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11-24-2017, 04:17 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Blue Springs, MO
Posts: 16
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New Guy Questions
Hi all,
New to this forum today, and travel trailers as of September 2017. We are pulling a Gulf Stream Ameri-Lite 274QB with a Chevy Silverado 1500 and an Equalizer WDH. We went camping every moment we could this fall and loved it, wife and two kids included.
When the trailer was being winterized, a serious issue was discovered. Camping World of Kansas City appears to be taking care of this issue, and I'm optimistic I will have a very positive story about it to update you with soon.
A few questions / musings to solicit some advice.
We are planning a few trips for 2018, and I'm considering blacktopping at Walmart on the way. One of these trips will be in late march.
My first question: I have one battery. If it's too cold, I think we will run out of juice to run the house propane heater before morning. That blower must draw some serious amps, right? Am I right to worry about that one battery's ability to get us through a cold night? We will be very frugal with water pump and light, obviously. We don't plan on doing lots of off grid camping, just those odd one off nights in the middle of a two day drive.
My second question: if I want to add another battery, do I need to get two new ones to keep them the same performance level? Or can I use the original one in the setup? And does anyone have a recommendation on type/brand/model? I don't need to be set up to boondock for weeks, just be comfortable for one night blacktopping once in a while.
Yet another question: I am thinking of getting a three stage charger to reduce battery hassle. Any suggestions? I currently have the stock 45 amp converter / charger that is one stage.
And final question: I am looking at Honda EU2000i generators (companion and regular). I found a used EU2000i for $500 that looks like it's been rode hard and put away wet. Haven't bought it yet...concerned about the use it has had. Anyone have this double Honda set up and regret it? Anyone had this and found a better way? Again, I don't think we would do a lot of boondocking. But you never know. I was thinking of just starting with one to recharge batteries if needed, and add the other if we need air conditioning or microwave (we have a 13.5k AC and I am not so foolish to try to run it off one 2000i and burn up the compressor).
Thanks for the wisdom in advance. The hive mind has saved me from stupid mistakes before, I figure it won't fail me now.
Kent
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11-24-2017, 04:26 PM
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#2
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
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Hi Kent! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!
Just wanted to say hello! Keep her between the ditches!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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11-24-2017, 04:26 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Back Woods of NC
Posts: 1,385
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Your Silverado has space for a 2nd battery, either behind drives side headlight or behind air cleaner. Stock battery will be in the other location. Then wire up so the 2nd provides power to the trailer harness but charges when ignition is on. A common setup for audiophiles who run their sound equipment off battery.
Honda generators in general are supposed to be quite reliable and efficient. Not sure if they have a DC output though to charge your batteries.
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11-24-2017, 04:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 3,133
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2x 6v GC2 batteries, in series, will give you the most amps. At Costco, about $85 ea. Batteries should be of same age, type, etc.
Best charger/converter; https://www.progressivedyn.com/rv/po...r-4600-series/
Your plan to buy one honda, then another later is a good one, and will be appreciated by your RV neighbors. I've had mine for years.
__________________
Bill, Kathi and Zorro; '05 Beaver Patriot Thunder
2012 Sunnybrook Harmony 21FBS (SQEZINN)
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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11-24-2017, 05:03 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Helena, MT
Posts: 74
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If you decide to buy another battery you must replace the old one or it will canabalize the new one. I wholeheartedly recommend the dual 6v batteries. A bit more money and weight but you never regret having extra capacity. I like the COSTCO batteries and no hassle warranty.
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11-24-2017, 05:38 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Blue Springs, MO
Posts: 16
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Hey all, thanks for the advice.
Do you think 2 of the 6v in series is enough to make it one night in the cold?Or should I spring for another battery case and 4 x 6v?
Kent
Quote:
Originally Posted by cruzbill
2x 6v GC2 batteries, in series, will give you the most amps. At Costco, about $85 ea. Batteries should be of same age, type, etc.
