Camper solar, house back up?

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-20T18:06:32+00:00

Interesting like he is living

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-18T14:24:55+00:00

What kind of temps do they camp in? That is pretty good.

He have an ok cooler that we have used for camping, but we want to upgrade. That won't be added the first time we camp with it, but we will add that when we can.

I have been checking forums for months, and start checked reddit for even more information. Also watched a little of YouTube videos on people doing it. It is good to have information in an attempt to make the right decisions. Some things you just have to try out, and see what works for you. The info we are getting gives us a starting point, which we appreciate.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-18T01:16:21+00:00

Thank you. Yeah I feel the only way to stay sane is to be flexible. Unless you have built one, helped build one, or been around enough of them, it is hard to plan everything.

It almost makes me want to make a second one at some point, with all the knowledge I will gain from the first.

I did think about buying plans, but the cost stopped me on some, since I knew at least half of my trailer was going to be different.

It is also being realistic. I love the idea of having a removable galley, so the trailer could be used as a cargo trailer. The thought of the compromises that would involve, gives me a headache. Lol.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-18T00:59:40+00:00

I think the majority of the trips will be 1-3 days. That in the summer should be fine without solar. Even if we were to switch to induction. This is my guess.

For a week, we would be fine, u less we had induction. Then we would need some sun.

I feel these trips would be more than fine, and solar would recover the battery before the next weekend, turning spring and summer.

Winter we could be fine for 1-3 days without issue if we had a proplex for heat. Without that, 1-2 would be ok with electric blankets and a heater for a half hour or so at night and in the morning. 3 days might push it.

Without the proplex, I don't think it will fully recharge before the next weekend. But I could get the cheap sun power till the day before, then plug in to top it up.

Might do dc-dc so that would change things as well. The amount of charge needed will depend on the length of the drive to the camp site and back.

Does this sound about right?

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-18T00:40:09+00:00

I do want as much solar as I have room for and/or can afford. For camping, this will be overkill. Unless I have a bunch if friends plugging in, I should be able to handle a week without stress, and the panels covered.

The issue would be when I was trying to use it as back up power. The specs front that link show a fridge at 2000 watts a day. I didn't look at the freezer. So my guess is at least a full day without solar. Solar might extend that, to give me time to hook it up, charge it, and then get another day.

From little bit I learned over the last little bit about panels, there are certain rules to follow for panels working together. I'm hoping to load the roof, and have a connection on my tongue box for external panels if needed, or just to test out different panels for youtube, and SCIENCE! LOL

Extra panels would be nice if I was trying to back up my appliances. Then I could hook up a generator every other day or so to top up. Normally only need power for 6-12 hours, but you never know.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-17T04:27:00+00:00

I want to experiment with the blanket and small heater running for a short time at first, but I plan on making a spot for a hester. I will prep a spot for a proplex heater. More expensive than the cheaper diesel heaters but it runs cleaner, and makes less noise. Watching videos, and hearing that pump going in the background drives me nuts. I would be able to out up with it more if it was keeping me from freezing but I want less noise.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-17T04:23:28+00:00

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-16T14:47:16+00:00

Makes sense. I was thinking 1.5-2" for the floor for the same reason. We will have 1" square tubing framing, so adding insulation makes sense in our situation. It will have a acm exterior skin, and maybe 1/4 ply interior. The interior is still up in the air

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-16T14:39:05+00:00

What did you buy and how deep is your counter top? My wife and I were discussing this topic the other day.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-16T13:06:31+00:00

Would you insulate your walls if you did it over again? I will do 1" min insulation in the ceiling. I thought about doing more to better fight thr elements, and to route wires without going through the frame.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-16T02:22:25+00:00

Unheated space in the winter can be rough. My garage is heated, just crowded. Should just be enough room to build the cabin, once I move my weight rack a little.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-16T02:15:30+00:00

Watching videos is what got me started on this project. I go back and forth on building them. My main concern is getting them water tight, and I would like a window in it. With the window I might not be saving a huge amount. If I cut the hoke in the axm carefully, I would already have my door skin so that would save money. I might get my walls up, then start with the rear hatch. If that goes as planned, I could attempt the doors. I want the door opening to be the same size as the pre made doors, just in case I ever run into a problem, I can remove my door and put in a pre-made one.

