Turning My RV Into An Off-Grid Home

Off-grid living setup (RV + cooling + pets)

• Larry lives on the off-grid property “Ridge 88” in northern Arizona.
• He’s currently transitioning between two setups:
  • Mainly using a fifth wheel
  • Temporarily parking a truck camper nearby, since the truck camper provides better overnight AC.
• The Lance truck camper appears to have frame/weld issues (he suspects broken welds—similar-year campers reportedly have the same problem). The dealership hasn’t addressed it.

Dogs and layout changes

• He moves the dogs’ area to a more usable spot, using:
  • Dog pen fencing woven through rocks
  • Motion light + security camera

Outdoor heat management

• It’s been around 100°F, making it difficult to stay cool in the fifth wheel midday.
• He extends the awning to shade the side.
• He keeps some bay doors open because heat radiates strongly from the electrical/solar load area.

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Solar/battery and electrical strategy (with limits)

Solar installation details

• He brings in 10 Canadian Solar bifacial panels, rated 535W each.
• He mounts 8 panels across (rather than one configuration that includes all 10) due to shading effects:
  • In series, if one panel gets shaded, the output drops significantly.
• Example outcome:
  • Late-day shading can cause solar output to fall quickly (down to about ~93W once shading begins).

Power system highlights

• Equipment:
  • SolarX 4K inverter
  • Two B300K expansion batteries
• During the day:
  • He can run appliances while solar is producing, including:
    • Electric dryer
    • Air conditioner

Key nighttime limitation

• On very hot nights, stored solar energy often isn’t enough to run the fifth wheel AC all night.
• Temporary workaround:
  • He runs a generator via a 30-amp cord to power both RV units at different times:
    • Evenings: plug into the fifth wheel
    • Overnight: plug into the truck camper
• Comfort difference:
  • In the truck camper, he can set AC around 72°F and sleep comfortably.
  • In the fifth wheel, AC must be higher (around 78°F) to avoid draining batteries.

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Outdoor projects / comfort upgrades

Flooring and work area ideas

• He uses artificial grass tiles as an easy-to-clean place to remove shoes after rain.
• He considers adding a walkway to the truck and/or a front seating/hangout area.
• He mentions a fire pit idea now that fire ban season is over—though it’s still too hot to use.

Ventilation to cool under/around the RV

• He installs vents in side storage compartments (potentially multiple corners) to allow airflow even with doors shut.
• He adds a small 35W blower/fan:
  • Draws in air through the vents
  • Exhausts downward through a lower vent
  • Goal: pull cooler air from underneath and draw out hot air near the top, improving cooling efficiency with minimal watt draw
• Plan:
  • Later, he’ll add a temperature sensor/thermometer to measure results.

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Weather station installation (built for monitoring)

• He sets up a tall pole (about 6 feet) for a weather station:
  • Secures it in a bucket with about 60 lb of concrete
  • Mixes in water and tamping/smashes the pole into place for stability
  • Plans to install and sync sensors in the morning
• After setup:
  • The station is level, pointed north, and synced to Wi‑Fi
  • He can check remotely:
    • Rain totals
    • Temperature
    • Wind
    • Soil moisture

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Security / internet upgrade

Starlink setup

• He uses Starlink and installs:
  • A second Starlink Mini so the security system and weather monitoring keep running when he’s away
• He notes concerns about roof installation logistics and ladder safety.

Additional security/weather gear

• He mentions installing a Starlink for the security system and making some internal wiring/power improvements.

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“Wolfbox” rearview camera sponsor (practical install advice)

Sponsored product

• Wolfbox G900 Pro (dash-cam / rearview camera)

Why it’s recommended

• With his truck setup, he can’t easily see out the back.
• The screen improves rear visibility and safety.

Install approach

• The camera mount goes over the existing rearview mirror or replaces it.
• Only a couple wires are run:
  • One to the fuse box
  • Another up/back to the rear camera
• He shares routing advice to avoid tearing a wire out:
  • Uses zip ties and a cleaner path through the floor/frame

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Food / cooking routine (simple off-grid grilling)

• He grills pork steaks (thin, fast-cooking).
• Seasoning is simple:
  • Salt/pepper/barbecue sauce, or hot honey barbecue sauce
  • Adds olives (noted as “two spoons of the juice”)
• Drinks:
  • He mentions liking light beer in summer.
• Notes:
  • He often grills without elaborate sides—keeping dinner simple due to limited supplies.

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Lifestyle mindset / health note

• Health observation:
  • He hasn’t felt well recently and realizes he mostly switched from regular coffee to decaf, reducing energy/drive.
• Reframe:
  • He takes it as a positive:
    • enjoying time off
    • appreciating that he’s not paying rent (with most other expenses already covered)
• Channel ethos:
  • “Work less, enjoy life more”—he lets himself rest even when projects are waiting.

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Notable locations, products, or people mentioned

• Location: Ridge 88, off-grid property in northern Arizona
• RV/camper: fifth wheel + Lance truck camper (weld/frame concerns mentioned)
• Solar/power gear:
  • Canadian Solar bifacial 535W panels
  • SolarX 4K
  • B300K expansion batteries
  • 30-amp cord
  • generator backup
• Security/internet:
  • Starlink Mini (second plan)
  • security Starlink
  • weather station Wi‑Fi
• Sponsor/product: Wolfbox G900 Pro (dash-cam / rearview camera)
• Food reference: pork steaks from Phoenix JP Meats (as referenced)
• Creator reference: Bob Ross (painting technique)