Maximizing amp hours for boondocking

[Olive2Roam]

We are looking to identify all of our options for increasing amp hours available when boondocking. We are in the Ollie I with the specs in our signature below. We have found that during the winter months (minimal solar efficiency even on sunny days) we get a maximum of 2 days out of our 260 AH Lithionics bank. We don't try to conserve, so we have a small ice maker going most of the time, use the microwave frequently, etc. We recently added DC-DC charging so if we are traveling frequently there are no issues. We are back to full charge by the next stop. But when we are stationary for 3 or more days we would like not to have to worry about running out of capacity. So these are the options I have identified for expanding capacity while stationary during winter or cloudy weather. Are there others we should consider? Thanks in advance!

• Add a portable panel(s) to more efficiently capture solar
• Replace the 260AH lithionics with batteries with a similar footprint but higher capacity
• Find a way to add another lithionics battery to our bank (Is there a way to do this? There is no enough room in our tray where the 2 batteries sit.)
• Use the DC-DC charging system to charge while idling (this has been a little unreliable so I have been researching why that is)
• Add a standalone power source to be used as reserve such as a 2000W Jackery power station
• Try to conserve while boondocking (probably not going to happen)
• Carry a generator (this option is a distant last)

Thoughts!

Edited Sunday at 04:26 PM by Olive2Roam

[Mike and Carol]

I would think your best bet are the first two options.  You can replace your current batteries and significantly increase your amp hours.  I just replaced three 100ah batteries with two 300ah batteries, doubling our amp hours but using less space.  An additional panel is easy to do also.  We carried a generator for years, and used it when the weather was non-solar.  They are a pain and I don’t like that option either.  We also carry a Jackery 1000, but it is for Starlink power when we’re off the grid.  Mike

Edited Sunday at 03:57 PM by Mike and Carol

[Olive2Roam]

Thanks Mike. We would love to get a 600 AH capacity. Did you do that with Lithionics? 

[jd1923]

59 minutes ago, Olive2Roam said:

Thanks Mike. We would love to get a 600 AH capacity. Did you do that with Lithionics? 

I agree with Mike's comments. BTW he and many others installed two 300 Ah Epoch Essentials batteries. I did that too in 2024 and Jan of this year added a 3rd for 900 Ah!

If you provide measurements of your battery bay, we could see what would fit. Don't know for the Elite 1. Also, are you willing to lose the tray? In the E2, 600 Ah fits in the tray and when I went to 3 batteries, I removed the tray and will not miss it since LiFePO4 does not require maintenance. The tray was meant for servicing LA batteries!

Would a second Lithionics 260 fit?

2 hours ago, Olive2Roam said:

•  
• Try to conserve while boondocking (probably not going to happen)
• Carry a generator (this option is a distant last)

We think alike here! After all the work I've done in upgrades, we will not conserve! We're now running our Chill Cube A/C on battery! And I would be embarrassed to fire up a generator, never have and never will, and with technology today there's no need to! 😎

We added a 400W Renogy solar suitcase which we use rarely. It does produce 2x our 320W rooftop solar since you get a better angle in the winter sun. These panels are heavy and LARGE! It sits fine in our 8' truck bed, but you would hardly have the space. They're also a pain to move around all day, keeping them pointing to the sun.

I remember reading that you (again like us) only stay a few days at each location. Our DC2DC charger is the best tool we have!

My take is your best first step is #2 in your list. You need to double your 260 Ah batteries, or better yet, install 600! Page one of my post shows the 600 Ah upgrade and on page 2 upgrading again to 900. Let us know the dimensions of your battery bay so we can make suggestions. 😂

 

Edited Sunday at 05:30 PM by jd1923

[Olive2Roam]

2 hours ago, jd1923 said:

I agree with Mike's comments. BTW he and many others installed two 300 Ah Epoch Essentials batteries. I did that too in 2024 and Jan of this year added a 3rd for 900 Ah!

If you provide measurements of your battery bay, we could see what would fit. Don't know for the Elite 1. Also, are you willing to lose the tray? In the E2, 600 Ah fits in the tray and when I went to 3 batteries, I removed the tray and will not miss it since LiFePO4 does not require maintenance. The tray was meant for servicing LA batteries!

Would a second Lithionics 260 fit?

We think alike here! After all the work I've done in upgrades, we will not conserve! We're now running our Chill Cube A/C on battery! And I would be embarrassed to fire up a generator, never have and never will, and with technology today there's no need to! 😎

We added a 400W Renogy solar suitcase which we use rarely. It does produce 2x our 320W rooftop solar since you get a better angle in the winter sun. These panels are heavy and LARGE! It sits fine in our 8' truck bed, but you would hardly have the space. They're also a pain to move around all day, keeping them pointing to the sun.

I remember reading that you (again like us) only stay a few days at each location. Our DC2DC charger is the best tool we have!

