Camping sans hookups
Having the T@B and the van is great for camping anywhere as long as we have at least a 120-volt electrical source. We can run our TV, DVD player, microwave and ceramic heater to make it almost as comfortable as home. But we don’t always have the luxury of being at the campsite with these amenities. Sometimes we are having to deal with being off the grid and running only 12-volt appliances.
The T@B is equipped with a single 12-volt deep cycle battery. The interior lights and the refridgerator run off of the battery where in turn is charged when the trailer is plugged in. There are 8 120-volt outlets in and out of the trailer and they only work when we have an external electrical source. That also goes with the air conditioner which requires a minimum of 3000-watts of power to start it up.
One of the thoughts for camping off the grid while retaining most of the creature comfort is carrying a portable generator. An additional propane tank would also come in handy to use for cooking and running the more efficient LP furnace. A hitch mounted cargo carrier is the ideal method of carrying these items since you do not want them inside the vehicle. But since the hitch is occupied by the trailer, I am planning on getting a dual hitch receiver to solve this dilemma.
This adapter allows you to tow your trailer up to 4000 lbs yet still use a hitch cargo carrier with up to 500 lbs of cargo. That is plenty of capacity of a small generator, a couple gallons of gas and a spare propane tank. All the things you don’t want you and your family to inhale while driving to your next camping destination.