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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / June 2007Camping With a Generator
I am home in the middle of a campout no more than 8 miles away. With asphalt (solid) pads, it's a nice venue when gas is ~$3.30/gal and the fire-breathing, stump-pulling big block is used a lot. Many thanks to Mike and Linda for paying a visit. Tomorrow it's a daughter, son-in-law, a 4-year old granddaughter and almost six-month-old grandson. We'll have a great time! I have a Honda EU2000i generator. I use it - VERY SPARINGLY - to "top off" the house battery and to warm something in the microwave oven for a couple of minutes. Otherwise, it is OFF and all the campers can again hear the birds singing. Across the campground is another genset-using camper. It was a "construction-type" big boy on a two-wheeled dolly/chassis. I was quite noisy. Yesterday, the genset ran ALL day. As my wife and I were walking past, I noticed that the camper was all buttoned-up, indicating they were using the air conditioner. A longtime friend, who is also an officer of the park, while visiting briefly last night, said that he'd received two complaints already about the noise. He said, though, that he couldn't do anything about it since Quiet Hours hadn't begun. I asked if he had at least TALKED to the offending campers. He said he had not. :( Of course, they turned it off at 10:00 PM. Anyway, the damned thing ran most of this morning. On the way home to refill the water casks and pickup some things, as I drove past the site, I noticed that the loud generator was gone. If you have a need for a reliable, full-time electrical connection, you should occupy an electric-hookup site. If they are all taken, you should go home. Running a generator, no matter how quiet, should be done sparingly with it turned OFF most of the time. Cool down the coach then turn it off. Open some windows or, even better, step outside and enjoy the outdoors! SHEESH!  Signature:) JR 2000 Skamper Ultra 249 TT 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Vortec 8100 - Allison 1000 >If you have a need for a reliable, full-time electrical connection, you should >occupy an electric-hookup site. If they are all taken, you should go home. > >Running a generator, no matter how quiet, should be done sparingly with it >turned OFF most of the time. Cool down the coach then turn it off. Open some >windows or, even better, step outside and enjoy the outdoors! SHEESH! JR: We spend 99% of our time at full hook-up places. However, in late June, we are going to the NASCAR race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA. No hook-ups--so we will be dry camping in 90-100 degree heat during the day. I needed a generator for this trip, so I did a little research and bought a Champion RV Generator. http://www.cpeauto.com/de3500RV_gen.htm It was $299 plus tax at the local Kragen Auto. It runs at full capacity all the time, but with 68db at 21', it is within the noise limits of the National Parks guidelines. We are planning on using it as necessary to run some appliances and the AC. Since I live in earthquake country, it will spend 99% of the time in my garage for use when the "big one" rolls through here. 8-0 We just didn't feel the need to purchase $2000 worth of "quiet" generators to go to a NASCAR race once a year. I've run it with a full load (AC, microwave, and a hair dryer) and it performed flawlessly. My buddy has 2 of the 2000 Hondas and we tested them out as well. To both of us, the noise level of the Hondas running flat out was about the same as the Champion. After the NASCAR trip, we are coming home for 1 day. Then it is off for another 3 weeks of full hook-up RVing ending up at the Grand Canyon. When we get back from NASCAR, the generator is going to stay in the garage. Generator discussions can get very heated--but I just wanted to give you my take on them. Take Care, Mark > I just wanted to give you my take on them. Using a genset continuously, for whatever reason, would probably "go over" better in the "camping" area(s) set aside at a NASCAR event than in the mostly tent environment of a state recreation area campground with no hookups - that ARE (usually) available elsewhere in the park. Buttoned-up, with the A/C running, I probably wouldn't mind the drone outside anyway, IF I could even hear it. Sitting under the awning with a Captain & Coke would be another thing. With all manner of gensets running outside, even I would probably retreat to an air conditioned camper - if I had the option. If I'm camping in the section set aside for RVs at a major event - with NO electric hookup - I would EXPECT generators running everywhere. I'd have to get another 2000 and gang 'em. Probably never happen... <sigh> Signature:) JR >Using a genset continuously, for whatever reason, would probably "go over" >better in the "camping" area(s) set aside at a NASCAR event than in the mostly [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >electric hookup - I would EXPECT generators running everywhere. I'd have to >get another 2000 and gang 'em. Probably never happen... <sigh> Yeah, I'm not expecting a lot of peace and quiet at the NASCAR race. We are staying in a more upscale area near the track. They have quiet time from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM--we'll see how that goes. 8-0 The state parks here in California have the "no generators" time from 8:00 PM to 10:00 AM. That is pretty restrictive--I make the morning coffee by boiling water on the stove and filtering a pot worth of coffee into a thermos. My buddy has a toyhauler with a 6.5KW Onan generator--and it is pretty loud. We've taken his trailer out to the BLM areas. Everything there is loud. Dirt bikes, ATVs, music playing, guns being fired at targets. There are really no noise rules there. If one is looking for peace and quiet, I wouldn't recommend BLM camping where they ride