Slide on Camper

scoomer · Newbie

Slide on Camper

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang Scoomer, enjoy here and out in the playground.

First, don't worry too much about your Gennie cos if ya run it at 2.00am no one will hear it as they will all be asleep.

Second, Solar Panel or Panel's with a good quality controller/charger will always be a good addition to any set up. Just make sure the roof can take the weight and doesn't put your rig over weight. You could always go with a portable panel set up. Jaycar are usually good people to chat too. You could also go into the 'techies' section of the forum and have a look at the 'solar power' sub forum at top of the section. Heaps of info in there.

Third, I use a 18v cordless drill with appropriate socket on end to wind my aluminium teepee stabilisers up and down and see no reason why it wouldn't work for what you ask. A 20v cordless drill might even work a little better. If you can, get a second battery so it is charged and ready if needed, it will save time.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

scoomer · Newbie

Hi Dougwe
Thanks so much for the reply, I`m onto the drill, gotta get that drill. I might just get some free standing solar panels cos the pop top is heavy enough and I was thinking I like to park near trees and that might not work for solar on the roof. I mainly just have the fridge that I worry about and don`t want to let the charge on the battery drop too low, so I will use the genny like you said and pop into the powered sites at the parks for the top ups on battery power when I can .
I found this site last night and it seems to have some good info.
www.energymatters.com.au/components/battery-voltage-discharge/

Thanks again chief one feather

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hi scoomer,
Yep that's a good website (Energy Matters) - I have a printout of it in my van & I've mentioned it on here a few times..

Regarding your other requirements, I might be handy to share with us what your vehicle & fridge is. I've had a Trailblazer fridge since Expo 88 but don't carry it now as the van's fridge is more than adequate. I found I could crank up the thermostat (colder) on the fridge for the last couple of hours of driving & then shut it down for the night. I took frozen whiting fillets from Ceduna to Townsville (going up the short cut - The Birdsville Track) utilising that method.

Extra batteries? Remember they are heavy & weight is not a "paying passenger". You'll find lots of battery/solar posts in the "Techies - Solar" area of this forum; enough to sink or fix your query!
A Deep Cycle battery is preferable for slow discharges eg a fridge just don't go down below 50% capacity if you want a long battery life.

Be wary that portable panels (& I have some) could be a target for sticky fingered, dishonest "campers"!

PS - you'll find some people on here with a warped sense of humour - eg Dougwe (& me).

Dougwe · Chief one feather

"Warped sense of humour" Me, neeeever disbelief

scoomer · Newbie

Hi Warren,
thanks for your info, you and dougwe sound like mates. But I find as I travel you find most people over 55 are good humored, helpful and friendly. I`m from Bundy, have a Dmax space cab, and a Northstar with a 110lt Dometic fridge. I`ve had 2 slide ons before but the Northstar with the North south bed and shower and toilet is like home. I took this one for it`s first run to wuruma dam last weekend with the boat behind and as I was only staying for the weekend(not lucky to be retired yet) I thought the battery would be enough to keep the fridge and waterpump working for a few days, (I have the battery plugged in to the mains at the moment, hopfully I haven`t stuffed the battery up) as by Sunday afternoon I turned the fridge off as I could see it was wasn`t cold. This week I`ll have my conection to the alternator working and the volt meter should give me an Idea what`s going on. I don`t want another battery as you said "another unpaying passenger. I`ll check out"Techies - Solar" area and maybe learn something. Good Idea to crank the fridge up on the drive, I`ll try that.
Yes living in town a bit has taught me to be wary of the sticky fingered ones
I`m enjoying catching redclaw, sooo much better than prawns and alot of the farms around have closed due to the white spot problem. So as soon as I get organised and sell a kidney to buy some fuel I`ll try Boondoma dam maybe.