Best charger/converter; https://www.progressivedyn.com/rv/po...r-4600-series/
Your plan to buy one honda, then another later is a good one, and will be appreciated by your RV neighbors. I've had mine for years.
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11-24-2017, 06:06 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Blue Springs, MO
Posts: 16
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I get that 4 x 6v batteries would look like this image, but do I need that set up for one night of cooking dinner on propane stove, keeping the gas/co2 alarms powered, a few lights, and running the heater on a potential 32 degree night?
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11-24-2017, 06:21 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Braselton, Georgia
Posts: 1,287
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If you've got two fully charged 6 volt batteries, you should have no problem making it through the night using the furnace. I've done it several times with no issues. You may already have a 3 stage charger in your camper. Check before you spend a bunch of money on another one.
__________________
2016 Winnebago 2201DS Champagne
2015 Ford F-150 XLT FX4 5.0
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11-24-2017, 06:26 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 14,456
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I had a Class C that came with only 1 12 volt battery, not enough to get me through the night.
I installed a 2 battery isolator switch, wired in a second 12 volt battery. I could run the furnace all night and then switch over to the 2nd battery in the AM. If needed I could start the generator and then charge both batteries.
This worked for me.
Now have a Class A DP with 4 6 volt batteries and 325 watts of solar panels on the roof. We can boondock and seldom need the generator unless it's hot and need AC's
__________________
Jim J
2002 Monaco Windsor 38 PKD Cummins ISC 350 8.3L
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/5.7 Hemi
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11-24-2017, 06:34 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
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The big power user is the heater.
They can draw 10 to 12 amps or more when running and if it needs to run 1/2 the time to keep warm, that's 5 or 6 AH ( Amp Hours ). 5 AH X 12 hours of a cold night is 60 to 72 AH from your 2, 6 volt 200 AH batteries. The other items will round it up to 100 AH, half of your capacity. 50% discharge is a good target for long battery life.
It sounds like it could make it thru the night, if the heat only draws 10 amps and runs 1/2 the time.
If possible, you could try a test run on a cold night, with shore power on stand by, if you wake up shivering.
Remember, if your charging the battery for the next night, you need to charge the batteries 120% to 130% of what you used.
If you used up 100 AH and you have a 45 amp charger, it needs to run about 3 hours to replace the AH you used, before going to bed. Otherwise the next night, your going to wake up cold.
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11-24-2017, 07:37 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Braselton, Georgia
Posts: 1,287
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The two 6 volt Duracell golf cart batteries I bought at Sams Club are 225 AH. They run about $85 each.
__________________
2016 Winnebago 2201DS Champagne
2015 Ford F-150 XLT FX4 5.0
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11-24-2017, 07:39 PM
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#12
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,248
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Glad to have you here in the forum with us. You're gonna like it here.
Just wanted to welcome you.
Happy Trails!!!
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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11-24-2017, 07:53 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 14,885
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We travelled with a 43' 5er with one 12 volt battery. It was enough to go through the night with the temperatures near or just below freezing. When it was that cold we left the slides in. As I recall the battery was rated at 650 amp hour.
__________________
Gordon and Janet
Tour 42QD/InTech Stacker
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11-24-2017, 07:56 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Denver
Posts: 818
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You don't mention the age of the camper but if it is newish the converter/charger should be fine for what you are planning. And yes you will need a second battery to make it through a cold night.
Since you have some time, I would suggest that you invest in a volt amp meter also called a loop meter, and do an analysis of your power use and the real capacity of your battery(s). The posts here are too general to provide you the information you need to decide how to proceed with your plan.
The Honda 2000 is a great unit, but they do wear out, and used units may not be such a great deal. If you don't want to have two of them, you might consider a micro air easy start module which allows a 2000 to fire up the AC unit fine.
Lots of other thing you can learn about drycamping on this site, so delve away.
__________________
2017 WGO Fuse
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