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The most popular Products mentioned in /r/boondocking:
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Might want to load the BLM Rec Map on wifi; it's soaking my slow data plan.
I also use the US Public Lands app. By nomads for nomads! Works offline after initial installation. You can have it one while driving and it will show you when you are near public lands.
There are others available that will work just as well. I also carry a small shovel that breaks down to something smaller for easy storage.
They also make great levelers.
Lots of Alpicool users it seems. I've been using this one for 2 years now in my RAM truck with a topper. Also, a 2nd 100mah AGM battery that charges from the starter battery via a DC to DC charger when driving.
The fridge has been great and only sips power. When parked, I can survive on a 100 watt portable solar panel which handles fridge and typical accessories but after one full cloudy day it's tough to recover.
Not only nursing homes... also every newborn infant that shits in pampers. :)
It's no big deal to crap in a bucket with a liner. I use 1 cup of this but you can use just about any kind of animal bedding. They absorb moisture and odor nicely. Then I remove the bag and store it in an outside bucket sealed with this lid until it's time for a trash run.
I have a small travel trailer with a black tank but never used it. Just never appealed to me to carry 30 gallons of shit sloshing around and find a place to empty it, clean it then repeat over and over.
Solar Powered Car Ventilator,Solar Car Front/RearWindow Fan Exhaust Fan,Car Radiator,Eliminate The Peculiar Smell Inside The Car and Can Be Used for General Types of Cars(Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NR5Q8PS/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_XF1VYSVJWSTSXPJF7AFC
Never tried one but I’ve heard good things for the price
https://www.buildclub.com/product/bc0_417394914
I got one of these a few years ago and use it with one of these.
Powermax PM4 35A 110V AC to 12V DC 35 Amp Power Converter with Built-in 4 Stage Smart Battery Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ER3LH52/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_GDYWTN121NCTNE3P4NA1
It pretty much maxes out the small genny. But it gives my battery bank enough charge in a couple hours to run my shed for a couple days.
> I was originally thinking about starting a blog somewhere but I have not experience with where a decent place to start with that would be
Takes about 60 seconds to set up a free blog on Wordpress or similar. The post would also fit in (tone, content, approach) over at Squat The Planet (STP).
> boondocking, camping illegally on public land,
IMO if it's illegal then you're doing it wrong and endangering it for the rest of us.
Not trying to be snarky: I really think you'll find STP to be made up of like-minded folks more receptive to this kind of post.
I'm assuming you want a turn-key setup and don't want to futz around? If so, the Jackery is no less crappier than the others. (albeit way overpriced for what it does). I would just get the generator and choose a different 3rd party portable solar panel offered on Amazon. Make sure it has MC4 connecters then use this adapter to plug into the Jackery.
I think the light you found is perfect except it's designed for 120V AC power, and as you noted you need something designed for 12V DC power.
Side note: all LED lights actually run off DC power. They convert the AC power to DC internally and then run that through the LED's. But you'd have to be a pretty serious DIY'er to convert that light you linked to DC 12V yourself.
If you're really trying to light up a table for detailed work generally people aim for about 80 lumens per sq foot. So like, if your table is 4' x 5', you'd have 20 sq ft x 80 = 1600 lumens. If you want it REALLY illuminated you could aim for 100 lumens/sq.ft.
Anyways, i just searched google for 12v ceiling light and found a few options:
It's about the right lumen output and dimmable. Let us know what you wind up using!
Why go 12v? I use two of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R24KP7U And they are crazy bright, (I can't stand too look straight at them), yet only 5v. I would hang a couple of them where you need them. They're cheap, movable, and low-power.
Your example won't get you that kind of wattage at 12 volts. Something like this perhaps.
I'm not sure an on-board camera setup would be beneficial. They are hidden and you want to deter vandalism or break-in. And if you're just parked at a trail an external camera probably isn't practical.
Some kind of motion sensor with an alarm might work? Granted, this doesn't help with a fender bender though as you'll be on a trail when it happens.
But I've parked at countless trailheads in my life; for both day trips and many overnight hikes without any issues. I don't know where you go but the trailheads I frequent don't exactly attract the kind of people who drive up a mountain just to break in to vehicles. Mine is much safer there than parked at home I think. :)
In my rig I am armed but my philosophy is that life is not without risks regardless of wherever you go or whatever you do so I just don't do anything beyond common sense. And if I need to worry about these things at a particular location I just don't go there. :)
I would say your first step is to buy one of these:
It measures energy usage. You'll want it not only to size your system correctly, but ALSO to continue your monitoring when you're actually boondocking to see how your system is functioning. So setting it up now is a win win.
