Off Grid Trailers (OGT) brand Owner's Thread

[Overland Geezer]

I might suggest two batteries, but it depends on your power needs and the amount of solar where you go. In the east with lots of trees it can be difficult to get sun in the summer, for example. Another choice is solar panels: permanently mounted or portable. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Finally, consider a DC-to-DC charger if you’d want to charge when driving.

 

[Jseda4g63]

I might suggest two batteries, but it depends on your power needs and the amount of solar where you go. In the east with lots of trees it can be difficult to get sun in the summer, for example. Another choice is solar panels: permanently mounted or portable. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Finally, consider a DC-to-DC charger if you’d want to charge when driving.

I run my fridge and also trailer lights as needed. I ordered a REDARC dc to dc charger and have a portable 200w solar panel with charge controller.

 

[Jseda4g63]

Delivered Sunday. Trip planned for next weekend to break her in.

 

[tig]

Hi. I've had my Pando 3.0 for a few months. 6 trips so far.







Figured I'd share the mod I did above. We have a propane firepit we love and wanted someplace to carry a larger tank. Bought the holder on Amazon and welded up some brackets to mount it to existing holes in the tongue. Works great!

I just went with the standard 2 lead-acid batteries and the Xantec 1000 inverter. I was expecting this would give me at least 2 full nights of power. What I've found is I BARELY get one night, with super moderate usage.

What I’ve found is after one night I’m down to 10.5-11.5V in the morning. To illustrate, here’s how yesterday and this morning went:

• Left my place with a full charge at about 4pm. Inverter indicated full charge @ ~13V.
• Drove to campsite about 30 min away. The only electrical that was on during the drive was the fridge and USB outlets.
• Settled into campsite. Turned on water pump.
• Used a bit of water and turned exterior lights on for no more than 15 minutes.
• Charged phones.
• Went to bed at 11pm. Nothing but water pump (obv doing nothing) and fridge should have been drawing power).
• At 7am voltage showed ~12.2-12.5V
• Made two pots of coffee using an AC kettle connected to 110V outlet in kitchen. By the 2nd one the inverter was beeping and voltage was showing ~10.1V.

This does not seem right, at all. With two high-quality lead acid batteries I should be getting far more life.

Can others comment on this? Am I holding it wrong or something? ;-).

I’d like to attach some accessories to the exterior skin. Can anyone recommend the proper technique. Would high quality rivnuts be the way to go? Any tips for drilling into the skin to do this? I’m not sure what is behind the skin and knowing that would help.

 

[smritte]

hat I’ve found is after one night I’m down to 10.5-11.5V in the morning. To illustrate, here’s how yesterday and this morning went:

To know if this is a problem or not, you need more information.
What are the AH ratings of the batteries. How much power does everything draw.

The inverter will draw just doing nothing. 110 coffee makers draw a huge amount of power. Fridge power draw is based on size, brand and outside temp. Side note; the fridge in my Cruiser had an issue with the lid not closing properly. This caused it to run the compressor constantly. Killed my aux battery quickly.
Even though the trailer is new to you, if the batteries went dead, they lose lifespan. The brand quality of the battery makes a huge difference here.

I would reach out to where you bought it and see if they can run some tests.

 

[EStokes]

Hi. I've had my Pando 3.0 for a few months. 6 trips so far.

View attachment 279956

View attachment 279957

View attachment 279958

Figured I'd share the mod I did above. We have a propane firepit we love and wanted someplace to carry a larger tank. Bought the holder on Amazon and welded up some brackets to mount it to existing holes in the tongue. Works great!

I just went with the standard 2 lead-acid batteries and the Xantec 1000 inverter. I was expecting this would give me at least 2 full nights of power. What I've found is I BARELY get one night, with super moderate usage.

What I’ve found is after one night I’m down to 10.5-11.5V in the morning. To illustrate, here’s how yesterday and this morning went:

• Left my place with a full charge at about 4pm. Inverter indicated full charge @ ~13V.
• Drove to campsite about 30 min away. The only electrical that was on during the drive was the fridge and USB outlets.
• Settled into campsite. Turned on water pump.
• Used a bit of water and turned exterior lights on for no more than 15 minutes.
• Charged phones.
• Went to bed at 11pm. Nothing but water pump (obv doing nothing) and fridge should have been drawing power).
• At 7am voltage showed ~12.2-12.5V
• Made two pots of coffee using an AC kettle connected to 110V outlet in kitchen. By the 2nd one the inverter was beeping and voltage was showing ~10.1V.

This does not seem right, at all. With two high-quality lead acid batteries I should be getting far more life.

