You might want to experiment with your current (pun intended) home appliances and a Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor.
Amazon product ASIN B00009MDBU
Gladiator Pop-Up Pass Through Camper Build
- Thread starter Mules
- Start date
Amazon product ASIN B00009MDBU
Mules
Well-known member
Here’s a couple small changes.
Found a $5 LED light at Harbor Freight that velcros to the ceiling.
Moved the fridge/freezer behind the driver. It’s a lot easier to access the fridge from inside or from the outside here.
I never did get a heater for the camper. If it gets too cold, I can just run the truck’s heater for 15 minutes. I never thought about this but the fridge’s exhaust actually heats the camper a bit. My fridge runs continuously off my truck battery but has a voltage cutoff so it doesn’t drain it too much. Seems to work.
Found a $5 LED light at Harbor Freight that velcros to the ceiling.
Moved the fridge/freezer behind the driver. It’s a lot easier to access the fridge from inside or from the outside here.
I never did get a heater for the camper. If it gets too cold, I can just run the truck’s heater for 15 minutes. I never thought about this but the fridge’s exhaust actually heats the camper a bit. My fridge runs continuously off my truck battery but has a voltage cutoff so it doesn’t drain it too much. Seems to work.
Mules
Well-known member
It's snowing and I'm getting stir crazy and bored, so it's time for the Low Wattage Camp Cooking Olympics ?
Dash Mini vs. Road Pro
I ordered a Dash Mini Griddle (350w 120v) which will run off my Gladiator's 400w inverter.
I also ordered a Road Pro Skillet (180w 12v) which will run from my 12v cigarette lighter.
First up to bat: Dash Mini Griddle - $12
The Dash Mini is a tough competitor. It's only about 4" wide, but what it lacks in size, it makes up in power. This Egg, Ham & Cheese Bagel Sandwich only took 5 minutes to make.
2 minutes for an easy over egg
1 minute for each side of the bagel
About 30 seconds for the ham
Next up the Road Pro Skillet (waiting for it to be delivered)
Dash Mini vs. Road Pro
I ordered a Dash Mini Griddle (350w 120v) which will run off my Gladiator's 400w inverter.
I also ordered a Road Pro Skillet (180w 12v) which will run from my 12v cigarette lighter.
First up to bat: Dash Mini Griddle - $12
The Dash Mini is a tough competitor. It's only about 4" wide, but what it lacks in size, it makes up in power. This Egg, Ham & Cheese Bagel Sandwich only took 5 minutes to make.
2 minutes for an easy over egg
1 minute for each side of the bagel
About 30 seconds for the ham
Next up the Road Pro Skillet (waiting for it to be delivered)
... Be prepared for some strange looks if you start wearing "Member of the Low Wattage Camp" T-shirts! ... 
Mules
Well-known member
One of the problems with using your truck engine as a heater for your camper is starting the truck, when you are cold and in bed. A friend on another forum had the same issue and suggested I upgrade with a cheap remote start for my Gladiator. How cool is this and only $139!! Now before you get out of your warm sleeping bag, you just hit the remote start, and let the camper warm up.
Amazon product ASIN B07SYBJTVB
Amazon product ASIN B07SYBJTVB
Last edited:
Mules
Well-known member
I stopped by a friend's fiberglass shop to get quotes on fiberglass molds to build version 2 of my camper. I'll keep everyone informed if I decide to move forward with production.
I still have a lot to do in order to put together a business plan, but I was wondering what this forum thought about a $14,000 retail price for the camper with pop up and upper bed in Jeep Hardtop Black. Color matched, furniture, and shipping would be extra.
I would need to make a reasonable volume to get the price this low.
I still have a lot to do in order to put together a business plan, but I was wondering what this forum thought about a $14,000 retail price for the camper with pop up and upper bed in Jeep Hardtop Black. Color matched, furniture, and shipping would be extra.
I would need to make a reasonable volume to get the price this low.
zgfiredude
Active member
Seems quite reasonable at first thought. Unique and functional product....I'd consider it for sure.
Mules
Well-known member
Here's my review of the Dash Mini Griddle vs. Road Pro Skillet for solo truck camping.
The Dash Mini (120v 350 watt) took about 10 minutes (including 5 minute heat up) to cook the Ham, Egg & Cheese Bagel and the Road Pro (12v 180 watt) took 25 minutes (including 10 minute heat up).
If I only took one of these camping, it would have to be the Road Pro. It's slower, but it can also heat up soup and boil water, and the Dash Mini can't. The Road Pro will also work in any vehicle with a 12v cigarette outlet.
That being said, the Dash Mini is only $12 where the Road Pro is $41. I'm keeping both of them.
The Dash Mini (120v 350 watt) took about 10 minutes (including 5 minute heat up) to cook the Ham, Egg & Cheese Bagel and the Road Pro (12v 180 watt) took 25 minutes (including 10 minute heat up).
If I only took one of these camping, it would have to be the Road Pro. It's slower, but it can also heat up soup and boil water, and the Dash Mini can't. The Road Pro will also work in any vehicle with a 12v cigarette outlet.
That being said, the Dash Mini is only $12 where the Road Pro is $41. I'm keeping both of them.
Mules
Well-known member
I'm reposting a friend's review below on small electric boiling for camping. The steps we will go through to get a cup of coffee!