those ATVs. The rangers are there to make sure no one kills anyone else. They will write tickets for people without helmets and those riding ATVs with too many people on them. Mark > The state parks here in California have the "no generators" time > from 8:00 PM to 10:00 AM. That is pretty restrictive That *IS* restrictive. I could live with it, though. > --I make the morning coffee by boiling water > on the stove and filtering a pot worth of coffee into a thermos. I bought Coleman's "new" drip coffee-maker for camp stoves. I have yet to try it over an official camp stove, but it does OK (just OK) atop one of the three burners on my TT's stovetop. I think it's too far ABOVE the flame for optimal heating because it takes forever to do a whole pot. I'll try it later on my daughter's "real" Coleman two-burner camp stove and see if there's any difference in elapsed time. I can't recommend the device, yet. I can easily use our old coffee percolator. Warming-up a cold cup of "doctored" (French Van) coffee without the microwave is a pain, though. > If one is looking for peace and quiet, I wouldn't recommend BLM camping where > they ride those ATVs. We camped ONE night in (probably) such a place. We were overnighting there until a campsite opened in nearby Rocky Mountain National Park. While at the dead end of this gravel road, I spoke with one of the myriad riders in the area. I asked if I needed to "nail everything down" for the night or would I be left alone up there. He assured me that everyone was nice (I suspected as much) and that, at sundown, everyone would go home and we'd have the place to ourselves. He wasn't kidding. We were in the middle of NOWHERE - all alone. It was eerie but awesome! I want to do it again. > The rangers are there to make sure no one kills anyone else. > They will write tickets for people without helmets and those > riding ATVs with too many people on them. I suppose the Bureau of Land Management has different practices than the National Forest Service and, presumably National Park Service. I am always disappointed to see the yet another restriction on the various modes of wheeled and motorized recreation that one can enjoy in/on *OUR* public lands. Signature:) JR JR wrote: > I bought Coleman's "new" drip coffee-maker for camp stoves. I have yet to try > it over an official camp stove, but it does OK (just OK) atop one of the three > burners on my TT's stovetop. I think it's too far ABOVE the flame for optimal > heating because it takes forever to do a whole pot. I'll try it later on my > daughter's "real" Coleman two-burner camp stove and see if there's any > difference in elapsed time. I can't recommend the device, yet. Jim, is this what you have? http://www.rei.com/product/736980 We have one of these and I totally agree with everything you say. It takes a long time for the whole pot to finish brewing, though it does have a valve so you can pour a cup while it's still brewing. My opinion's been that the low pressure gas in the popup isn't putting out as much BTUs, but your idea now makes more sense, that it's too far above the flame. Good point. I also an itching to try it on a 'regular' Coleman camp stove. -Rob >> The state parks here in California have the "no generators" time >> from 8:00 PM to 10:00 AM. That is pretty restrictive [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > disappointed to see the yet another restriction on the various modes of > wheeled and motorized recreation that one can enjoy in/on *OUR* public lands. >> I bought Coleman's "new" drip coffee-maker for camp stoves. I have >> yet to try it over an official camp stove, but it does OK (just OK) [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> two-burner camp stove and see if there's any difference in elapsed >> time. I can't recommend the device, yet. > Jim, is this what you have? > http://www.rei.com/product/736980 Yes. > We have one of these and I totally agree with everything you say. It > takes a long time for the whole pot to finish brewing, though it does [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > above the flame. Good point. I also an itching to try it on a > 'regular' Coleman camp stove. I'm camping with my daughters and their families next week and will try it on their "real" camp stove. I'll report back if there's any improvement in the brew time. Signature:) JR >>> I bought Coleman's "new" drip coffee-maker for camp stoves. I have >>> yet to try it over an official camp stove, but it does OK (just OK) [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > the > brew time. Just get a stainless or porcelain coated steel percolator. Works great, and you can heat water in it for dishes when not using it for coffee. Other way for coffee is to save the 4 cup coffee packs from motels and just toww them in a pan of water and boil like a tea bag. Very clean, no coffee grounds mess to clean up. Seeing the Coleman, how long until the glass pot is broken? > Just get a stainless or porcelain coated steel percolator. Works great Having used a percolator for years when boondocking, and now having used the Coleman camp stove drip coffeemaker several times, I agree with you. > Seeing the Coleman, how long until the glass pot is broken? Probably as long as it will take for our REGULAR drip coffeemaker's carafe. So far, so good. Signature:) JR >> Just get a stainless or porcelain coated steel percolator. Works great > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > carafe. > So far, so good. You are not packing and unpacking and storing your regular drip's carafe. And I have broken a home carafe when washing. > You are not packing and unpacking and storing your regular drip's carafe. Sez you! :) We have a (cheapie) Procter-Silex drip coffeemaker, complete with standard GLASS carafe, that "lives" in our travel trailer. The carafe is stored and transported nestled in a drawer with wash cloths and towels. > And I have broken a home carafe when washing. Now, THAT I have done! Signature:) JR That's a good point, that glass carafe is just like what we have at home, and just as susceptible to breaking. Though our home coffeemaker is going on 10 yrs without incident. Like Jim's, our Coleman unit lives in the tent trailer, in the original packaging, so it's fairly safe. But it's big, takes up a lot of cupboard space. But it's here to stay, I guess, since my wife doesn't like the perc route. -Rob >> You are not packing and unpacking and storing your regular drip's carafe. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Now, THAT I have done! > That's a good point, that glass carafe is just like what we have at home, > and just as susceptible to breaking. Though our home coffeemaker is going [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >> >> Now, THAT I have done! I finally got tired of the crappy coffee our percolator was making on camping trips and ordered a melitta manual 10 cup basket. I found a used steel thermal carafe (Krups?) on eBay and drip boiling water through the melitta into it. It's a little more work, but the coffee is as good as it is at home and it stays hot in the carafe for 2 hours. Jon > > That's a good point, that glass carafe is just like what we have at home, > > and just as susceptible to breaking. Though our home coffeemaker is going [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > Jon- Hide quoted text - My wife went with a French Press for coffee while dry camping. The stovetop percolator had to go, and she found the FP to fit better (small and compact) but still make top quaility coffee. Myself, I think I'm the only real man who does not drink coffee. Austin > The state parks here in California have the "no generators" time from 8:00 PM to > 10:00 AM. That is pretty restrictive--I make the morning coffee by boiling water > on the stove and filtering a pot worth of coffee into a thermos. I don't find that restrictive at all. Thats the times people want to enjoy the quietness camping should be. Otherwise might as well just stay in the city. Why are you making coffee in that manner? Why not get yourself a stove top percolator. They're cheap and make great coffee. >Why are you making coffee in that manner? Why not get yourself a stove >top percolator. They're cheap and make great coffee. I'll stick to filtered coffee. The cone is cheap and the filters are as well. If you use a percolator to make coffee, check the bottom of the coffee cup after you finish and see all the residue left over. The remants at the bottom of the percolator are equally disturbing to see. If the percolator makes such good coffee, why doesn't Starbucks use them instead of filtering it as they do now for regular coffee? We have a local coffee shop here that has a blend that tastes much better than Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Peet's. So before my 3-week RV trip that starts in a couple of weeks I'm going to Martha and Sons and getting some beans ground to go on the trip. Mark > If you use a percolator to make coffee, check the bottom of the coffee cup after > you finish and see all the residue left over. I don't see any grinds. I place a filter on the bottom. > If the percolator makes such good > coffee, why doesn't Starbucks use them instead of filtering it as they do now > for regular coffee? They use a high pressure hot water injection method. It makes better use of the grinds, more cups of coffee per bag of coffee. Also makes a pot far faster than any other method. When I am hooked up I use a small portable version that works great. > We have a local coffee shop here that has a blend that tastes much better than > Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Peet's. So before my 3-week RV trip that starts > in a couple of weeks I'm going to Martha and Sons and getting some beans ground > to go on the trip. I buy whole beans and keep them in the freezer. Then I grind just what I need. Fresh ground sure tastes a lot better. >I buy whole beans and keep them in the freezer. Then I grind just what >I need. Fresh ground sure tastes a lot better. I do that at home with one of those coffee makers that grind the beans and start the brewing process. When RVing, I put the ground coffee in the freezer as well. I'm always the first one up, so I don't want to use a grinder and wake everyone else. Mark >>I buy whole beans and keep them in the freezer. Then I grind just >>what I need. Fresh ground sure tastes a lot better. We do the same thing, I got a small coffee grinder for Christmas and have never turned back. I used to be a die hard folgers drinker. Now its whole bean. We even got one of those 12V coffee makers for the PUP >>I buy whole beans and keep them in the freezer. Then I grind just what >>I need. Fresh ground sure tastes a lot better. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Mark I picked up a manual grinder at REI the other day, but haven't used it camping yet. It makes very little noise, just some effort. That's what camping is all about, right? Roughing it. :-) Jon Amen, amen, and AMEN! Another annoying one to me was where my parents were camping one time (in an electric site). We visited them on a Saturday evening. The neighbors had an older trailer with a houshold AC stuck into it. It apparently had been running non-stop since they got there on Friday...and it wasn't all that quiet. It would have driven me nuts to be beside of it the whole weekend. And it wasn't anywhere near hot!! Wesley > I am home in the middle of a campout no more than 8 miles away. With asphalt > (solid) pads, it's a nice venue when gas is ~$3.30/gal and the fire-breathing, [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > turned OFF most of the time. Cool down the coach then turn it off. Open some > windows or, even better, step outside and enjoy the outdoors! SHEESH!
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