Camper modifications for boondock camping
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- Опубліковано 21 лип 2024
- This video goes over some of the essentials modifications needed to get your Camper ready for boondock camping. If you like to camp or hunt off of the regular path in some backwoods areas this information should make your trip better. Please feel free to coment and feel free to ask any questions and I will get back to you ASAP.
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Nice video. Just wanted to mention that I went to a dual 6 volt battery system recently and I’m simply amazed at the difference it made in my reserve capacity. It’s night and day vs. the single 12v battery. I highly recommend doing this for boondock camping. Cheers!
This is one of the best pup mod videos I've seen. Very clear and clever arrangement. I am planning to have 2 12v batteries connected from two solar controllers and 2 245w solar panels into a 2kw inverter. May be overkill, but I can connect to my house in an emergency. Thanks for your great ideas.
Simple but, effective. I like it !!! I understood that you are going to be taping up things later and I was not worried about fire or explosions. I agree that switching to LED lights is great. I did it and was very happy with the little bit of electricity they draw. Great video.
I really enjoyed your video. I have an older popup camp trailer and enjoy boon dock camping. Gave me great ideas for mine because I am currently fixing mine up. I've painted the inside and put laminate floor in it.
Great video, thanks for posting it - Your explanation about propane answers my question
nice setup really gives me an idea on how my camper setup will be when im done but first i need to put it on a trailer i have a pickup camper but no pickup the camper was free and everything works and it has no leaks so i took it nothing beats free anyways im turning it into a camping trailer and this helps the design alot thanks
Great job on the mods! Wish I could do something like this on my 1991 Palomino TXL but the body hangs over the hitch too much and doesn't give enough room. You did a really thorough job though. Congrats.
Thank you Mark. Great ideas!!
Use PVC tubing to isolate the live cable as the Navy does.
If you haven't already, switch all of your lights to LED lights, it will dramatically reduce battery consumption.
Thanks for the video , I done all of what your showing , other than all of that enclosed part , i added another tank & welded up a encloser for my generator to sit above all that & just run a cord to the 110 severice that's on the camper & also I ran a plug out of the battery box to charge up my battery off of the 13.8 volt charging system that's all ready on the generator . & i put a digital readout off of the batteries so i could just flip it on inside to tell me how much volts was in them without using a meter . anyway Good video . Thanks.
Awesome design & thought. Would be interested as I dedire to get off the grid with my RV & full-time luving.
Am also thinking too a verticle wind turbine w/solar but concerns about hail damage. Thank you for the video post!
xcellent !! i have a 6x12 cargo trailer i use to haul dirtbikes and camp in when unloaded, i had same setup inside.,and cooler on tongue,now i will make this ..thanx for idea
Smart and efficient I love the side receptacle for the solar system wires.👏🏾🤟🏾👋🏾💪🏿🤙🏾👍🏿🍻🍺🥜.
The solar regulator can be purchased at your local harbor freight or camping store. In the future I home to have a more permanent mount for the solar panel. Thanks for your reply
That was freaking awesome dude
I agree with mightyoak777. I would love to see the plans and material list.
For boondocking solar is a must. And a great battery bank. We added a 140 watt solar panel to our 5th wheel and 2 golf cart batteries wired in series. The solar panel came as a complete setup for rving . Right down to the sealer for putting the panel on the roof & the charge controller. Another added feature of the charge controller is it will desulfate/condition the batteries every 28 days. This will give the batteries 2-3 times the life span. It's a win win win .
Great ideas, Thank you
Like this setup!!!!
We’re in AZ too and just purchased a well used pop up that needs a lot of work. I Stumbled across this video and your roof repair in my searches for miscellaneous repair and spruce up videos for our 2004 Starcraft Centennial. Could you shoot me some more info on what that is you have purchased to change your battery while parked at home
Very well thought out.
Hi great video I like some of your idea's. Definitely want to add solar to our's. I have a question for you we are missing the whole propane set up from the front bottom of the trailer to the tanks. We were considering going with just one tank but after seeing your video we might go back to two tanks. Was it hard to find the set up you needed for the propane? Did you have to take the trailer with you to get the set up? I took the one tube with me that I have to a propane shop and he looked at me like I had horns and didn't know what I needed and wanted me to bring my trailer up to him. Thank for your help.
great setup, seems like it should have served you well since you published this video.
one question, how long did you find that battery to last you (to run furnace)? what is your Ah on that battery alone? I've heard that furnaces just suck those batteries dry in no time, but have yet to find out myself. I've just setup my trailer w/dual 6v @215Ah, and will have my Honda 2kW gen for backup.
