Newbie battery question

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Black-ripley

Forest River has manuals online here:
https://forestriverinc.help/#/forest.../vehicles/2020

You might want to start there and make your plan.

None of those manuals have any model-specific nor brand-specific information, which is what the OP is looking for.
He would still the make and model number of the a/c and other appliances.

[bikendan]

metro, here's a link to your trailer's specs:

https://www.rvusa.com/rv-guide/2016-...-274rk-tr26941

[metroplexchl]

Originally Posted by dbledan

I suggest reading the 12v side of life thread.

I would give up the dream of powering the AC via battery. Possible yes for a few minutes maybe. Get yourself a 3500w inverter generator or two smaller units if you need AC. Lots of good threads on generators here. If you don't need AC then smaller 2000w is fine.

May want to look through battery threads as well because just adding to the existing may not be the best or most economical either depending on how you camp.

If you plug your trailer in there is a converter that will charge it at home. If you don't plug it in there should be a kill switch to prevent it from being used. You will want to find this and use it when parking for long periods.

It is fun learning. We all started somewhere when we got ours. Congrats on the new trailer and happy camping!

Gracias sir! Great information.

[metroplexchl]

Originally Posted by bikendan

metro, here's a link to your trailer's specs:

https://www.rvusa.com/rv-guide/2016-...-274rk-tr26941

Awesome. Thx!

[formerFR]

don't we all just love it when a self-proclaimed 'newbie' comes online and immediately ask the 'basic' question(s)! we 'seasoned' professional RVrs know all the answers, right! (?)

maybe

yep, the basics of most campers is that a single 12v battery is all that provides any 'electricity' related power, though it's mostly small, low-draw, type lights, fans, and appliance 12v controls, which mainly control the PROPANE to actually power the appliance, such as the water heater, furnace, or even the RV fridge!

most any 'camper' will require you to plug into SHORE power at a campground or rv park to power most of the 'other' things you REALLY want to see - such as air conditioning and your electrical OUTLETS, TVs, Microwave, etc..

another option, when no 'SHORE power' plug-in is available, is a GENERATOR, which basically does the same as shore power. There are many different sizes and styles of generators, as well as the type of FUEL they require - either gas or propane, mostly, but some of our big rigs have onboard DIESEL generators. The 'size' of the output to power your Air Conditioner is usually of the most concern, and any generator with a 30amp OUTLET on the unit will be large enough to power the a/c unit, as well as other things at the same time. Generators are like people, though - there are PLENTY of them out there, and everybody will have a different suggestion or advice on the 'best' for you, but only you can determine that... start small, start to understand what they do, then go bigger ONLY if you decide you need to.

SOLAR: so much for solar, it's a 'green' and 'feel good' purchase, but hardly the real benefit for any 'weekender' type RVr or family who only uses their camper for the 'vacation' type get-aways, every-now-and-then. Solar is expensive for what it actually does - if you just increased your batteries, and invested in a smallish generator, you'd be well ahead of those who 'proclaim' that solar is the answer - maybe they're right, but probably only for those who LIVE in their RV, while OFF-GRID, full time... otherwise, your money is better spent elsewhere.

Use a smallish generator to get your battery(s) charged for the few overnight hours while you are sleeping, if you are not plugged in for more than a day or two, otherwise even a generator may not be needed.