Off grid woes and POI

[MalJ]

First post. Normally I’d carve a notch on my keyboard, but this iPad doesn’t have one…
I rented a camper van from goboony that failed to live up to expectations off grid.
Also the locations map offers directions through the TomTom go app, which doesn’t exist anymore.
MalJ

 

[trevskoda]

First post. Normally I’d carve a notch on my keyboard, but this iPad doesn’t have one…
I rented a camper van from goboony that failed to live up to expectations off grid.
Also the locations map offers directions through the TomTom go app, which doesn’t exist anymore.
MalJ

Hence all or most of our vans are geared up for the job.

 

[Pauljenny]

Have you complained Yet.?
In person?
Trading standards ?
Give em Hell.

 

[Boris7]

First post. Normally I’d carve a notch on my keyboard, but this iPad doesn’t have one…
I rented a camper van from goboony that failed to live up to expectations off grid.
Also the locations map offers directions through the TomTom go app, which doesn’t exist anymore.
MalJ

Without seeing the ad for the van it’s impossible to comment, but most motorhomes are more geared to campsites than off grid.

If renting a motorhome with a view for wild camping there are certain things you should check for before committing yourself (but I guess you know this now) If the van was advertised as suitable for self sufficiency away from sites then you have an argument.

I’ve just looked at a number of vans on that site and what I’ve seen when you select off grid camping seems to be wholly inadequate. But you need to check what the van you rented said in its listing.

Trevs right, the van needs to be geared up to do a proper job off grid, simply saying “Energy solar/generator and water for at least 2 days” just doesn’t come close to the info the hirer needs if they intend to avoid campsites.

 

[Robmac]

You don't say what exactly 'failed to live up to expectations off grid' can you be more specific?

Welcome to the forum.

 

[MalJ]

You don't say what exactly 'failed to live up to expectations off grid' can you be more specific?

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the welcome.
It was advertised with a diesel heater, that didn’t work at all, it was totally dead, I only found out when on the road. I will definitely check next time. She (the owner) fobbed me off with an electric fan heater, but that would only last 12 minutes before the inverter alarm came on. I had to find EHU every night.
Then the water failed. Then the sink wouldn’t drain.
My two week trip was fantastic fun otherwise. I got to see my first starling murmuration at Newport Wetlands, among other mega nature sights and sounds.
Cheers,
Mal.

 

[Geek]

First post. Normally I’d carve a notch on my keyboard, but this iPad doesn’t have one…
I rented a camper van from goboony that failed to live up to expectations off grid.
Also the locations map offers directions through the TomTom go app, which doesn’t exist anymore.
MalJ

Were your expectations based on what was advertised in the listing?

Most motorhomes are not set up for more than a day or so off-grid, because there is no need for most people. They go to camp sites with services available.

 

[LesE]

As a newbie, could someone advise me what l would need for off grid. I also have concerns regarding the fresh water tank freezing, my tanks are in the space beneath the bed/shower room in what l would class as external lockers.
We are hoping to use it to visit family over Christmas, but there homes are too far from road to hook up.
My motorhome is a Burstner Dolphine performance 625.
Regards Les

 

[Pudsey Bear]

As a newbie, could someone advise me what l would need for off grid. I also have concerns regarding the fresh water tank freezing, my tanks are in the space beneath the bed/shower room in what l would class as external lockers.
We are hoping to use it to visit family over Christmas, but there homes are too far from road to hook up.
My motorhome is a Burstner Dolphine performance 625.
Regards Les

It very much depends on how long you want to be off grid, the longer you want, the more you need if not moving, at least 100w of solar and 100ah of leisure battery 20l of water per day if you want to shower, will you take a TV or download to tablets, LPG refillable or Calor?

Lots of info needed to help you nail it down better.

 

[Geek]

As a newbie, could someone advise me what l would need for off grid. I also have concerns regarding the fresh water tank freezing, my tanks are in the space beneath the bed/shower room in what l would class as external lockers.

To be honest, only you can answer that. For a start, it depends how much water you use, how quickly you fill your toilet and how much 12v power you get through.

We can manage two weeks between "service stops" mostly because that's how long 150 litres of water lasts two of us.

That defines the interval, so we have three toilet cassettes to cover that long.

We have an LPG bulk tank which lasts over a month in winter (or pretty much an entire summer).

400Ah of habitation battery, a small solar panel and a good B2B charger means we never even think about 12v running out.

Laundry goes into Ikea zip bags in the boot, domestic waste goes into double-layered bin bags in the boot.

 

[Geek]

I also have concerns regarding the fresh water tank freezing, my tanks are in the space beneath the bed/shower room in what l would class as external lockers.

Our water is in an underseat locker, but the waste tank is outside under the van. I think it once had a heating vent to keep it from freezing but thst was gone before out ownership.

