Our new T@B 400 will be resting at a storage facility for the winter. This is a first for us because our T@G was always in our relatively warm basement. So, we will use this post as a camper storage checklist each year as we retire our camper for the winter.
Storage Checklist
1. Winterize the Fresh Water System
It is most important to ensure the camper’s fresh water system is adequately prepared for storage. If you reside in a climate that does not go below freezing, you can just drain all the water from the camper. If, however, temperatures will go below freezing, then additional steps are necessary. Additionally, we have a separate post for how we prepared our camper for freezing temperatures, Winterized our Camper Water System .
2. Have a Plan for Keeping the Battery Charged
Secondly, it is important to keep the battery charged. A charged battery can withstand sub-zero temperatures, but a drained one can be destroyed in temperatures below freezing. Therefore, it is important to keep a good charge on the battery. There several ways to address this: removal of the battery, providing a trickle charge, keeping it on shore power, or periodic charging of the battery.
Because we are storing our camper close to home, we will do periodic charging of the battery. We will store it with the battery kill switch off because it ensures there is nothing to draw energy. So, I have put reminders on my calendar to check the camper and battery every couple of weeks.
Periodic Power Monitoring
a) First, turn on the power at the battery kill switch and check the power level of the battery at the information panel.
b) If it needs a charge, connect to shore power to bring it up to a fully-charged level. Note: the power at the battery kill switch must be on to charge the battery.
c) When the battery has a full charge, disconnect the power and turn the battery kill switch back to off.
Note: when the camper is taken to storage, the battery should be fully charged.
Kill Switch is On
3. Remove All Food From the Camper
It is very important to remove food from the camper because it attracts insects and wildlife. Also, be sure to remove all canned and bottled items because they could freeze and burst. Ensure that the microwave and stove are clean so there is not anything that would produce food odors.
4. Clean the Camper
Wash the exterior and clean all the inside surfaces. Vacuum the floor and remove any stains with soapy water. If the floor is damp from cleaning, leave the windows open to allow ventilation while it dries.
5. Remove linens and all fabrics
We removed all sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, etc. We also removed our cushions and mattresses because we have read that they can sometimes be ruined by wildlife. This may be overkill, but we don’t want to take any chances of them getting damaged.
We have a visor that we will also need to spray with Kiwi Camp Dry to have it ready to repel water and make it easier to clean in our next season of camping.
5. Turn off Everything
a) Turn off the refrigerator by turning the setting to zero. Leave the refrigerator door open and put an open box of baking soda inside.
b). Make sure all lights, Alde System, range burners, television, and DVD player are off. Also, ensure that both fan switches are off.
c) Turn off the propane at the valve.
d) Turn off all power to Camper by turning the kill switch to off. (Battery image on top of switch appears upside down.)
Kill switch is off
6. Final Steps
a) Ensure that the Camper is stored in a level position and stabilizers are down.
b) Close and lock all windows. Also, close all of the shades.
c) Place the cover over the air conditioner vent.
e) Place rodent repellent in camper. We chose the one (see link next) below based on a recommendation on a Facebook group.
Rodent repellent
f) Place a moisture absorber in the camper because it will help to prevent corrosion, mold, and mildew. The product below was in stock at our local Walmart (link) in the RV section.
Moisture absorber
g) Vent the Fantastic Fan 1/4” because nüCamp recommends it in the Manual.
h) Remove trailer hitch from SUV and place in storage unit.
i) Close and lock storage unit.
Camper Storage is done!
Our Storage Environment
Our camper will be in an unheated storage unit, so we will not have to consider any type of cover for it. But, if it were outside and subject to UV rays and the elements, we would need a cover. However, it is my understanding that one should be aware of extra moisture it may cause in some climates.
I had a lot of angst about getting our camper installed in the very tight space we have, but my husband got it in with the first try. I was so impressed!
Very little room to spare
So, we have tucked our new baby away for the winter and are at home planning our next adventures.
We winterized our camper just a couple of days after we purchased it because the local temperature was dipping into the twenties. This resulted in scrambling to read manuals and watch YouTube videos. The camper was taken on its maiden trip a few days after. Having now winterized the camper twice, once when we first brought it home and again when we returned from a nine day trip, we feel we have a handle on it.
We are by no means experts in camper winterization, but believe our process will be adequate to protect it. We hope this post will be helpful to others new to this process.
Winterization Preparation
We purchased RV antifreeze and a suction tube that attaches to the water pump at our local RV dealer. The combo of hose and gallon of antifreeze was $12.99. There’s also a kit on Amazon that includes the tube plus a few items we did not use.
For our method, we only used one gallon of RV antifreeze, the kind that is non-toxic. It is very important to only use RV antifreeze because you are dealing with your water system.
We turned off our Alde heating system before beginning the process. We previously dumped our gray and black tanks at the campground. As we had fresh water in our holding tank, I ran a good bit of water into the sink and flushed the toilet several times to run fresh water through the tanks. If connected to city water, you would want to disconnect after running some fresh water through the system.
Draining the System
Before draining, be sure that your camper is level from front to back and also right to left to ensure that everything drains properly.
1. Drain the fresh water tank.
The valve is located behind the wheel on the driver’s side. It holds 30 gallons, so be sure to allow plenty of time for it to drain. It drains best when the camper is level.
Fresh Water Tank Valve
2. Flush Water Lines:
After the fresh water tank is completely drained, turn on the water pump and open each hot and cold water faucet. Close each faucet when water stops. Next, flush the toilet till no water flows.
3. Low Point and Water Heater Drains:
Open the two low point drains and the hot water heater drains. They can be accessed through the rear compartment on the driver’s side. The drains are located where the green circles are below.
Access area for drains
The low point drains are perpendicular when closed and parallel when open. They are open in the photo below.
Low point drains are open
The water heater drains are pointing up when open and are pointing forward when closed. The Alde 3020 Manual recommends having all water taps open to drain the hot water tank. It also recommends leaving the valves open during winterization. Below is the page from the manual.
Alde drain information
Hot water drains are open
Allow all the water to flow out of the low point and water heater drains, then close them. When closed, they should look like the photo below.
Closed low point drains
4. Drain the Holding Tanks:
I am assuming that the tanks were drained after the last camping trip, so you will only be draining the little bit of freshwater that was in the water lines.
Black and gray valves are opened and drained
5. Bypass the Hot Water Heater
Change the Bypass valve for the hot water system from “Normal” to “Bypass”. We do this to prevent antifreeze from getting into the hot water system. It should remain in this position until the camper is dewinterized and ready to be used again.
Bypass valve set to bypass
6. Add the Antifreeze:
Turn on the pump for a couple of minutes because you want to get any water that might remain out and turn on a faucet to release it.
You are now ready to pump antifreeze into the water system using the pump, which is accessible through the wardrobe inside the camper.
Water pump access point
Below is a photo of what we attached to the pump. We removed the waterline that was going into the pump and attached the black 1/2” fitting below. We then inserted the tubing into the antifreeze container.
Tubing and connector for water pump
Below is a photo of how it looked while attached.
