Primer: First Time Trailer Boondockers

[HHPJ]

Zamp 180 Solar suitcase and the extra 15 foot extension cord with two AGM 6v batteries was one of the best upgrades for us....

[Thalweg]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

Oh... by the way, everything Thalweg says about Nancy and I are true.

Thalweg never posts anything more than two sentences on a Public Forum. I like to compare his short comments as... trying to squeeze that last bit of toothpaste out of a tube.

I know he is still bothered that I FOUND THE DEER ANTLER on the 2016 Wyoming Adventure and north of DuBois. He has not figured out that I may be... older, I cheat and divert the competition before I strike. Like an 'injured rattlesnake'.

Yea, I guess I was in a mood this morning, or was that procrastinating on digging post holes in the back yard.

The way I remember the deer antler story: I say "hey, look, over there, a deer antler". Ray trips me with his cane, picks up the antler and says, hey, look what I found"!

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by HHPJ

Zamp 180 Solar suitcase and the extra 15 foot extension cord with two AGM 6v batteries was one of the best upgrades for us....

*****
HHPJ a handsome man like myself.

I used the Zamp outlet attached to the battery box on our Airstream. Purchased the Costco 120 watt solar panel with controller for about $120. Delivered to our door, even at OUR home and not the neighbors.

Took the Zamp Solar Plug, that came with the International. Used the Zamp wiring that was not used with the installation at Airstream Las Vegas's two 80 watt panels installed as an option. Clipped off the clamps on one end and wired things up.

Spliced the controller within the battery compartment, to the Zamp outlet box, wired the +/-, correctly as well, sat the 120 watt Solar Panel outside the garage door, leaning against an 'antique plastic garage sale milk crate' with some weight... and BINGO... it worked.

If you can read simple instructings like HHPJ and myself, follow the + and - colored wires, the Zamp only plugs in ONE WAY... sweat over these small details, recheck and you saved yourself $900?, more or less.

Took $40 of that 'saved money' to the Casino yesterday to the nickel Video Poker that takes 90 cents for three hands...

Lost the entire $40. But... it was not my money, it was saved money from installing a Solar Panel myself.

As P.T. Barnum did not say, A Solar Panel Installer is Born Every Minute. It took me a number of decades after they were invented, but if I can do it... anyone can.

[Len n Jeanne]

Congrats, you two (or you four) on being an inspiration to us all.

One other thing I might mention is that many public lands campgrounds (National Parks, Forests, Bureau of Land Management) are very small and offer no services beyond a sani--dump (sometimes, not always,) a picnic table, a fire ring, and a pit toilet. We've camped multiple times in such places (like Hatch Point and the San Rafael Bridge/Buckhorn Draw in Utah) when we were the only people there-- or for miles around. Cell phone service is maybe yes, maybe no.

These places have no top-of-the line amenities. But sometimes there is a comfort level in knowing these sites will be checked and cleaned on occasion; and that there may be a few other folks around, so that if something unwanted happens, you've got a back-up.

Having camped like that a few times, it's not much more effort to back a folding table (you'd already bringing the camp chairs) and a small outdoor grill (you'd already bring that most places) and that's about it. Except for work gloves, a shovel and extra sturdy garbage bags, as you may be cleaning up after cattle in the West, or slob campers just about any place. The shovel comes in handy on any unanticipated rough roads (as does a bucket,) the gloves can be handy for collecting firewood where rules & regs permit.

And it is best to re-use an already "hardened" site, to protect the rest of the area.

But really anyone who is a former tent camper (let alone backpacker, canoe tripper, &c) already pretty much has the skills to head towards the back of beyond.

[Ray Eklund]

Anyone is welcome to our 'home in the Forests in Montana'. No furniture but comfortable. Often a week or two week old newspaper is available... if you did not bring your own.

Knock first....