Generator or solar for your camper

[sniper7]

Sealed the deal on a new camper and I have to make a long drive to pick it up t the beginning of the month.

The plan is to use it for 2-3 days at a time at most in the summers whenever we can get away and then I'll use it for hunting as well.
Has 2 20lb propane tanks and a single 12v battery. Option for a second battery which I will probably go for.
For backup. Would like to have either a generator like a Honda eu1000i or 2000i or a solar charging system for the batteries.

What do you guys recommend and what are the cost differences.

[clublights]

I dunno about solar but them little honda's are hard to beat.. quiet as get out fuel efficient and have 12V DC out as well as 120V AC ( at least on the 2000)

[Great-Kazoo]

To recharge the battery on a light use unit solar. To recharge a camper you're running, tv, this that etc etc the honda eu2000 is the best bang for the buck.

Then again you know what to do ....GET BOTH IF you battery crapped out when you really need it the Eu2K is a great fall back on unit.

When not in use / off season i disconnect the battery and installed one of the Battery tender jr adapter. The BT jrs' are the best bang for the buck maintenance charger out there. It shuts itself down when charge is reached then goes on if it detects the charge go below X volts.
http://batterytender.com/products/motorcycle/battery-tender-junior-12v-at-0-75a.html

[Aloha_Shooter]

Solar is a really expensive option and heavy and bulky to get any serious power. I can deal with a 2-foot 15W panel to recharge my cell phone, ereader, etc. but it's just not worthwhile for a 12V deep cycle. I would go with the generator.

[RCCrawler]

I've got a Yamaha EF2000iS and love it. It's every bit as quiet and reliable as the hondas.

[Great-Kazoo]

I've got a Yamaha EF2000iS and love it. It's every bit as quiet and reliable as the hondas.

They are a nice option too. One of them kept power going to our house 5yrs ago after the tornado hit town.

[brutal]

I got a big Robin/Subaru RG3200is years ago for it's "longevity" rating and wish I had gotten the dual Honda parallel setup. For how little I actually use it, there's no way I would wear out them Honda's before the Robin and they would be so much more portable. Getting that beast in and out of the truck by myself, even a few times a year, is not fun if my back is even a little tweaked.

[Ah Pook]

Does the the trailer have a 7 pole plug? They have the capability to charge from the vehicle. Would that be enough to keep the batteries topped off?

[Bailey Guns]

Generator. No question.

[jerrymrc]

If you plan on using the AC or microwave then a generator. Running on solar takes a completely different mind set. I did it for years for up to 7 days at a time but I have come to learn that I am a little different.

You need more batteries and 30lb tanks. Our fridge would go through a 30lb tank in a week all by itself. If you do plan on running the AC a 2800-3000W generator is needed most of the time.

[sniper7]

Not sure about the 7 pole plug. I assume so since it is brand new.

Looks like solar is out. Definitely plan on using the AC when needed. The fridge will get used but I'll have a cooler as well which will be fine. I'd rather buy a cheap bag of ice than waste all my LP.

Sounds like the generator is the way to go. Now to find the right one at the right price...I definitely like the idea of the little portable ones like Honda or Yamaha. We won't be putting a TV in. I'm not going to sit in the woods to watch TV!!!
It will have a radio and a small microwave, 13.5 btu AC and 13.0 BTU furnace and fridge.

So right now I'm thinking the Honda or Yamaha 2000 series. Will these be enough to run the ac during the day and keep the batteries charged?

[RCCrawler]

I doubt a 2000 watt generator will run the AC.

[colorider]

2000 will prob not run the ac. If you are in the mountains you prob not use the ac. I'm on my 5th year w a camper and have never used the ac. Costco has a 2000w generator with a Yamaha motor. $600. Give it a try.

[Byte Stryke]

use the Solar to keep the batteries topped when not in regular use, generators as a mainstay

[backcountry800]

Use 2 12v or 4 6v.

Don't use the onboard charger, it tends to boil the water. Unhook when not using an use good trickle charger instead.

I just got a nice 2000w small generator with a Yamaha motor at Costco for $599.

[Holger Danske]

I got a little 3500w generac at camping world and it is big enough to run the ac or the microwave just not at the same time. It is much easier on gas consumption than larger models.

[brutal]

If you plan on using the AC or microwave then a generator. Running on solar takes a completely different mind set. I did it for years for up to 7 days at a time but I have come to learn that I am a little different.

You need more batteries and 30lb tanks. Our fridge would go through a 30lb tank in a week all by itself. If you do plan on running the AC a 2800-3000W generator is needed most of the time.

Wow, we can go all summer on two 30lb tanks. The fridge only uses a pilot flame for cooling, you sure you weren't using all that gas on the cookstove?


Not sure about the 7 pole plug. I assume so since it is brand new.

Looks like solar is out. Definitely plan on using the AC when needed. The fridge will get used but I'll have a cooler as well which will be fine. I'd rather buy a cheap bag of ice than waste all my LP.

Sounds like the generator is the way to go. Now to find the right one at the right price...I definitely like the idea of the little portable ones like Honda or Yamaha. We won't be putting a TV in. I'm not going to sit in the woods to watch TV!!!
It will have a radio and a small microwave, 13.5 btu AC and 13.0 BTU furnace and fridge.

So right now I'm thinking the Honda or Yamaha 2000 series. Will these be enough to run the ac during the day and keep the batteries charged?