Attached Pump device
Next, we ran the pump, which sucked the antifreeze into the water system. While the pump was running, we turned on each faucet until we saw pink antifreeze coming out of it. This included both hot and cold faucets in both sinks and the shower. We also did this for the toilet and for the hot and cold faucets for the outside shower.
Antifreeze has flowed into the sink
We used about 3/4 of a gallon of antifreeze through the pump. Next, we poured the remaining amount into the 2 sinks, shower floor, and toilet.
Winterized Our Camper:
We have now winterized our camper water system! I will be following up later with a post on how we dewinterize to get ready to go camping.
Alternate Methods:
1) Antifreeze into Fresh Water Tank
I have read that if you do not want to pump antifreeze directly into your system, you can use the fresh water system instead. First, drain all possible water and then add approximately 3 gallons antifreeze directly into the fresh water tank. Next, turn on the pump and open all faucets until the pink antifreeze is coming through. You would also pour antifreeze into the drains (#7 above).
2) Blowout Method:
This process requires the following:
A a special adapter to attach to the city water inlet.
A regulated air compressor to blow the water out of the system. The PSI should be set to no more than 30 PSI.
Air valve for blowout method
We recently used this method for a few freezing nights before going camping.
All the drainage steps (1-5) above would be used, except the drains and faucets would be left open for the blowout process. They would then be closed and a total of approximately one gallon of antifreeze poured down the sink and shower drains and toilet. There are also instructions on the web and YouTube for this method.
Winterized Our Camper Conclusion
The steps above are just to prepare the water system for winter. I have reviewed the manual and know there are other things we must do before we can put our camper safely away for winter.
We never winterized our T@G camper because it slept in our basement when not on the road. I was pretty comfortable with how to manage camping in our T@G and all that it entails. Now, there is a new, more complicated camper to understand. How we winterized our camper has been added to our Camping Resources for New Teardrop Campers.
Looking forward to warmer weather and new camping adventures!
Replacing our tiny camper was difficult for me. I had bonded with it and it was my baby! It was everything we expected it to be and served us well for two years and over 10,000 miles. We bought it at a time when we did not know if we would even like camping and it enabled us to travel for very little money to exciting, far away places. Teardrop Camping, The Decision to Buy a Teardrop.
Why Make a Change
While there are so many reasons to love the nüCamp T@G, it does have some limitations. I originally thought that the biggest challenges would be the lack of a bathroom and that it would be uncomfortable for my tall husband. We adapted pretty well without the bathroom and my husband was good with the camper most of the time because the bed was easy to access and quite comfortable. He was too tall to stand comfortably in the galley though. It would be a bigger issue, but he doesn’t do a lot of cooking.
The major reason we opted for a larger camper was to have a place to be comfortable when the weather was not good for being outside. We have camped in the rain and in extreme heat and cold. Our solution to this has always been to leave and go do something where we can be inside. Camping and Execution of the Rainy Day Plan. It beats staying in bed all day or freezing/roasting outside, but we were at a place where we would like to have more options.
Lastly, my husband has been considering replacing our tiny camper for awhile. He has enjoyed our trips, but has been lobbying for something bigger for many months.
The Replacement Camper
We thoroughly researched similar campers that were approximately twenty feet long. A quality camper with a place to be comfortable inside that also had a bathroom was the overall goal. We required at least a queen-sized bed and a separate area to relax. The brands we considered were: nüCamp, Little Guy, Alto, Airstream, Oliver, Lance, Forest River, Jayco, and Lil Snoozy. Weight, space utilization, nearness of a service location, perceived value and quality, known quality issues, comfort, value, and eye appeal were all factors in our decision.
I have to admit we were biased in favor of nüCamp. Our T@G was an incredible camper and nüCamp did a great job of customer service for us. Replacing our tiny camper with another nüCamp product seemed a safer decision. Also, we attended a rally at their Sugarcreek facility this year and were very impressed with the company and its operations.
However, if we had found another camper that met out criteria that was better suited our needs, we would have bought it instead. Some of the camper brands we have seen in person and all were researched to some extent online. My husband and I spent many hours considering specifications, options, and how we would expect to use this larger camper. In the end, we came back to the nüCamp 400.
The Search for a 400
Our desire was to buy in our home state of Alabama if possible. We were already aware of Bankston Motor Homes from its servicing of our T@G and were impressed by their performance. Bankston has multiple nearby locations and we were happy to see they had several 400s, including one Boondock Lite (BL). https://www.bankstonmotorhomes.com/
We also looked for 400s within a five hundred mile radius of our home because we had color and option preferences. It was surprising to learn that of the more than ten dealers, only a few 400s were in stock and only one of the other dealers had a Boondock Lite.
The 400s come very well-equipped with only a few options and Bankston’s 400 BL colors and options were acceptable to us, so we began the purchase process right away. David Tyler was our salesperson and we really liked working with him. He transferred the unit to the Albertville location the next day and we went to check it out. It was lovely and we told him we would take it.
nüCamp T@B 400
There were three superficial issues that we asked them to correct prior to purchase. There was a tiny crack in the casing for the porch light, a small scratch on the lower molding of one side, and a small section of the Formica has become unglued. David assured us they would correct those items.
Upgrade Considerations
We always stored our T@G in our garage and it weighs in at just over 1,000 pounds. No electric brakes were needed and we had surplus towing capacity in our Acura MDX. However, the much larger nüCamp 400 weighs 2,690 and its GVWR is 3,500 pounds. Most noteworthy, it would not fit in our garage. Replacing our tiny camper would not be easy and we would not be able to camp so inexpensively in the new one.
Towing Capacity
Our Acura’s towing capacity had been increased to 5,000 pounds with the installation of a transmission cooling unit. The Acura’s tongue weight capacity of 500 pounds is within the 400’s tongue weight of 460 pounds, but it did not leave much surplus. We hoped it would be adequate for the new camper.
Storage Requirements
The requirement for storage was perhaps the main reason we have held back on replacing our tiny camper. It was always in our basement with easy access and no extra cost. We really hated to give up storing our camper on our property, but the 400 would not fit into our garage and we could not store it outside.
So, we began searching for storage options. We were lucky to find an indoor storage unit near our home. It is just under 20 feet deep and the door is just under 10 feet tall. Our T@B 400 BL is 18 feet long and just under 9 feet tall, so it is a fit for the unit—but just barely. It is very tricky backing it into the space, but my husband did a great job in our trial run.
Additionally, the space does not have climate control and we will have to winterize the camper. Another thing we will have to learn how to do.
The space brings with it a monthly cost of $150 and an annual cost of $1,800.
Storage Unit
Electric Brakes
Unlike out T@G, the new 400 has electric brakes, which is a legal retirement for trailers of its weight. This required us to get a brake controller for our car. We did not want to have to modify our dash and impact the wiring on our vehicle, so we opted for the Tekonsha 90250 Prodigy RF Electronic Brake Controller.
Sway and Weight Distribution
Because we do not have a lot of surplus tow capacity in our tow vehicle, we wanted something to address sway and weight distribution. We opted for the Blue Ox Sway Pro 750. It is a weight distributing hitch that provides sway control and one other nice feature. It allows backing up without adjustment, which is not available with many other manufacturers.
