A Work In Progress

Solar energy. It's free. It's conveniently available for the part of the day while we're awake. And the cost of solar panels and equipment keeps getting cheaper. At about 1 USD per watt, a 100 watt panel and batteries can supply more than enough lights and charge phones or tablets for an extended camping trip.

First, I'd like to dispel the most common misperception and misinformation about solar panels and how and they work. Solar panels don't supply power directly for the lights, chargers, and other outlets. The solar panel needs a battery, or a bank of batteries, to store their charge in. The batteries are what supplies charge for RangeRunner through a power inverter that converts the power from DC to AC. (DC is like that you'd find in your car's round outlet. AC is like that in a typical wall outlet.)

The more batteries you have, simply put, the longer you might be able to run your AC or chargers or fan. But, with more storage capacity comes the need for more energy that needs to be input. This is where having multiple solar panels becomes important. Of course, the Runaway Campers' small roof area limits the ability to place several solar PV cells. But, Runaway Campers don't have much in terms of electrical needs: dishwashers, refrigerators, etc. Therefore a battery and one cell should be more than enough to supply my electrical needs. Enough boring stuff, let's move on to the build!

First, I had to clear snow from the roof. I don't think there's a benefit to putting the panel on the front or rear of the trailer. Ideally, I'd like to be able to have them pivot on a rack to be pointed towards the sun, but that is a topic for later projects.

The Rogeny brand panels I bought come with mounting clips. These clips keep the panel about an inch from the roof of the RV. This is important for hot weather. An air gap helps dissipate heat which helps the panel operate more efficiently and also last longer. The panels are easy to attach and come with all the mounting hardware. Water is always an issue with RVs, so I used Flextape under the mount bracket as well as underneath where the bracket will sit. This serves two purposes: reduce the possibility of water entry and also provides some extra clearance for the mounting screws that came with the solar panels. The screws are slightly longer than the thickness of the wall and would penetrate into the trailer without so extra depth. The remedy this I used the tape in addition to washers to firmly hold the panel as well as keep the inside ceiling free of screw holes and protruding metals.

Once the tape was positioned properly and set, I made some pilot holes for the screws.

The panel is placed and screwed in firmly on the rear/driver's side of the RV. I chose the driver's side due to the flow of wires that need to be routed into the front of the trailer.

Currently my wires sit bare on the roof. The connectors are waterproof and seem to be very secure and not prone to coming unplugged easily. As such, I put a dab of silicon bulb grease that I got from O'Reilly's inside the connector. This should ensure the connectors remain waterproof. I didn't tackle this aspect of the install today due to the rapidly cooling afternoon, but I plan to route these wires through a conduit which will be mounted to the roof. As such, I will return to this portion at a later time. For now though, I have a lot of extra wire laid bare in front of the RV waiting to be cut short and secured.

The wires from the solar panel need to come into the trailer and be connected to a charge controller. The electrical box, if yours is the same as mine, should have a small tab that pulls out in the bottom. This makes it very convenient to route all four wires into the trailer.

Cable management is important! I drilled a total of four holes using a drill bit from outside the trailer and was careful not to nick the AC cable that was installed at the factory. I started from the outside since the outer surface is metal and takes a bit of finesse the keep the drill bit straight and true.

Two more holes drilled and the remaining two wires are routed though and plugged into the charge controller. It's very important to remember to install the battery cables first before installing the solar panel batteries. Renogy recommends this very strongly in their install instructions, though other manufacturers may differ. I'll clean up the wires and finish the wiring from the solar panel and also clean up the area where the wires enter through the electrical box outside.

That's it for this install. There's still more work to be done, but the cold weather got the best of me. I work a lot so hopefully next week I can finish up. Thanks for reading!

RangeRunner Upgrades

One of the best things about RV camping is the ability to break free of the constraints of modern living. But, who am I kidding? I still need my phone charged. Still need to be able to go, umm, take care of business in the middle of the night. And in spite of being isolated and enjoying all the splendor that is mother nature, I might still want to watch a downloaded copy of Deadpool II on my tablet.  Lights, charging phones and tablets, or running a small space heater in the cold Rocky Mountains all require electricity, which can be quite scarce in most national parks. The solution? Solar.

This next project will challenge my skills with electrons. Watch this space as i update my progress. Hopefully, depending the amount of snow we get this weekend, I can get started on installing it.

I bought one panel and charge controller on Amazon. Reviews were typically good to excellent.

https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Monocrystalline-Solar-Starter-Wanderer/dp/B00BCRG22A/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1541729154&sr=8-4&keywords=renogy+solar

I made my bed, I guess I'll have to lie in it.... and I'm OK with that.

One of best things about Runaway Campers is the ability to customise the interior. They're a blank slate the almost requires some work from the owner to make it their own. I bought mine knowing full well that this was the case. As such, my first project is that of raising the bed off the floor.

