Really simple trailer tent electrics...what do I need?

[Hard-Drive]

We're heading off in our recently acquired Conway trailer tent to Wales soon. We already have a Waeco CDF 18 fridge which we use on our boat...it's a fantastic bit of kit which uses very little power but will actually freeze things if you want. I really want to take it with us.

I want to install a very simple electrical system on the Conway, I guess I'll need a leisure battery, some kind of relay system, and obviously twin electrics on the Defender. Basically, I want to be able to charge the leisure battery when towing, or be able to hook up the Defender and run it if needed to top the battery up. And before anyone asks, where we are going does not have electric hook up.

Really does just need to be as simple as possible...what do I need?

Thanks in advance

[bristolracer]

Google zig unit. Plenty of 2nd hand ones about on eBay
If you don't want to mess around with all that then a solar panel and a leisure battery should work fine.

[Hard-Drive]

Thanks...but isn't that overkill?

[mike9009]

There are a few options here, although the specific vehicle wont make a difference.

http://www.justkampers.com/vw-t25-parts/t25-electr...

The leisure battery is the main expense.

Mike

[chrisga]

You bought a tent in a box trailer and now want fancy electrics.... Said it before, you should have gone for a caravan. We've got a built in fridge, leisure battery with a big enough solar panel to keep everything running with no hook up, oh and a heater......

Had a look and couldn't find bike racks, think ours must have gone the same way as yours when we moved. Ours were dirt cheap off ebay if I remember correctly. Something like these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Car-Roof-Mount... I modified one to grip my crank as it wouldn't clamp round the thick downtubes on the enduro or 456 carbon.

[Hard-Drive]

chrisga said:

You bought a tent in a box trailer and now want fancy electrics.... Said it before, you should have gone for a caravan. We've got a built in fridge, leisure battery with a big enough solar panel to keep everything running with no hook up, oh and a heater......

Had a look and couldn't find bike racks, think ours must have gone the same way as yours when we moved. Ours were dirt cheap off ebay if I remember correctly. Something like these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Car-Roof-Mount... I modified one to grip my crank as it wouldn't clamp round the thick downtubes on the enduro or 456 carbon.

Mate...I don't want a caravan! We're off somewhere where the basic premise is "if you can get your car to it, you can pitch" (and they are not licensed for caravans) and whilst we're not going to be Camel Trophying our way to our pitch, I fancy the survival chances of a trailer tent more than I do a caravan. Plus, I really don't want to be looking at the thing sat in the driveway for 95% of the year...and the big one for us is that if we want all mod cons and a TV etc, then we might as well just stay at home! The TT folds up really small...in fact I genuinely cannot see any of it at all in any mirrors on the Defender if I'm driving in a straight line. I fully accept it's limitations compared to a caravan, but a caravan just isn't right for us (yet...haha!) Obviously what I'd really love is one of these, but they are mega bucks. Quite tempted to buy an old Sankey trailer and do a DIY job though...



Thanks for looking for the bike racks...have ordered some eBay cheapos and will stick the full length roof rack back on the 110 temporarily which certainly gives us a bit more carrying capacity!

[chrisga]

Does your trailer tent have a solid lid or is it a canvas cover type?
If it's canvas, I'm sure friends of my Dads used to carry bikes on a rack on top of their conway like this:



I can't believe what my life has become, extolling the virtues of the caravan...... I'm so ashamed.....

[Hard-Drive]

That's exactly the thing I'd like, however they don't come up often and are expensive.

Anyway, in the words of Top Gear (RIP) have fun "defecating in a bucket" whilst I am off "doing leisure"

[foliedouce]

I did see a mobile electrics unit disguised as a pamphous bush. I reckon it has your name
all over it, it could take trailer tenting to a whole new level

[Crafty_]

Hard-Drive said:

That's exactly the thing I'd like, however they don't come up often and are expensive.

Anyway, in the words of Top Gear (RIP) have fun "defecating in a bucket" whilst I am off "doing leisure"

I assume that bike rack slots in to the chassis of the trailer tent and is then secured by a few bolts ? if so, I'd look for a local engineering firm to make one for you, it isn't too complicated and the materials would be cheap.

Back to the electrics, this is a kit for the car, uses the "new" single plug for both road lights and power supply to the caravan/tent/whatever. http://www.towsure.com/full-universal-13-pin-towba...

On the tent side there isn't any need for relays, just correctly fuse the fridge / lights and wire it up to a socket.
You may find that the fridge is better powered by gas (I assume its a mains/gas/12v unit).

Edited by Crafty_ on Friday 12th August 18:24

[Cfnteabag]

I am planning to do exactly the same with our trailer tent and my Land Rover 110. I have got hold of a split charge relay which I am planning to fit with a second battery under the passenger seat with a connector at the rear to connect to the tent when set up. I am only planning on running a simple light set up and an inverter for the fridge but there is no reason why you couldn't set it up to run the fridge while you were driving.

I will pull it out tomorrow and take a photo for you but they are relatively simple to wire in.

Depending on what engine is in your Defender you could also fit a second alternator. the 200 and 300 tdi have a space already fr one with a bracket using either a modified AC bracket or an ex military bracket from a wolf.