The only boondock camping I've ever done was in a tent. While I was taking apart our 2201TL trying to find an electrical problem, this was before Sam Shields told me what the problem was , anyway... After looking at the entire electrical system in our camper I realized there wouldn't be any AC power when boondocking for things like our coffee maker.

How do you boondockers handle this?

Neal

__________________
2001 Hi-Lo 22TL
2010 F150

We boondock allot on our hundred acres of blue sky here in NW PA. Actually it is kind of nice getting away from AC power outlets for a few days. It is a good time to test your skills, especially when it comes to cooking. The coffee maker at home becomes a tea kettle and coffee bags or a good old fashioned percolator. The range at home is replaced by "your new gas grill" and maybe a cast iron dutch oven. There are volumes of recipes that were made for dutch oven cooking, like baking cakes, bread, soup, and bunches of other things. We just got a new one and can't wait to try it out. The campfire and a couple of good cast iron pie irons can become very useful, it is surprising how many things you can do in a pie iron. If the weather gets bad, as a last resort, you can use the cook top inside the Hi-Lo to heat up a can of soup. Don't forget to take a can opener..... Just have fun!

If you plan on being out for more than a weekend you may want to add a second battery to the rig. Or, go the generator route. With a 2000 watt generator you could take your coffee maker with you.

I installed two 75-watt solar panels and an inverter in our 26-footer. I needed it for my CPAP machine (for sleep apnea). We can run my wife's Featherweight sewing machine, a woodburner, or a Dremel just fine in the daytime unless it's cloudy all day. We have a small TV/DVD player, and that works ok too. With two 12V deep cycle batteries, we can handle a day or two without sunshine with me using the CPAP at night.

Our system won't handle an electric toaster, microwave or electric coffeepot, but we don't mind that when we're boondocking.

dwood
(Durwood Thrasher)

RichR, when you put it like that it, having no AC sounds like a lot of fun. I'll sure be glad when warmer weather gets here. I'm ready to camp!

Dwood, my Hi-Lo has a solar panel on the back on the roof, it says battery saver on it and I saw one like it at Camping World, that one said it was supposed to provide a trickle charge to help keep the battery charged when the camper wasn't in use. I have a question in the "Maintenance/Solar and Generator power" area, I've asked if anyone knows how to tell if the solar panel is working. If you know how to test it would you post an answer there please.

Neal

__________________
2001 Hi-Lo 22TL
2010 F150

If You need to use 110v when not near a plug, I take a 6kw generater I have a 12v elec wench and folding ramp make it easy to move the generater in and out of my truck bed. a tank of gas runs the generator for 12 to 14 hours with the a/c on.
Sam

Sam you got it going on!

__________________
2001 Hi-Lo 22TL
2010 F150

We "dry camp" a lot! I haven't missed an air conditioner. During the heat of the day, we stay under the awning, or if it's too windy for that (usually is, in Wyoming) we just follow the shade around the camper.

We do have a generator for occasional use. But like Rich says, it's fun meeting the challenges and new ways to cook. Of course the CPAP machine is important...my sister in law and her husband dry camped with us at Flaming Gorge a couple of summers ago and she uses one. They just ran their generator all night. We were out by ourselves miles from anyone, so the noise didn't bother anyone. We camped about 100 feet away from the in laws trailer, and we never heard it. Plus after awhile it just becomes "white noise".

Dutch Ovens are the best! I made a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake in one! My cousin does prime rib in 'em. Yum!

Humbly submitted,
Noreene

Noreene,
I had no idea that a cake could be made in a Dutch Oven. It would seem that I need to research these magical ovens a bit.

BTW that Pineapple Upside-Down cake sounds very yummy, if it's not a secret recipe you might want to consider sharing it with us in the "Cook Book" area

Neal

__________________
2001 Hi-Lo 22TL
2010 F150

We also dry-camp quite often while traveling. Often like the site choice better, and rarely need a reservation. Cheaper too, often $5/day less. For our use, simply adding a second battery has done the trick. We can dry-camp for a week or more at a stretch, and still have good voltage. The batteries do charge up well from our TV when on the road.

It all depends on your usage of course. We added a small ThinLite fluorescent light over the dinette, that's the main light in our trailer (22T). LCDs have worked well for others, to reduce the lighting draw. For coffee we carry our old Melitta manual drip filter unit, just heat a kettle on the stove. We almost never use the AC, that would definitely be an issue.

You can do anything in a Dutch Oven you can do at home just don't be in a real hurry to eat they take some planning to cook or bake with this is a great site for tips and recipes there are tons more.Byron's Dutch Oven Cooking Page

As far as the coffee pot I already have one of these and have been using it on tent camping trips with my coleman stove so I'm sure this will work on your propane stove.Amazon.com: Coleman 5008C700T Camping Coffeemaker, Black: Sports & Outdoors

just like home drip coffee maker without the electric.

WV Jeepr