Blue Ox Sway Pro 750
Insurance
We were careful to add the 400 to our insurance before we took it on the road because it was a sizable purchase. State Farm insures our camper and because of the higher cost of the camper, our camper insurance cost moved from $200 to $417 (with a $ 1,000 deductible).
Decreased Gas Mileage
We were able to tow our T@G and get an average of 18 miles per gallon. There has not been a chance to check the gas mileage on the new unit, but we expect it to be around 12-13 miles per gallon. If this is the case, we will have to spend approximately 50% more for gasoline. This increase can be pretty significant on long trips.
Fixed Annual Cost Summary
Accountant that I am, it was necessary for me to consider all the financial ramifications of replacing our tiny camper. Beyond the purchase, we will incur approximately $2,000 per year in storage and additional insurance, plus 50% higher gasoline costs. Is it worth it? At this point in our life, we think it is.
Replacing Our Tiny Camper
It all happened rather quickly and we were ready to pick up our new baby. David Tyler and Bankston RV were amazing and we are very happy with our new camper. Some of the service team even came in on a Saturday for us. I can’t say enough nice things about them.
Our New Camper at Bankston RV with David Tyler
With the T@B 400, we are gaining the sitting/eating/sleeping area below. This space, plus the indoor kitchen for when the weather is bad, was our main motivation for replacing our tiny camper. The area has three setup options . Below it is set as a seating area, but rearrangement of the pillows allows it be used as an extra bed. Lastly, if the center cushion is removed, the table can be lifted to create a table with seating on two sides.
Seating and Eating Area
This lovely indoor kitchen is a definite perk. It will be wonderful on those cold mornings.
Indoor Kitchen
There is also the benefit of having this tiny bathroom. No more middle of the night hikes to campground bathhouses. We expect this to be a convenience we will really appreciate.
Wet Bath
However, the new bed is slightly smaller than a queen and only accessible from one side. The T@G has a king-sized bed with a door on each side. I am afraid we are going to sorely miss our old bed. Also, for the record, the bed is a bear to make!
Queen Bed (almost)
We are happy overall with the T@B 400 amenities. Replacing our tiny camper is completed and we are excited about taking this new teardrop to far away places!
A Final Change
On our ride home with the new camper, all went well, but my husband said that the front end of the car felt light to him and the steering wheel was too easy to turn. This concerned us! We should have been under the 500 lb tongue weight, but the new weight distribution sway bar hitch was quite heavy. It turns out that it weighed 47 pounds, which was 7 lbs over our car’s tongue weight limit. I worried that this would damage the car over time.
We were prepared to replace our tow vehicle if needed and that is what we did. So, we now have a giant SUV that can pull 9,000 pounds with lots of tongue weight to spare. It should be great for camping, but sure will be big for me to park. Intimidating!
So, replacing our tiny camper led to replacing our tow vehicle as well and we have much to learn about both with a camping trip fast approaching.
Stone Mountain camping during a few beautiful autumn days with our friends was amazing. There was a total of five couples, all friends from ballroom dancing. It was so great to be able to spend some quality time with them in such a beautiful setting.
Stone Mountain Camping
This was our first trip to Stone Mountain and we encountered a new restriction for teardrops campers, they must camp in the tent area. The area was cheaper, but did not offer sewer or cable television. This was not a problem, but it meant we could not be in the same area as our friends.
We originally booked site #51 because it was closer to our friends , but site #55 was much nicer and they allowed us to take it instead. The road to the site was not well-paved, but it was right by the lake with an incredible view. The photo below was taken from our site.
We arrived on a Thursday amid steady rain. We just removed the items that are transported in our cabin and went to hang out with our friends who have much larger campers. Consequently, because of the rain when we arrived and many activities with friends, we never really set up much of a campsite. No tent, awning, nor rug. We did not even hook up the water.
By midday the next day, we had beautiful weather that continued for the remainder of our stay. However, it was cool at night and quite chilly in the mornings. It made breakfast at the campsite not so desirable. We had one very basic breakfast that we ate in our cabin and we ate out all of the other mornings.
View Across the Lake
Stone Mountain camping was a great experience for us despite the sparseness of our campsite. Our site by the lake was peaceful and lovely and the park staff was very accommodating.
Weekend Activities
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum
Our single rainy morning breakfast was at Folk Art Cafe, followed by a visit to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/ We are trying to visit all the presidential libraries and it was perfect for this trip because it was only about fifteen miles from the campground. All the libraries we have visited have been worthwhile and this one was no exception. There is always so much to learn about the life and times of our country’s highest leaders.
I was an adult while Jimmy Carter was president, but there were quite a few things I did not know about him. Most noteworthy to me was that he came from very humble beginnings, significantly more than I had imagined. His family did not have electricity and running water until he was a teenager and he and Rosalyn lived in public housing early in their marriage. His efforts on the treaty between Israel and Egypt and his lifetime contribution to humanitarian causes were highly impressive.
Jimmy Carter Museum and Library
The grounds behind the library were beautiful with fall colors and there was a pond. Many geese were residents to the area.
Rear Grounds of Carter Presidential Center
Geese Enjoying the Fall Afternoon
Stone Mountain Attraction Center
The Attraction Center has shops and restaurants plus a lift to the top of the mountain and a train that travels five miles around the perimeter. For children, there is a farmyard, miniature golf, a dinosaur-themed playground, and a 4-D theatre. It is my understanding that there is a pretty impressive laser light show, but it ended for the season the week before we arrived. Most of the restaurants and shops were also closed for the season.
Stone Mountain behind the Memorial Hall
We took the lift to the top and the view was amazing. It was a beautiful day and we walked around quite a bit on the top of the mountain. A couple of our friends actually hiked to the top. That is something I would have loved to do, but we are still rehabbing my husband’s knee replacement.
On Top of Stone Mountain
The train was not very exciting as there was not much to see. A Native American Pow Wow was occurring while we were there, but we left early to ice the knee. Our friends really liked it. I think the light show and a climb up the mountain will be my preferred activities if we return.
Stone Mountain is a 1,683 feet tall granite block with a circumference of at the base of 3.8 miles. Blocks of the granite has been shipped all across the country and around the world. It has been used in courthouses and in many federal buildings and structures.
Stone Mountain Memorial
There is a giant carving into the granite of Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis. The sculpture is 42 feet deep and 400 feet above the ground. They completed the memorial in 1970. It is so large that it has been said that a grown man could stand inside one of the three horses mouths. The sculpting efforts were led by Walter Kirkland Hancock and it is the largest high relief sculpture in the world. The memorial is a subject of ongoing controversy today.
Stone Mountain Memorial
In Conclusion
Stone Mountain camping was a great experience for us, but the best part of the trip was that we had lots of time to visit with our friends. We had dinner together each night and played cards. Loved it!
This was our first camping trip since my husband’s knee replacement and it was exhilarating to be camping again! If you would like to see posts of other states and campgrounds we have visited, we have a page with all the links. States Visited, a Campsite Resource
We are excited to have our teardrop and some of the modifications we have made to it included in Cool Tears Magazine. Cool Tears is a free online magazine devoted to teardrop campers and their interests. A new issue is available each month.
The article came from portions of our most recent post. It covered the modifications that we made during our second year as T@G owners. The article, “After You Buy: 5 Simple Modifications for a T@G”, is in the November 2018 issue of the magazine.
