Ski RV's, who's sleeping in parking lots?

[SchralphMacchio]

Ahh nice mods and setup.

Ember RV is a US trailer brand I’ve been keeping my eye on … they aren’t up to Outdoors RV yet, as far as winter large capacity boondocking capabilities yet (in my brief opinion based on some quick assessments), but they are doing cool stuff. One such cool thing is that they spec’ed Truma Combi Eco Plus furnace/WH unit for their rigs. This model is not only a combination furnace and WH, but it’s also a mixed mode (electric, gas, or combination) energy source device - that’s huge because then you can run on electric at places with hookups but still utilize the OE belly pan heating system, or run propane only when boondocking. With every other major brand of winter camping rig, if you want to run wet you need to use propane to keep the plumbing infrastructure from freezing. Truma also claims to have significant efficiency gains over traditional Suburban / Atwood units because so much heat is lost as exhaust gas when using propane … I would love to look at their heat exchanger design and see some real test numbers on that at some point!

http://truma.net/heating-systems/truma-combi-eco-plus

[SchralphMacchio]

In the western US and particularly PNW, most ski areas are on National Forest land and you can’t buy anything within 20 miles. Just clarifying this for the Canadians here, I know all the locals already know this!

That said, it’s a dream of mine to buy 3-10 acres of buildable land somewhere well north of here, not a terrible drive to a ski area, also really close to MTB trail networks, and put down a couple of gravel pads with 30A hookups, cut a small MTB trail on the land, and use it as a vacation base camp for years before eventually building a retirement house on it once the kids are out of our current house and we are ready for a change of scenery. We will see … dreams ….

[eldereldo]

Question for the solar experts, does this exist? An solar charge controller that can attach to two battery banks, one lithium, one not (lets say its AGM ) and prioritize charging according to custom settings. IE, charge the AGM bank to some set percent, then switch to charging the lithium, if the lithium is fully charged go back to charging the AGM, or if the lithium drops below a set temperature and can’t be charged, as determined from a sensor, switch back to AGM.

Along with that have a temperature controlled bank switch, so when it is to cold to discharge the Lithium, use the AGM.

[altasnob]

That sounds really complex. Why do you have two types of batteries? Can you just replace the AGM with another Lithium?

The Victron charge controller I have is not connected in any way to a battery monitor. It reads voltage and adjusts charging based on that, and whatever settings you have it at. But its not smart enough to say "fully charged" and stops. At the end, it just keeps charging on "float" forever. It probably wouldn't hurt your AGM battery much to just use the Lithium settings and charge both at the same time. Look up what the manufacturer recommends for each particular battery to see how different the recommendations are. Also, you can discharge Lithium in any temp. You just can't charge below freezing.

[Dromond]

In the western US and particularly PNW, most ski areas are on National Forest land and you can’t buy anything within 20 miles. Just clarifying this for the Canadians here, I know all the locals already know this!

That said, it’s a dream of mine to buy 3-10 acres of buildable land somewhere well north of here, not a terrible drive to a ski area, also really close to MTB trail networks, and put down a couple of gravel pads with 30A hookups, cut a small MTB trail on the land, and use it as a vacation base camp for years before eventually building a retirement house on it once the kids are out of our current house and we are ready for a change of scenery. We will see … dreams ….

Nice plan/dream. How far north?

[Dromond]

Back in the 1970s when Sun Peaks was Tod Mtn, a friend got a placer mining claim established on Crown Land (land owned by the B.C. provincial government ) near a creek, 9kms from the mountain. He packed in materials a short uphill distance, not visible from the road and built a geodesic dome. Eventually another ski bum built another dome a short distance away....those were the days when mid week Tod only ran the old 2 seat Burfield chair (close to 2900 vertical) because there were only 30-50 skiers mid week, maybe 100 on a Friday.

These days in B.C. Crown Land (plentiful outside the cities and farming areas) the public is allowed to recreate for as long as they want as long as no permanent structures are built or timber values interfered with. I have a few off grid but accessible "backup sites" picked out on Crown Land near Sun Peaks if my current set up were to change.

I keep hearing about the old Canadian mining claim trick! I did not know about the long term recreation rule. What counts as a temporary structure?

[SchralphMacchio]

Nice plan/dream. How far north?

Haha we will see, TBD. I guess we are currently restricted by my wife’s medical license, so CONUS but not Alaska north … if this is a retirement goal and we have saved enough resources and can also finagle our way into the country through various means, I’d consider north of the border as well!

[SchralphMacchio]

Question for the solar experts, does this exist? An solar charge controller that can attach to two battery banks, one lithium, one not (lets say its AGM ) and prioritize charging according to custom settings. IE, charge the AGM bank to some set percent, then switch to charging the lithium, if the lithium is fully charged go back to charging the AGM, or if the lithium drops below a set temperature and can’t be charged, as determined from a sensor, switch back to AGM.

