if you need this much watts, do this

[Bluedogz]

This is important for deciding what you need. Why those places? Every state west of where you live has millions of acres of public land you can camp on, and you can find nice weather all year by moving around.

IMO, it's best to start minimal. If you like to motorcycle trip, then it seems that would be very minimal, plus a lot of weather exposure. Having a more luxurious experience in a van would be very easy!

Will you be full time or just taking trips? What part of the country, and what time of year? What sort of rig do you have in mind?

Why those places? I managed a trucking company for years and that's what I'm familiar with. Now, my intro thread talked about a marathon road trip I hope to repeat AND my "retirement" plan is to spend 6 months or so of each year somewhere cooler, and the other 6 somewhere warmer, if you follow.

Yeah, the bike trips were minimal. Those were days. We cheated and hoteled a lot, though. And I agree that a van-camp experience will not be quite as minimal as that.

I envision full-timing, though practically I know it'll take a bit to work up to that. I have years to ramp up into this. I think the best rig for this job will be a DIY minivan conversion, because 1) I'm handy enough to do it and keep it functioning 100%, 2) it'll give me the freedom/flexibility to build it out over time, 3) I won't have to deal with a trailer or other rig when I stop at places I want to be.

All my questions about electrical are focused on building the knowledge to build my van correctly when I spend the effort. I saw a setup on YouTube that I really liked but the guy is an electrical engineer! So, baby steps.

 

[rruff]

Now, my intro thread talked about a marathon road trip I hope to repeat AND my "retirement" plan is to spend 6 months or so of each year somewhere cooler, and the other 6 somewhere warmer, if you follow.

I just saw your intro thread and replied. I'd never get a minivan for vagabonding, but it would work for people who don't venture offroad.

So are you planning on 2 different homes, or just traveling with the seasons in your rig?

Getting back to the electrical question, it doesn't sound like you are going to have enough room for a lot of unnecessary junk. A vent with fan is a good idea, maybe a fridge, laptop, maybe internet and a couple led lights? That's about it for electrical. The fridge would be the biggest energy load, ~300Wh per day but will vary a lot depending on temperature.

 

[Bluedogz]

I just saw your intro thread and replied. I'd never get a minivan for vagabonding, but it would work for people who don't venture offroad.

So are you planning on 2 different homes, or just traveling with the seasons in your rig?

Getting back to the electrical question, it doesn't sound like you are going to have enough room for a lot of unnecessary junk. A vent with fan is a good idea, maybe a fridge, laptop, maybe internet and a couple led lights? That's about it for electrical. The fridge would be the biggest energy load, ~300Wh per day but will vary a lot depending on temperature.

I don't anticipate "off-roading" very much. A gravel track is about as rough as I anticipate.

And no 2 homes for me (thanks for thinking I have that kind of scratch.) Traveling with the seasons.

 

[Walt]

I'm actually looking forward to working with nothing but a single gas burner and a 10" skillet. Oh yeah, and a kettle. Even a microwave is of debatable necessity. The fridge or freezer is a key element, I think.

This leads me to ask how is the most efficient way to use a fridge/freezer??

Just put it around 40° and leave it?

Freeze a bunch of gel cubes and then turn it off?

Run it as a fridge during the day only? Then turn it off at night?

 

[frodo2222]

I know... it's been asked before... but I don't know even the keywords to search by.

It seems all of the conversations about electrical needs stop at "if you need this much watts, do this." Without really talking about specifically how to calculate those needs.

So, as I plan my kitchen, I'm facing questions like "Do I even need a microwave/air fryer/coffeemaker?" Powering each will be a key factor in those decisions. Nevermind A/C/Maxxair etc.

I'm trying to get to how much wattage I need, and THEN I can have a productive conversation about solar vs. generator vs. campfire, or even which microwave is which.

