Cloudy days are part of van life, and they’re hard on my power. Here’s what I actually do when the sun won’t charge my Travato and I’m parked up high.
1. Cloudy day = not enough solar
When it’s cloudy, my solar just isn’t cutting it. That’s the first sign I need a Plan B to charge my batteries.
2. Why I don’t just run the onboard Onan
My Travato has an onboard Onan generator, but it doesn’t run well at high elevation. So when I’m up high, the Onan isn’t my answer.
3. Plan B: my backup Honda generator
So out comes my backup Honda. I pull it out of storage, carry it out, set it down, plug in the cord, start it up, and let it charge.
4. Heads up: it’s not light
The Honda is heavy. Every time I haul it out, I get an impromptu weightlifting session. Van life keeps me fit, even when I’m just trying to charge batteries.
5. What I do now (fall update)
These days my portable solar panels are out of commission, so on cloudy or rainy days I run the generator outside and charge my EcoFlow inside my van.
My quick cloudy-day power checklist
- Check my solar: is it keeping up today?
- Up high? Skip the onboard Onan.
- Haul out the Honda, plug in, start it up.
- Let it charge.
When the weather turns colder, power is only part of the plan. Here’s my cold weather plan and how I keep my Travato pipes from freezing at night.
Anyone else deadlifting their generator? How do you charge your van on cloudy days? Tell me in the comments.