My take is your best first step is #2 in your list. You need to double your 260 Ah batteries, or better yet, install 600! Page one of my post shows the 600 Ah upgrade and on page 2 upgrading again to 900. Let us know the dimensions of your battery bay so we can make suggestions. 😂

 

Thanks JD! To answer a couple of your questions, our LE I has a battery tray that has two 130AH lithionics batteries. They are 12.5” x 6.5” x 8.5” (L x W x H) with about an inch to spare. Without having the it in front of me, I think the tray is roughly 14 deep x 13 wide. Not a lot of room. Here's a pic I took a while back. 

It looks like the LiFePO4 (looking at the 460AH) dimensions are L20.55*W9.45*H8.58 so I will have to see if there is any wiggle room with the tray removed. I'll take a look at some of the specs on the other Li Time options. If I can't find a good fit, maybe a 400W suitcase panel plus the DC-DC charging will get us by until we find an option with the right footprint. 

Edited Sunday at 07:28 PM by Olive2Roam

[Mike and Carol]

3 hours ago, Olive2Roam said:

Thanks Mike. We would love to get a 600 AH capacity. Did you do that with Lithionics? 

As John mentioned we used Epoch Essentials.  Very satisfied so far.

[Steph and Dud B]

Your list looks good. I'd definitely look into bigger batteries. I know a generator is at the bottom of your list, but a little 1- or 2kW Honda would be more efficient than idling your truck and can be handy for other things, like charging ebikes, and isn't sun-dependent.

[Galway Girl]

Not sure of the full dimensions of your space in LE1 but you may want to check out some of the 300AH mini batteries like this one from Renogy.

 

 

 

Renogy 300AH Mini Core

They claim a much smaller footprint ...but be aware,,,this model doesn't have self heating for cold temp charging, but they do have low and high temp cutoffs for protection.

List prices are currently $879 direct.

Here are Epoch Dimensions

 

Just an idea of others:

 

Edited Sunday at 10:24 PM by Galway Girl

[topgun2]

And - 

Don't forget that some of these lithium batteries can be placed in differing orientation (i.e. on the side or end versus the standard top up).  Of course this will only matter if you have the "head room" in the battery box.

Bill

p.s.  In investigating this possibility - check with each separate manufacturer as to what orientations they deem acceptable. 

Edited Sunday at 10:00 PM by topgun2
added detail

[Steve Morris]

We have the 640A/h Lithionics batteries, and in addition to the 400W of solar on the roof, I have three 200W folding panels. While 1000W of solar sounds like a lot, you'll quickly realize that (at least here in the eastern US) the roof panels are frequently shaded, the portable panels are sometimes a nuisance  to move around, and that even on a perfect sunny day and constantly moving the panels, it would take 8-10 hours to completely recharge a battery from zero.

The only time I've gone this route was in the heavily wooded Adirondacks last year when we were seven days without any hookups, and I don't have DC-DC charging. I only had two panels then, and the only AC we used was the microwave occasionally and the coffee maker once a day. Mid day, there were times that with 800W of panels exposed, I was getting less than 100W into the batteries. Driving home and one rainy night in a Harvest Host, we arrived at the house with somewhere around 46% state of charge. I thought that was pretty great! We didn't try to conserve power use. We just didn't need much. The biggest power draw was out fridge/freezer in the truck, which I had plugged into an Anderson Powepole outlet on the trailer.

[jd1923]

3 hours ago, Olive2Roam said:

Thanks JD! To answer a couple of your questions, our LE I has a battery tray that has two 130AH Lithionics batteries. They are 12.5” x 6.5” x 8.5” (L x W x H)

Looking at your picture and these dimensions, two Epoch Essentials 300 Ah might just fit without the tray! You'd certainly have to replace these vs. adding more of the same, and of course measure twice before ordering anything!

Length: 13.75" base, 15.5" at top for handles, Width: 7.63", Height: 10.0". For two batteries, you need a minimum footprint without the tray of 16 x 16" and 12" height.

The Renogy product is pretty cool, but it's apples to oranges! It does not have internal BMS (why they are offering an external BMS), no heaters for charging below 32F. and comes without Bluetooth and app (something I could not live without).

[Olive2Roam]

3 hours ago, Galway Girl said:

Not sure of the full dimensions of your space in LE1 but you may want to check out some of the 300AH mini batteries like this one from Renogy.

Renogy 300AH Mini Core

They claim a much smaller footprint ...but be aware,,,this model doesn't have self heating for cold temp charging, but they do have low and high temp cutoffs for protection.

List prices are currently $879 direct.

Here are Epoch Dimensions

.....

 

Great information. Thanks so much for the reply. I will definitely add these to my list to investigate. 