The coldest weather we've had was a month or so with several nights (and possibly a few days) as cold as -20C. The waste tank didn't freeze, but its drain pipe did. Luckily the weather eased before the waste tank was full.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I forgot to add, we've never had a tank freeze in winter, ours are under the floor.

 

[LesE]

Thank you all for the information, I will dig out some of the paper work on what l have installed to give you a better idea of what l have.
Regards Les

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Hope it's better than the paperwork we have, it seems very random.

 

[Boris7]

As a newbie, could someone advise me what l would need for off grid. I also have concerns regarding the fresh water tank freezing, my tanks are in the space beneath the bed/shower room in what l would class as external lockers.
We are hoping to use it to visit family over Christmas, but there homes are too far from road to hook up.
My motorhome is a Burstner Dolphine performance 625.
Regards Les

What you need for off grid is an open ended question, it depends on so many factors but starting with water, the waste tank is a certain size and it’s hard to change that (not impossible mind) but a simple run off pipe from the waste outlet will allow you to get rid or water off grid in an environmentally friendly manner. I also modified my outlet pipe so if I do manage to overfill the waste it simply dumps it on the floor rather than fill the shower etc.

Fresh water, additional fresh can be carried to top up you main tank, this is easier with a whale pump or other 12v pump.

Battery size, some people are very hard on batteries (electric kettles and hairdryers etc) others use very little, as an example if I’m alone I never give a thought to my leisure batteries, I have an EcoFlow back up and when alone it sits idle. When SWMBO is with me all combined 900ah is under threat as she treats it like a hotel room.

I also run an EcoFlow alternator charger which I turn on when driving once the leisure batteries are fully charged. But again no need when travelling alone.

Your probably best advised to get out and do some off grid camping and work out what you need, I started by hiring for a week, going to camp sites with facilities and not using them, that way when I ran out of water it was to hand, same with waste and EHU. By the end of that week I knew what I wanted and more importantly what I didn’t want.

On your family visit remember 16a leads are male and female so you can link some together to reach the house.

 

[Robmac]

Thanks for the welcome.
It was advertised with a diesel heater, that didn’t work at all, it was totally dead, I only found out when on the road. I will definitely check next time. She (the owner) fobbed me off with an electric fan heater, but that would only last 12 minutes before the inverter alarm came on. I had to find EHU every night.
Then the water failed. Then the sink wouldn’t drain.
My two week trip was fantastic fun otherwise. I got to see my first starling murmuration at Newport Wetlands, among other mega nature sights and sounds.
Cheers,
Mal.

I think that those equipment failures should at least entitle you to some sort of refund on the hire fee and I would follow that up if I were you.

I've seen many Murmurations and they never cease to amaze me.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

We don't get many Starlings flying around here Rob, just a few greedy barstuds on the feed sometimes

 

[Boris7]

I think that those equipment failures should at least entitle you to some sort of refund on the hire fee and I would follow that up if I were you.

I've seen many Murmurations and they never cease to amaze me.

Draw up an all inclusive list of the vaults and failed promises and contact your credit company, the website and trading standards.

Then don’t make the same mistake again

 

[marchie]

As a newbie, could someone advise me what l would need for off grid. I also have concerns regarding the fresh water tank freezing, my tanks are in the space beneath the bed/shower room in what l would class as external lockers.
We are hoping to use it to visit family over Christmas, but there homes are too far from road to hook up.
My motorhome is a Burstner Dolphine performance 625.
Regards Les

Is the (fresh) Water Tank inboard, with the filler cap inside the water cupboard (the one before the larger door Gas cupboard)? If so, it is semi-winter'ised, and the frost stat should only operate by draining the tank atc10 degrees Celsius. To prevent the frost stat operating, we set the Truma gas heating to maintain a temperature of 13 Celsius (still a wee bit nippy for the 3a.m. Bathroom visit!), and have not lost the water tank contents in over 4 years

Steve

 

[LesE]

First off apologies to MalJ for highjacking his post.
I'm afraid that when it comes to technical things l am quickly out of my depth, even in how to start a thread on this site.
So in our motorhome home l have an inverter. Solar panel, diesel heater 2 leisure batteris and for good measure a almost silent generator.
I will attempt to upload pictures then perhaps someone would be good enough to tell me if I need anything thing else for going off grid.
My main concern is that I need power to charge my mobility scooter and at night l use a CPAP machine.
Regards Les

Is the (fresh) Water Tank inboard, with the filler cap inside the water cupboard (the one before the larger door Gas cupboard)? If so, it is semi-winter'ised, and the frost stat should only operate by draining the tank atc10 degrees Celsius. To prevent the frost stat operating, we set the Truma gas heating to maintain a temperature of 13 Celsius (still a wee bit nippy for the 3a.m. Bathroom visit!), and have not lost the water tank contents in over 4 years

Steve

Hello Steve
Please see photo, is this whAt you are on about?