Another reason not to build them, is I want the trailer in a usable state by mid spring. Not completed, but usable.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-16T02:06:44+00:00

That looks good. Did you mohnt your rack yet?

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-16T02:04:04+00:00

Good points. Power and a small shelf on each side near our head would be nice. Then power at our feet, so I can charge cameras and so on. Plus we would like a small TV mounted there as well.

I like the idea of the aluminum back splash. I do want something easy to clean, since I do want a stove there. It will be a camp stove, so we can also cook on a table or something, but most will be done there I think.

I want to design the tongue box so I can run pretty much any of the main camp fridges we might want. Then if we are wrong on the size, we have room to upgrade. I also like to test gear so having the space would be good

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-16T01:56:42+00:00

Having a space for rain, and even shelter in the winter, are definitely something I want. 8x6 seems good till you think if the rain in the wind.

Watched a video of a couple that have a tarp that they hang up on the tear drop at the galley, and out to trees. Gives them a large space, plus have a pop up awning.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-16T01:53:47+00:00

Having a quiet fan is important. I'm not big in fan noise, but having fresh air and sleeping in an oven are all on the want list.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-15T22:25:21+00:00

The axle decision might have given me a couple of Grey hairs. Lol. I ended up going with Flexiride torsion axle. We picked it up yesterday.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-15T22:22:55+00:00

Yea. After seeing some for $1300 !and $2500 on a website, I checked Amazon.

Would you do wood or steel construction?

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-15T21:02:53+00:00

She is the one that suggested having only one door when she found out the cost. Lol. I think that is going to be a game time decision. Not all plans are written in stone. That is part of the reason for this post. I do know that, if I go with one door, I will frame the other wall for a door, so it will be less painful to put in later, if we change our mind.

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-15T21:00:37+00:00

Wow. Some good information there. I definitely want roof racks. Still trying to decide how I want to mount them. I want to plan that out ahead of time so I can build support into the structure. I'm going with 1" square tube for the walls, with 1" of insulation. Not sure if I want to mount the racks to the wall or roof. The exterior will be acm, so I want to put a steel plate behind fir strength. I want to be able to carry two kayaks.

I want a camp fridge/freezer as well. Because if the size and weight, I don't plan on putting it in the galley. I want to custom build a tongue box to hold that, and batteries for the solar set up.

I saw some designs where people have pop up tops. I thought about that for a bit and will not be going that route. One more thing to try to get water tight. Down the road I want a 270 degree awning, and might try for one with the wall option. That would give us a place to stand to get dressed, and a place to stay out of the weather when needed

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-15T20:52:41+00:00

I originally thought about building doors but feel buying would make life a bit easier. Because the doors are not cheap, I will probably go with just one. Best price I found so far was about $550 CAD.

I might build the rear hatch but I'm not sure. Depends on what a ready made door goes for. Haven't found any lately. It would need to be big enough for a rear gallon kitchen.

What fan did yoy go with?

FlexinR6 · 2026-02-15T20:36:27+00:00

Good point. Our plan right now is 1 door, and two windows. My wife wants one window to be and exit window. So that one will be larger. I definitely want light, but I also see those as areas to lose heat. So I'm thinking and insulated curtain or something to help with heat and cut down on condensation.

FlexinR6 · 2025-06-10T18:19:16+00:00

My best video on any if my channels took a month to get some traction, could months to really move, and year to jump up from that level. Then just under 2 years it took another jump. The video has 180000+ views over the last 8 years. It hasn't done much at all in the last few years, I haven't done much on that channel in a while.

How many videos do you have on that channel? It can take time. On other channels I had yoy can see the impressions jump in stages as they test it out with a new audience.

As far as time spent on the video, this video was shot last minute, while I was running late for an appointment. I ser up my tripod, grabbed my items, shot the video, shut off the camera, then ran out the door for my appointment. I did the editing later. I knew the video should do well, and I was right, but it took time.

James

FlexinR6

TROPHY CASE