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Old 06-01-2014, 07:15 AM   #1
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Generator

Question for all. Is it imperative to have a generator. I don't plan on boondocking, but I do think there will be times when traveling I won't have hook-ups. This is for a CC36ckts. And what size if necessary. Thanks
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Old 06-01-2014, 07:34 AM   #2
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What do you want to operate off of a generator if you want to only charge batteries a 1000 watt will do it if you want to sit outside and enjoy the morning while the dw gets ready without having to reset breakers because she is running ac and a blow dryer,curling iron or microwave take a page out of the motorhome book and go with 4000watt minimum.
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Old 06-01-2014, 08:37 AM   #3
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I guess the question would be what is necessary to run the "whole sha-bang", with power to spare. Don't want to just make it.
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Old 06-01-2014, 08:52 AM   #4
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Also, is it better for gas or propane hook-up to the generator?
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Old 06-02-2014, 05:12 AM   #5
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Propane will likely be more expensive to operate than gasoline. It takes about 1.5 gallons of propane to give the same energy as 1 gallon of gasoline. You can compare costs for your area. In addition to the increased fuel consumption, you loose about 10% of the output with propane because the engine develops less power. You'll have to be the judge of which is more convenient to purchase and handle.
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Old 06-02-2014, 05:28 AM   #6
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We have been camping 30+ years & generally do not boon dock. We have never brought a generator with us. I would not buy one unless you decide you need it, you probably won't.

A generator would be nice but alot of upkeep ( We have friends that have a TH with an on board generator & left it not used for two years now it will not start & needs carb. work.

Gas run generators are very common & easy to find. I assume that a propane run generator would be a larger initial investment.


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Old 06-02-2014, 08:26 AM   #7
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If you take long trips, are you that well planned so as not to stop at a non-hook-up area? That is my concern. Again, I do not fancy the boondocking idea.
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Old 06-02-2014, 08:44 AM   #8
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On our way to where we are we ended up spending the night in a rest area on I-80 in WY.

Generator made the tele and coffee pot work fine the next am while we prepped to boogie.

So IMHO a gen is a needed.
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Old 06-02-2014, 08:50 AM   #9
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Also, is it better for gas or propane hook-up to the generator?
There are 3 way (Gas, propane and LNG) conversion kits for all popular generators and I have converted 2 of our 3 (not done the Honda 2000 so far as it just came in). Converted my "whole house" Coleman 6500 and our Yamaha EF3000SeB.

I do that because I can store propane nearly forever and I have to rotate my gasoline every year.

Bought my conversion kits here. Generator Conversion Kits to Propane and Natural Gas.

VERY easy to do if you are even remotely handy.
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Old 06-02-2014, 08:55 AM   #10
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I guess the question would be what is necessary to run the "whole sha-bang", with power to spare. Don't want to just make it.
Honda & Yamaha both have 4000 watt generators which would be excellent & quiet. Note that quiet costs extra.
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Old 06-02-2014, 08:56 AM   #11
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Propane generators can sit for months - compared to fuel. If you do not run a fuel generator every 2 weeks or so you run the risk of gumming up the carb - and that gets expensive, I know it.
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Old 06-02-2014, 09:06 AM   #12
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One problem, as you get big enough to run the whole house the gensets get big and heavy unless you get two smaller ones and parallel them up. A 2000 watt pair becomes a 4000 watt pair which is enough to run the whole house and one AC unit.

Honestly I wish I had taken that route when I got my 4500. It's 300 pounds and I built a crane just so I can load it up. Two 2000s would have been 50 pounds each.
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Old 06-02-2014, 09:11 AM   #13
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One problem, as you get big enough to run the whole house the gensets get big and heavy unless you get two smaller ones and parallel them up. A 2000 watt pair becomes a 4000 watt pair which is enough to run the whole house and one AC unit.

Honestly I wish I had taken that route when I got my 4500. It's 300 pounds and I built a crane just so I can load it up. Two 2000s would have been 50 pounds each.
Mine weighs in at 175 lb (5500) I just use a ramp and wheel it in the bed before I put the hitch in.
A couple of ratchet straps and a security chain to keep it where I put it.
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Old 06-02-2014, 01:00 PM   #14
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Honda & Yamaha both have 4000 watt generators which would be excellent & quiet. Note that quiet costs extra.
Amen.

My 6500 watt Coleman (LOUD as all get out) cost 500 bucks and the Yamaha 3000 watt (quiet as a church mouse) was 2200 bucks.
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Old 06-02-2014, 01:03 PM   #15
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One problem, as you get big enough to run the whole house the gensets get big and heavy unless you get two smaller ones and parallel them up. A 2000 watt pair becomes a 4000 watt pair which is enough to run the whole house and one AC unit.

