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5 Tips Before Heading Out On A Boondocking Adventure

5 Quick Tips Before Heading Out On A Boondocking Adventure

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If you’ve been RVing for a long,  you’ve probably heard the phrase “boondocking” thrown about a few times. Camping in a remote location that hasn’t been formally authorized for camping is sometimes referred to as boondocking. Enthusiastic travelers with a passion for adventure, occasionally need to travel off the grid.

There are so many stunning national parks and unknown areas around the country that if you own an RV and don’t attempt boondocking at least once in your life, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Get out there and explore the back roads; you’ll thank us later! Here are some pointers for you boondocking adventure to get you started…

Quick Tips for Boondocking Adventure:

Before you leave, make sure your RV and tow vehicle are in good working order.

This is really crucial. The entire concept of boondocking is to travel out to a completely barren spot with very few, if any, people present. The last thing you need is to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with a dead battery or a flat tire with no spare. This may appear to be a little step, but it might save you a great deal of trouble in the long run.

Assess the weather

How many times have you departed for a vacation with the sun blazing and not a cloud in the sky, only to be met by a heavy rain a few hours later? Know what the weather will be like so you can pack appropriately.

Investigate your destination

Do your homework before embarking on a boondocking adventure. Driving around until you discover the “ideal” place is definitely not a good idea. You’re probably not going to find what you’re searching for and will wind up staying at a campsite you’ve been to before. Then, consult with your RV mates and other folks you know who like camping.

There are several internet sites for learning about the greatest boondocking places around the country. Make it a point to learn from the errors of others.

Have plenty of food and drink on hand

If it hasn’t been clear by now, we want to make sure you plan ahead of time before taking a boondocking adventure with your RV! Stock up on water and, preferably, non-perishable food to bring with you. If you intend to spend a lengthy amount of time in the wilderness, you must ensure that your food does not spoil.

Before embarking on this expedition, you might want to consider crafting a few items to carry with you.   Don’t forget to bring wet wipes with you. Do not burn your limited water supply on routine cleaning tasks.

Also Read: Best Boondocking Sites to Keep in Mind

Carry a generator with you

Because there will be no power hookups while boondocking, it is critical to invest in a sufficient generator to ensure you have electricity in your RV. A 3000 watt generator will cost you between $250 and $500, depending on the brand, whether it is new or used, and so on. This is where the RVAC Solution Soft Starter shines. Some Ac units will require a higher wattage generator just to start up, let alone running your air conditioner and other electronics at the same time.

Due to the limited source of power, normal functionality of your electronics and appliances is often compromised. The AC system is one of the most power taxing devices on the entire RV. However RVAC Solutions soft starters are designed to reduce the startup power demand of RV Air Conditioning Units by up to 75%, which greatly reduces the sacrifices those without a soft starter will have to make. After all your supposed to be enjoying your adventure not sweating miserably wishing your were home!

Planning to run rv ac on solar

Planning to run RV AC on Solar? Here are some things to keep in mind…

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With summer quickly approaching, now is the time to start making plans for your next RV camping trip. Thinking of installing solar panels on RV? Are solar panels expensive? Planning to run RV AC on solar? There is a lot to think about when shopping for solar panels for your RV, including RV solar systems, inverters, and knowing which solar system is best for your RV.

Advantages of using Solar Power for RV

Energy independence is the primary motivation for installing solar panels on RVs. Owners of recreational vehicles are restricted from boondocking in any location they please due to their dependence on shore power and full-service RV parks.

However, with RV solar panels installed, either permanently or with a portable solar kit, campers can boondock or stay in the desert for as long as they like.

Oftentimes, campsites on public lands, state-owned land, and National Parks do not have hookups, so becoming energy independent has obvious aesthetic benefits.

Moreover, RV solar panels are much smaller than those used for homes; this means they produce less power, but they are also much cheaper. There is a wide range of possible costs due to the fact that installing panels often necessitates upgrading or installing additional components.

Installing solar panels on an RV is a more cost-effective long-term investment where systems can cost between $25,000 and $40,000. This is especially true if you plan to spend significant time away from home.

In the long run, you will save money on camping fees once you have paid off the initial cost of your solar power system. That means less fuel use and savings from not having to run the generator as often.

The environmental sustainability of RV solar panels is one of the more obvious benefits. Solar energy doesn’t produce pollution or global warming because it doesn’t burn fossil fuels.

Using solar power is also an excellent way to reduce pollution and save money in the long run. All that RV travel can be balanced out by doing this.

Some campgrounds prohibit the use of generators after a certain time due to the noise they produce. You can have less noise and more peace and quiet at the campsite by installing a solar power system.

