The Official Unofficial Super Pacific X1 Camper Thread

Rear window gasket shrinkage in -10 temp and expansion in warmer temps. Did a couple days of winter camping. The wedge performed great, but it was a bitch to close it up when the canvas is frozen stiff. The wife had to stand on top for me to latch.

 

Is everyone wiring the camper to their truck battery or using something like a jackery?

 

I have a LiFePO4 battery hooked up to solar as my "house" battery. Completely independent. It's working out great so far

 

I've got a Yeti 1500X, which I kind of regret getting because of it's cost and somewhat limited ports and throttled output. It is portable though so I can use it in the house if there's a power failure. I explore a lot when I'm camping so I only have a car charger that recharges when I'm driving, no solar right now. It powers my Dometic 45 and my lights and recharges devices. It lasts 7 days in cold weather and 3 days in very hot weather due to increased Dometic demand. Hope that helps. Feedback welcome.

 

Thanks. Just bought the same from GTFO a few days ago. Installing this weekend. Saw a post by a guy who installed the small one on the rear door at the bottom rather than inside, so that the light splashes out behind the truck when the door is open. Considering that if I can figure out how to route the wires.

 

I'm going dual battery.. and running a power bank to the bed for the camper.

 

I am gathering parts to put together a 2nd battery (lithium) in the bed with a combination DC to DC charger with an MPPT solar charger and 100 watt solar panel. Hopefully I’ll have a power panel put together so as soon as I pick up my SP, I can install it and have power for lights, e-blanket, 250 watt heater, phone/Ipad charger, etc.

 

What 250 watt heater is that? I’ve been looking for a low wattage electric heater to use in the tent area on cold nights or mornings.

 

That's gonna kill a 12V battery quick running an inverter.

 

I only plan to run it long enough to warm it up, crawl into bed, then turn it off. Back on in the morning again just to warm the space up.
You may be right, but I have to try it anyway.

 

Ok, this may not be the forum for this, but I’ve been intrigued by the idea of a very low wattage 12v heater that wouldn’t drain a battery overnight. I have used a 4 candle lantern to keep my SP tent just warm enough when camping in 30 degrees (but that requires ventilation which kind of defeats the purpose). So I’m looking for the equivalent of that in a space heater. Most of these products are 110v plug in heaters for workers in cold cubicles, so as has been said these pull too much. I’ve seen USB rechargeable battery powered hand warmers that last 4 to 6 hours, but they are too small to heat a tent. Anybody know of any 12v USB rechargeable space heaters for small spaces? Anybody want to help develop one?

 

12V heaters are available from the Marine world. https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--portable-cabin-heater--7867500

Efficient ones, I'm not convinced about that. My dad usually runs this in campgrounds with electrical hookups.

The issue we deal with having wedge campers is the relatively low air volume to heat, but need to maintain the warmth since the insulation is low or non-existent.

So we don't need a lot of BTUs, but it needs to be cycling or constantly on if running low enough.

 

I installed a cheap diesel heater in the unused space between the wheel well and my box. Will run for 30+ hours on a gallon of diesel fuel. It exhausts outside the vehicle and will not deplete the oxygen in your sleeping area. The only electrical draw is the glow plug on startup, the fan, and the LCD controller (maybe 10-14ah per night, running all night)

 

Another 12v option I am considering:


Warm the sleeping space up, then turn it off.

 

Any sort of space heater is inefficient by design. I’ve gone so far down this rabbit hole ha! Best bets for efficiency are diesel and propane.

 

And the summary is:
Diesel, you need electric to run the pump.
Propane, you don't need electricity since it runs off pressure.

 

Downside to propane is it introduces more moisture into your camper and also more likely to burn the oxygen in your camper.

 

My issue with diesel is it’s a single use fuel. If my engine was diesel it would be great. Propane, better (JMO) because I already use it for cooking.

Propane does introduce moisture when not using a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger needs electricity for a fan.

Nothing seems ideal.

 

I understand your point, the only thing is: $3 of diesel will run your heater for 30+ hours. $3 of propane will run a heater for 3, maybe 4 hours.