2025 Shakedown

This year the shakedown trip has a few more facets. We upgraded several things leading up to this trip.

We added an inverter and upgraded to LiFePo batteries with the hope that we could stay in state parks without electrical hookups or even boondock for a day or two.

We added Solar Panels to the roof to help replace power to the batteries.

We added DC to DC power (recharge the batteries on the camper from the truck alternator as we drive).

We upgraded the shower with a new shower valve.

We added a storage box up front for additional storage (we lost storage in the basement due to the power upgrade).

The results so far?

The shower upgrade was reviewed favorably by My Lovely.

The inverter and batteries work properly, However, the point was to be able to run at least 1 night of air conditioning off the batteries. Believe that we will be fine in the mountains, but in a hot environment, we may only get 6 hours run time.

The solar panels work. We always knew they would be a supplement only.

We will be checking out the DC to DC on the way home (we already had full batteries on the drive down). I expect a full recharge in 3 hours (which is faster than we need), so I expect us to be good there.

And, we got to add another state!! Alabama!Read more