LIVE OFF THE GRID FOR LONGER
Our experts reveal how you can get an extra week out of your free camping power and water supplies!
WORDS BY TIM FERRIER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME
Nothing will bring your free camping holiday to an end quicker than running out of power, or running out of water. In this day and age, you can’t go long in the bush without both, so you need to ensure you can, firstly, carry as much water and store as much power as possible, and secondly, make sure that supply goes the distance! There are countless tips and tricks you can use to get the most out of your power and water supplies – what we’ve done is put the most effective into one, easy to follow list! We’ve talked to free camping expert, Graeme Groves, from Northern RV Services and there’s not much these guys don’t know about water and power management in vans! Even the simplest tips will get you longer in the bush – together, these 20 tips could easily result in an extra week off the grid. Read on to find out how!
MAKE YOUR WATER SUPPLIES LAST!
WATER-SAVING SHOWERS & TAPS – ARE THEY WORTH IT?
WORTH IT? Most new free camping vans on the market will come with the latest low flow shower heads and flow reducers on taps, however you only need to go back seven or so years to find a generation of vans without this technology. Installing a low flow shower head can reduce water consumption by 40% – that alone can get you an extra three days or more of showering bliss – it’s certainly worth the investment!
CATCHING RAIN WATER
We get a lot of readers writing in, asking if it’s safe to catch rain water running off their awning and van. The short answer is yes – but be wary drinking it. Gutter attachments are available for your awning, the best of which is the Rain Saver Gutter. Collecting this rain water in buckets is certainly making hay while the sun shines… so to speak!
THE MOST EFFECTIVE UPGRADE
Most free campers would know the benefits of LED lights by now, but a lot of the older vans still have the fluorescent, or halogen bulbs and these types of globes use up to 90% more power than the new LED globes. Changing your lighting to LEDs can save you enormous amounts of your precious battery power. If you haven’t upgraded to LED lighting yet – you should!
BEATING THE HEAT
Hot conditions don’t just zap the energy out of us – they also zap the energy out of your 12V system. Your fridge works harder, your batteries don’t enjoy it, and even solar panels need good air circulation to be their most productive. So step one to saving power is to find a good shady campsite. Have the back side of the your van constantly in the shade to help your fridge, while adding extra shade and insulation to your battery and wiring hub will allow it to work as efficiently as possible. The added bonus of being in the shade is that you’ll be using your air-con less, and fans won’t be necessary. The only thing that could pose an issue camping in shade is solar panel efficiency – get yourself some portable panels and you’ll have no problems.
DO WHAT YOU CAN AT DUSK
There’s nothing stopping you doing your chores and cooking BEFORE happy hour. The less you have to do after night, the less you’ll need to turn the lights on – it’s that simple!
