Boondocking for 3 Weeks, Want to run Furnace!

[ventura67]

So we'll be in the U.P. for 3 weeks in August and as anyone who's been to the U.P. knows it can still get chilly at night.  I want to keep the kids (3 yrs. and 6 mos. old) warm enough to not crowd us at night.  That is the only electrical we will use.

What is our hope for lasting 3 weeks on battery and propane power.  Solar charger? (no gas generator, thank you). How many watts?  2 or 3 extra tanks of propane?

2003 Starcraft 2107L with battery.

Thank You!

[Recumbentman]

So we'll be in the U.P. for 3 weeks in August and as anyone who's been to the U.P. knows it can still get chilly at night.  I want to keep the kids (3 yrs. and 6 mos. old) warm enough to not crowd us at night.  That is the only electrical we will use.

What is our hope for lasting 3 weeks on battery and propane power.  Solar charger? (no gas generator, thank you). How many watts?  2 or 3 extra tanks of propane?

2003 Starcraft 2107L with battery.

Thank You!

Not going to happen    heater fans suck down the power. you will need to get a second battery and possibility have to get one or both re-charged at a gas station along the way. you should also have a second propane tank with you.
good luck  

[fleagalbaum]

I would think a few hours of charging off your TV will keep you in check
I just ran 2 nights with my furnace and it hardly made a dent in the battery.

I would be interested in a solar panel charger too but the cost is pretty expensive.  Maybe I will treat myself next year.

[tlhdoc]

I would get at least one extra group 31 battery and at least one extra propane tank.  You should be able to find a place to fill the tank and recharge the battery.  Have a great trip.

[ForestCreature]

We did 3 weeks going around Superior in late Aug, early Sept. 45 watts of solar did us just fine. If you dry camp alot the solar is worth the $$.  We did manage to have spectacular weather, the nights were cool not outright cold. 2 propane tanks should do you, just check the levels and refill if need be when you're out on a day trip.

 I also took our big blue water jugs and filled those at gas stations to avoid having to pump well water all the time.

 There are some great spots to camp in the UP, 3 weeks is a nice long trip.
 If you don't already have it, this book on waterfalls is good to have when doing the UP. The descriptions and directions are pretty accurate.

[ventura67]

We did 3 weeks going around Superior in late Aug, early Sept. 45 watts of solar did us just fine. If you dry camp alot the solar is worth the $$.  We did manage to have spectacular weather, the nights were cool not outright cold. 2 propane tanks should do you, just check the levels and refill if need be when you're out on a day trip.

 I also took our big blue water jugs and filled those at gas stations to avoid having to pump well water all the time.

 There are some great spots to camp in the UP, 3 weeks is a nice long trip.
 If you don't already have it, this book on waterfalls is good to have when doing the UP. The descriptions and directions are pretty accurate.

Hey Forest, that link is dead.

[ForestCreature]

Try this one, scroll down twords the bottom, if you take the right route you can stop and pick one up at the Dayooper Tourist Trap (it's worth the stop)
http://www.dayoopers.com/the.store?cart_id=5138036.84626&page=catalogF.html

[beacher]

I have Winter boondocked in zero degree weather.  The Group27 battery will last two nights, three days, (also powering lights).  And about five gallons of propane, (a 20lb tank), every two nights.

I would imagine your night time temps will be much warmer than zero degrees in August, so your furnace will not be cycling on most of the time.

The recommendations to have a spare battery and propane tank in rotation are good.  Over a three week period you will likely need to top off one or both a few times.

[Morphine]

pick up a black cat coleman catalytic heater and about 20 tanks of propane, this will take the chill out of the trailer and same your battery

[ventura67]

We're back and the battery and propane held up great!

1st week: 3 nights in the 40's, a couple in the 50's and the furnace set at 60 degrees never ran the battery down or the propane out.

Drove 1 hour between week 1 and the next two weeks, which must have recharged the battery.

Next 2 weeks: Warmer, a half dozen nights in the 50's.  Battery never ran down; propane, which had also run the stove and fridge, finally needed to be changed near the beginning of week three.

All the while we ran the overhead lights for about an hour each day.

Very impressed with the battery and propane reserves!  Best of all we had a fabulous time camping!!!

Thanks for your ideas!

N, K, K & A

[austinado16]

Man, what a great trip...and with the young-uns too!  Nice!  
Thanks for the update on battery and propane usage.  I've just installed a furnace, but have yet to use it for real, other than just testing the function after installation.