camping without electric?

[ame8199]

How many of you camp without electricity? Do you use some type of generator? Just going through my options and asking myself if electric is really necessary.

Does anoyne of you feel electric is necessary to camp? and you wont camp without it. Just want some opinions on this.

Is it possible to take an extension cord and plug it up at the campgrounds electric and then just use a power strip for everything you need electric for?
Or is there like a 12v battery thing (Im not sure whats its called or what Im really asking here). I guess a battery charger? I have a rechargable fan with a 12v and would like to charge it, do they make 12v chargers. Im gonna stop now cuz im confusing myself.

[martha24]

When we do general camping or go to gatherings we basically don't use electricity. We do have 12 volt power from a battery that we run mainly lights and fan with. Little stuff like that can run along time on a battery.

For traveling on a trip we are more apt to use electricity. We put the microwave in to heat up leftovers or pack a quick meal to heat up for the over night stop. Also this last spring we traveled from Calif. to South Dakota and back and thank goodness we had electricity and a little heater as it got down to 25 degrees in Wyoming.

Don't ask me how any works, that's my husband's dept.

[ame8199]

When we do general camping or go to gatherings we basically don't use electricity. We do have 12 volt power from a battery that we run mainly lights and fan with. Little stuff like that can run along time on a battery.)

What does this battery look like? Where would I get on? That may be all I need

I really dont think I need to have a microwave and all that big stuff. I can cook with propane. Im just worried about charging my cell phone(that can be done in the car tho), running lights and fans. and maybe running a portable dvd player.

[martha24]

It looks like a car battery, because it basically is, and was bought in the car battery area and I think it is called a deep cycle battery. I'm sure others will chime in here to explain. We bought it at Costco. At the end of a trip or before a trip, it needs to be recharged or some people link it up to their pull vehicle and charge it as they drive.

Lights and fans can be wired into the system and have simple switches to turn on or plugs like the kind in a car can be put in to plug in cell phones for recharging or other 12 volt things.

With a husband that's good at doing all these things, my terms probably aren't too accurate. But hopefully you get the general idea of what I'm talking about.

[ame8199]

O believe me, simple english rocks with me. Thank you for your help.

[teardrop_focus]

Amy, I've learned an awful lot about RV 12 volt power from reading the "sticky" threads here in the Electrical Secrets forum. Especially about batteries.

Please don't buy a battery until you understand just a little bit more about 12 volt power than you do now... spend some time reading...

Although Martha's replies here in your thread have most certainly been helpful, one or two posts cannot provide the knowledge you need if you're going to own and safely operate your very own teardrop!



Everything else you'll need to know is listed alphabetically in this great index:

sdtripper2's Index (ongoing)

[bobhenry]

Primative camping without shore power is different. Strange noises in the brush start you thinking and black is very black out in the woods. A couple good flashlights quickly become your best friend and security blanket. A little battery radio will play for days. A good coleman white gas lantern will light up your camping area like daylight. The one thing electric I simply have to have is a fan. The little O2Kool fan runs off of electric , when that is not available it has its own rechargable battery pack and will also run off of 8 c batteries as well as a 12 volt battery. This is my best friend when camping and the only electric appliance I can not be without.
Primative camping is different in other ways too. The campfire is cheerier and the stars are brighter the night sounds are a symphony with crickets chirping and frogs adding in the base notes while night birds adding a subtle backup melody. Most of our outings had been in State parks in the electric sections and when we joined a small local conservation club camping became this subtle difference. I think I enjoy it much more these simple night sounds are far more restful than car doors slamming and drunken laughter from the neighbors at 2 am. So get a deep cycle marine battery ( about $70.00 at Wally world) and get off grid and enjoy these few treasured memories of quiet evenings by the fire off to yourself or with someone special far from the maddening crowd.

[ame8199]

Amy, I've learned an awful lot about RV 12 volt power from reading the "sticky" threads here in the Electrical Secrets forum. Especially about batteries.

Please don't buy a battery until you understand just a little bit more about 12 volt power than you do now... spend some time reading...

Although Martha's replies here in your thread have most certainly been helpful, one or two posts cannot provide the knowledge you need if you're going to own and safely operate your very own teardrop!



