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Originally Posted by Jurgen
Spent too much time on the manufacturer's website. I really like your set up. Downsides seem to be as you say, no retreat to the trailer (bugs/weather) unless you are laying down.
But I camp to be out, not in...
How hot does I get in HOT weather.
Has anyone put some solar cells on to boost the electrics?
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Yep, we have done mostly temperate weather camping, but we have the 'Fantastic Fan' that runs for days off the battery and actually moves a TON of air - so if you can open the windows and the hatch a bit you are good [and you can close the back and move the easy up to cover the entire trailer!] for some ventilation unless it's pouring.
IF we have AC at the campsite [don't laugh, we found a LOT of the state camps in the south have power if not water], we have an 8,000 BTU A/C unit built in. It works pretty well, and if you need it, it's worth having.
As to retreat: Ours is the 560 which has the 'couch', but it's not convenient by any means. But with the bug screens and fans, if the bugs outside are horrible, you have a refuge - the only place we found it necessary to fully retreat was north of Fairbanks, AK.
I have put about 15 watts of solar panel on the roof and borrowed a 35 watt panel for a summer trip. I have the 72 amp/hour battery, which would be hard to drain unless you really work at it. The on-board battery charges from the Car when driving [assuming you wire the car to do so], plus any time you plug into 120 volts you both run and recharge. The 120 is only needed for the A/C so with onboard water, dry camping is not impossible. If we KNOW we are dry camping we carry an extra 5 gallon jerry can of water, and when camped we use that to tanker water in.
I know I come acrss as an intolerable booster, but I spent two months plus living in this camper two summers ago and the wife and I found about two minor nits - so minor we forgot them. It's a very thoughtful design that requires the owner to simply determine what level of finish they want and what they want in the kitchen.
The ability to carry a complete, ready to use kitchen makes cooking and cleaning such an easy thing that we can prepare reasonably healthy meals - the only thing we lack is an oven...and we bought a folding Coleman oven which, well, it works but it takes up both burners - we have only used it twice - we keep an active look out for stove top recipies and have a nice big file.