These are posts that are related to dry camping AKA Boondocking
A few weeks ago, I played around with repurposing a spare Bogart sc2030 solar charge controller as a DC-DC charger to increase charging from my truck alternator to my trailer batteries. The experiment worked, but my results were lukewarm. So, I decided to buy, install, and review a charger designed for the purpose, the Renogy … Read more
In my latest RV mod, I install a high amperage 30A 12VDC port into the bed of my 2018 Ram 3500 pickup truck. I also test out using an old Bogart SC2030 solar charge controller I have laying around for alternator charging. Disclaimer: Working with electricity can be dangerous. The following is for entertainment purposes … Read more
In this video, my good friend Eddie from Mobile Homestead Solar Services was kind enough to give us a few tips on how to make up your own custom heavy gauge RV battery or Inverter cables. I caught him while he was installing a battery bank consisting of 6 new Battle Born lithium batteries. They … Read more
In this video, I install and tell you a bit about my latest RV gadget, the new WF-2030 WiFi add-on module for my Bogart Trimetric Battery Monitor System. The WiFi module installs easily beside the battery monitor via a data cable and a pair of power wires. Once installed it allows me to access performance … Read more
Recently while camped near Quartzsite, AZ my good friend Eddie from Mobile Homestead Solar Services was kind enough to walk us through his massive boondocking power system. On the roof is 1800 watts of solar powering 900 amp hours of battery bank capacity. His beautifully laid out and wired off-grid power system is installed in … Read more
In this video, I give you a look at my new 22-foot RV ladder flag pole and the mounting hardware kit. What’s included, features and how it mounts. Recently Anne gifted me a new weather station that is also pole-mounted, so I repurposed my previous flag pole holder hardware for it. Since my old flag … Read more
In this video, I update you on how it’s going with the new Lion Energy UT 1300 batteries now that I have been doing some real-world tests boondocking in the southwest. I’ve been able to charge the batteries perfectly well with my existing Bogart solar controller and my Intelipower PD9260 converter charger by using its … Read more
In this video, I add two more Renogy 100-watt solar panels to go with my existing 5 for a total now of 700 watts. I explain how I mounted and wired them from the rooftop all the way down to my battery bank, located in the fifth-wheel trailer from the storage compartment. I also show … Read more
In this video, I review the Energizer 2000 watt generator. (Model eZV2000P) First, we have a look at the controls, features, and included accessories. Then we remove the covers and have a look inside. After a tour inside, I perform various comparison tests against the larger eZV3200P 3200-watt model and my 8-year old Champion 2000 … Read more
In this 2019/20 RV snowbird trip update, we leave Death Valley National Park and overnight in a casino parking lot at Primm, Nevada. The next day we head over to Davis Camp on the Colorado River near Laughlin NV and Bullhead City AZ. Along the way, we stop to look at the thick forest of … Read more
In this video, I show you our path south from Astoria, Oregon all the way south to California, near Sacramento. During the 652 miles (1049 km) of travel south, we overnighted a 4 different free dry camping locations. 2 casinos, an air museum, and a Camping World store lot. 1) Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum … Read more
In this video, I conclude my initial review of my new Lion Energy Safari UT 1200 lithium batteries. I have 3 of their 12V 90Ah batteries wired in parallel to produce a 270Ah bank. They are replacing 4 Interstate 6V golf cart batteries we have used for the last 3-4 years. So far, I’ve published … Read more
In this video, I install a remote disconnect switch for my 500-watt solar panel array. I wanted a solar disconnect switch so I can manually disconnect the charging current to my new Lion Energy lithium battery bank before they come to a 100% state of charge. I’ve read if the lithium bank is only charged … Read more
Recently I was offered for review one of Jackery’s newest off-grid products. The Explorer 500 portable power station. The product looked pretty sweet and boasted decent power capacity via a 518 watt-hour lithium battery and a 500-watt pure sine inverter plus 120 watts max DC power output ports. I decided to take Jackery up on … Read more
Now that I have installed and begun my review of the Lion Energy Safari UT lithium iron phosphate (LIFePO4) battery, there have been quite a few questions popping up from my LYRV readers and viewers. Rather than continue to answer the common questions over and over, I’ve decided to publish Q & A type post … Read more