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Dry campIng
For extended dry camping, resource management is essential. The motorhome has large batteries, plenty of
water and ample holding tank capacities. With a little care and forethought, it is possible to go a long way with
only the amenities you bring along.
Conserve water! The motorhome holds a lot but it goes down the drain fast. Use a manual valve on the shower
head. Turn the water off and on as needed while showering. By doing this the amount of water used for a shower
can reduce by as much as two-thirds.
Conserve battery power. Use electricity sparingly. Charge the batteries when half down. At half charge the
battery voltage will be 12.2 Volts. Use a hydrometer for testing. A good rule of thumb is to run the generator, if
applicable, for 3-4 hours daily, which should supply enough power. Before arriving at your destination, fill the
motorhome with fuel to increase generator running time. Never try to use batteries until they are completely dead,
or when the lights go dim. Each time the batteries are used at half charge, the ability to recharge to full capacity is
diminished. The damage is cumulative and will eventually render a battery useless.
If you start the engine regularly, remember the alternator output is lower at idle, and even at fast idle it may take
as much as an hour to replace what it took to start the engine. Also, realize that running the engine for a short time
may increase moisture contamination in the fuel and oil. It is better to run the engine less often and longer. This
can be included in the battery recharge schedule. Remember that different motorhomes have different equipment
and everyone has different habits and expectations. The above general guidelines should provide a useful starting
point for building a schedule and regimen for extended stays where power and water are not available.
Setting Up for Dry Camping:
Set refrigerator operation to propane.
Operate the water heater on propane. Turn it on about an hour before hot water is needed.
If the furnace is needed during the nighttime, set the thermostat temperature a bit lower to prevent the
furnace from cycling all through the night.
Check on small items that use battery power, such as the porch light, the light under the step, etc. If the
television is not being used, turn off the 12 Volt DC booster. Even one light accidentally left on, such as
under the porch light, reduces battery reserves quickly.
Some battery draw is unavoidable. The house battery switch must be on to operate many interior items
such as lights or the furnace.
Keep flashlights handy. Build a campfire when spending nighttime hours outdoors. Extinguish the flames
before retiring for the evening. Many campgrounds place wood or cement barriers between the site space
and fire pit. Illuminate barriers or obstacles in the pathway to the motorhome.
Place a large flashlight inside the front door for navigating through the motorhome at night without having
to use interior lights. If interior lighting is needed, use one light in a central location, such as the vanity.
During the day it is still important to conserve on energy. Turn on the water pump only when using water.
Turn the pump off when not in use. The water pump does not draw an abundance of power, however all
battery amp hours are important and should be conserved.
Run the generator (optional) during clean up and preparation for the day when the rest of the campers are
awake. Run it for a couple of hours to help charge the batteries. The generator may seem loud. However,
the noise is minimal a short distance away.
Check the systems panel frequently and keep track of water usage and battery consumption. Routinely
check the propane level. Remember the furnace uses more gas in cold weather.
Careful management of water is critical when dry camping. Know the motorhome tank capacities. If dry
camping for an extended period, limit shower usage. Turn the water off when soaping down in the shower.
If water conservation is critical, take a sponge bath. Conserve water while brushing your teeth. Chances
are a campground without hookups will not have a large comfortable shower room or bathroom, and may
only be equipped with primitive facilities. However, if it helps to economize on water, use them.
Do not fill the sink full of water to wash a few dishes. Use disposable dishes whenever possible.