Our Modifications
Firstly, much of the inspiration for our modifications came from other T@G owners that we follow on multiple Facebook groups. There are so many creative people in those groups. They have great ideas and freely share them. Second, the changes we made came down to our individual needs and the ways that we could add convenience to our camper. The T@G is an amazing camper that has extraordinary amenities just as it comes off the assembly line. However, there are always opportunities to make whatever camper you own more suited to your specific camping lifestyle.
My husband made all these enhancements happen for us. He is always willing to use his considerable skills to improve our camping experiences. I am truly blessed to have a husband so talented and accommodating.
In conclusion, we love our T@G and have enjoyed the modifications made this year. They have certainly enhanced our camping trips. We hope you will check out the article in a Cool Tears.
Our second year of camping has gone by so quickly. Our teardrop is a NuCamp 2017 T@G MAX XL and it has served us so well! This post is a summary of the miles we have traveled in the past year and the teardrop modification we have made.
Second Year Camping Trips
We only took six camping trips this past year, which does not sound like a lot for a retired couple. However, two were monthlong trips and one included three stops. We hauled our teardrop 10,451 miles—three times the miles traveled in our first year. We revisited three nearby states, but also camped in thirteen new states. Our hope is to eventually camp in every state.
The trips included 36 different campgrounds and 75 nights away from home. We were inexperienced newbies when we began camping two years ago. Now, I think of us as seasoned campers.
Below are links to the plans for our two monthlong trips. Our first one was out west during the winter and the second was a summer trip north. Those trips were so amazing!
Our camper is so well designed that we have not needed much in the way of teardrop modification. Our mods were really just minor changes to increase comfort and functionality of the camper.
Heater Stand
This may not technically be considered a modification because everything is removable. We needed a heater for our winter trip out west; so we purchased a Honeywell HCE 100B Heat Bud Ceramic Heater. It has tip over protection, but we soon realized that we would need a stable surface for it to operate. A Facebook user had posted photos of a stand for a heater and my husband built one that was similar. The stand has proven to work very well.
Heater on Stand
The holes on the back panel enable the stand to rest very securely upon the door handles. There is a hole in the bottom panel for the cord to flow through to the electrical outlet. Lastly, there are two piano hinge to allow the stand to lay flat for easier storage in the cabinet when unused.
Heater stand
An added bonus, the stand works great for holding tablets that are being charged when there is no need for a heater.
Under Camper Storage Container
We needed a place to store my husband’s shoes and the inspiration for this teardrop modification came from another post on a Facebook group. It required drilling holes below the bed and mounting a track in which a plastic box can slide.
Under Camper Storage
This has worked well for the shoes. We store the bin in the cabin when we travel. We were concerned that we might forget to remove it when the camper is being pulled, but so far, so good.
Mesh Net Door Storage
We like to watch TV or DVDs before sleeping and I am the keeper of remotes. Before we did this teardrop modification, I was often searching for them. We have seen that other T@G owners have made this mod and at the rally in Ohio, we learned NüCamp is now installing mesh storage on the doors of new units. I love this mod!
Double Sided Velcro Strips
We used Velcro, but noticed the factory was using screws to attach the mesh pockets.
Mesh Storage on Door
When the door is closed, the storage pocket is just above the bed. We installed these on both sides.
Storage on Door
Storage Behind Television
This is another modification that many owners have made that is also included at the factory on new models. It involved removing the panel and putting hinges on the door. My husband finished the inside with particle board for ventilation purposes.
Storage Behind TV
Handle installed to open door
Finished modification
Window Rail Brushes
We learned that nüCamp will provide rail brushes for the windows to prevent bugs from coming in. You have to install them, but it is not difficult. We obtained them at no charge from the parts department.
The photo below shows the side of the window without the rail brushes.
Window Rail Before Installation
The rail brushes installed below should be effective in keeping out insects.
Window Rail with Installed Brush
Conclusion
Our T&G has been wonderful this last year! The modifications we made primarily added a little more storage in key areas and we are happy with them.
In this next year, we are considering getting a bigger camper. The nüCamp 400 will likely be the replacement. However, it is hard for me to imagine loving any other camper as much as Endeavor.
Our reasons are simple. We now know how much we love to travel and are willing to take it to a higher level to have something that provides comfortable daytime space inside.
Our Indiana camping experience was excellent from start to finish. It was the last state we visited on our monthlong, four-state, camping trip. We loved Indiana and its natural beauty, plus all the wonderful things to do in the areas we visited. Below is link to the plan for our overall trip.
Our first Indiana camping was at Indiana Dunes for just one night, but we arrived early and had some time to enjoy the park. Our site was ideal—large, flat, shady, and just across from the bathhouse. The bathhouse was pretty new and also had a water source. Our site had electricity, but no water.
We took the walk to the beach. It was a good bit of walking for my husband’s bad knee, but we stopped and rested several times along the path. The walk was mostly shady and there was a boardwalk for much of the distance with places to sit, so it was not a bad walk.
Indiana Dunes boardwalk
The Dunes were very nice with hundreds of people, many swimming in Lake Michigan. I only put my feet in the water. The lake was warmer than the dunes farther north in Michigan, but still a bit cold for me.
The Dunes and Lake Michigan
The park was established in 1925 and the State later built an enormous pavilion. At one time, it held a soft drink parlor, grill room, two stores, and dressing rooms for beach users. Long ago, the pavilion had a hotel beside it, but it was removed in 1970. Currently, the building is locked up and unused, but it is my understanding there are plans to restore it. It is a lovely building and it is sad to see it unused.
There were newer changing rooms and restrooms next to the pavilion—very functional, but not nearly as grand!
Pavilion at Indiana Dunes
We returned to our site just barely ahead of a fairly strong thunderstorm., which we enjoyed from the comfort of our tiny camper.
Indianapolis
Big city Indiana camping was nice as well. We enjoy visiting large cities during our travels and Indianapolis beckoned. While we normally like to stay in public campgrounds, they are not usually close to larger cities. Lake Haven Retreat is located two miles south of Indianapolis and is also very near shopping and lots of nice restaurants, so it was very convenient.
Lake Haven Retreat Site # 53
We had a gravel site with a little shade and full hookups. While at this park, our camper was a baby among giants, some for extended stays. The bathhouse and laundry were a bit of a hike, but were very nice and well-maintained. We were quite comfortable during our stay at Lake Haven, but it was pretty hot. The one full day we were there, we left early and did not return till late afternoon.
Benjamin Harrison Home
We enjoy visiting Presidential libraries and museums. Benjamin Harrison has the distinction of being the twenty-third President of the United States and the only one from Indiana. Today, his Indianapolis home is a museum with tours that provide information about his life and presidency.
Benjamin Harrison’s Home
Harrison was from a political family; his grandfather was the ninth United States president. He was also the great grandson of William Henry Harrison, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Harrison was president from 1889 to 1893, a time when the country was in the healing process after the Civil War.
Presidential Tour in 1892
Harrison and family members took an unprecedented train trip cross country during his term. (Seephoto above.) They traveled 10,000 miles in 31 days covering 21 states and delivered 150 speeches. He even visited our home city of Birmingham!