@TexasOverlander
Finally did my testing on a few items:
I had two Immersion Heating Elements that I bought last year and never used. Received my YQ-105 Hot Plate to test also.
Will write up the test of these three items for heating water in this post, then the cooking test of my Roadpro Saucepan (12v) and my new Dash Mini Griddle (110v) in my next post.
Tested these to determine time needed and used my Jackery 1500 to verify wattage draw.
Results:
Lewis N. Clark 120/240V Immersion Heater: 11oz of room temp water in a Stanley steel french press pot. Wattage draw from 107w to 114w. 165° in 9 minutes. 12 minutes till started bubblingat 180°. 20 minutes to 200° and light movement. Still no boil at 35 minutes and 5% drain on th Jackery from 99% to 94%. Conclusion: useful for warming water if have plenty of time. Will leave at home.
BeWinner 12v Immersion Heater. 8 oz room temp water in a glass mug, partially covered. Wattage draw from 110w to 115 w. 165° in 10 minutes. 180° and bubbles at 12 min. 200° in 19 minutes. At 25 minutes, still no boil. Jackery drain from 94% to 91%. Conclusion:: Same as above item, except more useful 12v for camping. Will carry it in camp kitchen.
YQ-105 Hot Plate: 110v. 4" round heating surface. 8oz room temp water in Stanley steel french press. Set dial to max heat at #5. Wattage draw from 477w to 480w. 180° with bubbles at 7 minutes. Boiling at just past 7 1/2 minutes. Power drain from 91% to 86%. Also tested at power level # 3, and wattage drain was 479w to 480w. Conclusion: Although small, this heats quickly and can be used with small pot or pan. Be sure to plug in outside for 15 to 30 minutes to burn off chemical residue that has strong odor. Is fine indoors after that. Also, be very careful when using unit as sides have no protection and get very hot. Will be using this regularly on my trips with a small skillet and pot.
Last edited: Yesterday at 4:58 AM
@TexasOverlander
Finally did my testing on a few items:
I had two Immersion Heating Elements that I bought last year and never used. Received my YQ-105 Hot Plate to test also.
Will write up the test of these three items for heating water in this post, then the cooking test of my Roadpro Saucepan (12v) and my new Dash Mini Griddle (110v) in my next post.
Tested these to determine time needed and used my Jackery 1500 to verify wattage draw.
Results:
Lewis N. Clark 120/240V Immersion Heater: 11oz of room temp water in a Stanley steel french press pot. Wattage draw from 107w to 114w. 165° in 9 minutes. 12 minutes till started bubblingat 180°. 20 minutes to 200° and light movement. Still no boil at 35 minutes and 5% drain on th Jackery from 99% to 94%. Conclusion: useful for warming water if have plenty of time. Will leave at home.
BeWinner 12v Immersion Heater. 8 oz room temp water in a glass mug, partially covered. Wattage draw from 110w to 115 w. 165° in 10 minutes. 180° and bubbles at 12 min. 200° in 19 minutes. At 25 minutes, still no boil. Jackery drain from 94% to 91%. Conclusion:: Same as above item, except more useful 12v for camping. Will carry it in camp kitchen.
YQ-105 Hot Plate: 110v. 4" round heating surface. 8oz room temp water in Stanley steel french press. Set dial to max heat at #5. Wattage draw from 477w to 480w. 180° with bubbles at 7 minutes. Boiling at just past 7 1/2 minutes. Power drain from 91% to 86%. Also tested at power level # 3, and wattage drain was 479w to 480w. Conclusion: Although small, this heats quickly and can be used with small pot or pan. Be sure to plug in outside for 15 to 30 minutes to burn off chemical residue that has strong odor. Is fine indoors after that. Also, be very careful when using unit as sides have no protection and get very hot. Will be using this regularly on my trips with a small skillet and pot.
Last edited: Yesterday at 4:58 AM
Last edited:
ITTOG
Well-known member
For me, neither one of those would work. They take entirely too long. I would get a jet boil and you would be done in 5 minutes tops.Here's my review of the Dash Mini Griddle vs. Road Pro Skillet for solo truck camping.
The Dash Mini (120v 350 watt) took about 10 minutes (including 5 minute heat up) to cook the Ham, Egg & Cheese Bagel and the Road Pro (12v 180 watt) took 25 minutes (including 10 minute heat up).
If I only took one of these camping, it would have to be the Road Pro. It's slower, but it can also heat up soup and boil water, and the Dash Mini can't. The Road Pro will also work in any vehicle with a 12v cigarette outlet.
That being said, the Dash Mini is only $12 where the Road Pro is $41. I'm keeping both of them.
Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk
Mules
Well-known member
12 volt cooking options can be painfully slow and is only an option when cooking for 1-2 people. In this tiny space, with all the soft surfaces inside (carpet, tent, cushions, pillow/blankets), I'm trying to keep any flames, outside of the vehicle. I have a fear of this thing going up in a ball of fire.
A Jet Boil, cooking on the tailgate or outside on a table would be a whole lot faster, though.
I'll bring my Cowboy Wok or Fire Grate, when cooking for a group. I love cooking outside, or best over a camp fire.
zgfiredude
Active member
Two things: What's for dinner, and where's the campsite....I've got a bit of a drive, but I'll hurry!
