Camping Tips & Tricks

TENT CAMPING HINTS AND HELPS

(also helpful for RV Camping)

PLAN AHEAD

• Plan Your Trip: Check if your chosen campsite requires reservations, verify its facilities, and understand specific regulations like firewood, fireworks, weapons and other possible restrictions. 

• Check the Weather: Always check the weather forecast to prepare for dangerous or unpleasant conditions, like potential fire risks or hypothermia. 

• Pack Essentials: Include a headlamp or flashlight, a reliable first-aid kit, extra food and water, and a way to start a fire, like a lighter or ferro rod. 

• Notify Others: Let friends and/or family as well as appropriate park officials know your destination and expected return time, especially if camping off-grid or backcountry.

• Prepare Your Gear: Test your camp stove and other gear at home. If tent camping consider using a tarp to protect your tent. This is especially helpful in case of rain both over and under your tent. Be sure to pack extra layers of clothing. 

CAMPSITE TIPS

• Select Your Site Carefully: Look for level ground free from rocks, sharp objects, and holes. Keep your tent at least 200 feet from water sources. 

• Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Check overhead for dead branches and look for potential hazards like poison ivy, animal activity, and wind tunnels. 

• Set Up Your Tent: Lay a tarp on the ground first for protection and to prevent moisture buildup. 

• Manage Your Campfire: Only build a campfire where permitted, and always check local fire restrictions first. Never light a stove or grill inside a tent. 

• Keep Your Tent Clean: Use a basket for shoes to keep dirt out, and close your tent door to prevent bugs from entering. 

• Handle Food Safely: Store food in secure, sealed containers to prevent attracting wildlife and bugs. 

SAFETY & ETIQUETTE

• Practice Leave No Trace: Pack out everything you bring in, including micro-trash, and aim to leave the campsite cleaner than you found it. 

• Stay Warm and Dry: Carry a rain layer and extra dry clothing, as being wet significantly increases the risk of hypothermia. 

• Be Prepared: Bring extra food, water, and supplies in case of unexpected delays. 

• Be Seen in the Dark: Use brightly colored pool noodles on tent lines to make them easier to see and avoid tripping. 

• Know Your Tools: Carry a knife for various tasks and have a primary fire-starting method, like a lighter, and a backup, like a ferro rod. 

5 Ways to Charge Your RV Batteries

By Tory Jon

An RV’s battery is charged when connected to a 120v electrical outlet (like a shore power pedestal at a campground), an onboard or external generator, the motorhome or tow vehicles alternator, solar power, or even wind power.

Let’s break these down in more detail and learn how to use each method to charge your RV’s batteries.

1. Power Converter / Charger

Arguably, the most common way to charge RV batteries is through its onboard power converter or a battery charger when hooked up to a 120v electrical outlet, like on a shore power pedestal at a campground. 

Charging RV batteries with shore power is an automatic process. Simply plug the RV’s power cord into a 120v AC electrical outlet, and the batteries will start charging, if needed, through your RV’s power converter/charger. This converter converts the AC power to DC power so your batteries can charge properly.

You can also charge your RV’s 12-volt batteries with an external “smart” battery charger, which, depending on the charger model, can shorten the time it takes to charge your RV batteries on shore power. In fact, a high-amperage battery charger plugged into a 120v outlet is arguably the fastest way to charge an RV battery.

And don’t worry if your camper has 6v batteries, as they will be wired together in pairs to create 12 volts. 

           Important: We are talking about charging your RV’s deep-cycle house batteries. Depending on the make and model of your motorhome, your RV battery system may (or may not) be designed to charge your chassis battery.

This method is also used to trickle charge your lead-acid battery while your RV is in storage for the winter. It’s crucial to trickle charge these types of batteries as it helps to avoid sulfation and extend their service life.  

Additional Note

Understanding Amp-Hours vs. Watt-Hours

RV batteries are usually rated in amp-hours (Ah), but this doesn’t tell you the full energy capacity unless you also know the voltage. To compare battery capacity more accurately, you can convert amp-hours to watt-hours (Wh) using the formula:

Watt-hours = Amp-hours × Voltage

For example, a 100Ah 12V battery provides about 1,200Wh of energy. Two 6V 100Ah batteries wired in series also give you 12V at 100Ah, which equals the same 1,200Wh. This distinction is helpful when comparing battery setups or estimating how long your batteries will run certain devices. Because it’s a critical step to winterize your camper, let’s quickly look at how to trickle charge RV batteries in storage step-by-step 

     Important: Wear safety goggles and protective gloves when working on or near lead-acid batteries. 

1. Remove the battery from your recreational vehicle

2. Fully charge the battery

3. Depending on the battery type, you may need to check the water levels and fill if needed (do not fill AGM batteries with water)

4. Store the battery in a warm location, preferably indoors

5. Attach a battery maintainer or battery tender to keep it charged during storage

2. Generator

Another fast way to charge your RV batteries is with an RV generator, whether an onboard generator or a portable generator. 

Simply connect the RV power cable to the gas generator’s 30 amp/120-volt power outlet, just as you would a shore power pedestal, and your RV batteries will start recharging. Remember, you’ll need an adapter if your generator features a 220-volt outlet.

Of course, that’s just a high-level overview. Check out our guide on how to charge an RV battery with a generator for the full step-by-step process, complete with important safety precautions.

3. Vehicle Alternator

Another option is to charge your RV batteries while driving using the alternator on your truck or any tow vehicle, with a 7-pin travel trailer plug.

If you have a motorhome, the alternator should automatically charge both your house and vehicle batteries while the engine is running (in most models).

With that in mind, don’t expect your vehicle’s alternator to provide a fast charge to your RV batteries while on the road.

So, how long does it take to charge RV batteries?

A long time, as your standard, out-of-the-box setup, is more of a trickle charge than anything.

But you can drastically speed up the charging process by adding a DC to DC battery charger to your vehicle’s charging system. Essentially, this boosts the charging amps from around 5 amps to 20 amps, providing a quicker charge from your alternator to your house batteries.

4. Solar Power

The sun is a free and convenient energy source, allowing you to charge your RV batteries and operate electrical devices without needing a generator or anywhere shore power isn’t accessible.

Essentially, a solar-power charging system will look like this diagram.

Most RVs don’t come with a solar charging setup, so there is a bit of up-front investment to get the necessary supplies for a complete solar system (portable solar panels, solar charge controller to regulate voltage, wires, etc.). And there can be a bit of a learning curve when installing solar panels on your RV. 

5. Wind Power

Harnessing wind power to charge RV batteries is a far less common but possible option for those looking to reduce their environmental impact and enhance their off-grid charging capabilities.

This method involves setting up a wind turbine system that converts wind energy into electrical energy, which is then used to charge the RV’s batteries.

While it comes with some challenges, like initial costs and dependency on wind, the benefits of utilizing a clean, renewable energy source may outweigh the disadvantages for some RV owners.

I personally wouldn’t rely on the wind as the sole power source for my batteries, especially when boondocking, but combined with another option, it might be worthwhile.

What is the Best Way to Charge RV Batteries?

The best way to charge RV batteries will depend on what’s available to you at that moment, how fast you need your batteries recharged, and a host of other factors. Typically, the best way to charge your RV batteries from a campsite or at home is to use your shore power cord plugged into a 120-volt outlet (like the shore power pedestal or wall outlet).

If you’re boondocking with no access to electricity, a generator or RV solar charger will be the best way to charge your batteries.

Lastly, if none of the above are an option, you can rely on your vehicle’s alternator to recharge your camper’s batteries.

Check out the diagrams and more info at CamperFaqs.com