So, having the bed on the floor is fine, but I fear water damage and mildew damage from not being able to air out. I searched Amazon for a bed frame that would fit, and there are some, but the're relatively expensive and would require the frame itself being attached to the floor to keep it from bouncing around while traveling down the road. So my idea was to build my own frame that allows for some storage underneath.

Starting with a clean floor I used poplar 1x3 inch wood slats cut to 70 1/2 inches long. I then used wood screws and wood glue to fasten them together into these beams used to hold the wooden slats that support the mattresses.

Once the edge pieces are made, I fastened them to the wall using wood screws and wood glue. The supports are pine and  10 inches which make the total bed height of 11 inches, not including the mattress.

 The edge piece is mirrored and fastened to the wall using more pine supports.  Another poplar support is fastened to the walls using similar pine supports. 

The mattress is a queen size and approximately 52 inches wide. I made the frame a bit wider to allow for some spreading of the mattress. 

Pine wood slats measuring 53 inches long make up the rest of the frame of the bed. I'll add more slats after my next Lowe's trip. 

The mattress  folds up a bit at the ends, but when lying on the mattress and blankets, it's barely noticeable. There are smaller, better options out there, but this one was cheap so I'm OK with it.

The front is a bit unfinished but I'll polish it up with some nice wood trim and maybe a hinged door to allow for some easy access storage under the bed.  

Camping, glamping, and those things between

The notion of venturing out into the dark forest, setting up a flimsy fabric tent, and subsisting on cold Clif bars seems like a bad idea. After all, why would anyone leave their comfortable home, warm bed, and a full pantry? We do these things because, I believe, we need to not only reconnect with nature but also realise how good we have it. When we surround ourselves with creature comforts we become soft and complacent to them and eventually take them for granted.

The idea of me ever purchasing a travel trailer, even one the size of a Runaway, seemed like I was giving into the 'glamping' craze and it's beyond me why would anyone spend as much on a home for a caravan that contains two bathrooms, a shower, big screen TV, with an ability to sleep 12 people? Why not just stay home? I suppose that even those who've bought into the 'glamping' craze feel the same need to reconnect with nature but aren't willing to take the full dive.

As I get older (mid 40s now) I feel that compromise is just part of that package. Crawling up from the ground isn't impossible, but does get more difficult. And getting a good night's sleep has always been a challenge while tent camping. At least with a Runaway Camper I can sleep on a mattress. I can have air conditioning. I can keep a change of clothes close at hand without searching for them under a sleeping bag. Set up is easier than tenting. Best of all, it's ready to go at a moment's notice and doesn't require packing for the trip. In spite of the convenience it's still not as comfortable at home: no bathroom at my disposal, no TV, and it's no where near as comfortable as my bed at home.

But I haven't given up on the old ways. My internal frame backpack and gear lie in wait for that next hiking trip along the Continental Divide. Or perhaps we'll tame the Appalachian Trail again soon.

Black Mesa State Park, Western Oklahoma

Sandwiched on a narrow strip of land between SE Colorado and extreme north Texas lies the Oklahoma panhandle. Rough prairie grass, yucca plants, and the occasional cactus belie the beauty that is Black Mesa State Park. With ancient rock formations and a river fed lake, the park offers exquisite camping under cliffs that once formed a shoreline approximately 150 million years ago.

Descending into the park requires dodging cattle in the road. After all, this is open range territory. The speed limit is 55, but approaching hills requires due diligence. Hitting a cow isn't like hitting a bunny. They do damage!

In the park you'll find a completely different terrain: a lake, river, and lots of vegetation. Deer and pronghorn are plenty but tend to keep away from humans.  Rock formations that were once an ancient shoreline now form the edge of a hiking trail. Hiking on the trail is moderately difficult with some large bowling ball sized stones that must be tackled dot the trail. However, the payoff is incredible with a view of the campsites and lake along the highest point.

Approximately 150 millions years ago this are was a shallow waterway with plenty of tall, coniferous tree. The remnants of them can still be found today in the form of petrified wood. 

Of course, this is the southern United States therefore a little religious vandalism is probably expected. 

The campsites are well maintained and some have shade trees. 

By far the best reason for visiting and staying here are the dinosaur trackway which can be found approximately 9 miles away near Kenton, Oklahoma. The trackway is on private land, however there is no fence or admission fee to visit.  The track lies in the middle of a creek bed which is prone to flooding and subject to being covered with mud. If possible, bring a pain brush or small broom to remove dry dirt from the prints for better viewing. After a rainfall though, expect viewing to difficult or impossible. Maps and directions on how to get to the dinosaur trackway can be obtained from the ranger station at Black Mesa State park. The mesa itself is close by the dinosaur trackway and is the highest point in Oklahoma. Due to time restraints I wasn't able to venture tot he top, but I will make another trip to do just that this summer. 