Can others comment on this? Am I holding it wrong or something? ;-).

I’d like to attach some accessories to the exterior skin. Can anyone recommend the proper technique. Would high quality rivnuts be the way to go? Any tips for drilling into the skin to do this? I’m not sure what is behind the skin and knowing that would help.

Sadly it’s the A/C kettle. They are basically a battery short to create heat through an inverter to add 30% loss. Typically lithium ion batteries will provide up to 4x power at same size. I have a pando 2, picked it up in Edmonton directly from OGT. I brought lithium batteries to swap out at time of purchase, left the original batteries with OGT. We’re at 85 nights in the Pando and still loving it.

 

[Renegade]

To know if this is a problem or not, you need more information.
What are the AH ratings of the batteries. How much power does everything draw.

The inverter will draw just doing nothing. 110 coffee makers draw a huge amount of power. Fridge power draw is based on size, brand and outside temp. Side note; the fridge in my Cruiser had an issue with the lid not closing properly. This caused it to run the compressor constantly. Killed my aux battery quickly.
Even though the trailer is new to you, if the batteries went dead, they lose lifespan. The brand quality of the battery makes a huge difference here.

I would reach out to where you bought it and see if they can run some tests.

Its a problem. This is a brand-specific forum, hence he is reaching out to fellow owners.

OP You should be able to get more out of it than that. I travel with 2 other owners and with the load you described, we have never come close to running out after 3 days. I cant estimate more since we usually solar re-charge and thus dont have data on more than 3 days.

I agree with EStokes, AC appliances are not efficient. Most folks use a fuel based device like JetBoil/Stryker for coffee.

You need to test it at home with no known loads and see what happens.

As a general best practice, do not leave anything on when not in use.

 

[EStokes]

Hi. I've had my Pando 3.0 for a few months. 6 trips so far.

View attachment 279956

View attachment 279957

View attachment 279958

Figured I'd share the mod I did above. We have a propane firepit we love and wanted someplace to carry a larger tank. Bought the holder on Amazon and welded up some brackets to mount it to existing holes in the tongue. Works great!

I just went with the standard 2 lead-acid batteries and the Xantec 1000 inverter. I was expecting this would give me at least 2 full nights of power. What I've found is I BARELY get one night, with super moderate usage.

What I’ve found is after one night I’m down to 10.5-11.5V in the morning. To illustrate, here’s how yesterday and this morning went:

• Left my place with a full charge at about 4pm. Inverter indicated full charge @ ~13V.
• Drove to campsite about 30 min away. The only electrical that was on during the drive was the fridge and USB outlets.
• Settled into campsite. Turned on water pump.
• Used a bit of water and turned exterior lights on for no more than 15 minutes.
• Charged phones.
• Went to bed at 11pm. Nothing but water pump (obv doing nothing) and fridge should have been drawing power).
• At 7am voltage showed ~12.2-12.5V
• Made two pots of coffee using an AC kettle connected to 110V outlet in kitchen. By the 2nd one the inverter was beeping and voltage was showing ~10.1V.

This does not seem right, at all. With two high-quality lead acid batteries I should be getting far more life.

Can others comment on this? Am I holding it wrong or something? ;-).

I’d like to attach some accessories to the exterior skin. Can anyone recommend the proper technique. Would high quality rivnuts be the way to go? Any tips for drilling into the skin to do this? I’m not sure what is behind the skin and knowing that would help.

The Pando is an aluminum sheet skin with a vinyl wrap. The front box is a thicker aluminum. Rivet nuts work best. Foam insulation below the skin, aluminum on the inside as well.

 

[smritte]

ts a problem. This is a brand-specific forum, hence he is reaching out to fellow owners.

So your saying Off Grid trailers uses a specific battery, one only off grid trailer uses?
I get that its "a brand specific" forum. Considering this type of stuff is what I've done for a living for several decades, I felt I could add something. Sorry for trying to help. I will stay out of this part of the forum.

 

[Renegade]

ts a problem. This is a brand-specific forum, hence he is reaching out to fellow owners.

So your saying Off Grid trailers uses a specific battery, one only off grid trailer uses?
I get that its "a brand specific" forum. Considering this type of stuff is what I've done for a living for several decades, I felt I could add something. Sorry for trying to help. I will stay out of this part of the forum.

No I am saying we know what batteries he has. We know their amperage, we know the draw on the factory components.

We know what is normal and what is not normal.

 

[tig]

FWIW, I upgraded to dual LiPo and a portable 100w solar panel. Just did a 3 night trip and no power anxiety anymore!