Must haves for boondocking

[Kevin D Pem]

Hot dog stick and a hammock. Everything else is added weight.

But a tent and sleeping bag is nice!!!

 

[Vanbrat]

We do about 50/50 boondocking and parks with power. For boon docking we pay attention to where we are. If it gives us the creeps we leave (twice now). We carry a Jackery and 2 solar panels for our power. We only have a small 12volt fridge so it works for several days if we want. Our water is 2 - 5 gallon jugs, gravity fed, no pumps, no water heaters. Heat is an electric blanket at night. Trash is double bagged and stored in a strong box if not paper based and burned. Cooking is zapped in the microwave and/or air fried both work with the Jackery. Water is heated in a small tea kettle thing for dish washing and us washing. Lights for outside are rechargeable batteries.

 

[Michael T Klukas]

I have not been hooked to shore power since November. I have a small class C. I built a solar birth that uses smaller amounts of electricity to heat and cool. I do have the 12 volt blankets as well. I use my water tank for bathroom only. I have 3 and 5 gal water jugs from walmart and one is always strapped down on the counter next to the sink. It has a removable and rechargeable pump on top. I have a 5gal bucket with a screw top that I can set outside under the roof spout to collect water during the rain. My Solar birth a/c produces about a 1/2 gallon of water that I pump into the water tank. I am now working on a solar a/c for the Dining/kitchen area. That will be more challenging than the Solar Birth.

 

[Michael T Klukas]

Update on the 5000 BTU solar A/C. I started out installing snaps on the A/C and the on the Fabric Divider that unrolls and separates the cab from the living area. Temps were not what I wanted. The good that came out of this was the Removable magnetic screens I designed and built for the Cab to vent the hot air from the A/C. I was amazed at how much cooler it is in the Motorhome just by having the screens installed. I then built a divider with snaps for the toy hauler/bedroom area. This cut down the area to be cooled quite a bit. I was comfortable in the afternoon sun but still not as cool as I would like. I found by adding a fan in front of the A/C that it helped a lot. Strange enough, I found I could do this with the windows open and the back divider rolled up. I got the cool solar A/C air blowing on me and the fresh air at the same time. Just shows how real world testing is important. Anyway, I had been looking at the size and cost of 7-8000 btu A/C's when it dawned on me that I would not be using the 2800 BTU solar birth A/C during the day so I could use it at the same time as the 5000. I now have the birth A/C mounted with Heavy duty plastic ties (It is portable with a handle). I will be changing those out with velcro straps so I can move it down to the main area for daytime use. Another benefit of this is I can have one A/C plugged into the Solar Generator while the other stays plugged into the Lithium battery bank. Solar should be able to keep up with both A/Cs and charge the batteries. I will update after the next test. Another plus is I am now building and installing the Custom Removable Magnetic Screens to folks on the road that notice and want them.

 

[dave54]

Must have's???? A very understanding wife or girlfriend. But I certainly advise NOT both.

Bob

Not both at the same time, anyway.

 

[MaraZen]

We do about 50/50 boondocking and parks with power. For boon docking we pay attention to where we are. If it gives us the creeps we leave (twice now). We carry a Jackery and 2 solar panels for our power. We only have a small 12volt fridge so it works for several days if we want. Our water is 2 - 5 gallon jugs, gravity fed, no pumps, no water heaters. Heat is an electric blanket at night. Trash is double bagged and stored in a strong box if not paper based and burned. Cooking is zapped in the microwave and/or air fried both work with the Jackery. Water is heated in a small tea kettle thing for dish washing and us washing. Lights for outside are rechargeable batteries

We do about 50/50 boondocking and parks with power. For boon docking we pay attention to where we are. If it gives us the creeps we leave (twice now). We carry a Jackery and 2 solar panels for our power. We only have a small 12volt fridge so it works for several days if we want. Our water is 2 - 5 gallon jugs, gravity fed, no pumps, no water heaters. Heat is an electric blanket at night. Trash is double bagged and stored in a strong box if not paper based and burned. Cooking is zapped in the microwave and/or air fried both work with the Jackery. Water is heated in a small tea kettle thing for dish washing and us washing. Lights for outside are rechargeable batteries.

So when I came back from Iraq my son and I were homeless, NOT proud of that, would not tell my SGT's, too embarrassed.... but we stayed in my car at the Walmart for several days until I could get into an apartment. Ate MRE's every day. They are a life saver if you need them. Get the ones with heaters to heat food and they can be good to warm you up in the winter if you don't have heat. Several RVs and big rigs were also there even some were there longer. Walmart does not kick you out if you are "shopping" there every day you are there, you don't have to "buy" every day just go in every day. just an idea for safer parking, free heat/ac while in the building, free bathroom use/not using your water and toilet paper, etc. saves on your electric when you are in the building, fresh food, if no RV parks around. My son and I would make up fun stories of who people were and what they were buying and for what they might use it for. That is what happens when you have overactive imaginations, lol. Just an idea.