The trackway is approximately 150 million years old and was made by a Theropod (similar to T. rex). The impressions are about 8-10 cm deep and the details can be seen in the talon marks as the creature withdrew its foot from the muddy bank. 

Things to Know Before Visiting: 

The state park is fairly close to Kenton, Oklahoma but don't expect to find mush in terms of provisions such as gasoline or food. Boise City is the nearest community that will have these things.

Camping for RVs is 22 dollars a night. Pets are allowed, but must be leashed.

This is semi-arrid terrain which can be warm during the day but the temperature may drop 40-50 degrees by nightfall so be prepared with a jacket even during the summer months.

Buffalo Lake Wild Life Refuge

34.9263148,-102.1146238

Texas, unlike other western states, doesn't have the massive swaths of public lands like those found in Utah, New Mexico, or Colorado. So for the Texas panhandle to have a wildlife management area such as Buffalo Lake it's a treat to drive 10 minutes from my apartment to the front gate.

The history of Buffalo Lake NWR is long. As early as the 1940s it served as a recreational boating area with fishing and camping. Cabins even dotted the shoreline that could be rented out. At least 2 boat ramps occupied the north shore of the lake and the long lost remnants of boat propellers can still be found along what was once the shoreline near the concrete slabs. In the 1980s the lake was allowed to drain and return to its natural state. The water had become contaminated from area farms and cattle feed lots and soon fish struggled to survive. It soon became dry and besides a few times of significant rainfall that fills the lowest areas near the still existing dam, it remains dry.

Now the area is managed by the bureau of land management. Wildlife such as turkey, deer, snakes, and various others animals such as skunks can be seen roaming the area.

Camping here is allowed with several campsites available at 2 dollars a night, which is also the same cost as a day visit. No water or electricity is available, but the campsites have a concrete bench and a gravel area for parking a travel trailer or RV and the spaces are also grassy and tree lines for camping in a tent. Primitive facilities are at the campsites and usually well stocked with toilet paper and even have an LED bulb that runs on a battery and solar array.

One of the victims claimed in the fire was this little guy. I noticed him while walking the roadway in front of the campsites. At first I though he was alive since his head appeared to be elevated and looking around. As I got closer it was obvious he was dead.

We stayed one night this month (March) and it was obvious that a fire had occurred recently, though it was unclear if it was controlled or not.

The fire spared the campsites across the street. It's been extremely dry here lately, more dry than usual. Rainfall is scarce most years, but there's been no measurable rainfall in almost 6 months for the 2017-2018 winter.

Stargazing is one of the best things about camping. The night sky is filled with stars and even more are visible with a telescope.

The Pickup

They say waiting is the hardest part.

After about 3 weeks of phone calls, emails, and patiently waiting I have finally taken delivery of my 2018 Runaway Camper RangeRunner travel trailer. Simplicity at it's best! No toilet. No running water. 

Honestly, what more can a man ask for? It's a bed in a box with air-con but more importantly it's an upgrade from sleeping in a tent on the ground. And at 44 years old that gets more difficult with every passing birthday. At under six thousand dollars this is about as cheap and as good as it gets.

After twenty hours of driving from North Texas to Florida we arrived at my grandmother's place. The trailer was waiting patiently for my arrival, safe and secure with a hitch lock supplied by my father.

Pine Log State Park. Ebro, Florida

Pine Log State Park is a state forest. The array of neatly lined trees create a shady retreat from the Florida sun. These Pinus elliiottii are as ubiquitous as the drunken college students found on the beach during spring break in Panama City Beach.

Among the pine trees can be found two ponds that are calm and quite ready to be paddled. So, off with the kayak I ventured. I had the whole place to myself.

Dividing the ponds is the gravel road into the camp. The first pond (the one the camp sites surround) is round, possibly due to being an ancient sinkhole, and adorned with St Augustine grass and Nymphaeceae water lilies. A wooden pier with a gazebo at the end creates a stunning visual at sunset and is a great place to listen to the chorus of tree frogs looking for a mate.

The second pond is more stark in appearance with dormant cypress trees surrounding still, dark waters. Navigating among the cypress trees is possible, but the knees of the trees bump and rub the underside of my kayak as I paddle through them making it precariously close to tipping. But, venturing into the trees reveals shallower water and eventually an elevate boardwalk can be found on the south side of the pond. The boardwalk is part of a nature trail system that meanders throughout the park.

So, my first camping trip with my Runaway Camper was uneventful, other than a minor rewiring job that needed to be done on my Nissan Frontier in order to get the marker and tail lamps to work properly. While under the rear bumper I snapped this photo of my dog supervising my work while enjoying the sounds and sights of the park from the tailgate of my truck.