Piano in Library
The Harrison home has much of the original furnishings. That, plus the memorabilia and very informative tour guide made it very easy to get a sense of the life and times of this president. We were very glad that we had an opportunity to visit this presidential museum.
Museum of Art (Newfields)
Indianapolis is fortunate to have an amazing art museum. We arrived just in time for me to participate in a Gallery Tour, “Neoclassicism to Modernism”. My husband chilled with his tablet while I received a fabulous art lesson that included some of my favorite artists: Pissarro, Monet, Renoir, Seurat, Van Gogh, Cezannne, and O’Keefe. Heaven for me and relaxing for my husband. I will share some of the highlights of the tour.
Bouguereau’s Dream of Spring, 1901
The above painting is one of the later examples of Neoclassicism, which is characterized by idealistic forms, inspirational subjects, shallow space, Classical subject matter, and an utterly smooth surface without visible brushstrokes.
Millett’s Peasant with a Wheelbarrow
Realism (naturalism) came after Neoclassicism and the painting above shows how subject matter is represented truthfully without exotic or supernatural elements. The common man was often highlighted as in the above painting.
Lemmen’s The Two Sisters
Impressionism was a major force in art and the museum has many of those works. Post-Impressionism followed and George-Pierre Seurat’s pointillism is one of my favorites. It is a very labor-intensive way of painting using individual dots instead of brush strokes, but the results are very interesting. I love the expressions on the sisters above, particularly the older one’s. I can just see the thought, “Why do I have to do this?”
Oldfields (The Lily House)
The Newfields price of admission includes a tour of Oldfields, also known as the Lily House. It is the impressive home of J.K. Lily with eight historic furnished rooms depicting elegant country living in the 1930s. The home and it’s 26-acre grounds and gardens are a National Historic Landmark. Docent tours are sometimes available, but not at the time we were visiting.
City Sights
While in the city, we checked out some interesting architectural design. The first, Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The 284-foot structure has been a landmark in Indianapolis since 1902. It was the first monument in the United States to be dedicated to the common soldier.
Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors Monument
An affiliated body of Freemasonry owns the Scottish Rite Cathedral pictured below. It is such a large, impressive building that it does not fit in one shot. It was built between 1927 and 1929 and is one of the largest Masonic buildings. Guided tours are available daily, but we did get an opportunity to do anything beyond seeing the outside.
Scottish Rite Cathedral
Indiana Camping at Clifty Falls State Park
Indiana camping ended for us at Clifty Falls. It is a beautiful state park with excellent, well-marked trails and abundant shade. Unfortunately, the abundant shade was everywhere except the campground. We, along with quite a few others, had a very sunny site for most of the day. The weather was very hot during our stay and our awning was essential!
The site had electricity, but no water or sewer. The Park staff did a good job of maintaining the bathhouse and it was relatively close to us.
We arrived on a Saturday and the park was very crowded with mostly young families with children. By mid-morning the next day, the campers had vacated most of the sites.
Clifty Falls State Park, Site 81
We checked out the falls. There was not much water flowing, but the walk down to the them was very nice. The park information states that the falls are best from December through June.
View of the Falls
A big public pool is inside the park, but we did not get an opportunity to use it because of its very limited hours. I actually complained and the pool attendant told me that they have a very hard time getting lifeguards after school starts. I later learned that there is a very nice public pool in nearby Madison with more accommodating hours. Sadly, we did not get a chance to visit the pool with its historic bathhouse, which was built in 1938.
The Public Pool in Clifty Falls State Park
I would love to visit this park again when my husband’s knee recovers from replacement surgery to hike the trails, but I would like one of the few shady spots.
Town of Madison
We really, really loved the little town of Madison! As small towns go, it may be my favorite. There is a historic section of the town, right on the river, with blocks and blocks of well-preserved historic homes. Madison was recognized as “The prettiest small town in the Midwest” by Ladies Home Journal and “Best Preserved Town in the Midwest” by the Chicago Tribune.
We took a guided tour of the Lanier Mansion, built in 1844 with a Greek arevival style. The home still has many original furnishings. There is a walking tour of 44 historic sites, but we did not have enough time.
Lanier Mansion Historic Site
My favorite hour on this monthlong trip in four states was the Rockin Thunder Jet Boat Ride on the Ohio River.
We had a blast! We became quite wet as the boat did spins, slides, and fishtails. The people who operate the rides were great and Will, our captain, provided lots of interesting tales about the area. I felt absolutely safe during the ride, but loved getting wet and going fast on that very hot afternoon.
Rockin River Tour Boat
Our excursion into Madison ended with a delicious meal at Key West Shrimp House. It provided a view of the river, delicious food, and excellent service.
We plan to return to Madison and Indiana camping. There was so much more to do, plus Madison is an adorable town just across the river from Kentucky. As we make our way to other states to visit, I would gladly go out of my way to revisit.
Indiana camping was amazing and we loved our visit to this beautiful state.
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was high on our list for our summer camping trip. We were counting on cooler weather because it is so far north and had high expectations for beautiful sights.
Straits State Park
Most of our time in the Upper Peninsula was spent at Straits State Park in St. Ignace. It was a base as we traveled to surrounding areas and because it was on the Upper Peninsula side, we did not have to cross the bridge every day to reach our destinations.
We loved many things about Straits. It was very near places we wanted to visit and offered electricity and a nearby bathhouse. Also, the Straits of Mackinac were only about a thousand feet from our site with a killer view of Mackinac Bridge. The only downside was our site, which was small and not level, so it would have been a good trade off to have a level site farther from the bathhouse.
Site # 110 at Straits State Park
Leveling blocks needed
The view of the Straits of Mackinac and Mackinac Bridge from the campground was amazing. Several of our fellow campers enjoyed getting in the water, but it was too cold for anything but toes for me.
Testing the water
The nighttime view of the bridge and the water was mesmerizing. This was such a peaceful place.
Lighted Mackinac Bridge
Full moon over the Straits of Mackinac
We were very comfortable at Straits State Park in the evenings, but spent most of our days on short trips to surrounding areas.
Daytime Activities
St. Ignace
Our campground was in the small, but lovely town of St. Ignace and we had several meals there. My favorite was breakfast at Java Joe’s where I had some delicious crepes.
While in St. Ignace, we visited Castle Rock, a 200-foot ancient lookout of the Ojibway Indians, referred to as Pontiac’s lookout. It is also a spot related to the legendary Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox, Babe. We took the climb and it was quite a view.
Castle Rock
Great but cloudy view from the top
Another spot we liked was the lighthouse. St. Ignace has a relatively new one, Wawatam Lighthouse, built in 2006. Its beacon is visable for over 13 miles over Lake Huron.
It was overcast and/or raining for a couple of the days we were in the area, but it did not prevent us from seeing the sights. The temperatures were very comfortable though, with high seventies and low eighties in the daytime. Also, the days were very long and it was not dark until well after eight p.m.
Wawatam Lighthouse, St. Ignace
St. Ignace is also a departure location for the ferry to Mackinac Island. We used Sheplers because they also take you under the Mackinac Bridge.
