A couple years ago, soon after we’d started building out the van, we went for an extended camping trip in southern Florida. While we were at a WMA campsite near Lake Okeechobee, spending a few lazy days not going anywhere, we’d often drink our morning coffee in bed and listen to NPR on the van radio.

Four days later, we had to make a run to get supplies and ice. Click…click…click… The van wouldn’t start. The radio still played, but there wasn’t enough juice left in the battery to turn the engine. Who knew public radio was such a drain on our energy reserves. Luckily, we had jumper cables and a friendly neighbor who pulled his vehicle up and gave us a charge. It took a minute, but eventually we got started… and that was that.

We’ve driven to several more remote areas since then to camp and hike, and we’ve tried to be more careful with the van battery. But we got to thinking that we needed a better plan-of-action just in case. About six months ago, we decided that we needed a portable jump starter to replace the cables. The prices are fairly reasonable, between $80 and $200 depending on the starting amps, extra features, and whatnot. Some even have a built-in air compressor for low tires. Then for my birthday, I was gifted one (thanks, mom) and it went into the back of the van, hopefully never to be used.

Five months later, we’re hiking along the St Marys River at the Florida/Georgia border. We ended up spending one night in the van at a remote clearing/hunt-campsite several miles down a sandy road. The nearest town with a gas station was 15 miles away. Somehow, I’d left the keys in the ignition turned to aux. Nothing was on, but it still drained the battery. Next morning…. nothing.

I pulled the new jump starter out of the back, connected it up, and… vroom! We were all smiles and giggles that it worked so well and we could get on with our adventuring.

We highly recommend them for any van-lifer who ever plans to be off the grid.

~ Rusty