Going off-grid in a campervan is a chance to enjoy stunning views and truly get away from it all.
While the best motorhome sites will offer immaculate facilities and mains hook-up for powering our favourite touring gadgets, there’s no getting away from the charm that an off-grid site can provide. What they may lack in amenities, they make up for with breathtaking views, and after all, campervans do not need electric hook-up.
This is because campsites are unable to get the necessary planning permission for building much in some of the most beautiful locations in the country. As a result, the best off-grid sites (sometimes Club CSs and CLs) are small, wild and set in the most extraordinary locations, where a big, commercial campsite simply wouldn’t be allowed to operate.
There’s a skill to off-gridding, which took me a little while to develop. But the effort was worth it, as I’ve stayed on some sensational facility-free sites over the years.
By definition, off-grid touring means you have no electric hook-up,or those other luxuries we’ve come to expect, such as Wi-Fi. Most often, a lack of campsite facilities requires you to rely on your ‘van’s washroom, too, which could be a factor if you’re thinking about whether to get a campervan with a shower or without. The payback for these little ‘hardships’ is immense, however.
In this guide, I’m explaining the benefits of going off-grid in your campervan. I’m also sharing the tips to help you get the most from your time on tour, including ensuring you have enough gas and electricity, as well as how you can access water. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that running out of gas or battery power does little to enhance a campervan off-grid experience…
Off-grid campervanning
The benefits of heading off-grid in your campervan
There are various benefits to off-grid campervanning.
Firstly, it’s more budget-friendly than a stay at a normal campsite would be, allowing you to stay longer for the same price.
Those who like a truly relaxing stay will enjoy it as well – these are small sites with five pitches or fewer, located in the middle of nowhere, and they subsequently attract fewer families with children.
As these sites are in the middle of nowhere, you can also enjoy beautifully dark skies, with the lack of light pollution allowing you to take in stars on a clear night.
Off-gridding is also ideal for lovers of the natural world – you may even be able to see these sights without leaving your campervan. Do some research and you should be able to find somewhere suitable. As pitches are generally not clearly marked out either, you could possibly spread out, positioning your ‘van to get a spectacular view, and set up the best campervan awning, and even a pup tent or two if you so desire.
If you’re touring with a dog, your canine companion is bound to enjoy heading off-grid too, as these smaller sites offer plenty of space and easy access to the countryside, while you will generally find they have more flexible rules regarding pets.
They can be a great spot for enjoying your hobbies too, whether it’s fishing, hiking, cycling or mountain biking.
There can also be a great bit of camaraderie between off-grid groups, who will be more than happy to help each other out if problems occur.
Something to consider – some off-grid spots do not allow certain toilet chemicals to be disposed of, so be sure to check.
It’s also worth remembering that even if your ‘van doesn’t have a toilet, you can always get the best portable toilet for a campervan instead.
Using gas off-grid
Ensure that you have sufficient gas for your outing. This could be a bit awkward without investing in a second gas cylinder, so that you’ve always got a full one.
You really don’t want to be swapping a third-full bottle for a full one with your Calor distributor.
One excellent solution to this quandary is to invest in a self-refill system such as Safefill or Gaslow. Both involve buying the bottle(s) – and in the case of Gaslow, the installation – which you can then fill up yourself at any of the UK’s 240 LPG Autogas fuel stations, such as Morrisons, for example. You can find out more at drivelpg.co.uk.
You have a choice of two types of bottled gas: butane or propane. One litre of butane contains 12% more energy than one litre of propane, but the most important difference for motorcaravanners is the minimum temperature at which they vaporise.
Butane vaporises at temperatures down to minus 2°C, while propane vaporises as low as minus 42°C. Touring in a typical British winter could easily cause a butane-powered system to stop working, while you’d have to be visiting Siberia to prevent a propane system from functioning.
Using electricity off-grid
To start off with, you may be thinking about how you will power a campervan off-grid.
Having the best campervan leisure battery can be an important gadget when touring off-grid. With no mains hook-up, you’re going to be relying on your leisure battery for all of your electric power. This is the main reason why many serious off-gridders will often install a second leisure battery, fitted with manual or automatic switchover.
The NCC has set up a Verified Leisure Battery Scheme, which offers campervanners clear guidance on a battery’s capacity.
- Category A batteries have higher storage capacity and are designed for those who tend to camp away from electric hook-up.
- Category B batteries are for those who typically stay on pitches with an electric hook-up, but also need greater power for certain devices.
- Category C batteries are designed for use over a short time to power basic, low-demand equipment.
Start by fitting the largest leisure battery that you can find, ideally one designated Category A.
Your battery power (reserve) is measured in ampere/hours (Ah), and an ideal size for off-gridders is 110Ah. This is a large item, so check it will fit in your leisure battery compartment. Bear in mind that a second battery can also take up 20kg of your payload allowance, so factor this in to make sure you don’t have to start thinking about how to reduce the weight of your motorhome.
A leisure battery has much thicker lead plates inside than those provided in a car battery. Typically, the heavier a battery is, the more lead it contains and the better-suited it will be for off-grid motorcaravanning.
Avoid letting the charge in your lead-acid leisure battery become too depleted. It will last longer if it’s regularly recharged from 75% capacity, rather than letting it go down to 50% or below.
The latest lithium batteries are perfect for off-gridding. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) technology creates powerful and lightweight batteries that can be discharged much further than lead-acid batteries, with no detrimental effects.
