RV - would you go All electric?

[paradise]

On another note, my Starlink works awesome too!

Talk about a power suck

I think my in motion starlink is the biggest user of power

This is most likely the direction we are heading. Propane stove, water-heater, dual refrig, etc. Then have genny, battery and solar for power options. Keeps the systems similar to what I have had for 10+ years. While an all electric rig (no propane) will work, it’s a huge price increase since those models include the M2 chassis and larger engine with Renegade.

I have decided on the brand (Renegade). The fit and finish is above all the other brands I have looked at (Jayco - Seneca, Dynamax - Force [discontinued in 24]) And worth the extra money IMO. My biggest issue is the M2 chassis and larger engine model with Renegade (allowing for 20k in towing) is a 75k upgrade. And the overhead cab bunk option started in 2021 (difficult to find used).

Told the wife last night, we can survive with 12k towing and if we like RV life (vs ToyHauler), we can upgrade to something bigger once the youngest kids are off the family checkbook.

We're in a 2017 Dynamax 37BH on the M2. Totally understood you decided on the Renegade (they are awesome) but it may be worth looking at one of these few year old coaches.

The coach is propane for heat and cooking. I went in and added Lithium batteries and inverter from battleborn/Victron and did Victron solar chargers and flexible solar on the roof. Nice mix of options and way simpler to troubleshoot vs the new coaches with firefly systems etc.

 

[rivermobster]

90% of our camping OCCURS off grid with a large group of mixed rigs. Everything from big pushers/showhauler type rigs to my little 26’ class c. One of the constants I’ve noticed is that the more complex/luxurious the rig, the more tinkering that goes on to keep everything operational.

One of our crew has a really nice grand design 5th wheel, he’s added as much solor on the roof as he could fit. Unfortunately we camp during the winter when the sun is further south and he did not add the ability to tilt the panels for optimum charging. That is a significant loss of electoral generation for him. They have had multiple failures of systems over the last few seasons ending sleeping in a cold rig until daylight where in-depth tinkering will get things operational again.

I’d say choose your poison based on which system you think you have the best ability to trouble shoot and keep operational

The KISS theory Always works best.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Aquahot 450D, it doesn't draw anything. Have to maintain it every year though.

With the aquahot there are 3 zones with fan coils, they don't draw much either.

Gotcha. So its really not PURELY electric RV then since the heater will burn diesel if needed to heat the coach (baller coaches only then. lol!).

 

[Flying_Lavey]

This is most likely the direction we are heading. Propane stove, water-heater, dual refrig, etc. Then have genny, battery and solar for power options. Keeps the systems similar to what I have had for 10+ years. While an all electric rig (no propane) will work, it’s a huge price increase since those models include the M2 chassis and larger engine with Renegade.

I have decided on the brand (Renegade). The fit and finish is above all the other brands I have looked at (Jayco - Seneca, Dynamax - Force [discontinued in 24]) And worth the extra money IMO. My biggest issue is the M2 chassis and larger engine model with Renegade (allowing for 20k in towing) is a 75k upgrade. And the overhead cab bunk option started in 2021 (difficult to find used).

Told the wife last night, we can survive with 12k towing and if we like RV life (vs ToyHauler), we can upgrade to something bigger once the youngest kids are off the family checkbook.

The 12v fridges seem to be pretty efficient. Like I said earlier in the thread, I was a bit leery of them at first, but then my brother and parents both bought a new 5'er with one and have zero issues with them sucking down batteries or anything. And my brother doesn't have nearly the solar system that my parents do.

 

[Singleton]

Talk about a power suck

I think my in motion starlink is the biggest user of power


We're in a 2017 Dynamax 37BH on the M2. Totally understood you decided on the Renegade (they are awesome) but it may be worth looking at one of these few year old coaches.

The coach is propane for heat and cooking. I went in and added Lithium batteries and inverter from battleborn/Victron and did Victron solar chargers and flexible solar on the roof. Nice mix of options and way simpler to troubleshoot vs the new coaches with firefly systems etc.

Been searching for a used Dynamax (Force HD or DX3) with a cab over bunk.
Trying to avoid Covid built years (March 2020 to Feb 2022). Those I have found are not open to realistic offers.

 

[paradise]

Been searching for a used Dynamax (Force HD or DX3) with a cab over bunk.
Trying to avoid Covid built years (March 2020 to Feb 2022). Those I have found are not open to realistic offers.

Are you looking for a bunkhouse too or just the cabover?

 

[Singleton]

Are you looking for a bunkhouse too or just the cabover?

No bunkhouse, cab over only.
Wife wants to camp in National and Start parks, so limiting the length to models that say 36x (goal is to stay under 38’)

DX3 - 34KD as an example

 

[spark2678]

Gotcha. So its really not PURELY electric RV then since the heater will burn diesel if needed to heat the coach (baller coaches only then. lol!).

I think even most of the baller coaches are diesel fired heat. You can get them with rooftop heat pumps like mine has but you can't run them without plugging the coach in or running the generator.

The aquahots sip diesel, if if it were really cold temperature you ain't running out over a weekend or a week for that matter even if the coach was a quarter tank.