Dry camping first timer

[wifeytojosh]

Not really a forest river specific question but I know there are a lot of experienced campers on this site.

My family and I are going dry camping for the first time ever this weekend to the California coast and there are no hookups. I have a brand new battery on our rig. I don't have a small portable quiet generator. We only have a traditional gasoline powered, very loud generator. I know generators can only be run during the day time hours so we will use this time to charge the battery. How badly will I make other campers annoyed with the loud generator? It's all we have and can't afford a quiet one right now. When you have gone dry camping, is it common for people to use a loud generator?

[fonzie]

If it's that loud and other campers are close then I would not use it unless they do the same...... You could always replenish you battery using your vehicle with jumper cables....

[wifeytojosh]

I won't know until we get there.

How long does that take to use our truck?

[wind and waves]

I always try to run the generator sometime in the middle of the day. People are usually out doing stuff. Nothing is worse then sitting around the campfire enjoying cocktails with somebodys generator blaring.

[wifeytojosh]

That's exactly what I don't want to do. Ruin someone's enjoyment. It would only be during the day but I don't want to piss anyone off. I don't even like the sound. Here is what the rules say. I am just not sure how often people have the noisy ones vs the quiet ones running.

[fonzie]

Originally Posted by wifeytojosh

I won't know until we get there.

How long does that take to use our truck?

Can't tell you that as it all depends how depleted your battery is and your vehicle charging capacity is: but I would say at least 1/2 hour but it will not be fully charged

You can always call them and ask:

Public Information Inquiries
TEL 800-777-0369
916-653-6995

[youroo]

Originally Posted by fonzie

If it's that loud and other campers are close then I would not use it unless they do the same...... You could always replenish you battery using your vehicle with jumper cables....

I don't agree with (Monkey See Monkey Do) Don't run a (Loud Gen)! They are Just as (Annoying in the Daytime as Night)! Youroo!!

[Brother Les]

Do you have any material (ply wood) to make a quick deadening box to deflect the noise out away from yours and other campsites?

[bob caldwell]

Just pay back.... Might rent one for week-end.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by wifeytojosh

That's exactly what I don't want to do. Ruin someone's enjoyment. It would only be during the day but I don't want to piss anyone off. I don't even like the sound. Here is what the rules say. I am just not sure how often people have the noisy ones vs the quiet ones running. Attachment 83774

having camped in California State Parks for over 30 years, i can tell you that loud generators like yours, are rarely used because neighbors will go to the ranger to complain.
that's why inverter generators are the vast majority of generators used in public campgrounds.

i'll bet money that someone will complain about it, especially for type of generator you have. but it's a judgement call by the ranger.

[wifeytojosh]

I really really would like to use a quiet one but can't afford one right now. I don't know what else to do. Technically their web site just says "generator" use during the day. It doesn't specify what kind. Maybe the ranger can loan us one. Lol....Could I buy a battery charger of some sort and charge it with that? I also have this that I can plug into a cigarette lighter in my truck.

[wifeytojosh]

Brother, I posted on another web site and someone had that same suggestion about ply wood. Does it really work? I can definitely find some.

[wifeytojosh]

Question....would this tiny generator work to charge our battery?

http://m.harborfreight.com/900-peak8...not%20provided

[SpringerPop]

Those little Harbor Freight two-cycle generators are SCREAMERS! It's a little like running around the campground with a chain saw.

If you'd like a little taste of how it sounds, I believe there is a YouTube video of somebody testing one.

It IS possible to build a plywood box to quiet down a loud generator, but it's really involved, and involves sound-board, baffles, large box fans, external mufflers, and temperature-monitoring equipment.

I've done it for our Coleman 5000-watt open-frame gen-set, and it does the job well, but it takes time to assemble and take down every time you move. The pieces also take up storage room when not in use. I have been told that my gen-set is as quiet as a Honda 1000, but that might be stretching it just a bit.

However, the up-side is that we can run A/C, microwave, and re-charge the batteries, all at the same time.

We last used it at a Bluegrass festival, where evening campground noise is discouraged, except, of course, for the musical "jammers".

Usually I leave it all at home, and dry-camp.

Here's a shot of it, but not shown are additional baffles that prevent noise from getting through the fan.

Pop

[Ryno22980]

I recently bought a Refurbished Champion 73538i from Super Gen Products for $399.00. This still might be more than you can spend, but I believe this is the best value in a quiet inverter type genset around. I only really need a generator for 1 or 2 different 4 night stays a year when I dry camp during bowhunting season. Couldn't justify the cost of a Yahmaha or Honda for that.

Even though my Champion is darn quiet, I built a sound deadening box for it anyway. SpringerPop is right though, it's involved. It took me months to finish it. Mine involved automotive radiator fans, an industrial DC power supply, plywood, flashing tape, additional small engine muffler, locking latches, wheels (cause it weighs 120lbs!), etc..

It was worth it though, some of our tree stands are within 50 yards of where our TT is parked and I didn't want every animal within 7 miles to hear our generator running.

[Ryno22980]

Refurbished 1600/2000w Inverter -73538 - Product Details

It looks like they are out of stock right now though.

[bikendan]

That HF 800 is 82 db!
It's probably louder than the one you already have.
You need to pay attention to the decibel rating.

[Dave Lyon]

Originally Posted by bikendan

That HF 800 is 82 db!
It's probably louder than the one you already have.
You need to pay attention to the decibel rating.

Yep...you'd hear that unit at an airport!

[bikendan]

here's a Champion 2000w refurb unit for $399. but they're currently out of stock.

wifeytojosh, if you can't afford a quiet inverter generator, which can cost under $500, then you will have to chance it with your current one.
try running it in the afternoon when most are gone.
but expect that someone may complain.

i don't see throwing away money on another similar open-frame generator if you already have one.
better to save it until you can get a good one.

if you expect to do more camping at California's state parks, having a quiet generator will be a very necessary item, since less than 1% of their campgrounds have any electric hookups.

[aceinspp]

You might check one of your rental places to see if you could rent a Honda. Later RJD