Barefoot in the Wild

 Trip #2 was a great success.  My major goals were to see if my lithium battery / Jackery Explorer / plug-in battery monitor system was sufficient to power the camper (and accoutrements) for five days, and to see if I could stretch the fresh water tank (and the cassette toilet) for the same duration.  Check, on all counts =) The Barefoot is indeed Boondockable!!

Oh and I also had a goal of completing a draft of the Discussion and Conclusions section of this monster paper I'm writing.  Check!  My work-from-home station was quite adequate, thank you....  complete with Roxy and Sagan the Lab Assistants 😍

Highlight of the weekend: cool ocean breeze coming through the windows while sleeping, and a Labrador under each arm.  😍 

First, update on the battery situation.  The plug-in Innova monitor, according to reviews, tracks with multimeter data - so, imo, fair game.  Yes, it's plugged into the 9V receptacle, so it reads voltage *after* it has been distributed thru the fridge, etc - therefore it provides a "low end" estimate.  Hey, better that than a false sense of security with a false-positive high end estimate!  So maybe this will suffice, rather than installing a shunt / bluetooth?  I printed a SOC charge for lithium and taped it to the wall for quick reference.  Knowing that Battleborn states their batteries can be drained to a low SOC without impact on battery life / # of cycles, I did allow the battery to drain to 12.8 (17.8%) at the lowest, then plugged the camper into the Jackery portable via a 15-30A adapter.  Easy peasy.  So the "timing" question will be balancing charging up the Jackery in daylight, with maintaining enough SOC in the camper.  

Loving the Jackery setup.  It was supereasy.  I should mention that recharging the camper only drew the Jackery down to about 45%, which was easy to replenish during daylight hours.  So there's some wiggle room here.  My major power draw was the fridge - I only turned the water pump on while using it, and ran the vent fan occasionally.  I'm a little nervous about running both the fridge and the vent fan overnight, since I'm not starting with 100% charge (see next paragraph) but I'm fairly confident that I can solve that hypothetical problem next.

One thing that needs improvement in my system is being able to fully charge the lithium - plugged into 15A shore power at my house, the monitor is not showing above 13.6.  I *think* the WFCO automatically re-set to lithium?  Gonna dig under the bench today to look for the blue-red light combo that confirms that. Alternatively I do actually want to set up the 100w panels to directly charge the battery.  My understanding at this point is that I will need a solar controller to modulate that input.  I really wish NuCamp had made the rig "solar ready," and that's an improvement I will recommend.  The Victron MPPT 75/15 would be sufficient for my needs, the awesome folks at NuCamp confirmed this for me: "the listed capacity of the 75/15 is 220W, which should be fine for (2) 100 w panels:) " So the question would be WHERE to put it.  Do I dig around in the inputs to the WFCO?  Or do I splice that in-line to the 8mm to SAE converter for the solar port?  I kind of like the setup I found on the interwebs (see photo).  TBC....

So have I mentioned how much I love being able to take a hot shower?  Yeah, "Navy shower," but whatever, that's fine.  Hot water, and that feeling of "clean" going to bed - HUGE upgrade to my camping experience.  I've been a camper for 33 years - my first backpacking trip, I was 17.  Yes, I absolutely know how to "rough it," and I've been known to cowboy-camp (including on a sandstone mesa in Moab, in case you were curious - the stars were aaaaahmaaaaaaazing) Yet, I'm turning 50 this year.  And life is about experiences..... creating GOOD ones, to be specific!  I want to be outside, in the fresh air and sunshine, creating adventures.  *And* i like creature comforts.  So, what's the word that folks use.... "Glamping."  I'm in 😁

The cassette toilet....  Still some work to do there.  Apparently the RV Digest stuff I poured in, well, let's just say it did not fully digest.  Was not able to fully empty the cartridge, so I packed it back in and headed home - today I'll try the "empty in the toilet" method (haha, yes, I have a strong stomach) From what I've read, one of the "issues" folks have with RV toilets is odor.  Well, if "things" are not being properly emptied, yeah that would create an "odor!" Again, TBC...

Still not entirely pleased with the ceiling fan I received with the camper (first photo, transparent blue shroud)  The more I think about this, the more it does not sit well with me:  The unit I toured at the Boston RV show had an upgraded vent fan, with a remote control.  I remember this well, since that was the final factor that sold me on the Barefoot.  (I even have video, and may have found the actual fan that was installed! https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Vents-and-Fans/Fantastic-Vent/FV807350.html Very similar, and comes with a remote.  See second photo - compare the knobs used to raise the cover) The second photo, at the RV show, is clearly not the same unit as the first photo.  "One of these things, is not like the other!...." Look at the center hub, and the dial used control speed, as well.  Am I wrong to expect that the floor model should be the same as what you receive, unless otherwise specified?  Because if not, wouldn't that be.... false advertising?  Writing a letter today to Pete's RV and Nucamp to request a solution to this problem.  Because, frankly, I really wanted the remote control and fan upgrade, that's what I was sold on and that's what I expected to receive.  It was a LOT quieter than the fan I received - and to have a remote control, clutch, really.

Again, TBC......  let's see if Pete's and Nucamp will make this right.  (I have my bets on Pete's having installed the fan for the RV show, but I could be wrong - either way, it's misrepresentation)  

Oh and here's my mileage (big grin) up to Maine from Nashua:  Fully loaded trailer, probably averaging 60mph, some stop-and-go.  Very happy with this!  Confirmed, this is better mileage than I got with my T@g.  The Audi Q5 pulls the Barefoot SO easily.  Only the tiniest little bit of sway when being passed (closely, cough cough) by an 18 wheeler - self-corrected quickly.  This suggests that a sway bar was not requisite for my specific setup - yay, because of the failure at attempted installation!  Also fair warning, the electric brakes on the Barefoot are very strong (and that's a good thing!) I have to dial the gain way down so that the trailer brakes are not pulling the Audi to a stop in traffic - and I dial it down to 0.5 when parking or reversing.  I imagine these strong trailer brakes will save wear and tear on my expensive Audi brakes, which clearly I like!  

Lastly, just because she's pretty.  More glamour photos (and dog photos!!) over on the Insta:  https://www.instagram.com/phosphorescentspirit/ This is such an efficient and complete little camper.  I'd go so far as to say it's a great "girl" camper, because it's small and manageable..... but I don't want to pigeonhole the Barefoot into a target market ;)