new converter/charger and shunt

You ask some really good questions. Power needs during boondocking are going to differ from one camper to the next so I will give you our experiences. We have two 12V, group 24 deep cycles in parallel for 160amp hrs total, but only 80 amp hrs useable since they are flooded and only should be discharged 50%. We also have a 2000 watt inverter generator (Champion) and a GoPower 130watt portable solar kit.

We have managed a full 7 days boondocking on several occasions and in all instances, power was not our limiting factor. It was water and tank capacity. With just a generator, you will be able to power your RV until your fuel supply runs out and our Champion will easily run 8hrs on 1gal of fuel. We normally run the generator 1-2 hours a day in the summer and 2-4 hours a day in fall and winter when furnace/blower run more at night. We carry about 5 gallons on gas with us, so you can easily see that we could go weeks. Supplement with the 130 watt solar kit and power is the least of your worries. We normally plug our 179 directly into the generator. Our solar kit plus into a pig tail I have installed on the battery bank. We also have a Renogy 1000watt inverter wired in for times when we need 110 for other electrical needs.

Something you may want to consider is a battery cutoff switch. This will help isolate batteries from parasitic drain.

We have a Renogy 500 battery monitor with a regular shunt. It does the job keeping us informed of power usage. I mounted the small display on the wall along with the tank and battery monitor that came with the Rpod.

I can't speak to the use of golf cart batteries. I know some folks really like them but, like you, the added weight concerned me.

Best of luck

We don't have any of the following in our 177 (it was special ordered this way back in January 2011) no A/C, entertainment system or microwave/convection oven) as we usually camp where there is no electricity. 

Batteries we carry: a pair of 12v.  #1 is a Trojan T-1275 golf cart battery, weight is 85 lbs and gives 166 aH at the 100 hr. rate and 150 aH at the 20 hour rate. It is just over a year old.  Our other dependable battery is an Interstate group size 24 deep cycle which will turn 12 years old next April - been a real workhorse over the years and still holds a great charge.  We expect 6 days total out of both batteries when night temps are in the mid-low 40's and the furnace runs quite a bit (we like to keep it 58-60 when sleeping).  Battery is run to 50% S.O.C. or 12.2v and then changed out to the other fully charged one.  As we travel the low battery is charging off the tow vehicle's generator.  This has worked very well for us over the last 12 years of travel across the U.S.A.  No generator or solar utilized.  We travel light and simple.