Install it and then go boondock for 24 hours (or just "pretend" boondock in your driveway for 24 hours). Have the new device monitor your total watt hours (Wh) during these 24hrs. You'll need your solar to replace all that energy each day.
So like if your new meter says you used 2400Wh, that means you were using about 100 watts constantly during the 24 hours. So say you put in a 300W panel, that panel, on a sunny'ish day will probably give you about 150W of power from 8AM-5PM -- a 9 hour duration (this all totally varies lots of factors, it's just an example). So 150W * 9hours = 1350Wh. So in this example, you need to almost double the power ... you would need to bump your solar from 300W to ~~500W or so. You can work the math.
Hopefully your total usage is less than 2400Wh per day. That was just an example.
I have a similar size rig. I bought
- (2) 100Ah battleborn batteries.
- (1) 300W residential panel (it's big, but i only need one)
- (1) Victron MPPT solar-->battery charger
That handles all my stuff no problem (lights, water pump, the fan that runs heater (but not the heat, that is gas), multiple computers, cell booster, TV, amazon fire stick, etc). But your stuff might be different. Your sunlight might be less/more. Etc. Good luck.
Chances are and depending on how old your trailer is the converter in that thing is not meant to optimize lithium batteries. Find your converter typically located near the fusebox, jot down some numbers and check. Otherwise, sealed AGM batteries will work fine for now with the converter you have.
I have 2 of these now with solar. I would like to go with lithium but they just won't die after 4 years and 100's of charge cycles. I don't need much power. That's something you'll have to figure out when sizing your system.
That said, I'm not a big fan of being anywhere near that open frame Champion of yours.
Coleman has a mattress called the "slim twin" or other names. Can be found at Cabella's for $25.00. Perfect size for cars. https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Mattress-EasyStay-Single-High-Inflatable/dp/B00FF3AMAK/ref=sr\_1\_2?dchild=1&hvadid=77653061236264&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=coleman+slim+twin&qid=1629980313&sr=8-2
Maybe try something like this : https://www.amazon.com/Zerm%C3%A4tte-Mattress-Portable-Foldable-Waterproof/dp/B08DKN8KWG/
Looks like there's actually an Amazon Warehouse deal for under $60 at the moment.
It's a little shorter than you, but most people don't sleep 100% straight.
Are you planning on leaving the rear seats down most of the time so you don't have to keep moving things around?
As others said, get fans that can recharge.
Also, I assume you're stealth camping/boondocking? Something to block sun/add privacy is a must.
Our faves:
We have 2 of these (200hrs on low, 60 on med)
20000mAh Rechargeable Battery Operated Fan, Portable USB Port Power Supply, Timer, 350°Rotation https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CKP5YN9/
And 2 of these for hanging from anything (55hrs on low)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZNBTVSG/
I have been using this for over 2 years. Charged dozens of times and it seems to run forever.
Tried a few others but none equal the power of this one.
We have the Opolar brand, but it looks like it's no longer available on amazon. This guy appears to be similar, we love it though. Battery lasts two full days on Low and all night on High and it moves some serious air. It swivels 360 and up and down so you can clamp it to anything and aim it where ever you want. We are super happy with it
You should be getting more than 2 years out of any battery with proper care. I've been using a pair of these for over 4 years now and they work like new.
If you're an off-grid nomad that boondocks full-time then Lithium is a no brainer just for the long life. For "casual" RV'ers sealed AGM's are more economical in my opinion.
How often are you off grid?
Oh, Grizzlies. I've only got experience with black bear. Those can be run off with some noise and are more of a nusiance than anything. Especially the full-time camp scavengers.
Since you've made an effort to take precautions, I'd say that whatever you do will be more than what most people do and they seem to survive.
Not knowing how long you'll be out, you can consider one of these bear vaults. I've used them in my backpacking days. Cram your trash inside and put it out in the woods each night. No need to hang it. They don't hold much food but will hold lots of trash.
I got this one. You don't have to cut any cables to wire it. $30 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D31K454/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1