Honestly I wish I had taken that route when I got my 4500. It's 300 pounds and I built a crane just so I can load it up. Two 2000s would have been 50 pounds each.
Being forced down that road now. Carrying 300 pounds of Dialysis supplies replaced the 175 pound Yamaha 3000. I just bought a Honda 2000 Companion for emergency backup for the Dialysis machine (since we will only be camping in hookups this year) and will buy a Honda 2000i next year to parallel with this one (already bought the cables) for AC use.
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Old 06-02-2014, 08:00 PM   #16
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Being forced down that road now. Carrying 300 pounds of Dialysis supplies replaced the 175 pound Yamaha 3000. I just bought a Honda 2000 Companion for emergency backup for the Dialysis machine (since we will only be camping in hookups this year) and will buy a Honda 2000i next year to parallel with this one (already bought the cables) for AC use.
End of the day I think you'll be happier. I've been boondocking before in beautiful weather with no need for AC and lamented the big but quiet 4500 drinking away gas to recharge the batteries while one 2000 would do that job easily. Then if I need AC, parallel up another one and flip the switch.

I consider it a best of both worlds situation. I'm picking up an EU2000i Monday, what do you want to bet I get another one next year and sell off or just leave the 4500 at home?
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Old 06-02-2014, 08:09 PM   #17
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We did not have a generator on our first toy hauler. As long as you have shore power or are not in the heat, you won't need one. As our trips increased in length, a few nights trying to sleep without A/C cured me. Living in Florida, the first night out and the last night back are going to be in the heat.

When I bought our current toy hauler, I knew I was getting a built in Onan before taking any summer trips. Saves a lot of time and money when you don't have to find a campground. Just pull into a truck stop or rest area and fire it up - everything works.

Now looking forward to doing some boon docking and really roughing it. LOL
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Old 06-02-2014, 08:15 PM   #18
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Question for all. Is it imperative to have a generator. I don't plan on boondocking, but I do think there will be times when traveling I won't have hook-ups. This is for a CC36ckts. And what size if necessary. Thanks
Just thinking, doesn't sound like you want to take the plunge for a large enough genset, such as 4KW. Why not spend 40-50 dollar stop near the highway campgrounds. At 40 a night would take a lot of stops to pay for a generator and the required upkeep? Venture to guess more gensets require repair due to low hours rather than high hours. Cooler nights you could even survive on batteries alone.
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Old 06-03-2014, 12:58 PM   #19
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Question for all. Is it imperative to have a generator. I don't plan on boondocking, but I do think there will be times when traveling I won't have hook-ups. This is for a CC36ckts. And what size if necessary. Thanks
It depends on you and your fellow campers, and what your expectations for camping are.

The purist reduces electrical loads (primarily) and/or increases battery capacity (secondarily) to handle the amount of time away off the grid. No AC, no microwave, lights converted to LED (use flashlights and propane lantern outside), only real load left is heater and vent fans.

I take this approach, but I have an A-frame pop-up that will usually be off the grid for a long weekend. I doubled the battery capacity so heater fan would work through the long weekend. We operate on the premise that the simpler we keep camping the more likely we are to do it. The camper sits in the garage, fully equipped and ready. Throw clothes and a cooler with food in the minivan, hook up, and go for the weekend. Downside is lack of site availability due to the reservation systems at the popular parks.

And if it's too hot to be outside, then it's too hot to enjoy camping, meaning I'm not worried about AC. That's easy to say when I normally camp in the Colorado mountains. Last weekend, DW and I went to camp at Pueblo Lake (4000ft and in the desert). Could not get a site with hookups. Was barely tolerable outside in the shade as air temps approached 100 degrees. Finally gave up and went home when we realized the rocks and cliffs were going to re-radiate heat for hours after the sun went down.

Next step up in complexity is adding solar or generator for battery charging only. Still have the same limitations on A/C, micorwave, and other 120 volt comforts. Boondocking endurance is extended because battery is no longer the limitation. Downside is getting solar panels into sunlight and protecting them from the wind, or carrying/maintaining and operating generator (noise and fuel).

Final step is a generator sized to carry the AC load. Portable units this big are heavy and a bear to manage at my age. Built-in can be maintenance nightmare, but otherwise seem like a very good solution for a motorhome.

just my thoughts, your choices
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Old 06-03-2014, 04:05 PM   #20
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Without air conditioning there would be neither camper nor camping trip.

The air conditioner was a DW condition of travel

DW loves to camp; but she needs her comforts while doing so.
She loves Key West but it is 6-8 weeks of boondocking.
Gotta have that AC in the heat of the day. Evenings are not so bad.
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