Running RV AC on Solar Power

When estimating your budget for RV solar panel kit, it’s important to think about things like how you’ll get backup power, what your energy needs are, and whether you want a kit or permanent panels.

An inverter, batteries, and solar panels are all that’s needed to run RV AC on solar. Because solar panels produce DC (direct current power), while air conditioners use AC (alternating current power), an inverter is required to convert the energy from the solar panels to the type of power used by the air conditioner.

Thereafter, you can choose between installing an on-grid or off-grid solar power system to run your air conditioner. Alternatively, you may put in a solar-powered AC unit.

Also Read: Best Boondocking Sites & Tips to Keep in Mind

5 Best RV Solar Panels

The increasing popularity of solar camping has resulted in a greater variety of solar-powered accessories for recreational vehicles. The best solar equipment can collect a charge even on cloudy days, so you practically never have to worry about running out of power when using the sun as your charging device. Have a look at the items below if you plan on going completely off the grid on your next camping trip but don’t want to be in the dark.

  1. Renogy 200 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline RV Solar Panel Kit
  2. Newpowa 220W Monocrystalline 10BB Cell Solar Panel
  3. ACOPOWER 200 Watts 12/24 Volts Monocrystalline Panel Solar RV Kits with 30A MPPT LCD Charge Controller/Mounting Brackets/Y Connectors/Solar Cables/Cable Entry housing （2x100W Kit）
  4. SUNPOWER Portable Solar Panels, Flexible Panel / Monocrystalline Cells / Lightweight/ MC4 Connectors Camping, boats, RV + more (100W)
  5. Nature Power 50215 215 Watt 12 Volt Cables and Mounting Brackets Solar Panel, Black

How many Solar Panels do I need to run my RV?

The first step is to evaluate the energy demands of your RV. If you want to power your RV’s appliances (like the AC unit, fridge, microwave, phones, TV, etc.) with solar energy, you’ll need to calculate the total wattage (or watt hours) of those appliances. Basically, you’ll need to figure out how many watts each appliance in your RV consumes.

Read more: Estimating Appliance and Electronic Energy Use

Factors to consider for Solar Panels For Camper:

A safe and reliable solar RV installation requires six different components. You should probably go with the higher wattage panels since you have limited space, and your air conditioners need a lot. The wattage of these panels ranges from 100-600 watts. They are available in flat panels that can be mounted on the roof of your RV or placed on stands on the ground. The roof can be covered with flexible panels that simply stick there.

  1. Solar Charge Controller: Here is where the magic of your solar power charger takes place. It controls how much energy is transferred from your solar panels to your storage batteries. After a battery has been fully charged, the voltage should be lowered to a trickle charge to prevent the battery from being overcharged. When it comes to using solar energy to run an air conditioner, MPPT solar panels are your best bet due to their high charging efficiency.
  2. Battery Bank: The power generated by the solar panel is stored in batteries so that your RV may still
    be used even when there is no sunlight. The most viable alternative is lithium-ion batteries.
  3. 4,000-Watt Inverter: Simply put, an inverter works in the opposite direction of a converter. It inverts the direct current (DC) power from your batteries into alternating current (AC). Since your air conditioners and other appliances will be using a lot of power all at once, a 4,000-watt unit would be ideal.
  4. Solar Power Meter: Having this sort of equipment in place will allow you to check the efficiency of your panels at all times. The voltage, wattage, and amperage values you observe can be utilized to predict future problems.
  5. Battery Meter/Multi Meter: It is vital that you check the input and output of your batteries. Batteries can lose their charge capacity, leak, or have other problems after many years of use. It’s a great preventative maintenance practice to check them on a regular basis.
  6. A/C Soft Starter: With the help of soft starts, air conditioners can start up using much less energy. When using RV solar power, turning on the air conditioner can be a challenge, but a soft starter makes it easier to run RV AC on solar. A soft starter can provide the initial power surge needed to turn on the RV air conditioner. It reduces the power demand by up to 75%. The air conditioner in your RV can usually be powered by the RV’s solar system. It has no luck getting it going. RV Air Conditioning Soft Starters serve this purpose. Having a lot more success keeping cool while boondocking or on limited power is possible by installing a soft starter for each air conditioner in your RV. You can use solar power or a campground hookup to power your air conditioner with the help of these simple-to-install, small RV AC Soft Start Kits.

Final Suggestion

Installing solar system is a must whether you plan on living full-time in your RV or going off the grid.

A variety of factors, including your energy needs, your geographic location, and the efficiency of the panels themselves, will decide the precise quantity of panels that will be necessary.

A solar system for an RV needs to be compact, lightweight, and robust, so you should give some thought to your energy needs and the available space before making a final decision.