Mackinac Island
We loved the day we spent on the island; it’s a truly unique place. Accessible only by ferry, it is on Lake Huron near the Upper and Lower peninsulas. The island is only 3.8 square miles, yet still boasts the largest summer hotel in the world, The Grand Hotel, which opened in 1887. The Biddle House, dating back to 1780 is also on the island.
Ferry Ride
We had lunch at the hotel. It was pricey, but very, very good. It was interesting to see the inside of the hotel. You have to pay $10 each to even get close to it, but if you have the buffet, they credit you for that amount. I considered booking us a room for the night in the hotel until I discovered it would be $700. Too rich for our blood! We settled for lunch instead.
The Grand Hotel
Perhaps the most unique aspect of the island is that cars are not allowed, except for emergency vehicles. Horses or bicycles are the modes of transportation. We took the carriage tour that covered downtown and the State Park.
Carriages everywhere
Carriage tour
Arch Rock was also part of the carriage tour.
Arch Rock
Mackinac Island is a truly magical place! It is like stepping back to an earlier time. In fact, the movie, “Somewhere in Time” was filmed on the island. I will need to check on it.
I took lots of additional photos while there. If interested, you can find them on the Big Guy Tiny Trailer Facebook page.
View from the island
The Island in the Winter
We learned something interesting about the island. In the winter, the ferrys shut down when the lake freezes and the only way to cross the lake is by snowmobile. In fact, they create a path where the ice is frozen and outline it with Christmas trees to make it easier to cross the lake. I would love to experience that!
Tahquamenon Falls
We took the scenic drive to the falls. There were few cars along the drive and the area was generally unpopulated with very little commerce. The Lower Falls are a series of cascades with rowboats available to rent that provide access to an island and hiking trails.
Lower Falls
Boating is available at Lower Waterfall
Sault Ste. Marie
Salut Ste. Marie is Michigan’s oldest city, incorporated in 1668 and is currently celebrating 350 years. Its major attraction is the famous Soo Locks, built over 150 years ago to enable ships to navigate the 21-foot drop between Lake Superior and the lower lakes. I never really understood locks before this visit, but now think of them as a bit like an escalator for ships.
The Corps of Engineers operate the Soo and there is a large viewing area for visitors to see ships passing through the locks. We watched two ships pass.
Canada and the United States both have locks along the Saint Mary’s River, which is the connecting waterway to Lakes Superior and Huron. The locks on the Canadian side are used exclusively for recreational vessels. In the photo below, the bridge on the left leads to Canada. We were very close, but did not cross the border because we did not have our passports. Also, we want to see much more when we eventually go to Canada.
Soo lock
Ship passing the lock
The Soo Locks are attributed to enable $500.4 billion of iron ore to be shipped through each year. They are an important resource for this country and have a major impact on the economy. The Visitor Center had an abundance of information about the locks and the their history, including videos.
Visitor Center
While in the city, we had a nice lunch at Karl’s Cuisine just down the street from the entrance to the locks. We had a killer bread pudding there.
Shipwreck Museum and Whitefish Point
Whitefish Point is located at a spot on Lake Superior where many shipwrecks have occurred, including the famous Edmund Fitzgerald that sank in 1975, burying 29 crewmen. Gordon Lightfoot tells its story by a song by the same name.
The bell was retrieved in a burial ceremony twenty years later and a replacement bell with the names of all the crew was installed on the sunken ship.
Edmund Fitzgerald Bell
The museum had many artifacts about the ships that have gone down in the nearby treacherous waters. There was also a film about the retrieval of the Fitzgerald bell.
Over 300 Recorded Accidents along this coast
For a small additional fee, you can climb the light station, which I did. It was a tight, steep climb, but the view from the top was nice and the tour guide had lots of good information about the area and its history.
Whitefish Point Light Station 1849
That is Lake Superior below, the largest lake in the world based on surface area.
View from the Light Station
Munising
We chose the Munising area to also visit because we wanted to camp in a more remote area of the Upper Peninsula and we wanted to see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
We visited Pictured Rocks on our way to Munising. Pictured Rocks are sandstone cliffs along Lake Superior that tower as high as 200 feet. There are many access points for boating and hiking. My husband’s bad leg and my bad shoulder would have made many of the cool spots difficult for us. However, one of the more spectators views, Miners Castle, has a lookout view that was easily accessible.
Miners Castle at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
The view was truly beautiful. We spent about an hour at the viewing area and then headed to our campground.
Widewaters Campground
Widewaters is part of the Hiawatha National Forest and is located between Irwin Lake and the Indian River. It was truly remote! There was no one to check in with when we arrived, but they had our site reserved with our name.
We had a lovely, large, partially-shaded lot. Also, temperatures were very comfortable during our stay, bugs were not an issue, and there were well-maintained vault toilets just across the street. We were aware that there were no electrical hookups and no showers. As we were only there for one night, we felt we could survive.
However, we were expecting access to water near our site, based on the map of the campground. We never found it and I searched twice. Despite the lack of any amenities beyond the vault toilets, we enjoyed our time there.
It was our first opportunity to try out our solar panels and we at least had a chance to become more familiar with them. We used them more extensively on our way home in Kentucky. I have written what we learned about them in a separate post. Solar Panels for Newbies, Access to New Places
Widewaters Campground, Site #31
We took a short walk to the Indian River, which is on one side of the campground. It was lovely with the shadow of the trees reflected on the water.
Indian River
The cool temperatures and the lack of hookups meant that we could sleep in the peaceful quiet of the forest without the noise of a fan. I loved that part of our time there!
Regrets
We had a fabulous time in the Upper Peninsula and I don’t regret anything that we did. We tried to squeeze as much as we could during our time there. I do regret that we did not squeeze just a few more things into the trip.
We did not see the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. We were both a little tired when we got to the park and had been driving quite a bit. Also, we have seen quite a few waterfalls lately, so we just left after the Lower Falls. But, we were so close and now looking at the literature, I have major regrets.
I would have liked to have stayed a night near Marquette, the largest city in the Upper Peninsula. We saw the small city of St. Ignace with many nearby attractions and remote Munising, but not we did not see the city in which most Upper Peninsula residents live.
I think we would have enjoyed Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruise along the straits. There was just not enough time.
We did not get an opportunity to try a pastie, an Upper Peninsula traditional meat pie that is eaten by hand. When we were near a place that had them, we were not hungry and when we wanted one, there were none nearby.
So we will just have to return to the Upper Peninsula. Once was not enough!
Michigan camping was the third of our four-state summer trip and it was incredible. We camped in three different locations in the lower peninsula and loved them all. However, we needed to purchase a Michigan Annual Pass to avoid entrance fees of $9 per day to the state parks. The annual pass was $32 and was good for Sleepy Hollow and Straits campgrounds in the Upper Peninsula.
Sleepy Hollow State Park
Firstly, we visited Sleepy Hollow State Park in Laingsburg, which was a very nice campground. We had a large, level lot very near the well-maintained bathhouse. It was an electric site, but we did need our extension cord. It was the first time we have ever had to use it. There was a source of water nearby but no water hookup or sewer. Also, there is a beach, lake (Lake Ovid), fishing pier, and Disc Golf Course within walking distance. The site was very reasonable at $29 per night.