 

[MaraZen]

I have not been hooked to shore power since November. I have a small class C. I built a solar birth that uses smaller amounts of electricity to heat and cool. I do have the 12 volt blankets as well. I use my water tank for bathroom only. I have 3 and 5 gal water jugs from walmart and one is always strapped down on the counter next to the sink. It has a removable and rechargeable pump on top. I have a 5gal bucket with a screw top that I can set outside under the roof spout to collect water during the rain. My Solar birth a/c produces about a 1/2 gallon of water that I pump into the water tank. I am now working on a solar a/c for the Dining/kitchen area. That will be more challenging than the Solar Birth.
View attachment 27632View attachment 27633

Love the roof spout for water, I have the 50 gal. Rain Wizard bins for my rainwater so when my electric goes off at my house because of the storms in Texas, I can use water for my flushing, dishes, cooking, etc.

 

[TR25]

Hot dog stick and a hammock. Everything else is added weight.

a knife to cut a hotdog stick.

 

[Phillbo]

Neal just taught me something! I didn't know that starlink was an energy hog. Starlink is my goto plan, but I am not having to run a web business. For off grid remote internet it's the best service provider I ever had.

In my opinion the number one thing you must have, is a conservative mindset. You know what I mean? Don't run water when you're rinsing dishes, soap up with the shower valve off. Use the water most people let run down the drain while they wait for the hot water.
Turn lights off when you don't need them. The idea is, if you have to hunt water, or dump when the deadline draws near, you may become weary of what could be a wonderful life. One more thing! Washers, though nice require more work and are more inconvenient, than trips to a laundromat (we would (I am by myself now) use several machines and be finished in 1/4 the time needed at home. Not to mention the hassle of getting and getting rid of water).

Solar is the best investment you can make for the life you are considering. A back-up generator is good to have but more important, is as much Solar as you have space for.

I have two systems, one a 24v 200ah battery bank of Northstar blues, a carbon lead technology (Main system). And a 12v 400ah Agm back-up system (no lithium for me! I am against it). Having to revert back to a generator is the most inconvenient, undesirable thing I can think of. So if you rely on electricity SOLAR WITH BACK-UP!!! Oh I have 3000w watts of solar, used panels, with 4@60amp controllers (remember I said back-ups are important).

I may be sorry I asked but why so anti lithium?

 

[ManyHats]

Neal just taught me something! I didn't know that starlink was an energy hog.....

I'm responding to this concern, thinking that my solution might help someone. I made a simple DC countdown timer to use with Starlink. I probably use internet access differently from most people in that I don't stream anything. I want my digital newspaper, emails or other communications in the morning and maybe briefly a time or two later in the day. I just start the timer - up to 2 hrs. If I forget to turn it off, no problem, and if I want it longer, simply reset it for countdown. I made mine from an old wind up spring timer. There are also many cheap timer circuits on Amazon, but make sure they can handle the current required.

 

[Michael T Klukas]

I'm responding to this concern, thinking that my solution might help someone. I made a simple DC countdown timer to use with Starlink. I probably use internet access differently from most people in that I don't stream anything. I want my digital newspaper, emails or other communications in the morning and maybe briefly a time or two later in the day. I just start the timer - up to 2 hrs. If I forget to turn it off, no problem, and if I want it longer, simply reset it for countdown. I made mine from an old wind up spring timer. There are also many cheap timer circuits on Amazon, but make sure they can handle the current required.

Good idea that should work with other items like inverter. Would be nice if inverters could sense no load and go into a sleep mode.

 

[Michael T Klukas]

Good idea that should work with other items like inverter. Would be nice if inverters could sense no load and go into a sleep mode.

My Star-link mini is supposed to work with 12 volt. It has a barrel connector on the A/C wall wart. I unplugged it and plugged it into barrel connector on my battery bank, but can't get it to work. Power light comes on but can't connect to it's wifi.

 

[ManyHats]

My Star-link mini is supposed to work with 12 volt. It has a barrel connector on the A/C wall wart. I unplugged it and plugged it into barrel connector on my battery bank, but can't get it to work. Power light comes on but can't connect to it's wifi.

My Starlink Mini works on a small portable power bank, but it struggles at times. Same if I'm plugged in to my RV 12V system. I'm pretty sure higher voltage is better but not required. I use a DC to DC convertor that gives the 30V maximum for the Mini, when it's working hard to find satellites in an obstructed area. Also an Amazon purchase.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Good idea that should work with other items like inverter. Would be nice if inverters could sense no load and go into a sleep mode.

Low standby current inverters use sleep mode. That function in my view is a failure.

6w load over night is so low(maybe 6 amps overnight), is the least of ones problems. Any inverter that regulates fan speed can be left on if you have any solar.

 

[Michael T Klukas]

My Starlink Mini works on a small portable power bank, but it struggles at times. Same if I'm plugged in to my RV 12V system. I'm pretty sure higher voltage is better but not required. I use a DC to DC convertor that gives the 30V maximum for the Mini, when it's working hard to find satellites in an obstructed area. Also an Amazon purchase.

I now plug mine into the inverter. I plan on contacting StarLink to see whats up? I am not sure the DC-DC would use much less than using my inverter. Which one did you buy?