Off Grid Caravan Buying Guide Australia: What You Need to Know Before You Travel
Off-grid capability is one of the main reasons people look at off road caravans.
But in my experience, it’s also one of the most striking areas of where difference of opinion often lies. Now I’m not an electrician, specialist 12v expert, nor profess that I know everything about fluid dynamics and plumbing - but I would consider myself reasonably knowledgeable and, in the game, long enough to see, hear and validate certain myths and facts on how a good system should operate.
A lot of buyers focus on headline numbers — battery size, solar wattage and water capacity — without fully understanding how those systems actually perform in real-world conditions.
If you’re planning to travel remotely across Australia, it’s worth taking the time to understand what really matters. Its how much Battery do I have? How much water do I have? How much fuel do I have? and How many Beers have I got? Maybe not neccasarily in that order for some!
But in all seriousness, If you have other questions that I mightn’t have answered for you in in the article below, perhaps check out our FAQ’s page, where we translate a lot of the common questions surrounding off road caravans and our builds
What Does “Off Grid” Actually Mean?
Off-grid isn’t just about having solar panels or a large battery.
It’s about how long you can comfortably operate without relying on:
powered sites
external water sources
backup systems
In practical terms, it comes down to:
how your power system is designed
how efficiently it operates
how well it integrates with everything else in the caravan
The Core Systems That Matter
When you break it down, off-grid capability comes from key systems working together.
1.Electrical System and Power Management
This is where I see a lot of people get caught up.
Most buyers focus on headline numbers:
how many watts of solar are on the roof
how big the battery system is
how fast the system can charge
On paper, bigger always sounds better.
But in reality, those numbers don’t tell the full story.
It’s Not Just About Size — It’s About System Quality
From a manufacturer’s perspective, what matters more is:
the quality of the components
how the system is designed
how efficiently everything works together
For example:
higher quality wiring reduces voltage drop and resistance
better system design improves overall efficiency
properly integrated components perform more reliably over time
You can have a large system on paper that underperforms in real-world conditions.
The Reality of Battery Capacity
Battery capacity is a good example.
You’ll often see systems advertised as:
600Ah
800Ah
900Ah
Ive even seen recently a van advertised with 1200Ah - i mean seriously, talk about overcompensating! imagine the weight of that system even if its lithium - your talking about 125-150kg of battery capacity there - and is it even a useable 1200Ah??
Actual usable capacity can vary and vary greatly. In some cases, particularly with lower-quality battery systems, the real-world output can be significantly less than the nominal rating by up to and over 20%! That is a lot!
That’s why it’s important to look beyond the number and understand:
the quality of the battery the manufacturer selects
how it performs under load (IE max draw out of the battery when the inverter is operating - 200Ah continuous should be the minimum standard)
how it integrates with the rest of the system
Elross fit and recommend Mictronix batteries in all of our builds. MPS is an Australian Lithium battery manufacturer based in Sydney, and their systems are Australian made, quality tested and encased in a nice rugged and sturdy Aluminum casing. No plastic/PVC cased boxes for your batteries in an Elross off road caravan.
Solar Setup and Efficiency
Solar is one of the most talked about parts of any off-grid system, but it’s also one of the areas where a lot of setups fall short.
Most people focus on total wattage — how many panels are on the roof — but the way the system is designed has just as much impact as the numbers themselves. To be frank, i could make an entire Blog post about Solar alone, which i might do down the track, but for the purpose of this post and to not put everyone entirely to sleep, il keep it as brief, but to the point as possible.
Panel Type: Glass vs ETFE
One of the first considerations is the type of panel being used.
Glass panels are generally more rigid and durable over time, and tend to perform consistently in a wide range of conditions.
ETFE panels are lighter and more flexible, which can be useful in certain applications, but can have different longevity and performance characteristics depending on how they are used. These are newer technology and propose enormous benefits to caravans and marine in particular.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer — it comes down to how the system is being designed and what the priorities are. At Elross, we utilize ETFE flexible panels for their size, weight and the blended performance characteristics they provide
Series vs Parallel Configuration
How the panels are wired is just as important as how many there are.
Solar arrays can be wired in:
Series – higher voltage, lower current
Parallel – lower voltage, higher current
Each has its place.
A properly designed system will consider:
shading conditions
cable runs
system voltage
charging efficiency
Poor configuration can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the entire solar setup.
Expanding Systems and Panel Matching
Another common issue is expanding systems over time.
Adding extra panels sounds simple, but if they:
differ in size
differ in voltage characteristics
or are not matched correctly
it can create inefficiencies in the system.
In some cases, the entire array will only perform as well as the weakest panel.
That’s why system planning from the start is important, especially if expansion is likely.
Wiring, Protection and Efficiency
There are also smaller details that make a big difference overall.
Things like:
correct cable sizing
minimising voltage drop
proper use of inline fuses and circuit protection
clean system layout
All contribute to how efficiently the system performs.
These are not always visible to the end user, but they play a big role in long-term reliability.
The Takeaway
A well-designed solar system is not just about how much power it can generate — it’s about how efficiently and reliably it delivers that power over time.
