Camping these days can be as simple or complex as you like. And that in itself is a bit of an ambiguity. How? Well, think of it this way: the more complex your vehicle setup, the easier camping is. The simpler your set up, the harder you need to work at camp. It really is an odd one.
Ten years ago, campsites were filled with dome tents, cheap blue tarps and ice boxes full of wet food and frosty beers. Today’s campsites are littered with rooftop tents, 12v fridges and freestanding awnings. In fact, it’s almost an entry requirement to tick at least two of those three boxes.
But why is it so? People are investing more heavily than ever before into their camping adventures. And the 12v setups are one of the biggest beneficiaries. If a few of the comforts of home are reasonably easily obtainable, why not invest? A reliable fridge that runs 24/7 no matter what, sure is a comfort just like home.
Powering on the road
Battery technology has come a long way, especially in the last decade. Lithium batteries are offering increased power storage over traditional batteries, but at a fraction of the weight. We’re controlling them now with DCDC chargers, which offer the versatility of being able to run multiple auxiliary batteries, which opens up a whole new world of possibilities to the 4×4 owner.
What we’re doing, in essence, is fitting out our 4x4s the same way we fit out a caravan. There’s oodles of 12v power storage, inverters for 240v power, and a litany of appliances drawing current. Oftentimes we can find that either we aren’t running the vehicle enough to recharge the auxiliary battery, or even that the factory alternator can’t deliver enough power.
So now what? You’ve got thousands invested in the best of the best in terms of electrical fit out, but the duck’s nuts lithium battery keeps running flat. Don’t be disheartened, go and stand in the sun and think about it for a minute. How do we fix this? Jeez that sun is hot.
Check out solar energy
A solar panel! You genius! It’s amazing what a bit of sun on your bald spot can do for a man. Imagine what it’ll do for your 4×4.
A quick Google search shows a million solar options. They’ve all got different wattage, amperage and voltage. It just adds more confusion! However, we reckon your best bet is to go straight to REDARC and find the panel that suits your needs. They’re state of the art, and come in fixed, portable, and blanket form.
Rooftop solar panels
The most permanent and solution is to run a fixed panel or two on your roof. These will harness the energy of the sun from dawn to dusk, day in, day out. You will most likely never be able to discharge your stored power faster than these panels will top it back up. They really are that good. But like the rest of your setup, don’t expect the bare minimum to offer a complete solution.
Head to REDARC and speak to the experts to sort out your ideal set up.
