Dry Camping w/Elkmont 26

We just traded in our 3326 for a new Elkmont 26.

PopBeaver's video on dry camping intrigued us, so we had Custom RV install 2 6V golf cart batteries recommended by them for dry camping. The batteries are installed in the conveniently accessible and spacious compartment under one of our dinette seats.

We also discovered that after staying 3 nights in a local campground while Custom RV tweaked the few QC issues we found, our black water tank was 3/4 full using the 'conventional' toilet exclusively for both liquid and solid waste (totally odor free by the way).

Checking our mileage towing the fully loaded 3326 to Anaheim we got 13.7 mpg. Towing the fully loaded 26 home we got 11.7 mpg.

Since fuel cost is such a big part of camping expense, being able to enjoy 'no hook up' campgrounds and park service facilities for two or three nights opens many otherwise inaccessible campgrounds within 50 miles or less from home.

Using the techniques outlined in PopBeaver's video it should work. We'll let you know.

Originally Posted by Shandysplace

We just traded in our 3326 for a new Elkmont 26.

PopBeaver's video on dry camping intrigued us, so we had Custom RV install 2 6V golf cart batteries recommended by them for dry camping. The batteries are installed in the conveniently accessible and spacious compartment under one of our dinette seats.

We also discovered that after staying 3 nights in a local campground while Custom RV tweaked the few QC issues we found, our black water tank was 3/4 full using the 'conventional' toilet exclusively for both liquid and solid waste (totally odor free by the way).

Checking our mileage towing the fully loaded 3326 to Anaheim we got 13.7 mpg. Towing the fully loaded 26 home we got 11.7 mpg.

Since fuel cost is such a big part of camping expense, being able to enjoy 'no hook up' campgrounds and park service facilities for two or three nights opens many otherwise inaccessible campgrounds within 50 miles or less from home.

Using the techniques outlined in PopBeaver's video it should work. We'll let you know.

Stay close to home the first time. I recommend somewhere like Brannan Island near Rio Vista.

If you keep a list of issues that I did not think of to cover we can update the slides, but I have no plans to redo the video.

A couple of other things that we did to extend our Elkmont dry camping was a switch to LED's: http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ad.php?t=10044

And silence the pump: http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ad.php?t=10037

And in the S.W. you night want to consider Solar Panels! There's a couple of good threads on that in this forum.

EDIT: I would love to see your weights (Trailer GVW, Tongue weight, etc.) if you ever go past a CAT scale.

We're hoping our 2 6v golf cart batteries will easily handle 2/3 nights. We've yet to use our water pump, but we'll keep your link handy.

Our trailer fully loaded weighs 4,500 lbs., 500 lbs. less than our 3326 with the same payload.

We got 13.6 mpg driving the 3326 to Anaheim and 11.7 mpg bringing the 26 back.

Our Elkmont 24 has about 620# on the hitch, that's 17% of it's GVW (~3800#), pretty high. But we drop that by about 200# with our WDH.

Just looking at your picture, the front axle seems a bit more forward than our axle so you may have less hitch weight. Just curious.

The 26' Elkmonts are definitely nice looking units. And having 4 brake drums is nice!

[B_and_D]

Congratulations on your new Elkmont! That is a fine looking trailer!

Bryan and I got a chance to watch Wayne's DVD; we think he did a great job of covering most (if not all) dry camping issues. It's an excellent resource.

Clear Lake State Park is more than 50 miles from you, but it's a really nice park and the area is beautiful. We used to go up there when we had our cabover camper, but it takes so long to get there from here that we stopped going there. There's some nice campgrounds in Bodega Bay too.

Have fun and let us know if you find some nice places to go camping!

We'll add your suggestion to our list as well as those from Wayne.

See you in Pismo next year.

I would invite you to go with us, but you can no longer go where we go.