Self Sufficent for freedom camping, what do I need?

[norman]

A few fishing rods and tackle box are a must .....IMHO

[Kelvin12]

Add on some sort of rain water collection. We use guttering around the roof of the bus and providing you are not in a drought then generally you get a good supply. Around 10mm of rain results in about 200lts or so. Collect from the annex otherwise that's wasted, we haven't bothered yet but it on the mind or what passes as a mind these days. Even a good tarp pegged out between trees or whatever is a good collector. Getting rid of black water is another problem. There are heaps of dump points around sometimes you need a bit of a trip to stir things up but dump it correctly not on the side of a rest area and take rubbish with you to dispose of correctly. Marvelous how many don't and just leave it. We have found we are hardly ever in need of 240v which really came as a surprise. 12v TV, gas stove etc. Fridge runs on 24v continuously on house batteries. We have a generator but not used all that often with good solar. Biggest problem is the bloody hair dryer for you know who and the dog. Washing is also a bit of a drama but there are plenty of laundries in towns and cheap too.

Dirk

[Greynomad]

We tote -- apart from all that mentioned above -- a 2kw inverter. Some of our rechargeable stuff just doesn't come with a 12v alternative cable for the charger (viz: 2 brands of digital camera with different shaped batteries ).
The original equipment 1500w inverter karked it a while ago, so we took the opportunity to upgrade. Now we can run the m/wave or SWMBO's hair dryer while off the grid.
A folding recliner chair is a great inclusion (apart from the 2 directors chairs which go with the folding table for cooking & eating).
My tool kit includes a tube of Silastic, a pair of Stillsons, a pop-riveter, a hacksaw and a boxed set of Stanley screwdrivers. (Farewell gift from Son & Heir.)
No wonder Girt weighs 8t!!

[Dot]

Booze, remember the booze.

[Greynomad]

How COULD I forget the Essential Supplies!!!

[Toolman]

I reckon that I will have the toolkit thing covered

[baysidetas]

It seems to me that this topic has died as I cannot see anything post August.

While several contributions listed parts lists etc. there does not seem to be an answer about electrical matters/equipment.
E.G. battery capacity, battery management system, solar regulators, DC to DC systems etc.

Barrie.

[native pepper]

I'm in the process of updating my electrical system, when finished it will have 1250w of solar, currently 460w, 480amp x 12v lifepo4. Two dedicated 60amp lifepo4 solar chargers, 4 cell equaliser and 1500w PSW inverter. Along with that, 360amp 12v gel charged from the alternator via a 60amp deep cycle 24v battery and 24v to 12v dc- dc charger, this will run A/c, hot water via a 1000W psw inverter and can switch the solar to the gel when the lifepo4 is full. Although rarely do that, no need so far.

We run TV, induction hotplates, PC, laptops, phones, LED lights, stereo, 2 fridges and in the future A/C. The lifepo4 never gets below about 30% DOD and rarely drops below 3.1v, unless we are immobile and no sun for a few days. I'm sure you'll find much bigger more sophisticated systems than ours here and if you read through certain threads, you'll find most have posted their setups at some time, including the "thread tell us about your rig".

[bagmaker]

it gets out of control quickly doesn't it? I recall thinking a swag is all required for comfortable camping -now our rig has 10 water pumps

[T1 Terry]

Electrics, battery capacity, battery chemistry and charging methods are all determined by what level of living you want to do in the RV. Not only the consideration of how long at a time, will it be all freedom camping or a mix, say every 3rd day in a CP or once a week, but will it be tent camping on wheels style with virtually no power requirements when not in the CP right through to every thing I can do in a house I want to do in my RV.
At one end of the scale, lights, maybe an hr of TV and into the CP on the 3rd day would require enough battery capacity to last 3 days, or even 2 days and cycle the batteries hard would do all that was required, so no need for solar or DC to DC charging, just a mains charger and battery.
The other end of the scale has a fully equipped RV with all the 240v appliances from home, heaps of solar, a DC to DC charger, big inverter and probably a small one as well to charge the little things, an inverter fridge/freezer, microwave and air con. To stay within sensible weight restrictions lithium batteries is the only real option and the rapid and very efficient recharging means the battery capacity really only needs to carry you through 2 full days and one night before an alternate charging arrangement is utilised, such as the DC to DC charger from the vehicle alternator. With enough solar recharging even occurs while it's raining, how that is connected up and what type of controller is an on going debate that should have its own topic.
Generally water storage is the limiting factor as far as how long you can stay in the one spot. Not just fresh water but the black water capacity and grey water capacity if you are camped up where no grey water is allowed to be dropped on the ground, yet another contentious subject that should have its own topic.

So, who is going to start a few of these new threads

T1 Terry