Dual Batteries vs Generator

[Batts-toy]

Originally Posted by MotocrossCamper

Yes, that's what I've been doing here for the last 3 years. I guess I have a lot of trolling thank you's in my inbox.

Maybe I was a little harsh but I've camped at parks in 48 states before my son started racing. I have seen people ask to leave during their vacations, not because they were breaking the rules, but because enough people complained. I think it's unfair to judge and ridicule somebody just because they don't have your preferred setup. If the campground allows generators, the guy with the $300 genny has just as much right to charge his batteries as the guy with dual Hondas.

I have a Harbor Freight 3,000 gen. (I actually think of it as fairly quiet) if my batteries need a charge then I will use it and charge during reasonable/acceptable hours, those that think it is too noisy then that's the breaks because my batteries will get charged. Everyone has their own opinion of what is to loud or not and I agree not everyone can or wants to get a Honda and it's certainly not about being able to afford it, if I wanted one I would get it but that's not going to happen.

[garbonz]

potato potato. Intolerance is the same whether from thenoisy or the quiet side.


Can't we all just get along. Trollers are looking for a reaction and drama, cause that is what stimulates them. LOL

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by Batts-toy

I have a Harbor Freight 3,000 gen. (I actually think of it as fairly quiet) if my batteries need a charge then I will use it and charge during reasonable/acceptable hours,

You use a 3000 watt genny to charge batteries?? That's a bit like using
a big rig tractor to pull a pop up camper.

OTOH, if anyone goes to a popular public campground during prime time
and expects it to be quiet, they are going to be disappointed.

I bought a $99 2 cycle genny a few years back. It would charge my
batteries via stand alone 25 amp charger just fine but it was noisy!
Imagine the sound of a weed whacker droning along for 2 or 3 hours
in the middle of an otherwise fairly quiet afternoon.
I saw folks walking or driving by my site that obviously were looking
my way to see what was making all the noise.
I gave it to my son for emergency power outages. It actually can start
the compressor on his little freezer and once the freezer has started
it will run his TV as well.
I believe if someone was a tinkerer a much quieter muffler could
have been fitted on that little cheap genny and it could have been made
acceptable noise wise.
I don't think you need to spend thousands to get a quiet genny but
$99 won't get it.

I like to think when I'm camping, you wouldn't mind me as your neighbor!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by MotocrossCamper

and all they have, or can afford is a $300 champion or Coleman, unless stated, they are breaking no laws.

i love that the higher cost of a quiet inverter generator is justification for buying a cheaper, louder generator, when the people saying this, spent thousands of dollars for a 30' TT or MH or on motor toys.

they can spend $30k-$50k on these items but can't spend an extra $700 for a quiet generator.

[rotorhead1250]

I gota back motocrosser on this one. I seriously doubt that the noise from recharging some batts (during the day) using a louder than Honda generator is really that annoying to the few. Be a little tolerant. Campgrounds aren’t quiet anyway. If it bothers you, go for a walk. Out.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by bikendan

i love that the higher cost of a quiet inverter generator is justification for buying a cheaper, louder generator, when the people saying this, spent thousands of dollars for a 30' TT or MH or on motor toys.
they can spend $30k-$50k on these items but can't spend an extra $700 for a quiet generator.

Careful of sweeping statements....
My trailer cost a measly $17k and it's headed for 5 years old.
My daily driver car cost $12k out the door bottom line.
Not everyone wants to throw money at their RV.
I don't blame folks for trying to save some bucks.
I also don't want to camp next door to a briggs and straton genny
running for hours at a time.

[Bojo]

Hi all - this is Heather, Bojo's wife here. I thought I would jump in and reply here because I am a backpacker/tent camper at heart and Alex is not, so the generator conversation was a long, LONG debate. I am writing now from an RV park with wifi and hook ups in Lander, Wyoming as we have just left the "off the grid" lifestyle of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks - an AMAZING two weeks.

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and opinions and experience, because I think it led us to a happy compromise.


Alex (Bojo) decided not to borrow his friend's genny but to purchase one instead. A New Honda or Yamaha were just out of our budget. He first came home with the Harbor Frieght 3000. I was NOT having that one. It was just too loud for me. Luckily HF took it back without question - good people.


We then started contacting everyone on Craig's List with a Used Honda gen for sale. That was not a successful endeavor as they were already purchased by the time we called or they wanted $500-700 for a used one.


A little research led us to Camping World where we settled on this model - an inverter generator so it satisfied my need to be "more quiet." Yes, it's not a quiet as a Honda, but it was not the loudest in the campground by far.


Powerhouse 2000Wi 2000 Watt Inverter Generator - Coast 60376 - Portable Generators - Camping World


Turns out - this is a great little inverter generator. We used it MAYBE every third day in the campsite to charge the trailer battery and camera equip during approved gen hours for no more than 2 hours at a time. I have to agree with the person who mentioned kids and dogs. We have no kids and three dogs. We left the dogs at home and the kids at Bridge Bay campground in Yellowstone were MUCH louder than our gen. One preteen yelling at her parents for over an hour, and another screaming for her family (as a joke) past 10:00 a quiet hours. In Lizard Creek campground some a-hole decided it would be funny to yell "BEAR" at 12:30 at night. That, I believe, was worse than our 2 hours of generator running every 3rd day. We have some beautiful photos that we were able to capture because we could charge batteries and run the heater on those cold, cold nights.


Also - both campgrounds we stayed in had tent only loops where generators were prohibited. That made me feel like those who don't want to hear generators had another option.


So, from a girl who once was the camper who frowned upon generator use - I have been converted. It just took a little research and care.


Thanks again!

[Pooneil]

It sounds like you found a thoughtful way to operate your camper. Those are nicely priced generators.

[KyDan]

Hi Heather--
AWESOME follow up! Thanks for telling us "the rest of the story" (said in
my best Paul Harvey voice...)

Glad you figured it out! Sounds like a great trip.
We want pictures one day when you get home and back to reality!
In the mean time...