Overnight Camping---Generator use

[CampNow]

Originally Posted by Siamese

...slacker

Not sure what defines a slacker in your neck of the woods. But, in my neck of the woods, choosing not to get caught up in the minutia of which way the wind is blowing now or in 5 minutes typically means you have much, much better things to do with your time while camping

[Duke4857]

Originally Posted by CampNow

Generator Cage

We fabricated this cage for our generator. It's locked to the rear platform on our Jayco Eagle with two padlocks. The platform is locked to the trailer's receiver hitch with a hitch lock. When we run the generator we swap out two of the end, side covers with another set of covers that provide ventilation. Even if it rains the generator is still protected from the elements while it's running. Because the platform is mounted directly to the frame the generator does kinda drone inside the trailer while in use (more noticeable in the rear kitchen area). For us it's a small price to pay to keep it from walking off. We're fortunate the a/c connector for our trailer is located only 3-4 ft. away from the generator on the very rear, left side. It only takes about 2 minutes to hook-up and run when we make a stop.

In the future we may purchase a generator with remote electric start and install a transfer switch. A propane generator may even be in our future since Jayco was nice enough to provide a propane outlet just underneath the right-side bumper, about 2 ft. away from the generator cage.

I do not know for sure, but I have heard from other people that propane fuel generators like a lot of propane. You may want to check on that before you buy one. I am sure someone in this form will know how propane they burn.

[CampNow]

Originally Posted by Duke4857

I do not know for sure, but I have heard from other people that propane fuel generators like a lot of propane. You may want to check on that before you buy one. I am sure someone in this form will know how propane they burn.

Yup, that's what we've heard, too. If we went propane we'd pick a unit go that has the capability to swap between gas and propane easily. Probably wouldn't use propane except in a pinch.

[NC Roamer]

One gallon of propane has only about 3/4 of the energy in BTUs compared to a gallon of E10 gasoline.

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/fue...ison_chart.pdf

[RAurand]

Originally Posted by CampNow

We have a local Wal-Mart Supercenter located just off a major interstate. Most nights 4-5 RV's park there for the night. During the summer you can hear the constant drone of generators running as you walk in Wal-Mart. Yes, they're all parked off in the distance, in the "north-forty", but it's still amazing how loud they can be. Wal-Mart has no problems with overnight parking, but the city does. When things are slow (which is not very often) the police will on occasion ask everybody to leave.

That all depends on if the township/borough or Walmart owns the parking lot.
If Walmart owns the lot, it is private property and I have never had any issues. On township or borough owned parking lots, I have had the police ask us to leave as we can not stay overnight. Or the manager will tell us the parking lot is not Walmart owned and the police could ask you to leave.
We always call ahead to the Walmart we are planning on overnighting in to talk with the manager and get their ok to stay overnight. I have even had managers tell us we are welcome to stay there but they would not recommend it because of theft issues or vandalism they have had in the past. We find another place to stay overnight.

As for the generator, I have 2 Yamaha 2000 inverter generators but since I installed a Micro Air soft start, I only need 1 to run my AC. I use a very heavy cable lock and lock it to the rear receiver that came with my trailer.

[CampNow]

Originally Posted by RAurand

. . . As for the generator, I have 2 Yamaha 2000 inverter generators but since I installed a Micro Air soft start, I only need 1 to run my AC. I use a very heavy cable lock and lock it to the rear receiver that came with my trailer.

Those Micro Airs are the cats meow! Amazing how they lower the LRA to 1/2 or 1/3 of the factory rating. Noticed they now sell just the board (without the housing and cap) for about $150. For those who are comfortable wiring in just the board that's a bargain vs. the cost of a 2nd $1000 2000 watt Honda/Yamaha generator!!