started popup camping worked for us but every one of my collapsible jugs eventually developed pinhole leaks. At the time I was towing with a Caravan so that water ended up soaking the carpet in the van's rear cargo area :M - that's when I discovered Aquatainers and haven't used anything since 'cause they don't leak. :B
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

SCVJeff
Explorer
Explorer
happycamper002 wrote:
SCVJeff wrote:
The OP knows they are short on dry camp power, so knock it out now.


Those are the words you said, verbatim. If you still can't understand how this issue came about I'll say it again.

Your problem is you are pretty well caught up in your delusions that because you've staked your claim as an "expert" and therefore free to broadcast your nonsense, doesn't intimidate me one bit.

I wonder what "errogant" means. Never heard that word even when I was in college.

Perhaps you're relapsing into one of your episodes? And if you do find out, please let me know.
you are absolutely amazing. I know exactly what I said and you seem to not grasp it. There is nothing in that short sentence that says or infers in any way that I said "stop".
This and your other unfounded snide remark in another thread are really getting old.
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350

happycamper002
Explorer
Explorer
westend:

WOW, Thanks a lot for letting me know what I already know.

My question is:

Why just look at me. I may be a little testy sometimes but for good reason. What about those other comments that are derogatory like calling someone wearing panties and such. If those are amusing and educational according to your norms, then I must be missing something.

I respect your opinions for the most part and I would like to keep it that way.

Thanks

westend
Explorer
Explorer
hc002,
The moderator has been notified of your posts. This is not the first thread that you've behaved like this.
'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
happycamper002 - give it up, your continuing diatribe is tiresome ... and no one cares. :S
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

happycamper002
Explorer
Explorer
SCVJeff wrote:
The OP knows they are short on dry camp power, so knock it out now.


Those are the words you said, verbatim. If you still can't understand how this issue came about I'll say it again.

Your problem is you are pretty well caught up in your delusions that because you've staked your claim as an "expert" and therefore free to broadcast your nonsense, doesn't intimidate me one bit.

I wonder what "errogant" means. Never heard that word even when I was in college.

Perhaps you're relapsing into one of your episodes? And if you do find out, please let me know.

mike-s
Explorer
Explorer
I carry a couple of the 5 gallon collapsible ones. Unlike the rigid ones, they take almost no space and can be stuffed in out-of-the-way places in the camper.

SCVJeff
Explorer
Explorer
BizmarksMom wrote:
I can go a week with 30 gallons of fresh water, but it's a stretch. I'm also single, and pimarly use basin baths with an actual shower every third day. What really gets me is my little grey water tank.

With my portable solar panel, my batteries are topped off by mid afternoon. I carry a generator, in case I need it. I rarely use it. It just goes into the truck along with the kayak gear.
We just got done doing 14 days in Quartzsite with roughly 100g fresh and left with probably 20 gal left. We can push Grey into the Black tank which can come in really handy when you're in place and can't break to dump. If you have a single dump port, they can be done by adding a common blade valve if you have the room.

If you're not a power hog, solar could work, but adding something like a CPAP will do a good job on the batteries and might require a gen. That's also the reason suggesting GC2's because there are several different capacities in the same footprint. Everyone's different.
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350

SCVJeff
Explorer
Explorer
happycamper002 wrote:
To SCV Jeff

Your cognitive resonance is failing so badly you lose your basic comprehension completely. Yes it is not directed to the OP. This issue is about your arrogant response to another poster who was offering his own opinion. What makes you think that only your opinion counts and telling him to stop.

No one squeezed my panties (I don't wear them). Perhaps you can lend me yours?

This is not an attack...rather an effort to make an attitude adjustment that you badly need.

Anytime you make a comment like this, you can expect to hear some thing so this won't be the end.
heres an idea... read comments entirely. I told no one to "stop" anything. I asked WHY..Another foot-in-mouth comment that you're getting famous for. Heres an idea.. rather than getting into threads with your errogant insults often a result of incompetent advice (I've looked at your past posts where you've been run off more than once), how about a little constructive advice, or simply back off. Your attitutde gets pretty old..

Back to the thread that you have again contributed zero to other than attitude.
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350

Chandne
Explorer
Explorer
I can lift them okay, I am sure. I carry two of the 5-gallon water things we have with no problem. I just don't feel like carrying two from 100 yards away, necessarily. I'll have to take a nap after that. 🙂

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
BizmarksMom wrote:
If lifting is an issue, Aquatainers come in smaller sizes. Get the ones that work for you.

(I'm a solo lady. I do things a little differently than a guy with a lot of upper body strength would. We all alter our set ups so that they work for us.)


Only one smaller size - 4 US gallons, which I have for bringing along potable water from home that we use for anything we're going to ingest - coffee, tea, soup, etc, and for drinking water for our dog as campground water can often upset his gut. The 7 gal is more common on store shelves and no one says it has to be completely filled. 😉
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

BizmarksMom
Explorer
Explorer
If lifting is an issue, Aquatainers come in smaller sizes. Get the ones that work for you.

(I'm a solo lady. I do things a little differently than a guy with a lot of upper body strength would. We all alter our set ups so that they work for us.)
2019 F350 towing a Nash 22H

BizmarksMom
Explorer
Explorer
Chandne wrote:
Good info, SoundGuy. I'll pick up two of those and a pump. I was envisioning carrying them from some water source far away and back to the trailer.:B
Oh, heck no! I never lift those things when they're full! They go into the truck empty, and then get filled. They stay in the truck, strapped in to their corner, until I'm home again.
2019 F350 towing a Nash 22H

Chandne
Explorer
Explorer
Good info, SoundGuy. I'll pick up two of those and a pump. I was envisioning carrying them from some water source far away and back to the trailer.:B

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
PAThwacker wrote:
What you are showing is pickups carrying aquatainers. Ever sera Tahoe with jump seats? They go to the back door. No room for any gear


Denali Tahoe have less payload than an equinox lol.

Here was my trailblazer v8 with 6100lb towing a family of 3 with a dog

We were at max payload and max combined weight towing a 3500lb popup

That pup weighed 2700lbs empty and ready to camp maxed out a 5.3 tb.

Listen to seasoned veterans when it comes to towing and mythical towing capacities.

No way in hell would I'd buy that Lance or the Tahoe

It's designed for cuv mid sized cro


What has any of this to do with the OP who intends to tow this new Lance with a 4Runner? :h

As for Aquatainers they can be stored particularly easily since they're cubed shaped and don't waste space. :B
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