Solar Power for RV Boondockers : The Complete Beginner's Guide to Sizing, Installing, and Running a 12V Solar System That Lets You Camp Free for Weeks
Overview
Stop guessing. Build the boondocking power system that actually works.
You just bought your RV. Now everyone's telling you to "get some solar" -- but nobody explains which batteries to buy, how many panels you actually need, or how to wire it without burning your rig down.
This is the solar book written specifically for boondockers -- people who camp on BLM land, National Forests, and dispersed sites for days or weeks without hookups. Not generic off-grid advice. Not a guide for boats and tiny homes and RVs all mashed together. Just the straight-line path from confusion to a working system that keeps your lights on, your fridge running, and your generator turned off.
What you'll learn:- The single most common sizing mistake -- and why "more solar" doesn't fix it
- How to do a power audit so you buy exactly what you need (no guessing, no oversizing)
- AGM vs. lithium: the honest math that shows when lithium is worth it and when it isn't
- MPPT vs. PWM charge controllers -- which one to buy and why the price difference matters less than you think for small systems
- Wiring your system correctly: fuse sizing, wire gauge tables, connection sequence, bus bars, shunt placement
- How to charge your batteries while driving -- and when a DC-DC charger is worth the extra money
- Three complete build examples from $900 to $6,500, with part lists you can order today
- 14 common mistakes experienced boondockers see beginners make every season
- Seasonal power management: how to adjust your system for desert summers, cloudy forests, and winter camping
- How to upgrade from AGM to lithium without replacing your entire system
The bestselling RV solar books were written before lithium batteries became affordable. They cover boats, vans, cars, and homes -- everything but the boondocking use case. This book is built around one question: How do I camp free on public land for 14 days without running a generator? Every chapter answers a piece of that question.
Who this is for:Weekend warriors who want to stop paying for campground hookups. Full-time RVers building their first power system. Van-lifers, truck campers, and travel trailer owners who are tired of vague YouTube advice and want a complete system that works the first time.
When you're done:You'll have a power system sized for your actual usage, wired correctly, and monitored so you always know where you stand. And the confidence to boondock anywhere -- desert, forest, mountain -- for as long as you want.
Outdoor Guides Book 2 -- pairs with Boondocking for Beginners (Book 1) to cover where to go and how to power it.
This item is Non-Returnable
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Details
- ISBN-13: 9798180975850
- ISBN-10: 9798180975850
- Publisher: Independently Published
- Publish Date: June 2026
- Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.37 inches
- Shipping Weight: 0.5 pounds
- Page Count: 162
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