First night at Harvest Hosts

[dedmiston]

We’re trying to get more bang for our buck to afford more nights on the road and decided to try Harvest Hosts.

Tonight we’re at a date farm in Palm Desert. It’s quirky, but we can’t complain.

We bought dinner for two for $30 and it’s quite the bargain. The woman is Korean and she’s a chef according to her, so we bought her ramen. What a bargain.

I’m still making tweaks to the coach to optimize it for dry camping, but so-far-so-good.

The next three nights will be dry camping at county parks, and then Monday we’ll be at a KOA in Tucson with hookups again before we look at the map and pick our next destination.

 

[Mikendebbie]

Sounds like fun! Thanks for the update!

 

[Daryles]

We're planning a trip out west. One of our stops is at Joshua Tree NP. We will be dry camping at Chiriaco Summit on the south side and North JTNP BLM.
Actually most of our trip this year will be dry camping (BLM, NF, Casinos, Cracker Barrel, Wallydocking). I'm adding another 200w solar panel to the left side roof array (total 1,000w) and upgrading the MPPT controller to a Victron 150/70. Next year I'll add six 250w panels down the right side of the roof (1500w) and a MPPT 150/100.
That will be enough to run one AC unit directly from the solar panels.

 

[foldbak]

That will be enough to run one AC unit directly from the solar panels.

Dam! I didn't know you could run directly from the solar panels. How does that work?

 

[dedmiston]

We're planning a trip out west. One of our stops is at Joshua Tree NP. We will be dry camping at Chiriaco Summit on the south side and North JTNP BLM.
Actually most of our trip this year will be dry camping (BLM, NF, Casinos, Cracker Barrel, Wallydocking). I'm adding another 200w solar panel to the left side roof array (total 1,000w) and upgrading the MPPT controller to a Victron 150/70. Next year I'll add six 250w panels down the right side of the roof (1500w) and a MPPT 150/100.
That will be enough to run one AC unit directly from the solar panels.

Dude! The sun will get dimmer when you hog up all those rays.

 

[Daryles]

Dam! I didn't know you could run directly from the solar panels. How does that work?

I misspoke.
I'll have enough panels to run one AC unit via an inverter.
We had a 2000w inverter (upgraded to 3000w) I tested running one AC unit (with a SoftStartRV installed) successfully from the batteries. It did pull a LOT of Amps from the batteries. With the panels it will run without drawing from the batteries, at least during the daytime lol.

 

[Schautzie]

There is another free camping site/app available and cheaper. It’s called RVOvernights. 29 and change a year and as long as you keep subscription paid they will not up the price on you! You might want to check it out. RVOvernights.com! Enjoy your travels!