PIRATE CAMP '24-25....................Desert SouthWest

abnorm said:

Do they HAVE to ?...........The low Winter sun can use the vertical panels when your flat panels are poor receivers......
and the flat panels gain their efficiency in Summer

If you add hinges to the top of the "side" panels you can aim them ......"Arrrrrr......I have a plan......."

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I found it is better to mount them securely than make them adjustable after having the wind tear one loose and twist the frame. I mounted mine vertically securely and it being a 305 watt panel replacing a 100 watt panel charging a single set of batteries used mainly for charging other batteries and lighting which I can do at my discretion it works just fine for me. Much more efficiently than a broken flipped upside down one! Lol!!! Never underestimate the power of the mini burst winds!

So the people in Q installing those panels on the outside walls, don't know what they're doing? Too much dope?

My Tioga (and my Ford van) were doing fine with fixed panels mounted flat on the roof.

Never had an unintended departure of a panel.

bullfrog ! said:

I found it is better to mount them securely than make them adjustable after having the wind tear one loose and twist the frame. I mounted mine vertically securely and it being a 305 watt panel replacing a 100 watt panel charging a single set of batteries used mainly for charging other batteries and lighting which I can do at my discretion it works just fine for me. Much more efficiently than a broken flipped upside down one! Lol!!! Never underestimate the power of the mini burst winds!

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It is not that difficult to make brackets for mounting solar panels that are well secured when laid flat or when tilted. …If you have some basic skills with tools and know the world of fastener options. Of course the larger the panel the bigger the “sail” area. Then you get into it being more trouble to take up and down as a solo traveler unless you are a tall person with long legs and arms or have skills with automated lift motors
I made my panel capable of tilting but as I am in the Southwest all year round I have never needed to tilt it. Flat has worked out just fine. If I were to spend summers up north tilting it would be advantageous.

maki2 said:

I hesitate to get a new lifepo4 battery as I have limited space on my roof for solar panels. But for now I am doing OK with what I have to meet my basic setup. When my very good quality marine AGM battery ages out I will make the switch to lithium and a somewhat larger single panel and solar controller. But it still will have to remain a modest sized electrical power supply due to space limitations.

No Starlink for me at night on my current power setup, not even the mini version. Not that I have a spare $600 to invest in a Starlink mini panel. Perhaps I should start buying lottery tickets or get a real job

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You can get the regular dish for around $350 to your hands until October 5th.

Markw said:

You can get the regular dish for around $350 to your hands until October 5th.

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sweet!!!! Does that mean you are going to gift one to me? Because that is what it would take for me to get one by October 5th.

October is a month that hits my pocketbook pretty hard and I also have extra expenses coming in November to save up for.

Don said:

Would like to catch up with you this winter at some point. I am a finish carpenter and cabinet builder looking to start the nomadic life. Trying to downsize my tools so that I don’t need a semi tractor to pull a trailer. Toughest part yet.

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Hey Don ......glad to hear from you.........Tools are both a blessing and a curse ....I'll add some photos of what I carry in the van................If only I could fit the TABLE SAW ! I started with Hard Cases/toolboxes but they were difficult in small confines. BAGS..........individual zippered bags..........Tool and fastener.......tool and attachments/blades .....these I could fit in tight spaces.


I'll start off with the Compressor...........We use a lot of Pine&Plywood and need a reliable "thin-wood" connector Glue and Staples to the rescue (just add hose and staple gun) and the Generator ! As a bonus the compressor services my tires and general cleaning with a blow gun.



The Cordless circular saw is a workhorse...............along with two ancient corded jigsaws for metal and wood




A Multi-Tool and a pair of Disc Grinders complete the cutting package.......I keep a Sanding Disc on one grinder
(also available a Lancelot chain saw attachment for carving)



Here are Two Impact drivers and Two Drill Drivers.....all cordless



And lots of bits, drills and hole saws



As well as a couple Rotary Tools for finer work




And I like to use a NUTSERT tool for strong Bolt-on connections to the metal

More to come......................................................................................................................

I have a Kobalt compressor identical to that one....they are nice and quiet.

Hoping someone shows up with one of those long handled style pin rivet pullers. I no longer have the hand strength to use my short handled pair. Of course it would be even better if someone had one of the new rivet pullers that mount onto an impact driver! I would think about buying one of those impact river pullers but I only need to pull 8 more 3/16” rivets.

maki2 said:

sweet!!!! Does that mean you are going to gift one to me? Because that is what it would take for me to get one by October 5th.

October is a month that hits my pocketbook pretty hard and I also have extra expenses coming in November to save up for.

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I would if I could afford it. Tryin to save up for some things, myself.

wayne49 said:

So the people in Q installing those panels on the outside walls, don't know what they're doing? Too much dope?

My Tioga (and my Ford van) were doing fine with fixed panels mounted flat on the roof.

Never had an unintended departure of a panel.

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The Ford E-350's four 100W panels were mounted on 2x4's mounted on a sturdy roof rack. Credit to Bob Wells for that idea. Nine years later, the panels are still performing, with no unintended departures.

