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Old 06-23-2013, 02:44 PM   #1
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Boondocking Battery Question

So we are headed to the beach in a couple of weeks and we have planned to avoid the bulk of traffic by doing the majority of our traveling at night. The plan is to leave at about 9pm and drive for about 5 hours, which would be the majority of the trip. We are planning to stop at a Wal-Mart along the way and get some shut eye. I have purchased a couple of 12 volt fans and a splitter that I plan to plug into the 12 volt socket where the tv antenna plugs in. My question is this: do you all feel that we will be able to run the fans to move some air while we sleep for a few hours on the battery alone? I have 0 experience boondocking. My battery is the one that came with the camper and seems to be in good shape. Any insight or other ideas on this would be much appreciated.
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Old 06-23-2013, 03:00 PM   #2
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I would think you'd be just fine using battery for 2 fans for 5-6 hours. However, I'd unplug the TV from the TT; it would be one thing to discharge the TT battery; quite another to discharge it AND your TV battery!
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Old 06-23-2013, 03:26 PM   #3
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Everytime I tried to do something like that it always got dark on me at 10PM...

Wishing you good luck...

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Old 06-23-2013, 06:59 PM   #4
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I agree with Roy, the standard TT battery and an electric
motor(s) will not last very long.... not sure if your TV stops suppling 12volts when your ign is off, but you may want to disconnect your TT cable from your TV so yo do not drain that battery also.
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Old 06-23-2013, 08:28 PM   #5
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When I use to car camp (tent) we would bring a long a power box (jumper unit with a 12V outlet) and we would run two fans off of that small unit all weekend. So I would not be to concerned, just unplug the TV while parked.

Just another thought. While you are at home some weekend, why not just plug in a fan or two and turn them on and see what happens after a few hours?
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Old 06-24-2013, 04:54 PM   #6
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Just another thought. While you are at home some weekend, why not just plug in a fan or two and turn them on and see what happens after a few hours?
X2 Also you might want to consider battery operated fans. Do you have a way to recharge your camper battery? If Wal-Mart is close to your location they will recharge it for a small price or free is you bought it there.
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Old 06-24-2013, 05:34 PM   #7
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Most TV will charge the TT battery as you drive.
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Old 06-24-2013, 07:04 PM   #8
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Most TV will charge the TT battery as you drive.
Yes they will, BUT the TV is not a good battery, and I don't want to have to tow my camper around to charge the battery.
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Old 06-24-2013, 08:28 PM   #9
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....... I don't want to have to tow my camper around to charge the battery.
Very true, but if you are just parking overnight in a parking lot, I have no issues using power and then use the TV to charge the battery the next day as I drive onto my next destination.
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Old 06-24-2013, 08:51 PM   #10
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Really?? What's the issue here?? Just give it a go and see how you do. If you're concerned double up with a 2 12V or couple two 6v batteries. You're not going to run down your battery overnight to a degree that a drive the next day won't bring it up to a decent level until you get to where you can hook up to shore power. I have dry camped for up to 5 days on a single battery charge [twin 12v setup]. The worst that you can do is run your battery down.
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Old 06-25-2013, 12:01 AM   #11
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This is good information, as I would like to try camping at unserviced sights, and we have wondered about how long things last. There must be a good book about how best to use your systems when boon docking... If not... Please write one!
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Old 06-25-2013, 03:33 PM   #12
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Really?? What's the issue here?? Just give it a go and see how you do. If you're concerned double up with a 2 12V or couple two 6v batteries. You're not going to run down your battery overnight to a degree that a drive the next day won't bring it up to a decent level until you get to where you can hook up to shore power. I have dry camped for up to 5 days on a single battery charge [twin 12v setup]. The worst that you can do is run your battery down.

I have dry camped for 13 days on one battery, a single 12 volt group 31 battery that was not recharged. I have many years of dry camping experience. The issue here is that the poster is driving most of the way and then stopping for the rest of the night. The drive the next day will not be very long. The TV is not a great battery charger. The battery is 3 years old (guessing because the trailer is a 2010). Also guessing is is a group 24, what a dealer usually includes with a trailer. Depending on how long the trip is going to be the battery may or may not last. The big deal is once the battery is dead 1. It has been over discharged and that will reduce the life of the battery 2. It would not be fun to have your refrigerator not work at the beach 3. No water pump 4. No fans 5. No lights 6. No propane detector/co detector and the nasty screach when it is loosing power.
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Old 06-25-2013, 08:28 PM   #13
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I have dry camped for 13 days on one battery, a single 12 volt group 31 battery that was not recharged. I have many years of dry camping experience. The issue here is that the poster is driving most of the way and then stopping for the rest of the night. The drive the next day will not be very long. The TV is not a great battery charger. The battery is 3 years old (guessing because the trailer is a 2010). Also guessing is is a group 24, what a dealer usually includes with a trailer. Depending on how long the trip is going to be the battery may or may not last. The big deal is once the battery is dead 1. It has been over discharged and that will reduce the life of the battery 2. It would not be fun to have your refrigerator not work at the beach 3. No water pump 4. No fans 5. No lights 6. No propane detector/co detector and the nasty screach when it is loosing power.
Understand, but if concerned then bring a 2nd battery or spend 1 night somewhere to recharge the battery. Most who do a lot of dry camping will use a couple of batteries. If you're going to have to rely on 1 battery then don't waste the charge on a couple of fans while on the road.
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Old 06-26-2013, 01:15 AM   #14
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Your going on vacation and want to have a good time. You don't want to constantly be worrying if your battery is going to pack it in. For your peace of mind spend some money and buy a new battery. They're not that expensive. Now go to Harbour freight or somewhere similar and get a battery solar charger to help keep the battery charged. Do your homework and read up on battery websites and other places so you have a knowledge base to draw from. As mentioned earlier practice in your driveway prior to going and see what it would take to draw down your battery to 50 percent and see how much you can bring it back up with a solar charger. Between the new battery, solar battery charger and the charge being put back in during the next days drive you should be fine. Certainly doable in my mind.
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