Boondocking ladder, intermediate tier
Intermediate RV Boondocking Power Setup
Researched from published standards and manufacturer specifications. Updated .
Quick answer
A week off grid needs roughly 200Ah of LiFePO4, a 400W roof array with a 40A MPPT controller, and a DC-DC charger so driving days also charge the bank. That combination covers about 100 amp-hours a day with enough margin for a cloudy day.
Who this is for
Extended trips off grid, running a compressor fridge, an inverter for a microwave or tools, and charging everything on board.
Who should not buy this
Someone who mostly uses hookups. The solar and DC-DC spend would sit idle, and the campground ladder is the better plan.
The complete build
Everything needed to make this system work, grouped by function. If you buy this list you can finish the job.
Battery bank
| Item | Qty | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yeagulch 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 yeagulch A 200A BMS is the spec that matters, because a 2000W inverter on 12V can pull close to 200A. | 1 | $316.59 | Buy |
| Victron SmartShunt 500A Battery Monitor Victron Energy Amp-hour counting, configurable over Bluetooth, with published accuracy. | 1 | Check | Buy |
| Battery bank subtotal | $316.59 |
Solar
| Item | Qty | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renogy 400W Premium Solar Kit with 40A MPPT Renogy A complete 400W array with a 40A MPPT controller sized to match it. | 1 | $637.99 | Buy |
| Renogy Solar Z Brackets, 4 Sets Renogy Enough brackets for the whole array in one purchase. | 1 | $37.99 | Buy |
| BougeRV Double Cable Entry Gland Box BougeRV A sealed roof entry for the array cables. | 1 | $9.99 | Buy |
| Solar subtotal | $685.97 |
Charging from the vehicle
| Item | Qty | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renogy 40A DC-DC Battery Charger Renogy Limits what the lithium bank can pull from the alternator, which is the whole reason this part exists. | 1 | $186.99 | Buy |
| Charging from the vehicle subtotal | $186.99 |
Inverting
| Item | Qty | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renogy P2 2000W Pure Sine Inverter Renogy Enough continuous rating for a microwave or an induction burner, with the DC draw published so you can size cable to it. | 1 | $285.99 | Buy |
| Inverting subtotal | $285.99 |
Wiring and distribution
| Item | Qty | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVMARINEPAT 12V 250A Busbar, 6 Studs RVMARINEPAT Positive and negative distribution in one part. | 1 | $26.99 | Buy |
| BOJACK 200A Inline ANL Fuse Holder with Fuse BOJACK Inverter feed, solar feed and DC-DC feed each need their own fuse. | 3 | $47.97 | Buy |
| TOPDC 4 AWG Battery Cable Pair, 18 in TOPDC Keep the inverter run short, because at 2000W on 12V it carries close to 200 amps. | 2 | $23.96 | Buy |
| Blue Sea Systems m-Series On/Off Battery Switch Blue Sea Systems A main disconnect with published continuous ratings. | 1 | $27.05 | Buy |
| Wiring and distribution subtotal | $125.97 |
Build total
$1,601.51Totalled from the catalog price of every line above at the quantities shown. One or more items had no listed price and is excluded from this figure. Prices change often, so treat this as a planning figure and check each listing.
What you can skip
Telling you not to buy something is what makes the rest of the list worth trusting.
- A portable solar suitcase, if the roof array is already sized correctly. It is a fix for shaded campsites rather than a capacity upgrade.
- A generator, unless you need air conditioning. At this capacity a generator mostly sits in a bay.
- A 3000W inverter. On a 12 volt bank it pulls roughly 300 amps and demands cable that costs more than the upgrade is worth.
What to upgrade first
A second 200Ah battery, which turns a cloudy stretch from a problem into a non-event. After that, a self-heating battery if you travel in cold weather, because charging below freezing is the one thing lithium genuinely cannot do.
Compare the tiers
Beginner
Beginner RV Boondocking Power Setup
The cheapest honest way to spend a weekend off grid: one LiFePO4 battery, a small solar array with an MPPT controller, a
Expert
Expert RV Boondocking Power Setup
Full-time off grid in any season: 400Ah of self-heating lithium, a large roof array, an inverter/charger, DC-DC charging
Different use case?
For rigs that are plugged into a pedestal most nights. The spend goes on protecting the rig from bad shore power and on covering travel days, not on solar. See the campground ladder.
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Frequently asked questions
- Who is the intermediate boondocking build for?
- Extended trips off grid, running a compressor fridge, an inverter for a microwave or tools, and charging everything on board. Someone who mostly uses hookups. The solar and DC-DC spend would sit idle, and the campground ladder is the better plan.
- What can I leave out of this build?
- A portable solar suitcase, if the roof array is already sized correctly. It is a fix for shaded campsites rather than a capacity upgrade. A generator, unless you need air conditioning. At this capacity a generator mostly sits in a bay.
- What should I upgrade first?
- A second 200Ah battery, which turns a cloudy stretch from a problem into a non-event. After that, a self-heating battery if you travel in cold weather, because charging below freezing is the one thing lithium genuinely cannot do.
- Why are there two different build ladders on this site?
- Because RV power has two genuinely different buyers. A rig on a pedestal most nights needs shore power protection and a converter matched to its battery, and gains almost nothing from solar. A rig off grid for days needs usable capacity and a way to refill it without a pedestal. One ladder cannot serve both without giving bad advice to one of them.
Before you wire any of this. Never exceed a conductor's rated ampacity, and fuse every positive conductor as close to the battery as it will fit. A LiFePO4 bank needs a lithium charge profile at every source, and must not be charged below freezing without a low temperature cutoff or a self-heating design. Never connect lithium directly to an alternator. Never run a generator in an enclosed or partly enclosed space, because carbon monoxide is odorless and kills. Permanent AC wiring is work for a qualified RV technician or licensed electrician.