For the Tioga, I used something similar, but with pre-drilled angle stock from Home Depot. The bars were mounted to the roof with screws, sealed with lap sealant. The Tioga was great to work with as it resembled an aircraft carrier deck, as in a large flat area. No A/C after the previous owner removed it.

All of my Renogy panels are still functioning after nine years. The van itself is no longer mobile.

Wayne ........we're in your neck of the woods tonight + couple nites.....................Tonopah BLM

It is with heavy heart that I regret to say that I have gone and broken my ankle!!!

Monday night, returning from a near-midnight run to the bathroom at Dismal Nitch (across the bridge from Astoria), I misnavigated an abrupt change in the sidewalk level and went down on my knees and hands. Well, ouch! Knew immediately that I’d broken something, my foot insisting that it was no longer securely attached to my leg. Well I lay there for a bit, moaning and groaning, then pulled myself together and crawled to my van, which was about 15 feet away, thank goodness. Got in and called 911. While I waited for the ambo, I loaded up a few necessaries into my knitting bag. Only had to wait about 20 min for the ambo, another bit of luck. Very nice EMTs got me loaded up and shot me with some fentanyl. ER confirmed my break and tucked me in with some warm blankets. Called my sister and brother-in-law first thing Tues AM, they got there in the afternoon and whisked me off to a motel because no one hospitalizes you for a broken leg. My heroic sister took care of me. Which was quite a chore as I also sprained my right ankle, so she had to support most of my weight whenever I transferred in and out of my wheelchair. Saw an orthopod and got in for surgery on Friday. Supposed to get worked on at 10 am, but due to stuff I went in at 3 pm which was tedious but fine as I was dozy most of the time with Oxycodone. Got a small plate and a few screws installed. Anesthetist blocked a nerve before they cut me open which meant that all day yesterday my left leg was numb as a 2x4. Still was ordered to take Oxycodone every 4 hours as I would want as much Oxycodone on board as possible for when the block started to wear off. Which started happening about 9 pm, so my leg is now (about 2 am) just zinging away. I don’t think today will be much fun, but it should get better after that. Expected downtime is 6 weeks…

I guess we’ll see.

Dang...sure am sorry that happened!

Take care of yourself.

I'm so sorry JACQUE ! Six weeks ?..........Maybe go for the PegLeg option........a "shoe-in" for Pirate Camp :=)

Oweeee!!!!!
That is a horrible injury for anyone.
My best wishes that you may have fast healing without any complications. If only bones and muscles would heal fast, but they don’t. A broken ankle is a truly tough “bad luck break”’ for anyone but specially so for a nomad who travels solo. With both feet out of commission that means no driving anywhere. Hopefully you can find a place to stay parked for a few months where you have someone to help you.

maki2 said:

Klondike bars were not being served at Pirate camp last winter

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Another victim in the ongoing SOY battle.......................Klondike adds "Soy" to the chocolate coating

An allergy trigger for Paulette..............Happy WIFE.....Happy Life !

abnorm said:

Another victim in the ongoing SOY battle.......................Klondike adds "Soy" to the chocolate coating

An allergy trigger for Paulette..............Happy WIFE.....Happy Life !

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Oh now that makes sense! My mother was also allergic to soy and other legumes.

And now a return to Pirate Camp.........Pahrump is too Hot yet........We're in Tonopah NV

YARC Lou called me FELIX the Cat..............""Whenever he gets in a fix......He reaches into his bag of tricks""

The group even played "Doug Scavenger Hunt"............They name IT....I had to find it in the van !

Electrical and Mechanical Tool/Supplies today

We need some meters

Soldering ironsHeat shrink and GunMC 4 connectors and crimper

Ferrules and crimper for Solar Charge Controllers

Bags of Fuses and Lights............Ca-ching

Bolts and Nuts

A few self tapping screwsAnd a few more just to be sure

And all the hand tools and a wood Router, and Sanders, Clamps and a Vise ....all tucked in the van.........

Arrrrrrrgh !...............See ya Here

I thought seriously about going to Pahrump for the October caravan HOWA gathering. But after I got to the register at Walmart today I realized….oops…there went any fun time gas money for the month of October. Of course that and it being too hot in Pahrump means I fully realize I am not going to be in a hurry to go on any cross country trips not on the path south to Quartzsite. Pahrump is not on that path.

Well, I was correct - it really hurt today. Oh well. But I am getting around a bit better, in spite of the pain so that is very good indeed. I can bear my weight on my right ankle, so that means she only needs to spot me when I move to and from the wheelchair, and not lift me. She got out for a few hours today, took a walk at Fort Clatsop. Apparently it’s a pretty nice day out there…

Without Carole around to do the nursey things like pile up pillows and ice packs I’d be in real trouble. Turns out one of the women who works in the motel front office here has also done some nursing, so they have bonded a little. All in all, for a painful, literally lame kind of day - it was not terrible!