Picked up my Runaway camper trailer today

[MikeRuth]

Stevesway, once you have this setup it would be really nice to here your findings on how this works out as real world info.

Good luck,

Mike R

 

[akrvbob]

In the teeny-tiny space of that trailer, thinking small has to be priority one, I'm afraid you lost sight of that for a minute.
Bob

 

[SoulRaven]

I should have everything within a week. Then I will see how to set this up.
Yeah Bob, you're right, I was overlooking things. I had started buying things before I even had the trailer in my possession. I am the kind of person that always tries to stay ahead of things, but sometimes that gets me into trouble. But I think if I keep my thinking small and lightweight from here on I will be ok. I am done with getting the major items, now it's just the little stuff. Bedding, everyday hygiene supplies, some cookware and eating utensils and dishes, etc.

I have also had to redo some things that I had already dome on this thing too. Some things look good starting out and then when I get it finished and try to go on to the next thing, what I had done before doesn't get along with it. I am finding out that working in such a small amount of space is a real challenge to have things work smoothly. But it seems to be coming together, slowly but surely.

I have to figure out how to set up the batteries and solar kit when they get here. I don't think I will mount it permanently. I want to keep things kinda portable and fluid right now till I see how all these things fit in, and work. It's kinda like fitting pieces of a puzzle together.

 

[SoulRaven]

Here are a few things I have added and updated. First, I had to redo my electrical extension of connecting the front power to the rear of the trailer. I ran the wire under the belly of the trailer and up through the back to another power strip. I had it centered under the top shelf. But then I started installing the microwave and it made it impossible to reach the power strip. Before I could install the microwave, I had to relocate the power strip. See what I mean.......it is hard to get things to get along working in such a small space.
Anyway, here are some pics. The microwave is attached very securely and is in a position that gives plenty of air circulation around it. I mounted it in the middle for a couple reasons. One being that I wanted to keep the weight distributed as much as possible and of course I wanted to keep air circulation around it. Also, it sits directly opposite the AC, and balances the feel and look of things.

Notice also, that I received my CO detector and alarm and have installed it on the wall. I really didn't know an ideal place for it. There also, was a couple reasons for putting it where I did. The directions said to install it on a wall, 4" min down from the ceiling, away from air conditioners and fans, and not in any corners or dead air spaces. For some reason this spot seemed perfect.

 

[SoulRaven]

Here is where I installed the CO detector and alarm.

 

[SoulRaven]

Here are a few things I have added and updated. First, I had to redo my electrical extension of connecting the front power to the rear of the trailer. I ran the wire under the belly of the trailer and up through the back to another power strip. I had it centered under the top shelf. But then I started installing the microwave and it made it impossible to reach the power strip. Before I could install the microwave, I had to relocate the power strip. See what I mean.......it is hard to get things to get along working in such a small space.
Anyway, here are some pics. The microwave is attached very securely and is in a position that gives plenty of air circulation around it. I mounted it in the middle for a couple reasons. One being that I wanted to keep the weight distributed as much as possible and of course I wanted to keep air circulation around it. Also, it sits directly opposite the AC, and balances the feel and look of things.

Notice also, that I received my CO detector and alarm and have installed it on the wall. I really didn't know an ideal place for it. There also, was a couple reasons for putting it where I did. The directions said to install it on a wall, 4" min down from the ceiling, away from air conditioners and fans, and not in any corners or dead air spaces. For some reason this spot seemed perfect.

The brackets for the microwave were something I just found laying around. Hey.....a buck saved here and there adds up. Then I can spend it on more important things like generators, fridges, batteries, and solar.

 

[SoulRaven]

I know, that having a microwave isn't a real necessity, but I am gong to utilize it in a few ways. First, it will cook and heat up my food, then I can use it to heat water for making coffee which eliminates the need for a coffee maker and all the mess of getting rid of the grounds and maintaining it. I am not a big coffee drinker anyway...and I like the taste of instant coffee too. Another big reason to have it is to heat water to clean up with. I can heat up some water in a bowl and wash, shave, brush my teeth, etc with warm water. I am also investigating more ways to use it. But those 3 alone justifies having it to me. I will run it with the generator when I need it.

 

[highdesertranger]

once when I was prospecting along the Klamath river I went to the next camp up river from us and introduced myself. it was 2 guys from Sweden they were tent camping and did all there cooking off a hot plate run by a Honda generator. just throwing this out there. highdesertranger

 

[Seraphim]

Stevesway

Have you looked into propane for heating and cooking. We even run our fridge off propane. We don't use a genny for anything. Can't stand the little monsters lol. Microwave is nice when there's shore power, but it's not a necessity. Consider running a gas stove top, water heater etc, from a tank mounted outside. Ten minutes to heat water at night for shower, and waters still warm in the morning. A lot of advantages, and I think probably cheaper than a genny. About $20 of propane lasts us over a month. Just my $.02

 

[SoulRaven]

Stevesway

Have you looked into propane for heating and cooking.  We even run our fridge off propane. We don't use a genny for anything. Can't stand the little monsters lol.  Microwave is nice when there's shore power, but it's not a necessity.  Consider running a gas stove top,  water heater etc, from a tank mounted outside. Ten minutes to heat water at night for shower, and waters still warm in the morning. A lot of advantages, and I think probably cheaper than a genny. About $20 of propane lasts us over a month. Just my $.02