Great job on the video! Nicely planned. Please reply back on what model # and brand is that solar setup! Great idea! I've been left with no battery power in yhe past and it's a big incoverience when your in the middle of nowhere including the family! I'll will do what you just showed me. Again great job! Thanks.
Very nice job! If you lived in my area, I would pay you to build this for my pop-up camper. I have a nice 2011 Coleman with a modern system but it only have (1) propane tank and a marine battery. I'm currently trying to find the long J hooks so I can have a "back-up" tank. Love the solar system. Again, nice job!
Nice job !
You might want to pick up new propane tanks at Costco - each spring they get them in, and they have built-in guages that show the propane level more accurately, and with the propane shut off, they still work (yours need to have the propane valve open to indicate the level).
this guy is a real genius and I think he knows it
What size solar panel did you use to charge your batteries? Great job on the box !
Nice job! Game me some great ides!
yes I wud consider capping off the exposed terminals but everyone complaining about battery near tanks must not be camper owners because they have been mounting the battery and propane tank next to each other from the factory for as long as I can remember and yes I am a travel trailer owner
Greg Large show me one modern camper that has gas and electrical in the same box.
Nice video. What is the wattage of your solar setup?
Do you run any kind of AC unit? Is your solar mounted or movable? Good video thanks for sharing.
What is your purpose for the box? Are you worried about theft or were you looking for a mounting area for your solar system.
TIP/THOUGHT:
I'm thinkin' you shoulda mounted that Cigg Lighter Receptacle Plug facing "down"...
Even with a cover I betcha it will collect water inside of it thus corroding the contacts
I would wrap the tanks in a water heater style blanket. It is what I call Goldilocks Good- Not too hot, not too cold- just right!
Did you use compression fittings on both ends of the pigtails?
It doesn't really make a difference for boondocking. When I read the description I thought I was going to learn a boondocking tip. Seems more about the box you built. Nice box however. Good video any way.
nice modification, though not sure if it would be a safe to have a battery, and propane tanks in such close proximity. other than that, nice
Nice video!! Thanks! :))
Does the charger have a red or green light that stays on when your not charging the battery, I'm worried these lights would slowly drain the battery
Is that battery wired to your car alternator for charging while you're driving?
Hi there. How easy is it to access this box when the bed end is pulled out? Great job?
Nice. Subbed. Liked. Shared.
I would love instructions please right on down to the antenna and light. Thanks
One major no no is you should shield all pos lugs because 12 volt batteries arc like a mo fo.......but very great ideas ....
how long does the battery last off of the solar charge?
From the factory most RV's are setup with battery's and LP tanks mounted on the front..
"Boondocking" is staying without any externally supplied amenities such as power, water or toilets ...
I know you got a ton of negative about mixing gas with electric. Just so you know, those propane tanks will off gas in extreme heat, they are designed to relieve pressure. We found that out with our Coleman pop up camper. Both Tongue mounted tanks began off gassing at a rest stop in Utah in 113 degree heat. Mixing your electric with your gas IS BAD. Period. I mounted all my electric just inside the door in a small closet, too small to be useful except for electrical use. I also had solar charging, a power generator and the works. The difference was I had outlets on the side of the camper, well way from those tanks. Its best never to enclose the tanks, they need to breathe incase of off gassing. even here in Northern Michigan, parking in a lot can trigger the pressure valve. I had one tank with a defective valve once that purged my full tank of propane. The valve stuck open. I found out they recalled ALL those tanks because of that issue. I got a new tank, but lost my $12 propane. Never, ever mix gas with electricity. It only has to fail once.
It is a cool setup though, BOOM
I use a 2000W Yamaha and single group 29.
Some tips for success:
1. Please place some anti corrosion lubrication on all of your electrical fitting including the battery posts. This limits the possibility of electrical failure and arcing which creates sparks.
2. If you own a camper you probably should own a gas leak detector and check your propane fittings periodically. Home Depot sells one for $25
3 weeks running refrigerator?straight?
how much roughly did this set up cost?
muy buen trabajo espero aprender desde venezuela
Nice ideas but I hope you never have a propane leak
By "boondocks camping," do you mean camping in the actual wilderness or camping in a Walmart parking lot? Many on this website seem to think those two are the same, so just thought I'd ask.
I heard you should never mix propane and electrical work in the same compartment for safety reasons.
I'd never consider putting propane tanks with my electrical, there known to leak and wires tend to spark if there's not a good connection. YEA, THAT IS A BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN
I have explained this in previous posts. Propane is heavier than air the bottom of the case is open. Therefore it leaks out. Also pleas go to any camper store the battery and the propane tanks are frequently found together.
