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Topics - wdaltman

#1
So, we just made reservations for 8 nights in Glacier NP this summer.  Since moving from tent camping to the QS, we've gotten used to a few comforts that depend on electricity - mainly an ARB 12v fridge.  It is so nice not having to worry about ice to keep everything as cold as our home fridge (and colder if we want it).  Being a national park, there are no electric sites.  I know we could just go the way of ice for our food and batteries for our lights, etc.  But I'm wondering about options for upgrading the 75 amp hour battery that came with our trailer.  Here are some options:

1.  Purchase another 12 volt deep cycle battery and a solar charger kit and simply swap out the batteries as needed - use one while the other is charging.  The upside is that this would not be expensive and would require no modifications to the camper.  Plus the battery being charged could stay close to the solar panel as it is moved to sunny spots.  And, when we take the minivan out for daytrips, we could possibly connect the spare battery to the car battery and charge off the alternator.  On trips where we'll have electric sites, the extra battery and charger just stay home.

2. Upgrade to two batteries - either two 12 volts or two 6 volt golf cart batteries.  This would require some modifications and probably more equipment.  Could 2 batteries even fit up front, given that it's already a bit tight with one battery and a propane tank?  Would the additional tongue weight be a problem?  Would the current electric system even support this or would that need to be replaced?  The advantage is that 2 six volts would probably keep the fridge and minimal other things going for a week without a recharge.  But this would be way more expensive and more trouble than the first option.  When close to home, we're nearly always either in a state park with electricity or a private campground.  But we do a national park probably one week a year.

Does anybody have any advice or experience to point me in the right direction?  Thanks!

Bill Altman
Newburgh IN