Yes, propane is quiet, and can run a lot of things. But I have already set things up for the generator. I am working with a very small setup, and it has been challenging. At times I have felt like just stopping and scrapping the whole thing. If I went the propane way I would have to redo everything and I am in no mood to do that. I have had to redo a few things because they didn't work out right or interfered with other things. So I am going to have to keep gong with the generator thing.
I am going to have some solar, not much but some. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[SoulRaven]

I tried just one of the 36 ah small deep cycle scooter/wheel chair batteries last night. I brought the fridge down to the temp I wanted with 110, then hooked the battery up to it to just run on it. It did ok. It ran about 8 hours before it got too low to run the fridge anymore. I had the fridge set to stop running at 10 volts, the lowest setting it will allow.
I am wanting the fridge to run more than 8 hours on the battery, so tonight I hooked the other twin 35ah in parallel so I can double the ah. I will see how that works. It is my understanding that if yo hook batteries up in parallel their amps get added up to the total of both of their ratings.
It only took 2 hours to recharge the battery after being pretty heavily discharged.

 

[SoulRaven]

After hooking up the batteries in parallel they kept the fridge running 19 hours. The batteries were reading 11.4 So I am sure that they would have went 24 hours with no problem. Now I am gong to see how my solar works on recharging them.  So far it is slow. Of course I pulled the batteries down quite a bit. They are recovering but I know that they would take pretty much time. Although, they have been on the panel for about 2 hours and are up to 11.95 from 11.4. So they are soaking up some juice. If I leave the panel connected while the batteries are still running the fridge it might help stretch out the amount of time the batteries can run the fridge.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

these are 12v batteries? They shouldnt discharge lower than 12.2 if you want them to live very long.

 

[offroad]

Any 12v battery should not be going below 50% of capacity without immediately charging backup up, if you want the battery to last a long time. It's a painful reality of using batteries. Sure you can do it. And the batteries will recover. But instead of the batteries lasting three years, they only last one and half years. --- also your batteries should not go much below 12.1 volts when that are discharged and have no load. Measuring batteries are tricky. You mention getting to 10volts. Hope that is under load. Turn off the load and if they popped back to 12.1 volts you should be okay. --- find some good references online about battery change discharge cycles and get up to speed on the mystery.

 

[SoulRaven]

Any 12v battery should not be going below 50% of capacity without immediately charging backup up, if you want the battery to last a long time. It's a painful reality of using batteries. Sure you can do it. And the batteries will recover. But instead of the batteries lasting three years, they only last one and half years. --- also your batteries should not go much below 12.1 volts when that are discharged and have no load. Measuring batteries are tricky. You mention getting to 10volts. Hope that is under load.  Turn off the load and if they popped back to 12.1 volts you should be okay. --- find some good references online about battery change discharge cycles and get up to speed on the mystery.

Yes, It was under a load when at 11.4, but they did jump back to around 12 when the load was off. The 10 volts was what I had the fridge set to cut off if the batteries got that low as a safety factor. I was just testing the one time to see how long the batteries would power the fridge for future reference, to get a feel of how long they would last powering the fridge. I have to know that. But I won't be letting that happen again if I can help it.

 

[SoulRaven]

Well, I am in the process of trying to sell my Runaway. It is just not going to work out for me. It is too small and confining. And it is hard to get into and out of for me. I am an old guy (64) and the different positions and such are just too hard on my back and legs. I put a LOT of time and pretty much money into it but I have made worst mistakes and failures than this. I will recover, and maybe think of something else.
Here is a link to an ad I am running to attempt to sell it. http://lakeland.craigslist.org/rvs/5036151583.html
thanks for all your suggestions and support in this endeavor of mine.

 

[highdesertranger]

boy that didn't last long, sorry about that. what's your plan now? maybe something a little larger? that's a pretty good price your asking, you shouldn't have much of a problem selling it. keep us up to date. highdesertranger

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

sorry to hear that, good luck in whatever you endeavor to try next. i had a van for only a few weeks once when i decided to cut my loses on it, i know its a tough call but i dont regret it now.

 

[SoulRaven]

I put a lot of work and time into this thing and it is kind of disheartening to find out that it won't work no matter how hard I try to make it. It just boiled down to that it is just too small for me to be comfortable in. And also that I have to tow something and have to watch where I park or going through the hassle of backing it up just doesn't appeal to me. I was having uneasy feelings when I went up to look at them and while sitting in one. But I made the mistake of ignoring my gut feeling.
From here I don't know what I will want to do. I do know from this experience that it will have to be something that I can stand up in. Every minute of being in that trailer is being crouched down. Even my Ford Escape is more comfortable. I know that sounds weird but the Escape is more easy to get into and out of. And sitting in it is way more comfortable for some reason. I have even slept in it while on road trips before and with an air mattress and seemed it was just as roomy as the Runaway. There is something about that Runaway trailer that I can only stay in it for a few minutes and then I have to get the heck outta there. 

I am sorta leaning toward the van idea again. I am pretty sure that is what I wanted to begin with.  It has its drawbacks as well. But I have found out for sure that I don't want to tow anything. This experience has taught me that I like the freedom just turning the key and go. The idea of having the living quarters and traveling vehicle all one unit seems to be the sweet spot for me. Now, I just have to see what will be acceptable for me. If it would be a van, it would most definitely have to be a high top. I just hope this trailer mistake doesn't make my decisions into a lot of indecision. I will try to keep everyone informed.

 

[MikeRuth]

Seeing you were uncomfortable in the trailer I'd think a van would be the same even with a high top.

I'd think you would do your self a favor and look at class B and C units. Certainly understand finances could be a factor but it's my thought.

Best of luck on this.

Mike R