In my opening two years I tremendously enjoyed boondocking and dry camping in my Lance Camper and learned first hand that once self-reliant camping gets in your blood, it’s hard to shake it. Inspired by a Bob Difley seminar at The Rally last year in Albuquerque, I decided to create my next generation RV.
In creating this example of mobile independence, I relied on the cutting-edge engineering and expertise from the best manufacturers and suppliers in the alternative energy and RV industries who push the sustainable energy envelope. I have created a one-of-a-kind RV that exemplifies energy independence and self-reliance. The tandem rig is designed to go off road and off the grid. Engineered with eleven solar panels capable of collecting over 1250 watts of solar energy, three wind turbines generating over 450 watts of wind power and the ability to collect hundreds of gallons of rainwater every month that can be heated by the direct energies of the sun, the SRMR is also equipped state-of-the-art suspension, towing, tires, bumper/winch, LED lighting and navigational equipment.
A lot of people have home offices. For me, I now just tow my home with my office.
Stay tuned to my Facebook page for details on the upcoming video on building the SRMR.
Brian Brawdy’s Tandem SRMR
Ken Locarnini
Wow, I’m loving your rig. That’s a glimpse into the future of fulltime RV’ing. I’m not sure there’s many places to boondock, that are worth going to anymore in a rig that size, but bravo for assembling the tech. I am so jealous, as I’m living in a van right now. Want to sponsor me…?
Constance
I have an old Roadtrek van with a generator, two solar panels, and extra water tank on the back. I cook with propane, have propane and battery-powered lanterns and LED lighting inside. I have electric and propane fans. No TV. Radio and CB. I have an AC I have never used (west coast is heaven).
I dry camp all the time. I am packed and ready to drive in 15 minutes. So, little is as doable as lots…I think. I guess whatever makes us comfortable and happy.
Nice rig Brian.
Lisa
Just curious (even more curious why no one else asked these things)
But what did all the off grid equipment cost, Total?
I ask because I’ve found that solar cost vs actual usable power output is too expensive to be worth it. Better off with a couple candles and a fire.
Any power sucking stuff like 100 watt laptops and A/C just can’t be (or can’t reliably be) run by solar alone.
Does the wind power make it worth it?
Don’t you panic in high winds and bad storms with all those potential lightening rods?
How many solar panels have you had broken by flying road debris?
Are your rigs not top-heavy?
How’s your overall weight? Still within vehicle load specs?
How badly is the added wind resistance killing your mpg?
Any information on off-grid is welcomed 🙂
THANK YOU 🙂
Bart
Wow, what a setup. For as long as I can remember, I have had a desire to pull out of town and never return to the same place I have been. This is the vehicle! It sounds like some of your readers are a bit jealous and quick to comment on the lifestyle you have created for yourself. With that said, I assure you that I am also jelous, however, “roll on Brian” and keep us all posted on your adventure and if you need to store that rig when you plant your garden, please call me first. I will make sure that nothing seizes up!
Brian Brawdy
Thanks Cheryl.
I always ask myself this question…
When you can’t call on anyone else, can you call on yourself?
Survival through Self Reliance is my goal.
Brian Brawdy
Hey Denny.
Thanks for the comment!
Honestly, it has a duel function. Surviving the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina changed me.
My goal is to also have an RV that should I need to “get out of town” and “survive” for a bit, this is my plan.
Later this spring I will park it on a acre and grow my own garden. Yikes!!
Brian Brawdy
Thanks Bob.
Working on a short video highlighting the “backend” of the SRMR.
Brian Brawdy
It was, truth be told, a bit to get it up and running. Once fully operational, it’s not as bad as it looks.
Thanks for the comment.
Brian Brawdy
Mark, Mark, Mark….
Thanks for the comment.