Looking at your post the best thing you can do is get some education and I found the best place to do that was at the explorist and putting the link if he'll come through I didn't know anything about solar or not design solar systems and install them on RVs and cabins and whatnot so you might look at that it's great because you can look at what is wired to what is the connector to how much power do I need for this and then how to do it

 

[Happy Camper]

This leads me to ask how is the most efficient way to use a fridge/freezer??

Just put it around 40° and leave it?

Freeze a bunch of gel cubes and then turn it off?

Run it as a fridge during the day only? Then turn it off at night?

That's a question for another thread in the food section.

 

[Happy Camper]

Why those places? I managed a trucking company for years and that's what I'm familiar with. Now, my intro thread talked about a marathon road trip I hope to repeat AND my "retirement" plan is to spend 6 months or so of each year somewhere cooler, and the other 6 somewhere warmer, if you follow.

Yeah, the bike trips were minimal. Those were days. We cheated and hoteled a lot, though. And I agree that a van-camp experience will not be quite as minimal as that.

I envision full-timing, though practically I know it'll take a bit to work up to that. I have years to ramp up into this. I think the best rig for this job will be a DIY minivan conversion, because 1) I'm handy enough to do it and keep it functioning 100%, 2) it'll give me the freedom/flexibility to build it out over time, 3) I won't have to deal with a trailer or other rig when I stop at places I want to be.

All my questions about electrical are focused on building the knowledge to build my van correctly when I spend the effort. I saw a setup on YouTube that I really liked but the guy is an electrical engineer! So, baby steps.

You say you'll have a long run up before actually hitting the road, so I have a suggestion.

It's somewhat twofold.

You can get a kill-o-watt meter and test actual electrical usage of appliances you have around the house. This would give you "real world" information, and a better understanding of what you might need battery wise. Yes, you'll get smaller and more efficient appliances for the road. But this can further your education faster than secondhand information.

You can also buy a super cheap used solar panel or two to play with. Build a small system to try things out. What components you might want to use, what the capacities are. How much space do they take to, etc. that'll help you see if the size vehicle you're thinking of is compatible with the power generation you prefer.

 

[rruff]

This leads me to ask how is the most efficient way to use a fridge/freezer??
Just put it around 40° and leave it?
Freeze a bunch of gel cubes and then turn it off?
Run it as a fridge during the day only? Then turn it off at night?

Great minds think alike! I considered getting a little fridge and making ice, which I'd then put in a very well insulated cooler. But... the efficiency declines at lower temperatures, so freezing water and using the ice will take more energy and be annoying... with the possible benefit of giving you a buffer in cloudy weather.

I've been doing fine without a fridge or cooler... just eat stuff that doesn't require it. I may get one someday, but I'll just use it the normal way if I do. You want to keep the temp just above freezing so the food will last longer.

 

[rruff]

I don't anticipate "off-roading" very much. A gravel track is about as rough as I anticipate.
And no 2 homes for me (thanks for thinking I have that kind of scratch.) Traveling with the seasons.

You will want to do this in the west most likely. Some people winter along the gulf in TX and FL in winter, but it isn't nearly as common... more people, gotta move often, hard to find free places, etc. You can camp just about anywhere in the SW deserts, and can't beat the high mountains in summer either.

Offroad ability is an absolute necessity for me, since it's required to get to the best places with the least "things of man". Trucks are generally the best platform since they are more rugged to start with and 4wd with low range is common, along with numerous suspension upgrades being available. Truck based SUVs can work too. I'd have zero qualms about putting a high top on a Suburban or something...

 

[bullfrog !]

You will want to do this in the west most likely. Some people winter along the gulf in TX and FL in winter, but it isn't nearly as common... more people, gotta move often, hard to find free places, etc. You can camp just about anywhere in the SW deserts, and can't beat the high mountains in summer either.

Offroad ability is an absolute necessity for me, since it's required to get to the best places with the least "things of man". Trucks are generally the best platform since they are more rugged to start with and 4wd with low range is common, along with numerous suspension upgrades being available. Truck based SUVs can work too. I'd have zero qualms about putting a high top on a Suburban or something...