My dual tanks were mounted right behind my dual 6 volters from the factory but not in any kind of box I have a Trailmanor Hard sided "pop up" TT. I bought my trailer new in 2013 and have camped about 40 times since it was new, some dry and some full hook's. still using the original propane fill up's lol!!!
What do you use to keep food cold? A cooler? If you turn off the electricity with a master switch, you would turn off an electric refrigerator then also.
Propane refrigerator
Good video! Haters hate.
It is the ignorant ones who are always the ones to jump on the makers of videos. That is the case for this video as well. I guess "Haters hate" sums that u pretty well.
Is this setup a fire/explosion hazard?
Please listen again to the video. I did make the comment that the wires needed wrapped and this was only to show listeners what where the wires where running.
Good ideas but that is not a good place for the radio antenna. Should be high as possible.
you are not alone. it is pitiful that trailer manufacturers are not engineering out the capacity for catastrophic failure. it gives more careful engineers a bad rep with DIY'ers. those of us who have seen campers and other structures explode due to leaks and faulty wiring know better. around here, a squirrel would wreck all that quickly.
Ok, Just to clarify for those who are unaware of how campers are built and propane works, I will submit a short explanation. Propane is heavier than air and the bottom of the box is open so if needed the propane can ventilate. Please go to any camper store and take a look, 80% of manufacturers put the battery and propane next to each other. Take a look underneath any camper or in your compartments electrical wires and propane are next to each other all the time.
STVTrooper
Hello Neil
This is just an add on the the factory design. It is open on the bottom to allow for ventilation. Most trailers have the battery this close to the propane. I have been running this setup for 3 years and it helps to protect all this from the elements which may damage the components. thanks for your response.
Boom
Hello
Why would you mix propane and electric together bad mistake...
ok...dumb question, but what the heck is, "boondock" camping???
Reviewing this Hardly Freight Explosion Video;....I gave up counting all the spark opportunities from terminal posts to terminal connectors to contactor switch to ..... Imagine lifting the heavy battery or tanks in and out of that tiny box and striking metal.
The reason for showing this was "Look how clever I was to do what you never see!"
Newsflash;...guess why no RV manufacturer combines these on the tongue?
I cringed when I saw the connections on the battery right next to the LP...
They are all on the tongue,all models,power and gas!!🇺🇸😀
Hope you have god Insurance with that setup.
Propane and batteries don't mix...eventually BOOM
OK...is it just me or does that look like a potential bomb in the making? A leak in a tank, a spark from the battery...
Definitely not a good idea to have the battery in same compartment you would want to hope you have no gas leakage one spark and kaboom
HEY THAT'S MY NEIGHBOR HI NEIGHBOR
Seriously,.... a bomb???? Come on. You'd have a better chance blowing those propane bottles up while smoking a cigarette! The guy did a great job.
"BOOM"
Oh yea...just a note.....I have been a plumber for 30 something years...and there is no HOT water heater....call it a water heater....because why do you need to heat hot water.
The phrase "hot water heater" evolved long ago to differentiate that from other water heating devices, such as those to warm pipes during freezing weather or those to provide very hot water for room heating radiators. You will still see the latter two examples commonly referenced in colder climates.
These phrases litter our speech. "Horseback riding," (where else would you ride a horse?) comes to mind. Geez, your point is more than a bit petty, don't you think?
No offense meant but this looks very sloppy and could have been done much cleaner IMO.
Holy Crap Batman
PLEASE REMOVE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FROM THAT BOX,
or you have a Death Wish sir...
There is no Doubt None..eventually.
BOOM...😨😉😂😃 I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE KID'S
BUT if you use a marine grade waterproof electrical cord, it doesn't matter where it is located- nothing can contact the live current. As for Manufacturer quality, look at GM. Bankruptcy from poor quality vehicles.
WOW... VERY BAD IDEA TWO PROPANE GAS AND A BATTERY ALMOST TOUCHING TOGETHER......A POTENCIAL BOMB..!!!!
I made it as far as seeing all the electrical connections and propane in the same box. Not worth it to me. The smell of propane while changing tanks is not uncommon. Propane heavier than air? Okay, dropping right down onto the battery and over those connections. Yes, the batteries are right next to the propane tanks on my (and most) trailers, BUT, they whole thing is in open air for faster dispersal and the batteries are both in covered boxes....More power to you and your idea, not for me, and I wouldn't be recommending it to anyone on the 'net.....
Mounting propane tanks and a battery with multiple exposed terminals inside a box is just a invitation for Murphy to do his worst. This video gets a thumbs down.
Why bother boondocking if you're bringing, at least, 3 gasoline motors into the boondocks? You love motors so much, just stay in the city.