Forum Discussion
Thermoguy
Jan 16, 2022Explorer II
With EV's they call it range anxiety. With my RV I have 2 things I worry about most, my battery levels, and my tires. I didn't have these anxieties before I had problems with both. This is about batteries, so I will stick to that part of the story. I purchased my 5th wheel with 2 decent 12v deep cycle batteries. A couple years after having the rig, I noticed I was having battery issues and could not go as long on the batteries, I bought a generator, mostly to run AC but found I had to use that anytime we boondocked. My decision to buy new batteries happened on a long trip to MT, one night of boondocking and I had only dim lights in the AM. So, off the buy new batteries before a 3 day boondock location where we would run the generator for AC but didn't want to worry about batteries every day. My 5th wheel does not have solar and I don't plan to add it. I carry 2 -30lb tanks of propane. Use it for cooking, hot water, and fridge. Never have to worry about those 3 things and 2 tanks lasts me all summer plus (actually using one of the tanks on my BBQ at home this winter just to run the tank out so I can refill it). So, why have range anxiety with a 12v fridge? Makes no sense to me, batteries life is already an issue if you plan to boondock for any length of time, propane is plentiful and easy to get all over the country and you have to have it anyway to run your other appliances. When we boondock we pretty much only run the generator to run AC or charge things or watch a movie, so no reason to have to run the generator to run the fridge. Seems like a poor decision to put such a demanding appliance in an RV that can run with minimal electrical power.
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