Flagstaff Classic owner, new to this group, probably about to die

[mzbecausewecan]

Greetings! I'm Nadia, hailing from Quincy, CA. I have a 2014 Forest River Flagstaff classic, and getting ready to head out to the Nevada desert all by myself for three weeks.

I've taken many a trip with my trusted little A-frame, and have endured everything from torrential downpours, sub-zero blizzards that froze my camper shut for four days, brutal heat, and even two children in round trip cross country trip from Cali to Florida, and back!

This particular upcoming adventure is much more intimidating though! I will be in extremely harsh conditions, alkali desert, with absolutely no shore power/water hookups of any kind for over three weeks.

I could really use some advice please!

First and foremost, I am really hoping there's a way to rewire my electrical system so that I have just ONE electrical outlet available inside the camper to run off the 12v battery circuit. Is that even a possibility?? I have six extra deep cycle marine batteries, all charged and ready to go, in the hopes that I will at least be able to charge my phone and maybe, maybe, run a tiny little 30W electric fan here and there, just to cool down a little in an emergency.... But alas... It appears almost nothing runs on the 12v system besides the lights. Not much help there.

The fridge is propane, so I'll be okay with that, but is there ANY solution (besides a generator which I do not have and cannot afford before my trip) that would allow me to use one (or more?) of my 12v batteries to have a working power outlet?

Any ideas? I'd be eternally grateful!

Thank you!

N

[nvs4602]

Phones can be charged straight from a battery, car chargers are cheap. 12v fans are also available. Using an inverter to run 120v devices is a waste of battery power. Just hook this up to battery power if you don't have usb ports.

https://a.co/d/3CUtsl3

[bikendan]

Hi and Welcome to FRF.
Not clear whether you have an A-frame or a regular travel trailer since Flagstaff Classic could mean a travel trailer or 5th Wheel.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by mzbecausewecan;2975527

This particular upcoming adventure is much more intimidating though! I will be in extremely harsh conditions, alkali desert, with absolutely no shore power/water hookups of any kind for over three weeks.

I could really use some advice please!

Any ideas? I'd be eternally grateful!

Thank you!

N

My advice? Get yourself a solar power bank. We got this cheap one, but if I had to do it again, I'd get one with more power.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1
The reason we picked this one was the price (on sale when we bought it) and the fact that it has two ac plugs on the back. They have better ones for a bit more money. Ours recharged in about 8 hours on a sunny day.
Also get a power bank that you can attach to a backpack and has the cords attached https://www.amazon.com/49800mAh-Wire...1zcF9hdGY&th=1
for recharging your phone.

Having just survived two storms with no power for several days, the most valuable device was this fan which has a rechargeable battery, operates on 8 D cells, a 12v car connection or ac.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We also have solar rechargeable lanterns and flashlights (with radio) to keep us informed when we don't have power.

Do you have adequate water for that amount of time? I'd put a couple of bags of ice and frozen gallons of water in your fridge and coolers. There's nothing like cool water in the heat.
That really seems like an extremely risky trip with the temperatures we've been having this summer. You're going to need at least a gallon of water per day for drinking.... not to mention cooking and washing

Please be careful. They've lost a lot of people due to the heat..

Welcome to the forum!

[Baker9713]

Welcome from Mississippi!

[aceinspp]

Welcome to the forum. Get you a couple 5 gal water cans to take with you. i use to use a battery operated fan very cheap. You can use your vehicle to charge your phone also. Good luck and stay safe. Later RJD

[5picker]

Welcome to the forum!

Just to reiterate, 120v outlets do not work off your battery(ies) UNLESS you have a device called an INverter. (not to be confused with a CONverter that almost every R/V has)

Portable Inverters can be had fairly cheap but as mentioned, the process of inverting 12v DC to 120v AC is inefficient and wastes a good bit of precious battery power, which in your case on this trip, you don't have to waste.

There are LOTS of 12v fan and cell charging options that would be way better than converting 12v DC to 120v AC.

I would also advise taking a good set of automotive jumper cables. 3 weeks into no way of charging your battery bank may leave them pretty run down. Connecting them to your tow vehicle (running) with jumper cables can get you some juice back into the bank.

[Aussieguy]

get a one or two ..... 200w solar panels and a cheap MPPT controller
use it as a ground panel while camped in the desert


then you only need half the 6 batteries you got
can you return 3 of them?

[NMWildcat]

Where there is a will, there is a way. But, you seem to be way behind the curve for this trip. Without solar panels or a small generator, it will be very slow recharging batteries with your vehicle.

You don't say what part of Nevada you will be in. High desert or lower 'furnace' desert? If the latter, I would definitely change my destination since you are depending on one 12v fan.

Just my opinion from years of experience in 100°+ temps. Now I am experienced enough that I just refuse those temps in an RV, even with full hookups

Just ensure you leave your exact location with a reliable human and the time frame of when they can expect to hear from you.....

[Aussieguy]

Take along a TARP and some poles/rope
so you can put some shade over the camper

may be hard to find some good shade in the desert

[mzbecausewecan]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Hi and Welcome to FRF.
Not clear whether you have an A-frame or a regular travel trailer since Flagstaff Classic could mean a travel trailer or 5th Wheel.

It’s a Forest River Flagstaff Classic, 17’ hard sided A-frame pop up camper. Thank you!

