12v power set up?

[Gabe]

I have a 05 Yuma that I would like to start dry camping with, at this time I don

[AustinBoston]

I have a 05 Yuma that I would like to start dry camping with, at this time I don

[Gabe]

Interesting.  Why do you have a deep cycle in the Jeep instead of a starting battery?



I have 12V lights, two 12V fans, a 12V water pump, a 12V furnace, and a 12V propane detector, and those are the things that came built-in.  (I also have a three-way fridge that can run off 12V, but that will kill the battery in short order).

If all you would do with the battery is run lights, then why not invest in some lanterns and skip wiring for a battery?

Austin

I have a winch on the jeep.

I guess that's my question what else can I run except for the sink I don't think I can run anything off my current set up.

[flyfisherman]

That's what I do for my 12V source ... the TV battery, and it's the starter battery that came with the truck ('02 GMC Sierra, 4.8 V-8), 76,000 miles and the battery is still going strong.

Most generally I just run the overhead lights off the TV. And since they are so bright, only use them for when we have to eat and wash dishes inside because of the weather. For just sitting around inside the camper at might I have one of those 4-D cell table lanterns with the diffused shades and makes for pleasant lighting to see where one is stepping - Wally-Mart, maybe $6.00 -
And have a 12V five inch screen B&W television that I can plug into the light fixture receptacle just in case there's an uncontrollable urge to see something special ... if I can pick it up the station! Also, have an automotive oscellating fan I can turn on, too, if there should be a need.

In my case, weight is already a big factor and adding a deep-cycle battery just for what I do is unnecessary, especially if the TV can handle it. Besides I usually drove to some fishing site the next day so the battery will get re-charged.

Don't laugh ... it's worked so far!


Fly

[dthurk]

Gabe-
 
 Depends on the options on your particualr camper.  I would think you would at least have ceiling lights, water pump and 1/4 inch outlet plugs for fan lights in the bunk ends all operating on 12 volt.  If you don't have the fans, that would be an important item to obtain to make your dry camping a lot more enjoyable.  You might also have a furnace that would operate on 12 volt.  As others have said, I would not recommend running a refrigerator on 12 volts, you'll drain your battery really fast.  If you have a 3 way refrigerator, run it on propane.  
 
 My concern for using the tow vehicle battery would lie in something happening that I was unaware of (indavertently left on or other Murphy's law situations) that would drain the tow vehicle battery.  If you're dry camping, quite often you would be some distance away from assistance.  If you have a dead tow vehicle battery, where does that leave you?  The second battery not connected to the tow vehicle would be great peace of mind for me.

[Gabe]

Gabe-
 
 Depends on the options on your particualr camper.  I would think you would at least have ceiling lights, water pump and 1/4 inch outlet plugs for fan lights in the bunk ends all operating on 12 volt.  If you don't have the fans, that would be an important item to obtain to make your dry camping a lot more enjoyable.  You might also have a furnace that would operate on 12 volt.  As others have said, I would not recommend running a refrigerator on 12 volts, you'll drain your battery really fast.  If you have a 3 way refrigerator, run it on propane.  
 
 My concern for using the tow vehicle battery would lie in something happening that I was unaware of (indavertently left on or other Murphy's law situations) that would drain the tow vehicle battery.  If you're dry camping, quite often you would be some distance away from assistance.  If you have a dead tow vehicle battery, where does that leave you?  The second battery not connected to the tow vehicle would be great peace of mind for me.

I have ceiling lights and a pump, not sure about the 1/4 outlests for fan's are they in the light fixture? I'll check tonight.
I see your point about not being able to start your TV so I will have to weight that as well.

[jmckinle1]

I have ceiling lights and a pump, not sure about the 1/4 outlests for fan's are they in the light fixture? I'll check tonight.
I see your point about not being able to start your TV so I will have to weight that as well.

Do you have two batteries on your Jeep?  A starting battery and a deep cycle?

[mike4947]

I've been stranded using the TV battery to power the camper. Not fun. I got lucky walking around the campground with jumper cables in my hand begging...LOL

An alternative is one of the jump start packs. They come with a 20 amp AGM battery that can be quickly recharged through the TV's cigarette light/power point outlets in a short drive.
Plus they are portable and if you do run down the TV battery you've got the jump pack to get you going.
Shop round, the prices vary greatly and the number of functions/accesories they include.

[ForestCreature]

I run lights. furnace, the exhaust vent fan for the fridge, water pump and the cassette toilet flushes off 12 v. A battery is a small investment to be able use all that stuff.

We also have 2 batteries in the TV, the Club Wagon came stock with a deep cycle auxillary battery & a starting battery. But still use a seperate battery for the camper.