Along with that have a temperature controlled bank switch, so when it is to cold to discharge the Lithium, use the AGM.

I am not a solar expert. I know Zamp has a dual bank controller (https://www.zampsolar.com/products/3...rge-controller) so maybe other manufacturers do too.

Is the dual bank because you have house and chassis batteries? Because those systems would normally be isolated anyways other than via a relay controlled DC-DC connector off the alternator …

You mentioned thermostatically switching if core temps are below discharge rating … lithium can be discharged to -20C/-4F, and that’s core temperature, not ambient. If you can’t bring the batteries into the cabin, surely you can improvise an insulated compartment that can handle much colder ambient temperatures than that?

[DanoT]

I keep hearing about the old Canadian mining claim trick! I did not know about the long term recreation rule. What counts as a temporary structure?

The ruling occurred some 30+ years ago when MacMillan-Blodel logging company was the Tree Farm License holder on Crown Land, tried to get the Western Canada Wilderness Committee protest camp in the Carmanah Valley shut down. The case went all the way to the B.C. Provincial Supreme Court. The ruling concluded that the public has a right to recreate on Crown Land provide they do not interfere with timber values or construct permanent structures. I don't think the Court defined "permanent structures".

The domes that were built near Tod Mtn, in the mid 70s were substantial but were eventually abandoned and dismantled, so they were not permanent but very comfortable in winter, but with no running water or electricity.

[toast2266]

In the western US and particularly PNW, most ski areas are on National Forest land and you can’t buy anything within 20 miles. Just clarifying this for the Canadians here, I know all the locals already know this!

That said, it’s a dream of mine to buy 3-10 acres of buildable land somewhere well north of here, not a terrible drive to a ski area, also really close to MTB trail networks, and put down a couple of gravel pads with 30A hookups, cut a small MTB trail on the land, and use it as a vacation base camp for years before eventually building a retirement house on it once the kids are out of our current house and we are ready for a change of scenery. We will see … dreams ….

There's plenty of opportunities like that in Whitefish, but you better bring your checkbook. Depending on the exact location, you're probably looking at a few hundred thousand / acre.

[eldereldo]

I am not a solar expert. I know Zamp has a dual bank controller (https://www.zampsolar.com/products/3...rge-controller) so maybe other manufacturers do too.

Is the dual bank because you have house and chassis batteries? Because those systems would normally be isolated anyways other than via a relay controlled DC-DC connector off the alternator …

You mentioned thermostatically switching if core temps are below discharge rating … lithium can be discharged to -20C/-4F, and that’s core temperature, not ambient. If you can’t bring the batteries into the cabin, surely you can improvise an insulated compartment that can handle much colder ambient temperatures than that?

No, I could find controllers that charged house batteries and trickle charged starter batteries, but was looking at two house battery banks, of different kinds.

I could certainly make a enclosure heated by the furnace, but then fuel consumption goes way up having to run it all the time. In the end I may end up with a ‘simple’ solution, but I like to know all the options and not just default to whatever is most common.

[belgian]

This place has a few 4wd JDM campers:

https://www.jdmcarandmotorcycle.com/...rodeo/76712842

[Snow Dog]

According to current BC land use policies:

8.2 Camping on Crown Land
Any person may camp on Crown land for up to 14 consecutive calendar days.
For the purposes of calculating 14 consecutive days, a period of consecutive days is
cumulative unless the person and their vehicle and equipment, as the case may be, are
not present on the site for a period of at least 72 consecutive hours.

Squatting was never allowed although certain protest groups were allowed to stay as long as they wanted. In practice you can camp as long as you like until someone complains.

The mining claim trick has been tightened and you have actively be doing something on the claim. There used to be a wilderness (handgun) carry that was easy to get if you had a miner;s permit but that's gone too. You have to be a professional geologist to get a carry permit.

[evdog]

There used to be a wilderness (handgun) carry that was easy to get if you had a miner;s permit but that's gone too. You have to be a professional geologist to get a carry permit.

At the logging company I used to work for, foresters and engineers working out of mid coast logging camps (grizz country) were able to get permits as well. They all carried .44 magnums.

[evdog]

Spotted this gem in AZ over the weekend. Really needs to have a dolphin or orca theme painted on.

[powdork]

Spotted this gem in AZ over the weekend. Really needs to have a dolphin or orca theme painted on.

Is that built on a trailer frame integrated to the camper shell

[bluespark]

Heli camping?

https://www.advrider.com/f/attachments/002-jpg.4598765/

[toast2266]

[pano-dude]

According to current BC land use policies:

8.2 Camping on Crown Land
Any person may camp on Crown land for up to 14 consecutive calendar days.
For the purposes of calculating 14 consecutive days, a period of consecutive days is
cumulative unless the person and their vehicle and equipment, as the case may be, are
not present on the site for a period of at least 72 consecutive hours.

