Generator Use

[RumRunner]

I will be buying a pop-up this spring and wondering about power.  Does anyone use a generator for power?  Is this something that is worth the money?  I know they make some quiet ones now, and many of my friends with pull-trailers and fifth-wheels use them.  Just curious if I should look into this option.  Thanks

RumRunner
Cedar Rapids

[tlhdoc]

Some people do use generators.  It would depend where you were planning to camp and how much power you planned to use.  Most options run off of 12 volt power so all you would need is a battery.  

[gekko65]

RumRunner,

The first question is; Do you have or want to use A/C during your camping trips to areas without power. Second question is how many times have your current usage pattern run the battery below 50%?

This is a starting point, Small generators run between $300 and $700 and will more than power 99% of your needs other than your A/C.... :p

[RumRunner]

Yes I do plan to have A/C, and camp in some areas that do not have power hook-ups.  I wasn't sure how that worked with the battery.  Will an A/C unit run with the battery?  From your post I would guess I probably need a small generator for those remote camp outs.  Thanks

RumRunner

RumRunner,

The first question is; Do you have or want to use A/C during your camping trips to areas without power. Second question is how many times have your current usage pattern run the battery below 50%?

This is a starting point, Small generators run between $300 and $700 and will more than power 99% of your needs other than your A/C.... :p

[MtnCamper]

If you want to run your A/C, depending on the model, you may need upwards of 2800 watts. This is just to start the compressor. Once running it settles down to a lesser power draw. You could look at the Yamaha 2000, it (IIRC) has a short boost on it, and may run the A/C. Otherwise you are stuck with a 3000 watt Honda (heavy ~135 lbs.) or a double 2000 watts Honda (or Yamaha) system. Now you are ~$2K. So it depends on what you want to do, and how deep your pockets are.

We seldom need A/C, so we don't have it on the camper, the 1K watt Honda, does fine for us, it recharges, powers everything that we need, and is quiet. I have even used it all night to run an electric blanket.

Disclaimer: Running all night in the area you camp, may not be acceptable practice, follow at your own risk.

[copcarguy]

Hey all!
 
Yes, you will need a generator to run A/C without hookups... However, almost everything else in your camper will run off the deep cycle battery. To be honest, I am more concerned with keeping the battery charged (especially since we camp in the winter) than having A/C.
 
We own two generators... We have a little Coleman 1350 to top off the batteries on extended, extended trips... This is basically a 4HP Briggs & Stratton lawn mower engine with an electrical outlet on the bottom. I only use this as a last resort, because who wants to hear a lawn mower engine while camping?? I got it brand new in the box on eBay for just $159.
 
My frequent way of topping off the batteries while dry camping (especially in very cold weather - in the teens or 20's) is that I made a 7way extension plug. It's about 6 feet long and simply connects the TV to the camper. I then run the TV for about 30 minutes and the batteries are charged up for the night of heavy furnace use. The furnace will be your MAJOR battery power sucker. It can literally drain down the entire battery in one night.
 
Our "big" generator is a Yamaha YG2800i. It's 2800 watts. This runs the A/C on our TT just fine, and has a little extra ooomph for other small items. It is very quiet. I have has normal conversations about 20 feet away from it and could barely hear it and did not have to raise my voice. I got this one new on eBay also, but it was like $1200. I did a LOT of research (over a year of looking, asking people I met while camping, etc.) before buying this one, and it does everything an RV'er needs. I would HIGHLY recommend this generator above all others for RV use - save yourself the time and take it from me that this generator is the one to buy for RV. Click here for more info:
http://www.yamahagenerators.com/yg2800i.htm?cart=110499636910701357
 
You will also need this adapter cable to run the A/C:
http://www.yamahagenerators.com/rvadaptor.htm?cart=110499636910701357
 
As a sort of "PS" - you need to check the rules where you are camping as to the times generators are allowed. Even with the quietest generator, you are still running an engine around people that are camping for peace and quiet and fresh air - not engine fumes and noise. Nothing can make you the "bad guy" faster than running a generator. My favorite campground allows generators from 8 to 11am (to make breakfast) and from 5 to 7pm (to make dinner).
 
I hope this helped... In reality, 90% of the time we camp I don't bring a generator at all. Really sit down and figure out if it's worth the investment.