--- title: The Freedom of being off-grid description: Experience the freedom of off-grid campervanning with the CamperKing VW T7 Freedom, designed for self-sufficiency and adventure without electric hook-ups. image: https://blog.camperking.co.uk/hubfs/CamperKing%20VW%20T7%20Freedom%20pitched%20up%20v2.jpg --- [![CamperKing logo](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/hubfs/camperking-badge-white-rgb-1.svg "CamperKing logo")](https://camperking.co.uk) Open main menu Close main menu [Touring](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/tag/touring) [T7 Freedom](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/tag/t7-freedom) # The Freedom of being off-grid ![Simon McGrath](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Simon%20M.png?width=45&height=45&name=Simon%20M.png) [Simon McGrath](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/author/simon-mcgrath) Published 29 July 2026 [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/camperkingsales) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaDK1uDYUIXhn1AgvKIWneQ) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/camper_king) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/camper-king-ltd) ![Grey CamperKing T7 Freedom with off-road wheels parked sideways in an open field, showing dry grass and a clear blue sky on a summers day](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/hubfs/CamperKing%20VW%20T7%20Freedom%20pitched%20up%20v2.jpg) ## Got a strong connection to an electric hook-up? That’s always been Simon McGrath’s approach to campervanning until he unplugged both himself and the campervan from the national grid...   I’ve been campervanning for some years now. All weathers, all year round, all kinds of locations – always quite different for one reason or another. Different that is except one thing. I’ve pretty much always used a hook-up. Getting the cable plugged in when on site and watching the van kick into life has been part and parcel of my campervanning journey despite having a leisure battery on board, not to mention a gas cylinder too. So it was with a high degree of interest and expectation that I took out a CamperKing VW T7 Freedom to two campsites without the added cost of a hook-up. Off-grid campervanning without sight of an electric bollard – that’s where the Freedom comes into its own. It was engineered to self-generate pretty much all the power you need while out touring whether that’s through driving the vehicle or energy captured through its 120W solar panel as standard (an upgrade to 240W is also available). The power is stored in a 300Ah lithium battery though that can be ramped up to 1,000Ah. On top of that is a Renogy smart monitoring system that gives easy control over your energy usage. For me, that meant avoiding the temptation to hook-up and trusting in the onboard tech. ![The sun sets during one of Simon's two weekend trips in the Freedom](https://20025739.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/20025739/hubfs/tempImageUfduS8.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=tempImageUfduS8.jpg) Off-grid and watching the setting sun outside a T7 Freedom ![Savouring the end of the day with a barbecue](https://20025739.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/20025739/hubfs/tempImagenTokZg.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=tempImagenTokZg.jpg) Enjoying the end of the day with a barbecue ![The T7 Freedom's interior with touchscreen control panel and induction hob](https://20025739.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/20025739/hubfs/tempImage6bTPTA.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=tempImage6bTPTA.jpg) The T7 Freedom's interior features an easy-to-use touchscreen control panel and induction hob ### **Would it work?** Put simply, yes. On those rare occasions in the past when I have relied on a leisure battery, the frustration comes when you realise the microwave oven won’t cook your porridge for breakfast. Or that your phone will remain lifeless because its own battery has died and the standard three-pin socket doesn’t work to recharge it. Actually, that last point isn’t exactly a bad thing! My wife Paula and I were pitched up in the same T7 Freedom on two consecutive weekends without using a hook-up cable and both times we were impressed. We switched on the inverter at the push of a touchscreen button and the habitation systems sprang into life. Battery getting low on the phone? No problem. Need another bowl of porridge? Er, one’s enough thanks but you get the idea. True, it’s been the summer of sunshine but I suspect the Freedom would have performed admirably despite the two solar panels on the roof. But don’t take my word for it. ### Touring and testing on the North Coast 500 ![The North Coast 500 campervans lined up, ready to go with scenic backdrop](https://20025739.