Wild camping #001

[Freo]

Battery capacity is measured in Ampere Hours (aka Amp Hours) which is normally written as Ah. So a 100 Ah battery can, in theory, provide 100A of current for 1 hour, or 10A for 10 hours, or 5A for 20 hours, etc, etc.
I say ”in theory” because in practice, the life of, say, a Lead Acid battery will seriously suffer if it is regularly discharged below 50% of it’s stated capacity. Consequently, a 100Ah battery should be thought of as capable of supplying 50Ah before it needs to be recharged.
2 x 100Ah Lead Acid batteries will provide twice the useable capacity - i.e. 200Ah in theory but 100Ah in practice, given the 50% rule for Lead Acid batteries. It should also be recognised that 2 batteries will take longer to charge up to full as compared with a single battery.

Lithium is very different from Lead Acid. It can regularly be used down to lower levels than 50% without suffering from serious life issues, it can store its charge for much longer when not in use, it can be charged up by a suitable B2B much more quickly, and it is much lighter in weight than Lead Acid. Lithium is also much more expensive initially, but should last much longer if used properly.

Hope this helps. Lots of folks on here have a lot more knowledge than me and will be able to fill in the gaps.

 

[Catpirate]

Get yourself a large diesel generator may need a trailer, a very large awning with steel frame. Ensure your heating is all electric and take the highest power microwave and of course a decent electric cooker. Throw away your gas cylinder and fit a compact fridge for external cocktails. Also consider a "flame effect" electric campfire. In my opinion this will enhance your wild camping experience.

Ps do not forget a full set of halogen fairy lights.

 

[OCD]

Battery capacity is measured in Ampere Hours (aka Amp Hours) which is normally written as Ah. So a 100 Ah battery can, in theory, provide 100A of current for 1 hour, or 10A for 10 hours, or 5A for 20 hours, etc, etc.
I say ”in theory” because in practice, the life of, say, a Lead Acid battery will seriously suffer if it is regularly discharged below 50% of it’s stated capacity. Consequently, a 100Ah battery should be thought of as capable of supplying 50Ah before it needs to be recharged.
2 x 100Ah Lead Acid batteries will provide twice the useable capacity - i.e. 200Ah in theory but 100Ah in practice, given the 50% rule for Lead Acid batteries. It should also be recognised that 2 batteries will take longer to charge up to full as compared with a single battery.

Lithium is very different from Lead Acid. It can regularly be used down to lower levels than 50% without suffering from serious life issues, it can store its charge for much longer when not in use, it can be charged up by a suitable B2B much more quickly, and it is much lighter in weight than Lead Acid. Lithium is also much more expensive initially, but should last much longer if used properly.

Hope this helps. Lots of folks on here have a lot more knowledge than me and will be able to fill in the gaps.

Brilliant

 

[OCD]

Get yourself a large diesel generator may need a trailer, a very large awning with steel frame. Ensure your heating is all electric and take the highest power microwave and of course a decent electric cooker. Throw away your gas cylinder and fit a compact fridge for external cocktails. Also consider a "flame effect" electric campfire. In my opinion this will enhance your wild camping experience.

Ps do not forget a full set of halogen fairy lights.

On it !

 

[Outdoors Dad]

Solar, extra battery, change 12v light bulbs to LED, get all your gas appliances serviced so they're really reliable. When it's sunny charge your phones and tablets etc. I sometimes hammock wild camp and always carry a small solar battery bank it's more handy than you think even in MH. Water sterilising tablets cheap and safe. Fishing rod, your can't beat fresh trout and pick up eggs and irregular veg from farms you pass. Loads of layers in winter and ya Jim jams. Find hidden gems to stay for free like near a water source, tell nobody about them except the forum lol and leave no trace.
Have fun we love it and Ireland is even more fantastic than over here.

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[OCD]

Solar, extra battery, change 12v light bulbs to LED, get all your gas appliances serviced so they're really reliable. When it's sunny charge your phones and tablets etc. I sometimes hammock wild camp and always carry a small solar battery bank it's more handy than you think even in MH. Water sterilising tablets cheap and safe. Fishing rod, your can't beat fresh trout and pick up eggs and irregular veg from farms you pass. Loads of layers in winter and ya Jim jams. Find hidden gems to stay for free like near a water source, tell nobody about them except the forum lol and leave no trace.
Have fun we love it and Ireland is even more fantastic than over here.

Great advice..and yes Ireland is stunning

 

[Landy Andy]

As you’ve probably noticed. People on here are power obsessed. I’m not sure what they do with all there amps/volts. But the most import part of wild camping, is to disturb no one, and leave no sign you’ve been there.

Enjoy.

 

[BillyKontiki]

What's all this craic about lithium batteries ...are they the dogs diamonds

There really are, I swapped out a 100ah lead for 2 x 100 ah K. S. Lithium and a 30 amp B to B two year’s ago and it’s the best upgrade I have done. A tad expensive though.
We do about 75% wild parking and refillable gas tanks were another must.
Happy camping .

 

[OCD]

Was talking to the sales guy today and he said that wild camping in England is not really allowed...here in Ireland it's not a problem as such..is this true?

 

[Jamesh]

Was talking to the sales guy today and he said that wild camping in England is not really allowed...here in Ireland it's not a problem as such..is this true?

Probably some truth in it.

Certainly some parts are more accepting.... Scotland, Devon and Cornwall etc

Others less so Norfolk, dales etc.

If wild camping I'd look at a solid fuel stove if you have space for it....

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[TUCANO]

Wild camp most of the time but book into proper sites only when I need water, grey, black wastes need emptying. Solar, second leisure battery and second toilet cassette

 

[two]

I suggest you try with what you have. There's little point in fixing a problem that might not be there.
You cannot loading your van with extras if your payload is limited and other things may have higher priority (food, drink).
If you get up at dawn and go to bed at sunset, your standard battery may be all you need. If your lifestyle uses loads of electricity, you'd be better off curtailing it rather than feeding it.

 

[poppycamper]

Certainly some parts are more accepting.... Scotland, Devon and Cornwall etc

Yes agreed.... but be aware even in Scotland it is a technically illegal to wild camp is a motor vehicle (of any sort)
The "wild camping" laws only apply to folk using tents and getting there on foot or cycle.

 

[CamperJack]

Was talking to the sales guy today and he said that wild camping in England is not really allowed...here in Ireland it's not a problem as such..is this true?

There's no law (so far as I know) which prohibits it.

I lived semi full time in my van, and wild parked every single night I stayed in my van. Never once did I pay to stay anywhere. I'd study up north and then return back to Cheshire for the weekends and service the van (black, grey waste etc) at my parents or my partner's home.

Never once stopped, or asked. I stay in rural places and take notice of any signs which say no overnight stays.

If there's no law against it, no signs and nobody around to upset, why couldn't you do it?

 

[Outdoors Dad]

My 8 year old asked me about who owns all the land in England, he couldn't understand that every single sq inch of England is mostly owned by some bloody rich land owner. I have a mate who emigrated to Eire, he told me all sorts of normal people own land over there! Hence his father in law gave him 1.5 acres to build a house on!
But loads of lay-bys on country roads easily accessible in MH over here.

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[Brocksford]

Buy a gravel board from B&Q, cut it into 4 and use it to park on so that you do not sink into the ground when overnighting.

 

[grumps147]

You may also need a second toilet cassette to extend time between visiting dump points.

During winter you will use more gas, so as a full timer it may well be advantageous to fit a refillable lpg or under-slung lpg system.

You need to do your own research on these suggestions to see if they will benefit you.