We’ve always loved the idea of boondocking – pulling our RV into the middle of nowhere, away from the crowds, and just soaking up the quiet. But here’s the thing, we also don’t exactly love “roughing it.”
We still want cold drinks in our residential fridge, air conditioning when it’s hot (a must for Kati’s health), and the ability to use the microwave, blender, hair dryer, and, yes, even a little Netflix. Basically, we wanted our RV to feel like home, whether we were plugged in at a campground or parked in the middle of the forest.
That’s why we finally decided to invest in a serious RV solar setup.
The Hunt for the Right RV Solar Company
If you’ve ever researched RV solar systems, you know how overwhelming it can get. Panels, batteries, inverters – and every company claims to be the best. We didn’t want a “cookie cutter” install. We wanted a company that would actually listen to us and help us figure out what we needed for our off-grid adventures.
Future Solutions ended up being that company. They took the time to ask about how often we boondock, where we like to camp (hello cloudy Pacific Northwest), which appliances we had to be able to run (air conditioning, fridge, microwave, the essentials), and how we wanted to feel like we were still at home – not just “camping.”
The best part? They even suggested things we hadn’t thought about yet. It felt like we were working with a team that truly understood RV life.
Our RV: A Keystone Alpine Fifth Wheel
We live full-time in our 2022 Keystone Alpine 3320RL fifth wheel, so this setup needed to do more than just “get us by.” We wanted the ability to stay off-grid for days (or weeks) at a time without stressing about power.
For us, that meant being able to keep the residential fridge running 24/7, turn on the A/C in hot weather, and still use everyday things like the hair dryer, blender, and lights – without feeling guilty about it.
What We Installed
Here’s the system Future Solutions designed for us:
- Batteries: 6 × Discover 12V Space Lithium 120Ah
- Battery Management: Lynk Lite for lithium batteries
- Inverter: 2 × Victron MultiPlus-II 2x120V
- Solar Panels: 8 × 200W bifacial solar panels
- Charge Controllers: 2 × Victron MPPT 150/85
- Monitor: Victron GX Touch 50
- App: Full control through the Victron app on our phones
With this setup, we can boondock in the middle of nowhere and still feel like we’re plugged in at a campground. No worrying about cloudy days, no stressing over whether we can turn on the A/C, and no living by flashlight. Just pure off-grid freedom.
Why We’d Recommend Future Solutions
If you’re thinking about solar panels for your RV, here’s our advice: don’t just buy a kit and hope for the best. Find a company that will take the time to understand your lifestyle. That’s exactly what Future Solutions did for us, and it made all the difference.
If you’re curious about the details of the gear we used, you can check out the Future Solutions website.
What’s Next
We’ll be sharing more posts soon about the whole process – from how we chose our system, to the installation, to what it’s like driving away with a fully powered rig.
So, if you’ve ever dreamed of off-grid RV life where you can boondock comfortably for days without worrying about power, stick around. We’re just getting started!
Hi! We’re Vern & Kati – young(ish) empty nesters living and traveling full-time in our RV. After over 11 years of nomadic living, we’ve learned that the best time to live your dream life is right now. Follow along for RV tips, boondocking guides, solar setup advice, and unforgettable travel itineraries – plus encouragement for your empty nest years and a reminder to dust off your bucket list and start chasing those dreams.