Sleepy Hollow Site # 129
We also walked the beautiful shaded path to check out the beach. The beach can also be accessed via the road. It was a very relaxing afternoon.
Path to the beach
View from the path
The beach
Another reason we chose Sleepy Hollow was that it is only about 30 minutes from Lansing, the capital of Michigan. We liked this because there were two attractions we wanted to visit: the Michigan History Center and the R.E. Olds Museum.
Michigan History Center
The History Center is an impressive five-level museum depicting the history of Michigan from prehistoric times through to 1975. It was one of my favorite museums ever! There were tons of actual artifacts plus many dioramas illustrating life in various points in time. Helpful docents were also on every floor.
The museum reminds me somewhat of a Disney Epcot attraction that depicts the history of mankind and what each stage was like. It is a real bargain because admission to the museum was only four dollars.
Michigan and the Great Lakes
WW I Recruitment Display
Newspaper from 1940
Retro Kitchen
R.E. Olds Museum
I liked this museum more than I expected. The old cars were beautiful and the story of the founder’s life was also quite interesting.
Mama and Baby REO
My favorite
We finished our day trip to Lansing with a late lunch at the Soup Spoon Cafe, a walk through Old Town, and last but not least, a visit to a local laundromat.
Next, our Michigan camping trip took us to the Upper Peninsula, which is covered in a separate post. Below is a link. The next photo is a view of the Mackinac Bridge and Lake Huron from the Lower Peninsula. The bridge connects the upper and lower peninsulas.
On our way home, our next stop in the Lower Peninsula was at the Platte River Campground in Beulah.
Platte River Campground
Our second Michigan camping in the lower peninsula was at Platte River Campground, which is part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This was by far our favorite campground. The site was a huge electric site with an immaculate bathhouse just across the street. There was also a separate enclosed dishwashing room in the bathhouse. We attended an entertaining ranger-sponsored musical performance at the Amphitheater that night.
Platte River Campground Site # 105
We only had the site for one night. Before leaving the next day, we drove down a gravel road to check out the dunes. It was fairly early and there was no one there. This was Peterson Road Beach and this area is not the major portion of Sleeping Bear Dunes. I suspect we have missed something by not seeing the major section of Sleeping Bear. Dunes, but there was no availability when we were booking our trip.
Path to the dunes
Peterson Road Beach on Lake Michigan
The campground and lake were beautiful, but there was not much to do in the nearby area. After spending a little time on the dunes, we headed to our next Michigan camping location in Kalamazoo.
Two Stops Along the Way
Gerald R. Ford Museum
We are trying to visit all the presidential libraries and this trip offered an opportunity to visit the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids. It was right along the way to Kalamazoo.
Statue of Gerald Ford
Piece of the Berlin Wall
The library included films and artifacts from the Ford presidential years. It also had quite a bit about the First Lady, Betty Ford. Gerald Ford had the distinction of becoming president without ever running for the office of President or Vice-President. I was impressed by the information provided about his presidency. I think he was a very good man.
The Outdoor Discovery Center
The Outdoor Discovery Center was a detour for us, but it had great reviews and my husband loves animals and birds. It is a nature preserve in Holland, Michigan.
There are two large rooms with taxidermy displays that feature all sorts of animals, which look very lifelike. While we were impressed with the inside of the facility, the nature walk and the Birds of Prey exhibit was the most enjoyable.
Stuffed Polar Bear
Realistic-looking animals
The Center rescues Birds of Prey that have been injured and can no longer take care of themselves in the wild. Most had either wing or eye injuries. There were several varieties of owls, two bald eagles, and a falcon. There was also a couple of buzzards. It is not often that we are able to see birds like this up close. However, it was also sad to see these majestic birds in captivity.
Injured Bald Eagle
It was a lovely walk to the Birds of Prey exhibit, most along a shady boardwalk. There were bird feeders and flowers along the way, which made the walk more interesting.
Boardwalk to Birds of Prey Exhibit
The Center was really worth the detour, especially considering that admission is free.
Kalamazoo
Our last Michigan camping experience was in Kalamazoo. It was also our first ever boondocking experience. As I understand it, boondocking is free camping. Perhaps this was moochdocking as we were staying on our friend’s property and using their electricity.
We arrived in time for a delicious outdoor meal they had prepared. It was wonderful to watch the sun begin to set over the water. We enjoyed the view and their company.
View from our Friend’s Porch
Our Friend’s Lakeside Patio
When our friends mentioned a nearby YMCA, we requested a trip to the gym the next morning. It was our only opportunity to use gym facilities during our trip and we we excited to be able to get some gym-related exercise .
After our workouts, we ate at Breakfast at Tiffany’s and it was awesome. In fact, my favorite breakfast on our entire trip was at Breakfast at Tiffany’s Restaurant in Kalamazoo. Korean BBQ and waffles was the special. It sounded a little weird, but I am so glad I tried it! The dish is fried chicken with Korean barbecue sauce topped with peanuts and diced green onions served over a malted waffle. So good!
Korean BBQ Chicken and Waffles
Our friends took us sightseeing and we visited nearby Saugatuck that afternoon. It is a lovely area with parks and nice shops.
Visit to Saugatuck
We returned that night to pouring rain, but our camper kept us very cozy on our friend’s property. The only downside was the very aggressive mosquitoes.
Sadly, our Michigan camping experience was ending. We had a delicious home-cooked breakfast prepared by our wonderful friends and said our goodbyes. So, we headed to Indiana, looking forward to the next adventure. So long lovely Michigan! However, we must return someday.
We are brand new to solar panels and I must say, we do not have them totally figured out yet. I am an “instructions gal” and usually can make sense of things by reading the instructions. However, in the case of solar panels, much of it may as well be in a foreign language.
I would love to read a post entitled “Solar Panels for Dummies”, but have not yet seen one for camper batteries. So I am trying to learn enough to provide some basic language on the subject.
Why Solar Panels
It seems that most of the National Parks sites do not have electrical hookups. Also, I am aware there are great places out west to boondock. While we would love the camp in some of those places, we do like a few of the comforts that electricity provides.
We considered a generator, but they are not allowed at some campgrounds and the idea of hauling one around plus the fuel was not very appealing. They can also be noisy. We may eventually purchase a generator, but I want to fully understand solar first to see if it can meet our needs.
Our Equipment
A little background first: we have a T@G MAX XL teardrop with the Norcold cooler. (From reading posts on Facebook groups, I learned that the cooler really draws the amps.) We knew that the Norcold could be an issue, but wanted to see firsthand how it would work. So, we treated this first use as a learning experiment.
Some Basic Information
Amp Hour (Ah)
An Ampere (Amp) is a measure of the amount of energy stored in a battery.
A battery with a capacity of one amp could supply a current of one amp for one hour or two amps for 1/2 hour or 1/3 amp for three hours before becoming fully discharged.
A battery with 100 Ah would produce 5 amps over 20 hours, but if discharged at a high rate like 50 amps in an hour, it would only last one hour because of the high rate of discharge.
