What to do, no generator allowed!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by harderd

I would find another campground. Doesn't sound like a place I want to go to.

X2.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Flybob

You can purchase a 140W panel and a controller for about $500. For this trip you can just prop it up on a PVC stand facing the sun and wire it directly to the batteries. As you have time you can make it a more permanent installation.

Cheaper to just buy 2 more batteries.

[KyDan]

Use candles, lanterns and LED flashlights. Avoid any inside 12v lighting.
Only use the batteries to power the control boards on the fridge and
water heater. IF you have to use water from your tank of course you'll
use battery for that. Make sure batteries are fully charged when you
leave home!

IMO plugging the trailer into the bumper socket on your truck won't charge
much due to the long distance from engine to trailer battery.
Jumper cables from truck to trailer batterys as mentioned will work somewhat.

If I were camping in a "quiet" no generator campground and someone was
running their truck engine to charge batteries as a way to get around the
quiet rules I would be upset.... I'm just sayin..... they have the quiet rule
for a reason.

I still think if you're super careful you can do it on two decent 12v batteries.
Please come back after your trip and tell us how it worked out!!

[youroo]

Originally Posted by Rodney Butalla

Yea i agree, but there is a whole group of Friends going, like 10 of us, plus some guests. So i have to go! But NEVER again. I don't know what the big deal about running a 200 watt Yamaha, that is super quiet around noon is!

Buy a (Ford or Dodge) Diesel Truck and charge your RV Batt. That should Really bring some Response from the (Quite Police)! Youroo!!

[Rodney Butalla]

Originally Posted by youroo

Buy a (Ford or Dodge) Diesel Truck and charge your RV Batt. That should Really bring some Response from the (Quite Police)! Youroo!!

I like the way u think! I could borrow my sons Dodge Ram with the Cummings diesel, i can hear him coming from a mile away! LOL

[bob caldwell]

Originally Posted by Rodney Butalla

Thanks that is one option i was considering, But to make it simpler, i was thinking of using the TT power cord and plug into the inverter just like i would plug in the wall socket at home. Then also plug in the trailer plug to the back of the truck and charge both ways. Dont know if i would gain anything that way. This is the inverter i was looking at.Robot Check

Need to convert watts into amps to find out how much output you'd have...at 2 amps, it'll take awhile....at 10, alot shorter......I've got a 6/2 amp charger that works off cigar lighter socket or house current. Truck output is more like a trickle charger....even at fast idle.

[waiter21]

I am looking at one of these. 100watts, less than $200.

Robot Check


You might also look at the other end of the power equation, While your trying to figure out how to come up with more supply, you could also look at reducing demand.

your energy needs. i.e. I changed out all my lights and installed LEDs. This significantly reduces our energy needs.

http://www.2001mirada.com/upgrading-...ights-to-leds/

Also turn off "phantom Loads" things that draw power, even when they are turned off (TVs, Radios)

[psgrandpa1]

Is this a dry camp site only

Best advice.... Find new park

None of your options sound real safe and they may not be allowed

Be safe

[ScottBrownstein]

Jumper cables to the truck and run it. At a reasonable RPM, the alternator should put out at least 50 to 75 amps...faster than a charger. Funny do they tell you that you can't idle a vehicle?

[wwalker2984]

I don't like generators my wife and I both have sleep apnea and we can dry camp and endless with our solar panels as long as their sun on the panels


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[burse]

Your wife thinks like mine, smarter than me. Maybe 4 extra 6 volt batteries would help.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by youroo

Buy a (Ford or Dodge) Diesel Truck and charge your RV Batt. That should Really bring some Response from the (Quite Police)! Youroo!!

Last time i listened the 2015 GMC Duramax next too me it was noisier...

[youroo]

Originally Posted by B and B

Last time i listened the 2015 GMC Duramax next too me it was noisier...

True but your Ford was NOT running! Youroo!!

[aceinspp]

I'd find another camp ground. Rules where made for a reason tying to sharp shoot the system will tend to up set the folks that abide by the rules. Later RJD

[pkenley]

Didn't think I was going to see a suggestion like my solution until "burse" got close. This worked extremely well for us. (However if wife is having $$ issues with your "more stuff" this may not work for you.)

I replaced the two 12 volts with two 6 volts in series and then put 2 more 6 volts in the plastic box in the back of my truck and wired them with a switch and plugs so I can either run them in parallel or choose to run on either bank. Give me a lot of amps.

I have always run off one bank at a time therefore I switch to fresh bank and top off the bank I used the previous day with my generator.

I think I'm going to try plugging my battery charger into the built in inverter in my truck to recharge a bank next time I dry camping.

[DreiHunde]

Heck. I'm liking the sound (or lack of) this place!

[hankpac]

Solar panels are cheap, and hidden out of site on the roof. I have two that are at least ten years old and have gone through three RVs. This far too simple a solution to struggle with it.
If you actually have too much stuff, get rid of some of that stuff and put up solar panels. I almost NEVER run a gen set anymore.

[camaraderie]

If you presently have the standard pair of group24 batteries you have 75 amp hours to work with before you need to recharge...you might push it to 100 in a pinch. 100 amp hours @ 12 volts gives you 1200 watt hours... spread over 7 days or 170 watt hours a day to power everything.
Example...if you have a pair of 25watt conventional light bulbs on for an hour...that is 50 of your watt hours used.
Obviously, people have been tent camping with propane stoves an flashlights etc. ...so you CAN exist on your existing batteries for a week...but it is gonna be really rustic!
NONE of the suggestions for charging your batteries make a lot of sense to me. Putting 100 amp hours back into your batteries can be done at 40 amps max and will take at least 4 hours to do so. Doing it with a 20 amp charger will take 6-8 hours. More with a smaller charger. So you won't be doing much if you try to charge your batteries at a remote place.
Solar panels BTW will AVERAGE about 1/4 of their watt rating in daily amp hours provided. So a 100 W panel in a sunny mid latitude climate will give you roughly 25 amp hours daily. Not much.
If your home or a friends is reasonably close...I'd buy an extra set of batts and keep them on the charger...then make a run home and swap em out as you need to.

Otherwise the choices are:
1. Camp like trappist monks and pretend the RV is a tent in the wilderness.
2. Don't go.

Good luck...what a stupid rule that is during the daytime. Hope it works out for you.

[Cypressloser]

Lots of good suggestions, solar would be a longs term solution but not something you want to get into on the spot - we love ours
IMHO, the best approach would be to buy 1 (better 2) true deep cycle batteries and make sure all your batteries are completely charged before you leave and bee very conservative with your power usage, incl. fridge - also don't use old and new or different type/size batteries simultaneously.

Maybe ask the campground host if they let you charge batteries at their office or shop - you never know.

And start planing for a solar setup down the road.

[F and E Damp]

It must be a spectacular park for users to put up with that kind of harassment. For me, no power pedestal, I don't go there!