Along the coast things tend to get rusty as well, not so much in the desert.

 

[bukwessl]

I have an large,extra deep skillet with a lid. I can bake biscuits or cornbread or cookies, make a big pot of spay or stew, cook chicken, make burritos or grilled cheese sandwiches, even a small pizza,etc. I have a small sauce pan with pour spout edges. Sized about perfect for heating cans of soup or chilli, making quick oatmeal breakfast. Plus one small skillet. Then a small stainless steel tea kettle sized to heat several cups of water without being too bulky to store in a drawer. That setup is versatile enough to handle a wide range of food prep and even fix something in volume size for a potluck party without taking up too much storage space. I went through changing out a few various pots and pans before I got to that just right combination. Some of the portable gas stoves have the burner grid the pans sit on spaced too far away from the center for supporting a smaller sized pan. But you can find adapters for gas stove burners on Amazon to fill in some of that open area with support structure. Do search on Amazon using the keywords “gas stove ring reducer”.

Picture please. Plus diameter/ measurements would help. Thanks

 

[VernContra]

To continue:
A 100 amp-hour 12 volt battery has 1200 watt-hours. Can power a 1400watt device for about 50 minutes.
1200/1400 = 0.85 hour • 60 minutes = 50ish min

I have been in Bluedogz area of comprehension, I can relate. My light bulb turning on moment was realizing that a battery has X amount of Amp hours, (AKA Watt hours) and doing this exact calculation to figure out what percentage of battery I would be using.
Depending upon your budget for a system, a shunt that asks for the capacity of your battery will do a good job keeping You informed of your batteries "state of charge". An AiLi, Renogy or Victron Shunt all compare your batteries usage to the available capacity of your battery and report that in percentage. If you have that, you will soon know what equipment is an energy hog and what isn't. Just my two cents.

 

[frodo2222]

I have been in Bluedogz area of comprehension, I can relate. My light bulb turning on moment was realizing that a battery has X amount of Amp hours, (AKA Watt hours) and doing this exact calculation to figure out what percentage of battery I would be using.
Depending upon your budget for a system, a shunt that asks for the capacity of your battery will do a good job keeping You informed of your batteries "state of charge". An AiLi, Renogy or Victron Shunt all compare your batteries usage to the available capacity of your battery and report that in percentage. If you have that, you will soon know what equipment is an energy hog and what isn't. Just my two cents.

I've found the best for me at least is to forget all the math and just add extra solar..in my van I have 590 never run out, on my fifth wheel I have 3000 run AC fridge 40 inch tv and stand up freezer...when in doubt more solar panels lol

 

[Dirtrider]

I've found the best for me at least is to forget all the math and just add extra solar..in my van I have 590 never run out, on my fifth wheel I have 3000 run AC fridge 40 inch tv and stand up freezer...when in doubt more solar panels lol

And more storage, larger solar controller, and larger invertor too

 

[LargeMarge]

... "Do I even need a...