Make sure you understand how all the appliances function, particularly the dual/tri mode stuff. The water heater is likely AC and gas. I think the only tri-mode models are tankless. The fridge can be dual (A/C, gas) or tri-mode (A/C-D/C, gas). Does the rig have a built-in inverter system? Just guessing, but with a single battery, I wouldn't expect it.


I doubt a 2000 watt generator will run the AC.

Ditto. Get a pair of ~2000 that can run parallel. And whatever you get, please get one that is quietized and campground rated even if you never intend to enter a campground. Nobody likes to hear someone else's genset screaming all the time. One more tip; if the A/C shares one of those paired single pole breaker setups, chuck it and install two separate single pole breakers. Ours got weak after a few years and would heat soak and trip the A/C breaker on very hot days. I can't imagine you'll need the A/C much mountain camping. We really should have two units in this rig for the camping we do. We go to NM lakes quite a bit and it can be 115* during the day in the campgrounds.

RV.net (http://www.rv.net/)/trailerlife.com (http://www.trailerlife.com/) has the best forums that I recall so you might want to hang out there for a bit and pick up some wisdom form the old timers. I think there's even a dry-camping forum where they all share tips on extending your resources. However, I haven't been over there in years.

[Mtn.man]

OK so we as a trailer bunch O nuts, have instaled solar as well as generators on ALOt of campers.

Most campers need min. 4k for generator, guys are usually OK but wemens will turn on micro when a/c is on and Blip.
Solar costs about 500.00 for the unit+ install, battery backup, and inverter so around a grand, they work just fine.
The battery off your truck (40 amp pole) must be hooked up on a 7 pin to the aux. pole it will run a few lights, winch, jacks, and that's about it. It will charge your battery on the rv.

[sniper7]

Alright got back from picking it up.

Has an inverter.
13500 btu ac
Single battery but can put in a second no problem.
Fridge is ac and lp.

Found out my new truck didn't have the charging wire hooked up while driving so the camper killed the battery while I was driving.
I think I got it hooked up right now. It is the 7 pin plug. Electric brakes work great with my truck as it has the integrated brake controller.

Need to get my sewer hoses still, figure out a microwave since it didn't come with one but I just want a small simple one.

Would like to put on a second battery, will look at Walmart and see what I can get one for. Guess I need cable and a box for it as well.

I'll check out the generator at Costco. Was there today but there were no smaller units.

[opie011]

I haven't read any of the previous posts but just an fyi...

The generator at Costco, from what I've read, doesnt have the parallel feature that the honda companion eu2000i does. Other than that, I've been seriously considering this unit for camping.....I have two 10,000w generators for emergencies

[3beansalad]

I have a generator and love the versatility, but I know so many people that make the investment in solar and inverter and never look back. If you have room, and don't mind the smell of gas, the generator is a perfect option at a good start up cost. Once you go solar and invest in the entire setup (golf cart batteries and such,) you can flip a switch for the inverter and run all the appliance except the AC just like you can with most small gens.

[ruthabagah]

My take: If you camp in the mountains you probably don't need to run the AC.

If you don't need electricity for anything else then go solar, You can get 1 or 2 panel, 30 to 40 watt, mono-crystalline with a regulator and flush roof mount on Amazon for less than 300$. The wattage is good, but what matter the most to recharge your battery is the AMPs. I have 2, 15 watts on my camper, they crank 1.98 amps in full light, and I recharge (not from fully depleted) my deep cycle battery and cell phones, tablets, other toys in 4-6 hours during a normal sunny day in CO or UT.

When I want / need more juice I go rent a small generator which cost me 20-30$ a week end.

A 1000 watt Honda will cost you 749$ new + tax and gas. This will not include the maintenance and the fact that a small generator will poorly perform at high altitude (don't take my word for it, google it).

My setup to date had cost me less than 250$ and 3 hours of install (piece of cake), + one or 2 generator rental a year.

One more thing: Go to Camping World and swap all your regular light bulbs for Led light bulbs: this is the best money you'll invest in your RV!
29265

[rockhound]

Generac on board 3400 watt runs my 35 foot fifth wheel, got from northern tool, runs on propane, every bit as quiet as the onan,s hondas etc

[sniper7]

anybody have experience with the yamaha or honda or hyundai 2000 generators running their a/c at AROUND 9000'?

I'm really leading toward the yamaha and have watched youtube videos of it starting the a/c without problems.

or what about starting it on battery and/or dual batteries and the generator running it after?

[clublights]

The wattage is good, but what matter the most to recharge your battery is the AMPs.



You realize that Amps and Watts are DIRECTLY related right ???

Watts= Amps x Volts

so a 12volt 2 amp draw/Supply is 24 watts.

a 20 amp 120V draw/supply is 2400 watts .

Conversely

a 2400watt draw/supply at 12V is 200 amps!

a 24watt draw/supply at 120V is .2 amps .

No difference between AC and DC .

Ohm's law.

[RCCrawler]

I'm really leading toward the yamaha and have watched youtube videos of it starting the a/c without problems.

I've got a Yamaha 2000 ef2000i, if you'd like to see if one will start your AC and give it a little test you are welcome to come by and try it out. I'm at about 144th and York.

[sniper7]

I've got a Yamaha 2000 ef2000i, if you'd like to see if one will start your AC and give it a little test you are welcome to come by and try it out. I'm at about 144th and York.

I'd definitely like to do this. Pm sent

[RCCrawler]

I'd definitely like to do this. Pm sent

Never got anything?