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/20025739/hubfs/NC500%20line%20up-2.jpeg?width=1200&length=1200&name=NC500%20line%20up-2.jpeg) CamperKing's T7 vans on the scenic North Coast 500 route in Scotland Our team of road testers put seven T7 Freedoms through their paces earlier this year by tackling the North Coast 500 in Scotland as part of CamperKing’s own off-grid endurance test challenge – called the Freedom 500. CamperKing and Renogy took on the iconic tour to test the effectiveness of the advanced power system while touring long distances, in this case, 500 miles in five days. In effect, being totally self-sufficient by operating throughout the expedition off-grid. The vans feature advanced battery storage, inverter technology and solar charging. Yes, the option of a hook-up is still there but being self-sufficient in this way means having more choices about being able to camp off-grid, which in turn can help reduce costs because you’re not paying for an electric hook-up. The NC500 trip was undertaken by signing up to the official route pledge, and the team ensured throughout that technical data was closely monitored with a focus on battery performance, energy consumption, and overall system efficiency in changing weather conditions. The results demonstrated a highest recorded overnight battery retention level of 93%, and an average daily battery usage of 39%. The lowest recorded battery charge was 21% while the total number of days completed without an external hook-up stood at ten. You can read the Freedom 500 blog [here](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/iconic-route-expedition-highlights-off-grid-capabilities). #### **A liberating experience** Back at my own off-grid weekends away and, after many years of having the routine of hooking-up a campervan, it felt a little odd. But more importantly, it also felt quite liberating – I now completely get why this T7 model is called the Freedom. ![A T7 Freedom campervan pitched on a campsite, off-grid in a meadow](https://20025739.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/20025739/hubfs/tempImageozcZpU.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=tempImageozcZpU.jpg) Simon pitched up in a T7 Freedom campervan on a campsite meadow - and off-grid without a hook-up ![Simon McGrath](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Simon%20M.png?width=150&name=Simon%20M.png) #### Simon McGrath Simon has worked in the campsite and leisure vehicle sector for nearly 20 years and was the former Editor-in-Chief of Camping & Caravanning magazine. He is also the author of Camping with Kids, published by the AA. ## Related Articles [![Driving the scenic NC500 route in Scotland in a VW T7](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/hubfs/Stuart%20smiling%20behind%20wheel.png)](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/touring-in-a-t7-the-smile-says-it-all) [Activities](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/tag/activities) [Adventure](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/tag/adventure) [Freedom on the Road](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/tag/freedom-on-the-road) ### [Touring in a T7: The smile says it all](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/touring-in-a-t7-the-smile-says-it-all) ## Heading out on the UK’s roads in a VW campervan is a real joy that creates lasting memories Looking out at a stunning sunset or an incredible mountain view is one thing... ![Stuart Kidman](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Stuart%20Kidman%20blog%20author%20pic.jpg?width=45&name=Stuart%20Kidman%20blog%20author%20pic.jpg) [Stuart Kidman](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/author/stuart-kidman) [Read more](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/touring-in-a-t7-the-smile-says-it-all) [![CamperKing Logo as a badge](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/hubfs/T7%20shoot%20w_%20Paul-19.jpg)](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/5-reasons-the-camperking-t7-freedom-is-the-van-of-the-future) [buyers guide](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/tag/buyers-guide) [T7](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/tag/t7) ### [5 reasons the CamperKing T7 Freedom is the van of the future.](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/5-reasons-the-camperking-t7-freedom-is-the-van-of-the-future) ## Why our VW T7 sets the standard in VW camper conversions. The launch of the Volkswagen T7 platform marked a turning point for the world of campervans. Sleeker, smarter,... ![CamperKing Team](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/hubfs/camperking-badge-vintage-red-rgb-1.svg) [CamperKing Team](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/author/camperking-team) [Read more](https://blog.camperking.co.uk/5-reasons-the-camperking-t7-freedom-is-the-van-of-the-future) #### About - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### Services - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### News - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three Follow us on Facebook Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=653647758774155&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Simon McGrath", "url" : "https://blog.camperking.co.uk/author/simon-mcgrath" }, "dateModified" : "2026-08-19T15:34:39.353Z", "datePublished" : "2026-07-29T07:37:35.000Z", "headline" : "The Freedom of being off-grid", "image" : [ "https://blog.camperking.co.uk/hubfs/CamperKing%20VW%20T7%20Freedom%20pitched%20up%20v2.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.camperking.co.uk/the-freedom-of-being-off-grid", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.camperking.co.uk/hubfs/camperking-badge-white-rgb-1.svg" }, "name" : "CamperKing Ltd" } } ```