.
"Do we need that?" is our mantra about anything.
Example:
Around camp with our caravan chums, we usually have a SWAP pile of equipment/clothes/food, stuff tried and realized unnecessary by the donor.
.
After supper, digesting, I enjoy pulling-up the recliner to watch folks circling the SWAP pile, occasionally lifting something, weighing its potential, but usually placing it back for the next camper to contemplate.
.
Do we need _____ ?
For example:
* "Do we need more secs-workers holding public office?"
I fully absolutely support the rights of secs-workers, and I think they are certainly welcome to run for LeaderOfTheFreeWorld© or something else entirely!
.
Staying on that subject, weight is an issue in economy-orientated rigs such as a tiny van... or those brave souls dwelling in a midgetized Toyota Pry-Us (which could, based on its uncanny resemblance, be secondarily purposed as a circus clown-car!).
.
If, like us, you use your vehicle as a home-base for exploring the outside world, your rig can be significantly smaller than the hunkering hoarders, the BillionBuxBus crowd with dual wine-chillers in the 'Entertainment Center'.
[editor's note : the juxtaposition of 'secs-workers' and 'Entertainment Center' is mere happenstance, and probably has zero correlation irregardless...]
.
I loathe charts and graphs and spread-sheets listing electric draws for individual appliances!
[another editor's note : the use of the phrase 'spread-sheets' should probably not be taken as some licentious extension of those earlier two subjects (above), unless you really want to...]
.
I see any of those amps/watts lists headed my way:
-- my eyes glaze
-- my fingers tremble,
and in short order
-- you can find me in the sack, the covers pulled over my head... aka our 'Entertainment Center'.
.
A momentary aside:
Does your Humble Correspondent seem on a theme today?
Moving right along...
.
Accordingly, we eliminated anything electric.
Do we have a blender, yes.
Do we often donate it to the SWAP pile, yes.
Do our caravan chums examine it, weighing its usefulness against the space -- and management -- it requires, then continuing circling without snagging such a treasure, yes.
Are we tempted to visit a stadium parking-lot on GameDay® to surreptitiously abandon it on some unoccupied Tail-Gate©, [pleads The Fifth...]?
.
Extrapolating, we fervently test the potential for Management Drag of anything we might add to the load.
And that, right there, is the kicker for us:
-- could it harsh our mellow.
.
An aside:
The astute observer might attempt some correlation between 'elected positions' and 'Management Drag'.
I think that would be astute, observer.

 

[LargeMarge]

Picture please. Plus diameter/ measurements would help. Thanks

.

.
[edited to add]
I scissor-off the fat and steam-render that, then braise the main-course for a few seconds each side.
And 'yes', I prefer it very rare.
.
A heavy sprinkle of *BACON* and a dash of smoked sea-salt plus Kick'n Chicken, I'm good.

.
www.naturalgrocers.com/products/salt-applewood-smkd-fine-sea-8-oz
.

.
[edited to add]
I always have a couple-three bags of these GreatValue *BACON* in each vehicle for snacks.
I experimented with a bag of salad, but that was around the time of nasty contamination -- it was in all the news --so I returned to Old Reliable... *BACON*.
And plenty of it.

 

[rruff]

I've found the best for me at least is to forget all the math and just add extra solar

"Adding more" doesn't work for someone just starting and trying to figure out what they need, though...

"Do we need that?" is our mantra about anything.

Living in a vehicle involves many compromises that you wouldn't necessarily have in a house or apartment!

Choose wisely. I frankly don't understand anyone attempting to live in a smallish rig if they are still infected with the "more is better" disease. That is probably why so many "modern" vagabond camps resemble junk yards...

 

[LargeMarge]

I have an large,extra deep skillet with a lid... make burritos... search using the keyword...[hollow-moon lizards]...

.
a)
Burrito, the little burro.
Any latinx in the audience, why name a food after a donkey?
.
b)
Yesterday at a second-hand store, I scored a deep 14"/36cm cast-iron skillet with a glass lid, us$4 (four fedbux) out the door.
Zero shipping cost, zero supporting hollow-moon lizards, and my money stays local.
.
An aside:
One of my income-producing hobbies is re-conditioning old cast-iron cookery.
Like some kind of crazed tool-nuts, our ExpeditionVehicle has a Craftsman 20v battery-operated orbital sander, aka 'DA' for dual-action.
With a 40-grit pad on the DA, I polish the cooking surface to a mirror shine.
.
Then, I super-heat the cast-iron to remove the grunge and that funky baked-oil seasoning.
I immediately coat the bare metal with organic coconut oil, then slowly cool it overnight in the oven.
These heirlooms go on our table at our farmers markets...
... and, as you might imagine, they go like hotcakes!
.
[edited to add]
As per Post 39, we now return you to our regularly-scheduled programming.

 

[maki2]

Try to stay on track with answering question about watts and leave out the “social” commentaries about other campers behaviors in campsites that divert people into deep rabbit holes and muddy swamp lands. There are other sections of the forum for discussing that stuff.