12 Volt Power Options

[chasineyes]

OK this might be a really dumb question but oh well. We will be camping for 7 days with no power or "utilities". Just running off the battery. Is it possible or "wise" to run jumper cables from the truck battery to the camper battery to power it. THis way when were driving during the day, the car battery can recharge? I've also thought about pulling out the truck battery nightly and "attempting" to wire that up to the camper, thus eliminating the jumper cables.

Any thoughts or ideas??

[CoorsCaptain]

What if you run your truck battery dead, how will you get it started?

[upnorth]

If you are going to hook the camper to the truck by way of jumper cables, you can start the truck to charge the battery in the camper. Easiest thing to do is to get a hold of a generator and run it for a couple hours every couple days to charge the battery. We run 2 big deep cycles in our 5th wheal and we are usually good for at least 3 or 4 days without recharge.

[Powerstroke]

When using the truck to charge the batteries it will be a very fast charge. All it does is sense the low voltage and try to charge it as fast as possible.

If you've got a camper with a 7pin connector it is probably setup to charge the batteries through the trailer connection which I'd think is better because you have a fuse and possibly a controller between the alternator and your battery.

And like Coors said, what if you kill the truck battery? How will you get your truck started to "recharge" the battery?

I'd try to find a generator to borrow or maybe a solar maintainer, but both will require you to be extremely careful with your power usage since it sounds like you only have one battery.

[chasineyes]

What if you run your truck battery dead, how will you get it started?

I"m guessing there will be plenty of people around to help jump start if that happened. (Going to Yellowstone)

[chasineyes]

Yes we do have the 7 pin system. Does it not take a long time with the truck running to give the battery some more juice? How long do you think it would take to re-juice the battery after using it for an evening? (1/2 hour or 4 hours) I'm just concerned abuot not having enough power to run the heater.

[upnorth]

If you start out fresh with a new deep cycle they last longer than you think. But if you run the heater alot it is going to drain it.

I say beg/borrow a small honda generator. I think the national parks have noise restrictions. Or do like I did and spend the extra $70 and put in a second big deep cycle.

[LightningBG]

I would stay away from using the truck battery.

Charging the camper while driving might be ok, but I wouldn't use it with the truck off.

[TooTallTom]

What if you run your truck battery dead, how will you get it started?

[Powerstroke]

The truck must be running to charge the battery through the truck, so you'd have to idle the truck. How long depends on the state of charge in the battery. If you plan on using the heater, you will most likely have to run it every day. Its the easiest option you have, however it is still not a great one.

The best is borrowing a gennie and/or adding a second battery.

[upnorth]

When we camp in colder weather, we only run the heater in the am to take the chill while we have breakfast. Night time we turn it off and pile on the blankets.

[Powerstroke]

Great point by upnorth, don't rely on the heater for warmth. It can fail, run out of fuel or power and you won't have it.

Make sure your clothing and sleeping system is rated to the lowest temps you will experience and you will be fine.

Only run the heater to take the chill out of the air and that battery will last much longer. Ours lasts 3-4 days without heater use and 2-3 if using the furnace. A lantern will help also.

[chasineyes]

Thanks for all the tips! I may just bring home one of the "extra" trolling motor batteries this weekend so I will have 2 just in case!

My luck it will get warmer than heck in the next 3 weeks out there and none of this will be a issue.