Everything else you'll need to know is listed alphabetically in this great index:

sdtripper2's Index (ongoing)

I thought maybe I could get a battery and just plug in my items. It doesnt look like it. I probably still need to know how to operate the electrical part of it if its already wired for me.

I wanted a wired teardrop, but thought I could get by cheaper without it being wired.

[bobhenry]

OK OK in my rant I forgot a fuse now you are safe.

Here is a simple diagram done by Joanne I keep in my album to show a good example of a 12 volt system.

[ame8199]

I really think i dont want to deal with a battery. I'll just stick to the 110 power package. That doesn't deal with a battery right? Maybe a lil safer.

You can just plug in to the campground's electric right and have electric in your trailer? I like the plug and play.

[CPlater]

As I understand from some of your other posts you are planning to buy from one of the manufacturer and not do any of your own building or customization. So when you mention a 110 power package I assume it to be a package offered by the builders. In the thread with the rep from Little Guy, he describes the 12v/110 power package and in that case you will have a battery and the option of connecting to the grid. He also indicated it had a converter and I take that to mean it can charge the battery when connected to 110 AC. In that case all you need to do is plug in the trailer the night before your trip and the battery should be charged up and ready to go. So in a sense it does deal with the battery but in a useful way.
The manufacturer will build to industry standards and you will certainly have a safe and reliable electrical system.

So to answer the last question; Yes you can plug in to the campgrounds electric and if you are some where without such conveniences, the lights and ventilation fan will still work.

[ame8199]

Yes this is my plan, but I was trying to get buy cheaper (which its looking like it may not always be better). so I really wont have to mess with the battery except to charge it through plugging it in? Yes there are 3 electrical packages offered by Little Guy. One is both 12v and 110, another is just 12v and the other is only 110. With the 12v and 110, I would just have to plug in the trailer at night to charge up the battery?

Perfect, I should just stick to what I wanted to do and stop trying to think of ways to get around it for cheaper. I can handle plugging it in and charging it. I just wan to be safe, thats why I wanted the manufacture to deal with it and not me.

I just emailed Little Guy asking if I bought a trailer from somewhere else, if I could have them install the electrical package...we'll see what they say.

Thanks for your answer

[GPW]

AMY, for the simplest setup , just get a long GFI extension cord... Works Great when power is available ... about 20 bucks .... That's all we've used in the past , plus the battery radio,flashlight, and ice chest... The rest is pure camping out , no frills ... for cooking , you can either make a campfire or assemble a simple rocket stove from tin cans ... or like we do , eat a lot of salads and fruit... Stuff that doesn't require cooking... Best of Luck to ya'...

[dwgriff1]

Our trailer was designed to be very simple. No built in water, ice box, electricity. I have a 22 travel trailer that has all of that, and is a pain to take any where.

We nearly always camp where there is no electricity, and once in a while, if there is power available, I don't hook into it, except to charge my phone or MacBook, which I can do off the battery in my TV if I wished.

I decided life would be easier with a series of led flash lights rather than an other system. I have a single mantel coleman lantern I fire up sometimes.

Around here camp sites with electricity are spendy and there are so many wonderful places that are not electrified, all very inexpensive.

KISS and Simplify Simplify Simplify.

dave

[Larwyn]

Do not loose sight of the fact that a teardrop trailer is a substitute for a tent. If you tent camp now, you know what you need in order to use a TD without AC, DC, water, etc. If you think it would be convenient to turn on a light with the flip of a switch then AC or DC electric are options, or you could use an electric lantern (do not use a gas lantern inside the TD) or even a flashlight. I like my 12 volt powered vent fan but you could also get by with any fan that will run off of whatever power source you already have or get one that runs on dry cell batteries. A water can and a bucket are very effective and little or no more trouble than a built in system with fresh and waste water tanks and electric or manual pumps. Basically a bare bones TD and your tent camping gear are all you need for an enjoyable TD outing.

My trailer is built around the air conditioning and ventilation system because I live and camp where heat and humidity are a major concern. I have built in 12Volt DC and 120Volt AC because I have worked with electricity most of my life and wiring the systems was second nature to me. I have no water system in my trailer because I have had water systems in homes and rv's before and it is a matter of asking when, not if, a leak will occur and put a damper on your day. It's a matter of personal choice.

Whatever you decide, go camping and enjoy.