That comes down to design, and not just components.
How We Approach It at Elross
At Elross, we’ve refined our off-grid setups to deliver reliable, usable systems rather than just chasing numbers.
For our ECX models, a typical setup includes:
314Ah lithium battery system
800W of solar ETFE panel array
50amp anderson on the front A-frame for charging house batteries from car
50amp anderson on the side of caravan to allow additional solar panel feed in.
For our ECXR models, the Off-grid package Plus includes:
630Ah lithium battery system
1200W of solar ETFE panel array
Red Arc TVMS1280 and additional screen (touch screen app control)
50amp anderson on the front A-frame for charging house batteries from car
50amp anderson on the side of caravan to allow additional solar panel feed in.
BOTH - systems are Backed by Red Arc’s RS3 3000w auto change over inverter systems and the whole system is built in house by Elross trades in a neat set up that is configured for serviceability
In most real-world scenarios, these systems are more than sufficient for extended off-grid travel, but what we routinely see is many of our clients upgrading from the Base ECX package and option the ECXR package to their ECX, or in the case of ECXR owners, if space permits, it not uncommon to see clients add another 200-600w of additional solar to the array if there is enough roof space. This does bring addtional challanges such as uprating cable sizing etc as mentioned before- so it must be something that is Designed into your build at an early stage once we go over the 1.2KW mark of solar.
For customers who want that additional flexibility, we can also incorporate these additional requests by booking a VIP discovery meeting.
The key is designing the system around how the caravan will actually be used.
Don’t Forget Appliance Efficiency
One area that often gets overlooked is appliance selection.
There’s no point investing in a well-designed off-grid system if the caravan is fitted with:
power-hungry appliances
inefficient systems
Careful selection of:
fridges
lighting
the intended electrical components to used
plays a big role in how well the system performs overall also.
PRO TIP :If you leave your inverter on and your not using a 240v powered appliance, leave it off! It will just be consuming idle power for no reason!
2. Water Capacity and Management
Water is just as important as power when it comes to off-grid travel.
In many cases, it becomes the limiting factor.
Why Water Systems Matter
When travelling remotely, you need a setup that is:
practical
easy to manage
reliable over time
Carrying more water is one option, but it’s not always the most efficient approach.
Smarter Water Management
At Elross, we focus on balancing capacity with usability.
Rather than overcomplicating systems with:
excessive tank numbers
multiple pumps
complex plumbing layouts
we look at smarter solutions.
One example is the use of advanced UV filtration systems, which allow:
greater flexibility in water sourcing
reduced reliance on carrying excessive volumes
simpler overall system design
Typical Tank Configurations
Depending on the build, we typically work with:
two or three tank setups
configurations such as:
2 x 120L
2 x 160L
or a combination (e.g. 2 x 160L + 120L if your van is 20ft >)
This provides:
sufficient capacity for extended travel
flexibility depending on customer requirements
a balanced approach without unnecessary complexity
The Goal
The goal is not just to carry as much water as possible.
It’s to create a system that is:
practical to use
efficient to manage
suited to real-world travel
3.Common Mistakes Buyers Make
This is where I see a lot of people get caught out.
Chasing Numbers Instead of Usability
Big battery numbers and large solar arrays look good on paper.
But if the system is difficult to use or poorly integrated, it doesn’t deliver real value you seek. This is where the trade off of capacity/size and then weight in engineering come in to play (critical factors for manufactures) Theres no point in adding that extra 50kg of batteries if you won’t use up the available capacity and can then struggle to feed that addtional power back in..
Do you actually need 500L of water storage on your van? There’s the physical extra weight of the tanks and engineering to make that possible in the first place that adds to the base tare weight of the Van, never mention the half a ton your then lugging around when filled up. Its not exactly striking that happy medium - and this is where a balanced approach is the sensible path for conscious manufacturers.
If you would like to see what we offer, check out our ECX models and ECXR models . Both strike a balanced approach to both scenarios, and of course, as a flexible manufacturer if you want that extra bit more, or want to have a say in your next van build, you can always book a factory tour and VIP discovery meeting to sit down with our team and get your very own off grid caravan tailored to your needs.
Not Considering How You Actually Travel
Your setup should match your travel style.
Think about:
how long you stay in one place
how often you move
how much power you realistically use
What I Tell Customers
When people ask about off-grid setups, I usually bring it back to this:
You’re not just buying capacity — you’re buying usability and reliability.
A good system should:
work without constant adjustment
be easy to understand - This is critical.
support how you actually travel
Final Thoughts
Off-grid capability is one of the biggest advantages of a well-built caravan.
But it only works if the system is designed properly.
If you’re comparing options, don’t just look at:
battery size
solar wattage
Look at:
how the system is built
how it operates
and how well it suits your travel style
That’s where the real difference is.
If you’re planning an off-grid setup and want to understand what will work for your type of travel, feel free to reach out or come through the factory for a free tour.
It’s the easiest way to see how these systems are put together and how they perform in real use and speak to our team about your own ECX, ECXR, Hybrid or Toyhualer build.