[mzbecausewecan]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Where there is a will, there is a way. But, you seem to be way behind the curve for this trip. Without solar panels or a small generator, it will be very slow recharging batteries with your vehicle.

You don't say what part of Nevada you will be in. High desert or lower 'furnace' desert? If the latter, I would definitely change my destination since you are depending on one 12v fan.

Just my opinion from years of experience in 100°+ temps. Now I am experienced enough that I just refuse those temps in an RV, even with full hookups

Just ensure you leave your exact location with a reliable human and the time frame of when they can expect to hear from you.....

Thanks for the welcome! I’m going to Burning Man in the Black Rock City desert. Changing location is not an option ��

[mzbecausewecan]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Welcome to the forum!

Just to reiterate, 120v outlets do not work off your battery(ies) UNLESS you have a device called an INverter. (not to be confused with a CONverter that almost every R/V has)

Portable Inverters can be had fairly cheap but as mentioned, the process of inverting 12v DC to 120v AC is inefficient and wastes a good bit of precious battery power, which in your case on this trip, you don't have to waste.

There are LOTS of 12v fan and cell charging options that would be way better than converting 12v DC to 120v AC.

I would also advise taking a good set of automotive jumper cables. 3 weeks into no way of charging your battery bank may leave them pretty run down. Connecting them to your tow vehicle (running) with jumper cables can get you some juice back into the bank.

I have a 2000 watt INverter, but I’m not clear on how to wire this into the camper. Right now I’m just planning to connect it to the battery directly, worst case, but I’m not getting a whole lot of power from this so far. Rethinking my plan…

[mzbecausewecan]

Originally Posted by Aussieguy

get a one or two ..... 200w solar panels and a cheap MPPT controller
use it as a ground panel while camped in the desert


then you only need half the 6 batteries you got
can you return 3 of them?

I have 4 x 100 watt solar panels, and an inverter, but no controller. Also, the panels are very heavy and difficult to move around alone, but also have no way to be properly tied down to the ground in the desert, and the winds can pick up at any time, taking even tents on a terrible joyride. (It’s like trying to stake down in cake flour out there).

[mzbecausewecan]

Originally Posted by mzbecausewecan

I have a 2000 watt INverter, but I’m not clear on how to wire this into the camper. Right now I’m just planning to connect it to the battery directly, worst case, but I’m not getting a whole lot of power from this so far. Rethinking my plan…

But I love the fan idea! Thank you! I am also definitely planning to put a tarp and aluminet shade cover over my whole setup, along with that thick silver foam insulation inside over the windows…

[bikendan]

Moved thread from the Welcome Mat section to the A-frame sub-forum for better help from other A-frame owners and because the OP's post is more about upgrading their A-frame and not an introduction post.

[jlynn721]

Originally Posted by mzbecausewecan

Greetings! I'm Nadia, hailing from Quincy, CA. I have a 2014 Forest River Flagstaff classic, and getting ready to head out to the Nevada desert all by myself for three weeks.

I've taken many a trip with my trusted little A-frame, and have endured everything from torrential downpours, sub-zero blizzards that froze my camper shut for four days, brutal heat, and even two children in round trip cross country trip from Cali to Florida, and back!

This particular upcoming adventure is much more intimidating though! I will be in extremely harsh conditions, alkali desert, with absolutely no shore power/water hookups of any kind for over three weeks.

I could really use some advice please!

First and foremost, I am really hoping there's a way to rewire my electrical system so that I have just ONE electrical outlet available inside the camper to run off the 12v battery circuit. Is that even a possibility?? I have six extra deep cycle marine batteries, all charged and ready to go, in the hopes that I will at least be able to charge my phone and maybe, maybe, run a tiny little 30W electric fan here and there, just to cool down a little in an emergency.... But alas... It appears almost nothing runs on the 12v system besides the lights. Not much help there.

The fridge is propane, so I'll be okay with that, but is there ANY solution (besides a generator which I do not have and cannot afford before my trip) that would allow me to use one (or more?) of my 12v batteries to have a working power outlet?

Any ideas? I'd be eternally grateful!

Thank you!

N

A 12v to 110 converter will run a fan.

3 weeks? How will you restock water or empty tanks? How will recharge batteries?

[FireJeff]

Bring cash for ice. Place the ice in 2 gallon ziplock bags in your ice chest. It will keep your foods cold and provide clean drinking water as it melts. Have an amazing experience.



See you in the dust! Year 7.

[Ramos2400]

Go to Sam’s as they have a quiet 2200 generator for like $350. Then you will have no worries and can run whatever you need including charging batteries. As others have said bring water and you will be fine. It will be better and can be used for more than just this trip. We had a pop up for years and a generator made life much easier.

[mnoland30]

Go to Harbor Freight or Amazon and get a charge controller. 100 watts divided by 12 is 8 amps. Times 4 is 32 amps. You normally won't get a full 8 amps, but in the desert, you might. You could wire your batteries together in parallel and charge them all at once. Amazon sells inexpensive USB ports that clip to a battery for phone charging.

I find that laying a panel flat on the ground usually keeps the wind from taking it away. You can drill a hole in the aluminum frame and run some wire through it to stake them down if you feel it is necessary.

You can survive 120° as long as you have shade and plenty of water. I wouldn't try it without at least 2 gallons a day. And for showers another couple of gallons.