Bob

[Olive2Roam]

2 hours ago, Steve Morris said:

We have the 640A/h Lithionics batteries, and in addition to the 400W of solar on the roof, I have three 200W folding panels. While 1000W of solar sounds like a lot, you'll quickly realize that (at least here in the eastern US) the roof panels are frequently shaded, the portable panels are sometimes a nuisance  to move around, and that even on a perfect sunny day and constantly moving the panels, it would take 8-10 hours to completely recharge a battery from zero.

The only time I've gone this route was in the heavily wooded Adirondacks last year when we were seven days without any hookups, and I don't have DC-DC charging. I only had two panels then, and the only AC we used was the microwave occasionally and the coffee maker once a day. Mid day, there were times that with 800W of panels exposed, I was getting less than 100W into the batteries. Driving home and one rainy night in a Harvest Host, we arrived at the house with somewhere around 46% state of charge. I thought that was pretty great! We didn't try to conserve power use. We just didn't need much. The biggest power draw was out fridge/freezer in the truck, which I had plugged into an Anderson Powepole outlet on the trailer.

1000 watts of solar does sound like a lot, especially when we are at 260. I think even if/when I find higher AH batteries I will add at least one folding solar panel. I should have done that by now. By the way, love the Adirondacks. I climbed all 46. 🙂

[Olive2Roam]

1 hour ago, jd1923 said:

Looking at your picture and these dimensions, two Epoch Essentials 300 Ah might just fit without the tray! You'd certainly have to replace these vs. adding more of the same, and of course measure twice before ordering anything!

Length: 13.75" base, 15.5" at top for handles, Width: 7.63", Height: 10.0". For two batteries, you need a minimum footprint without the tray of 16 x 16" and 12" height.

The Renogy product is pretty cool, but it's apples to oranges! It does not have internal BMS (why they are offering an external BMS), no heaters for charging below 32F. and comes without Bluetooth and app (something I could not live without).

When I get over to storage I will get the exact dimensions so I know exactly what I have to work with. I agree, the bluetooth apps are a must. 

Bob

[Geronimo John]

10 hours ago, jd1923 said:

never have and never will,

LOL!  Never is a really long time to NEVER run a generator.

BTW great posting on how to increase power density of an OE trailer.  Can't believe that just a few years ago 300 AH was tops.  Wow how things have changed in the world of RV's and boondocking power.  Glad to read your post.

But NEVER?  Really.  🙂

GJ

[jd1923]

11 hours ago, Geronimo John said:

But NEVER?  Really.  🙂

I've never purchased a portable generator.

Our Bigfoot Class-C had a 4K Onan which I rebuilt after we purchased it (cleaned sludge out, new carb, oil, filters and plug). We used it to recharge 2 lead acid batteries and/or run the A/C in the afternoons. Later I added 400W solar, 1800W inverter and 3x105 Ah AGMs and after that I only ran the Onan every other months to keep it in running shape. Original owners ran it 660 hours, we added about 30 hours on the clock.

This is my full generator experience. I can't stand having to hear the generators of other campers (or the noise of A/C units running)!

Would it not be crazy to carry or run a generator with 900 Ah LiFePO4, 720W solar and a 50A DC-to-DC charger? Our Oliver is camped now on Thumb Butte Road above Prescott right now and since Friday afternoon. It got up to 90 on Friday and highs of 85F since (quite a heat spell, cooling off next week). Ran the Furrion Chill Cube A/C 2-3 hours per day. 320W rooftop solar working, no obstructions, sunny ALL day...

OMG, 4 days and 3 nights and we're down to 83% SOC! 🤣
We could camp here for a long, long time...

My bet is that if Bob upgrades to 600 Ah, with their style of moving every few days with DC-DC charging, they will only have to consider #2 on his list! 😎

[ADKCamper]

We have a 2018 LE, with a single Epoch Essentials 300Ah battery. Two of the Epoch 300Ah will not fit into our battery tray. They will likely fit into the battery compartment if the tray is removed. Measure first; your mileage may vary.

Our tray inside dimensions are 14-1/4" x 14-1/4". Two Epoch Essential 300Ah batteries side-by-side require 13-3/8" long x 14-3/4" wide (because the battery tops are wider than the bottoms and you can't snuggle them close enough together to fit into the tray).

I would like Epoch to develop something like a 200Ah or 250Ah Essentials battery with Bluetooth and heat that is just a bit smaller so that I can fit two of them into the existing tray (or make the 300Ah battery just a bit narrower... but no wider or taller). I prefer using the tray as it slides out, making the connections easier *and* it provides slots for the battery hold-down straps to attach.

p.s. I'm also a big Adirondack fan 🙂

Edited 3 hours ago by ADKCamper

[Steph and Dud B]

Camping in the Northeast, with the foliage, low sun angle and long shoulder seasons can change the generator calculus. That said, we never needed our generator with this trailer until my wife got her ebike.