Campers 101

[Dave_L]

So what do you guys do for power charging? Do you have a generator you bring? Solar hook up? I feel like it'd be nice to have both but I think a generator would be smarter to get first. Multiple uses besides just camping and it's more reliable than solar. Im going to put a quick disconnect on the battery for storage time.

That leads to the next question of how much wattage do you need? Seems like 3-4k would be ideal, just to be sure and to be able to use it at the home in case of an outage.

[meatman]

I would do one large enough to run your AC. Ideally, get one of the inverter type generators because they're quieter than standard generators and are better for the electronics. They're also more expensive though.

[ruthabagah]

So what do you guys do for power charging? Do you have a generator you bring? Solar hook up? I feel like it'd be nice to have both but I think a generator would be smarter to get first. Multiple uses besides just camping and it's more reliable than solar. Im going to put a quick disconnect on the battery for storage time.

That leads to the next question of how much wattage do you need? Seems like 3-4k would be ideal, just to be sure and to be able to use it at the home in case of an outage.

it really comes down to what you need electricity for.

If you plan to camp at lower elevations, love your AC, and cannot cook without a microwave oven, then a generator is what you need. If you are fine with no AC, plan to BBQ your food and only need to recharge small electronics, then solar is the way to go.

I have used both options, for long and short trip, but rarely use the AC. A generator is great to produce a lot of power quickly, but it's noisy, heavy, can take a lot of space and good ones tend to be expensive. Solar panel are light and once they are on your roof, you just forget them. They will produce everyday, all day, and cost next to nothing in maintenance. They won't run your AC though. But they are fine to recharge the camper battery and run small appliances. The cost of solar has dropped a lot lately, and you can get a couple of good panel, with a charge controller, for less than half of what a honda generator will cost you.

My first solar install, cost me 200$. 2 panel from harbour freight, 15w, 1 amp each, controller and wire, roof bracket. 2 h to install. These little panel would recharge the battery on an average day, and allowed the kids to plug in their tablets.

one more thing: if you do not have LED lights in your camper, invest in some replacement LED light bulb. Best investment ever!

[Dave_L]

Yeah, I was going to order some LED bulbs for inside. I think the final count was around 20 bulbs. Haha! Yeah, AC doesnt seem like it'd be that big of a deal for the mountain trips. It may only become necessary for lake trips to Kansas/Nebraska. I figured having a generator at the house isn't a bad thing anyways. Power outages and who knows what. I figure if Im going to buy a generator, might as well get one that can do more than just charge an ipad.

Solar + a second battery will be my first step though. Sounds like that'll be enough for 99% of the trips.

Also, can you build an sound deadening box to put over a generator? Help muffle the sound or will that make the generator run too hot?

[ruthabagah]

Also, can you build an sound deadening box to put over a generator? Help muffle the sound or will that make the generator run too hot?

In my experience, it will run too hot, and I would be concerned about the CO accumulating inside the box. Generator exhaust are...tiny.

One thing you can do: a lot of tool rental places, will rent a small generator for the week end. Try it, see if you need it. I did rent one for a week end camping last summer, it was 60$ for the week end.

[brutal]

Yeah, I was going to order some LED bulbs for inside. I think the final count was around 20 bulbs. Haha! Yeah, AC doesnt seem like it'd be that big of a deal for the mountain trips. It may only become necessary for lake trips to Kansas/Nebraska. I figured having a generator at the house isn't a bad thing anyways. Power outages and who knows what. I figure if Im going to buy a generator, might as well get one that can do more than just charge an ipad.

Solar + a second battery will be my first step though. Sounds like that'll be enough for 99% of the trips.

Also, can you build an sound deadening box to put over a generator? Help muffle the sound or will that make the generator run too hot?

There are camp quiet models. Cost a bit more, but appreciated by all including any neighbors.

[jerrymrc]

Except for the trips to the NRA center I always dry camped with solar. Stove and fridge used a 30lb bottle in a week. Never ran out of power and I had a TV and sat dish. Bulbs were LED.

[sniper7]

I'm still figuring out my solar, but I do know generators.

buy an inverter generator. It will give you clean and stable power to plug sensitive electronics into.

2000W will run everything but the AC.

you need at least 2400W to run the AC and if you have anything else on at high altitude it may not start it. You will have to shut everything else off, then start the AC since it draws more to start, then power up other electronics.

3000W would be ideal as it will let you run everything, and start AC while running other things. A GEN in this size will weigh about 100 lbs so plan accordingly and expect to pay around $2k
2400W will run around $1400 or so.

honda or yamaha both have great reputations, very quiet, and will last forever. Will run around $1000ish for a 2000W version. They weigh about 50lbs fueled up and can be carried and moved around very easily.

now, I will throw a curveball and tell you that these can be run together with a like unit and a parallel cable to give you about 4000W. For that complete set up you will be about $2200 into it. But then if you were going to the mountains, you could run just one and save fuel and weight. And if you need AC then take both.

But for my final thought, I will tell you that after looking at all of this, I went to costco and bought a smarter tools 2000W inverter generator for $550. It has the exact same engine as the yamaha gen. Same capabilities with Eco mode, super quiet, can also be run in parallel which means you are only about $1300 into a dual unit setup. and since it is from costco you have a convenient place to backup that 5 year warranty.

[ruthabagah]

I'm still figuring out my solar, but I do know generators.

buy an inverter generator. It will give you clean and stable power to plug sensitive electronics into.

2000W will run everything but the AC.

you need at least 2400W to run the AC and if you have anything else on at high altitude it may not start it. You will have to shut everything else off, then start the AC since it draws more to start, then power up other electronics.

3000W would be ideal as it will let you run everything, and start AC while running other things. A GEN in this size will weigh about 100 lbs so plan accordingly and expect to pay around $2k
2400W will run around $1400 or so.

honda or yamaha both have great reputations, very quiet, and will last forever. Will run around $1000ish for a 2000W version. They weigh about 50lbs fueled up and can be carried and moved around very easily.

now, I will throw a curveball and tell you that these can be run together with a like unit and a parallel cable to give you about 4000W. For that complete set up you will be about $2200 into it. But then if you were going to the mountains, you could run just one and save fuel and weight. And if you need AC then take both.

But for my final thought, I will tell you that after looking at all of this, I went to costco and bought a smarter tools 2000W inverter generator for $550. It has the exact same engine as the yamaha gen. Same capabilities with Eco mode, super quiet, can also be run in parallel which means you are only about $1300 into a dual unit setup. and since it is from costco you have a convenient place to backup that 5 year warranty.

So well said this should be kept as the reference....Damn: this whole camper thread need to be kept as reference!

[ruthabagah]

Camping season is approaching!

Time to prep the camper for summer. I have some solar panels on their way from Amazon and will install them next weekend.

what do you do to your camper before the season starts?