As soon as you highlight the limitations, then we’ll both know.
hoppe
Brain
Since I am now retired and am now trying to perfect the art of LAZY. How long doew it take to set up all this? In other words. Is it practical to move once a day, once a week, once a month, or is this a seasonal set up? Not a critizem. By the way, have you been reported a UFO yet? : ^ )
later
hoppe
Gary
Brian,
I think your set up is great. It is kind of one of those “he who can affort the best toys should” and believe me most of us would. I have every single thing that I can afford in my outfit. I like it all. I think that half the fun of being out there is figuring out just what you need and want to be totally at home. There is nothing worse than getting out there to find that you don’t have something or you could have planned better. I bet that you never have those regrets. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think your rig is pretty cool.
Hope that you are having fun with all your great gear…
Tom Pinch
Brian ,
I think you stop and smell the roses. What else can you harvest,thermal energy????
That requires a static location or parking on a geyser,better yet a volcano.
I do APPRECIATE what you have done so far to make Rvers aware of the use of SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES.
(article WROTE with Tongue in cheek)
Bob Difley
Great set up, Brian. Enough sustainable power there to sustain a community of boondockers. When RVing and boondocking is a way of life, as it is with you, it’s great to have all that capacity. But for those, like Bob above (“I would like to see you write an article on a set up that would serve a weekend boon docker .”), who are interested in shorter periods of boondocking, you can design your personal system to fit your needs, whether it is a weekend or a lifetime.
And in a shameless plug for my ebook, BOONDOCKING: Finding the Perfect Campsite on America’s Public Lands (which you can buy on my Website at http://www.healthyrvlifestyle.com), I explain how to set up your rig for boondocking and why the boondocking lifestyle attracts the independent thinking, adventurous, nature exploring, self reliant types like Brian.
Brian’s system is “to die for” for most of us boondockers, but Brian never did anything half way. Congratulations on your new rig, Brian, and keep up the good work–and proving that green RVing and boondocking really work.
Mark
To Brian Brawdy,
I watched your video about the “Powersource 1800” and found it to be very misleading to those who may not know what it really is.
For the sake of honesty you should edit that with the limitations fully explained.
Mark
nodonutz
Granted it looks ‘Star Wars’-ish, but so what? My BIG question is the cost and practicality of the power systems for Joe-Consumer….granted, this is your career/lifestyle. And as pointed out – one still needs the oil burner to lug that ton ‘o stuff down the road.
I’m not a believer in the ‘Global Warming’ scam, as we find out more and more fraud in the ‘science’ – Having said that, I am VERY interested in the technology to go ‘off the grid’ – living in rural North Dakota (closest town is 10 miles away and pop.=120), and planning on doing more boondocking. We have lots of wind here on the praries!! Have lost power and needed to use generator. Would love to have wind/solar to augment my needs. Another concern is battery bank vs. COLD weather. I guess a basement full of batteries is the best/only option??
My biggest impediment is $$$. This stuff is expensive! Being a retired LEO on a fixed budget doesn’t help…..Any suggestions?
BTW: I hopped on board to your FB page and look forward to finding out more info.
Cheryl McCall
I love the idea of having everything I need yet being attached or dependent on no one. Can we put this stuff on a class A?
Mema in Jax,FL
Denny Pratt
LMAO……That looks like too much work for me just to go camping, but too each his own ??? I’ve seen worse eyesores than this though. Rock on Brian and Happy Camping from Rockville, Indiana
bob
Brian
Impressive collection of hard ware. I would like to see you write an article on a set up that would serve a weekend boon docker.
Number of panels, inverter size, and battery storage needs.
Great blog!
Brian Brawdy
gmas –
Thank you for the reminder as to why I boondock in the first place.
– Brian Brawdy
gmas
Man you need a big gas hog truck to haul all that junk around. Afterward it looks like something out of starwars that was put togeather by mutants from space junk. While you may think it looks great… I call it a eyesore
No wonder you have to boondock.. they probably won’t allow it in normal campgrounds
mvsbrd
Hey,
Have you ever given thought to guiding. As a Minnesota newbie to 5th wheeling
I would love to be shown the ropes to successful boon docking in the desert.
Mike
Thw wife and I go to the Nascar races about 6 times a year and we dry camp for Long weekend. I hope I never have to bring that much stuff with us anytime we go to the races…LOL
Eldon
It looks great but I go camping to relax and it seems like it would be more than I wanted to keep track of. Maybe I am just getting old!