Squatting was never allowed although certain protest groups were allowed to stay as long as they wanted. In practice you can camp as long as you like until someone complains.

The mining claim trick has been tightened and you have actively be doing something on the claim. There used to be a wilderness (handgun) carry that was easy to get if you had a miner;s permit but that's gone too. You have to be a professional geologist to get a carry permit.

The 14 day duration is rarely enforced. There's a half dozen squatters living in the bush in my area. Lots of people have made formal complaints, cops say they need evidence of a crime, no other government agency cares.
Garbage and shit piles everywhere, it's disgusting.


Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

[SchralphMacchio]

The 14 day duration is rarely enforced. There's a half dozen squatters living in the bush in my area. Lots of people have made formal complaints, cops say they need evidence of a crime, no other government agency cares.
Garbage and shit piles everywhere, it's disgusting.


Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

Sounds just like the Willamette National Forest around Oakridge, excuse me, Methridge, Oregon. The dispersed camping just outside of town used to be awesome, but the confluence of the opioid epidemic, chemical changes to meth, COVID, and housing crisis in Oregon has led to insane buildup of shitpiles in what would otherwise be gorgeous riverfront clearings, natural hot springs, etc. Sad times.

[evdog]

There is some serious boondocking going on in AZ. If your 5th wheel isn't big enough you need a big rig to pull it, you need to step up your game!

[DanoT]

The 14 day duration is rarely enforced. There's a half dozen squatters living in the bush in my area. Lots of people have made formal complaints, cops say they need evidence of a crime, no other government agency cares.
Garbage and shit piles everywhere, it's disgusting.


Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

The B.C. provincial government can adopt what ever "policy" they want, 14 day camping limit or whatever on Crown Land, but they cannot overrule the Supreme Court unless they enact specific legislation. The B.C. Provincial Supreme Court ruling of 30+ years ago did not specify limits or term lengths to recreating on Crown Land.

[eldereldo]

This is my new (old) rig, 1988 Bigfoot, all fiberglass empty weight is around 3800lbs. fully insulated and heated basement. Needs a bunch of upgrades, mainly adding a serious solar system as it came with a tiny panel which probably cost a lot back in 88. The rest is just servicing appliances, repainting the interior which is seriously old school dark ‘wood’ and going over everything. Probably won’t be used a lot for skiing except in the spring, but mountain biking is definitely on the agenda. Have been looking at the Escape Trailers but they start at 42,000 US ! and are quite a bit heavier, this one is towable with my Tacoma.

[SchralphMacchio]

Wow have you measured pin weight? Bags or polymer bump stop springs on the Taco?

Have you had trailer brakes, bearings, and alignment inspected/serviced? Seems like a lot for a Taco, depending on if you have any other passengers or gear in the truck. How does it feel when stopping?

With respect to MTB, what I’ve found with short length bumper pull trailers is that adding a rack to the trailer bumper really adds a lot of mass far behind the axles (increases moment of inertia) and can increase propensity to sway if your hitch and trailer balance isn’t well set up to counteract it. Now of course it will be a lot different on a 5er, as the pivot point is over your truck’s rear axle and not 3+ feet behind it, but you’re pulling with a Taco not a 1/2 ton. So anyways bikes on the roof of the truck will be more stable than bikes behind the 5er.

[SchralphMacchio]

Old Bigfoots are awesome BTW. I’ve seen some great renovation projects. As far as upgrades I can’t recommend enough changing at least one of the ceiling fans for a MaxxFan Deluxe 10 speed reversible fan - at the lowest speed it uses only 0.15A, and with the integrated rain shroud you can run it in basically any weather (except maybe not completely nuking winds). We run our bathroom fan in exhaust mode and use it as the drying room.
I got a cheap wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer from Amazon and keep the outdoor sensor inside the propane cover, and inside the cabin it tells me RH, plus I have another cheap thermometer/hygrometer combo inside the cabin - that helps me manage moisture and venting (we have 4 humans plus dog in the cabin so it’s a lot of moisture generation).
I also really like having Mopeka Pro wireless propane level sensors, but that’s mostly useful because we use ours a lot in the winter and it helps me know when to fill a cylinder or both - we have yet to do long enough of a cold weather trip to actually deplete the full 60 lbs of propane capacity that we can carry.
I replaced the dual handle shower valve with this thermostatic shower valve and it works great (also a safety issue so that the kids can’t burn themselves with hot water):

MISSMIN 4 inch Thermostatic RV... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098NGP43C...p_mob_ap_share

I wired in a dual 12V/USB charging station (just got a cheap marine one from Amazon) just above our stereo console which has fat 12V wiring (but we never run the stereo because the BT speaker is way better), and set up a nice charging platform for all the various crap that we bring, and it adds a supplemental voltage monitor.

Just random thoughts for upgrade ideas! You probably want to replace that fridge if it’s still 33 years old!