Converting Watts to Amps/Amps to Watts
Watts = Amps x Voltage (12 If a 12 Volt Battery)
Amps = Watts / Voltage (12 If a 12 volt battery)
The Solar Panels
We purchased Zamp 80P solar panels and used them for the first time on a recent trip that ended in a National Park in Kentucky. Zamp was chosen because the camper was already wired for it, they appear to be of high quality, and are 100% waterproof.
Zamp Solar Panels in case
The photo below shows what the inside looks like when opened. Inside is the controller, cord, and fold-out adjustable legs. It also comes with an adapter to hook directly to a 12 volt battery, but we did not need it.
Zamp 80P Solar Panels
The Charging Environment
We had a one night stay in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and hooked up the panels, but we arrived late and left early the next day. It was cooler there and the Norcold cooler did not have to run as much. It was too short a time to really make an assessment.
The last two days of our trip was in Kentucky at Mammoth Cave Campground with no electricity. We had a shaded site, but there was quite a bit of sun on the asphalt pull through. We did not have an extension cord, but I can see the valve of having one in the future. However, by moving the panels as the sun moved, we were able to get as high as 4.0 amps for part of the day.
It was Kentucky in the late summer, so it was predictably hot—low nineties in the day and low seventies at night. The heat worsened the issues we had with the solar panels and the Norcold. Cooler weather might have made a big difference.
Preserving the Battery
The 12 volt battery can be destroyed if allowed to go too low. So, it is not a bad idea to have a voltage meter to monitor activity. This link is for an inexpensive one that can be ordered from Walmart. It plugs directly into the 12 volt receptacle on the inside and also the back of our T@G. The solar panel controller also monitors battery voltage.
The table below shows the voltage and related state of charge for a 12 volt battery. The battery should stay in the green zone to provide the longest life. The Zamp controller will show the battery in a warning state if it dips below 12.5 volts.
Voltage and State of Charge
Set-Up
The Zamp instructions stated that you must have the correct battery type indicated on the controller or you could damage your battery. My husband tells me that ours is a wet battery and AGM is the default, so I had to change it. The lower black button on the right on the controller changes the battery type. Once you change the type, it retains the information.
Setting up the panels is very easy. First, open the panels and pull out the legs. Next, position the panels so they are directly facing the sun. Then, plug the cord directly into the external receptacle on the driver’s side of the case that holds the battery and propane. You must press it in firmly. (See photo below). You are now ready to go. As soon as the cord is plugged into the receptacle during daylight, the panels will begin working and the controller will begin displaying data.
Connecting to the battery
Cord plugged into camper receptacle
The Data
The controller has three lights that provide information about the charging status and three lights that reflect the condition of the battery.
In the photo below, charging is occurring (red light) and is providing a charge to the battery (blue light), and the battery voltage is above 12.5 volts (green light). This is how the controller looked most of the time we were using the solar panels.
Zamp Controller
Below is a table from the manual that explains how to interpret what the lights mean that are on the controller.
Controller Table of Information
Red Charging Status: When receiving sunlight, the light is always red, however the light will flash when the solar panel is weak. It is unlit if it is dark and there is no charging occurring.
Blue Charging Indicator: This light is on when the battery is being charged.
Green Float Charge Indicator: This light indicates that float charging is occurring. It would mean that battery is fully charged and is being maintained at a safe level. A wet battery is fully charged at 13.6 volts. This light did not come on while we were using the panels.
Battery Condition Green: Battery is above 12.5 Volts (+-0.2V). For most of the time we were using our solar panels, this light was on.
Battery Condition Yellow: Battery is below 12.5 Volts and above 11.5 Volts (+-0.02V). We saw the yellow light several times when the Norcold cooler was running.
Battery Condition Red: Battery is below 11.5 Volts (+-0.02V). Thankfully, we did not see this light on during our usage of the panels.
Amp/Volt Button: Pressing this button toggles between displaying the current battery voltage, the charging current, and charged capacity (Amp-hour).
Results on this Trip
On our first night, we only had a few hours of limited sunlight. When the sunlight was greatly reduced and the Norcold was running, the yellow light came on. We feared we would damage our battery if we ran the cooler or used the fan, so we turned off the power from the battery.
The next day, we had many hours of sunlight and were obtaining as much as 4 amps and I was hopeful we could run the fan that night. We ran the Norcold all day, charged our electronics, and played music on the DVD using Bluetooth and music on my phone. A couple of times in the hotter part of the day, the yellow battery light came on, but when the Norcold stopped running, the battery light would eventually move to green.
Monitoring the solar panels
However, when the sun was down, the battery light stayed yellow and there was no charge occurring. Also, an (E) light was showing on the Norcold. This appears to be a safety measure. We felt our only choice was to turn off the power so we endured another hot night without the fan.
Load Analysis
As we clearly have issues trying to run the items we planned, a reader suggested that a load analysis would be helpful. Below are the 12 Volt items in our camper and the amount of energy each uses in an hour. There is also a column estimating the number of hours in a day they would be used and a projected daily total.
Because there are some solar options like solar power generators, I added a chart for items that we use when camping that run on 110. We are a long way from such a solution, but I like knowing how much energy the items draw.
Camper Load Analysis
It is clear from reviewing the 12 volt list that the Norcold is a major energy hog, claiming an estimated 43% of the total daily energy. Converter amps would also be significantly lower without the Norcol, saving perhaps 8 amps. If we use an ice chest instead of the Norcol, our estimated daily amps goes down to approximately 37. This is a much more reasonable number, considering our current equipment.
Increasing Energy Capacity
There are several ways to increase energy capacity if not happy with amount of power the solar panels provide.
Increase battery capacity. Our battery only provides only 65 amps, but the same brand produces a similar battery with 105 amps. This would be a significant improvement over the current battery. (The battery does weigh a little more than the current one.)
Change battery configuration to two 6 V batteries. This works much better than 12 V for dry camping. The 6 V’s have 600-700 life cycles as compared to the 12 V’s 100-150. Amps would be ample at 180 or up to 220 amp hours per battery. However, they are they are more expensive and it is likely modifications would be needed to make the two batteries fit in an existing camper. They are taller than 12 V batteries, but have a similar footprint. (A reader of this post stated they had great results using two 6 V batteries.)
Purchase higher solar panel wattage. Our panels are 80 watts and can produce a max of 4.6 amps per hour. This is not a lot of capacity if sunshine is limited.
Purchase a portable solar power generator. This is a pricey option, but it enables the use of 110 items and also it would be a good item to have at home during power outages. They are cleaner and safer than a generator. (I think I want one!). Two brands appear to be dominant in the market, the Inergy Kodiak and the Gold Zero Lithium Yeti System. Each can charge with solar panels or a wall outlet. A good comparison of the two systems can be found on YouTube.
Lessons Learned
While the solar panels did not provide adequate charging for our needs on this trip, I feel we can take what we have learned and make some changes for future success. We will make the following changes next time we are dry camping.
Substitute a high-quality cooler for the Norcold. We were fighting a losing battle trying to use the Norcold in ninety-degree weather. The Norcold might work with the panels in a much cooler environment, but we will not be expecting to use it when dry camping in the future.
Purchase an extension cord for the panels. It is clear that it would be handy in some situations.
(Perhaps) purchase a portable solar power generator.
I look forward to another opportunity to use the solar panels and will update this post on our resources page with any new information.