Of course, there’s a downside, and in this case, it’s the price. A few years ago, lithium leisure batteries cost about £2000. Prices are now down to around £700, but that’s still many multiples of a good-quality standard battery.
The control panel in most motorhomes displays the level of charge remaining in the leisure battery. This might not always be the most accurate indicator, so ask your technician to compare it with a voltmeter reading at service time.
Typically, a 12V battery is fully charged when the meter reads 12.7V, 75% charged when the display says 12.4V and 50% charged at 12.2V. This is the time to recharge it.
A long drive will bring the battery power back up, of course, but you could also use a charge if you’re not planning on going anywhere. A gentle trickle charge suits leisure batteries better than fast charging. Smart chargers (such as from CTEK) prevent overcharging, which can lessen a battery’s lifespan.
It’s important to keep batteries properly charged in the off-season and in storage. Use a smart charger where possible, or remove the leisure battery from the ‘van and store it in a well-ventilated room, checking its power levels periodically.
For best performance, it’s best to keep non-sealed batteries topped up with fluid, and to ensure the battery posts are clean and the clamps are fitted tightly.
Finally, remember that leisure batteries are less efficient in cold conditions (their power figure is calculated at 25°C). As a rule, every 1°C fall below 25°C results in a 1% decline in the battery’s performance.
Using solar panels off-grid
Campervan solar panels can keep your leisure battery topped up with power, so are perfect for when you head off-grid. Photovoltaic panels create electricity from all light, not just direct sunlight, so they will generate current in winter, albeit a fraction of what they’d make on a bright summer day. They also give you a handy way of campervanning in a more eco-friendly way, too.
They can be fixed to the roof (bonded or bolted on), or they’re available in portable metal frames, which can be moved around to make the best use of available sunlight. Remember to move them at night during the summer, so they can make the most of the early morning sunlight before you rise.
Buy a good brand from a reputable dealer. Look for a panel that displays the international IEC 61215 quality certification, and buy from a dealer which is offering a good warranty.
Solar Technology International, for example, has a 20-year performance warranty.
The angle of your panel hugely affects its performance. The optimum angle varies, depending on location and time of year. The best angles have been calculated and can be found online at solarelectricityhandbook.com.
All panels over 18W will require a voltage regulator/controller. We recommend buying a (slightly more expensive) Maximum Power Point Tracking charge controller, because these can eke out 20% more power from your system.
Aim to fit a panel that is capable of keeping your system charged; typically this will be a 100-200W set-up.
Your maximum charging rate will be the wattage of the panel multiplied by the hours of useful light. In summer, a 150W panel might get five hours of strong light, so 150W x 5 hours = 750W.
Watching TV for three hours might use 3 x 35W = 105Wh, and LEDs might consume 5 x 35W = 25Wh. The water pump and heating fan require much more power. You’ll get to know how many devices you can use.
You might find a cheap solar panel online, but the experts recommend buying from a recognised UK supplier. Investing a little but more on carefully sourced panels will pay dividends in power output, longevity and aftercare.
An AGM-type leisure battery is particularly efficient when used with a solar panel for topping up.
Accessing water off-grid
All but the most extreme off-grid sites will have a water supply, but we would still always recommend taking a large canister of drinking water with you just in case, especially when going to sites that you haven’t visited before.
How you can save power in your campervan when off-grid
You can take steps to limit the amount of power you use. A ‘van with LED lighting uses a fraction of the power consumed in one with traditional tungsten bulbs. LED light conversions are a relatively easy job for the keen DIYer. Likewise, modern LED TVs consume less power than other types.
Avoid activating your water pump every time you turn on a tap to wash your hands, by taking a bottle of hand sanitiser. This saves water, too.
Hot summer days often lead to cool evenings. Rather than flicking on the heating, consider taking ‘unseasonal’ clothing along, such as bedsocks, for when you are indoors.
Alternatively, you could take a firepit along with you (if the site allows them), and then everyone can sit outside later in the evening. Shower in the morning, so the battery has all day to recharge via solar power.
Switch to 12v appliances
Lots of electrical appliances that would be powered by 240V mains electricity at home are available in 12V versions, and these are perfect for off-grid fans when they’re kitting out a campervan. For example, 12V kettles, toasters and hairdryers can be obtained from all good touring dealerships.
Using an inverter
Inverters turn 12V DC battery power into a 230V AC output. This allows you to run household appliances in your motorhome when you are off-grid. There are two types of inverter-quasi (or modified) sine wave inverters and pure sine wave inverters.
Quasi versions will power most appliances, including microwaves, kettles, hairdryers and straighteners, but some thyristor-controlled equipment can only be run from a pure sine wave inverter.
Calculate the maximum power consumption you’ll need (in watts) and choose an inverter accordingly.
Remember that an inverter typically discharges your battery much faster than when using 12V equipment.
The verdict on going off-grid in a campervan
Going off-grid can be a highly enjoyable experience, allowing you to connect with the natural world, enjoy longer tours for the same price, and have a more peaceful tour. Ok, there may be the odd compromise, like not having the campsite’s washblocks or access to electric hook-up. However, having access to gadgets such as an inverter or a portable power station can help here.
After some more inspiration about the campervan lifestyle? Then head to our Go Campervanning: Campervan Life section for more great ideas!
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Motorhome, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. Double check any warranty is not affected before proceeding.
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