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Topic: How important is having a generator? (Read 552 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #25 –
(this is all personal opinion - agree or disagree it will not brother me)

First observation  - I think a generator is a must.    I use mine mostly as a monthly exercise to keep the gas fresh and the wiring rust and moisture free.     In my case that's between 30 to 2 hours depending on the outside temperatures.    When I use it its either to heat or cool the rig.   I have used it a couple of times to recharge the batteries after a long overcast boon-docking trip. 

Second observation -  when getting ready for a trip we pre- freeze the refrigerator.    On the road we continue using the propane  for the refrigerator.   We only turn off the propane when fueling.   (<smile> Part of the fueling check list)

Third observation - it seems older RV refrigerators needed to be very level or else something would happen but the newer ones say if you feel comfortable in your RV then that level is OK.

Fourth observation - I have ask old timers and did the math - no one has ever seen or heard of a refrigerator fire in a LD.   In fact using the stats that the lawyers use in suing the  Norcold you'd be seeing a refrigerator fire at last once a month.  Not saying fires are not happening just saying the number don't reflex the reality that I see.  <smile> of course my reality is not anyones buy mine. 
personal fine art photo stuff
TF Mack | Flickr
It's all good .......
2014 Twin King
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #26 –
Fire from what?  That sounds a little scary!

Several years ago there was a rash of RV fires caused by the refrigerator. Norcold took most of the blame but some Dometics fried, too, and both had recalls. That will give you something more to research!

The internal piping of a fridge has hydrogen in it at 300psi (I think). If the tubing cracks and the burner is on, fire is a possibility. Some fires occurred with the fridge on AC. Wiring shorts against the tubing, hydrogen is released and ignited. When an RV lights off all you can do is run. You can find a few pictures with just the fridge area burned but even those are totaled.

Whatever RV you get you will need to see if the recall has been done.

A search for "RV fires" will get you some reading if not videos. I suspect we "made your day."
Harry 2006RB
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #27 –
The fire thing got me wondering. So I checked out what models were involved. Sure enough my 2002 was on the recall list. So did a little more googling and found what the recall work consists of. Mine has been done ✅. Now I feel better.😁
Lynn and Lori
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #28 –
Quote from: Opuntia  - 
Had no idea about the fridge other than the rig has to be level in order for it to work. I will be full-timing for about 1-1.5 yrs, mostly boondocking I hope, so I will be taking mostly short trips, staying in national parks/public land for   1-2 wks or so at a time. Soo, I can run the generator to cool down the fridge faster when I arrive at my destination (upon leveling), then switch to propane for the duration.  Is that right?  Fire from what?  That sounds a little scary!

Mimi, the vintage of LD you have targeted may come with a 3-way fridge, meaning it can also run off of the 12-volt batteries while driving. While not as efficient as propane, it is safer, IMHO, than having the propane on while driving in case you don't have a generator.
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #29 –
Quote from: Kent Heckethorn  - 
I never drive with the propane tank open. So the fridge is off while on the road.

We are the complete opposite: I always drive with the propane tank valve open and the refrigerator pilot lit. IMO propane is the most efficient means of keeping the reefer cold - at least in our unit, the pilot light boils the coolant more efficiently than the electric heating element from shore power/generator. (Older units with 12v are really inefficient IMO which is why I believe they aren't used anymore.)

I believe the primary concern with driving while the reefer propane pilot is lit is being involved in an accident where there happens to be a gasoline tank spill/rupture. In that case, an open flame would obviously pose a direct risk to starting a car fire and/or possibly causing the gas tank to explode if it reached that far. I've never really been in a major accident, and rarely hear of ones where gas has leaked (it's always coolant from front end collisions), so my risk acceptance considers those factors. As some say, 'YMMV'.

As far as generators go, we have a portable Yamaha 2000. We don't have solar, but use the batteries sparingly. I can easily bring the batteries up to full charge each day running the genie in 'eco' mode (at around 50 decibels) for around 1 hour. In eco mode, the generator can run for 10 hours on 1 gallon of gas. So, do the math: 1 gallon of gas = 10 days off the grid. I don't want to disparage solar, but it still poses no substitute to good old fossil fuels ie gasoline & propane.
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #30 –
Having owned a 1983 LD, without a generator, and a 2003, with one, I would not buy another without.
Why?  Living in California, with its multitude of earthquakes faults, our LD doubles as our escape pod.
I want as much capability as possible, just in case.
After the Northridge quake, having a small generator allows us to keep the refrigerator cold for several days until power was restored.
This eliminated losing any food, unlike our neighbors who had to throw out the perishable foods they could not eat immediately.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #31 –
"Living in California, with its multitude of earthquakes faults, our LD doubles as our escape pod."
----
No warnings with "shakers"; I'm fortunate to be able to keep the LD next to the house, so I keep it gassed, the fresh water tank at least half full, the black and grey empty, the propane tank "full", and 4 or so gallons of "jug water" in a cupboard. We have little quakes all the time; just a matter of time.....  :o
2003 TK has a new home
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #32 –
"Living in California, with its multitude of earthquakes faults, our LD doubles as our escape pod."
----
No warnings with "shakers"; I'm fortunate to be able to keep the LD next to the house, so I keep it gassed, the fresh water tank at least half full, the black and grey empty, the propane tank "full", and 4 or so gallons of "jug water" in a cupboard. We have little quakes all the time; just a matter of time.....  :o "

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•   •~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

AND having heavy-duty shoes and a jacket grabbable by the bed for the race to the curb, hoping the roads will be passable.

I don't miss that part of living in California, but definitely miss the traveling around there!!!     :-(   So many memories - sigh : : : :


   Virtual hugs,

   Judie  <-- Sierra Vista, Arizona
   Adventures of Dorrie Anne | Photographing the West

   Today:  Pizza Now - WOW 
   ******************************
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #33 –
"I'm not completely opposed to the generators use. Sweltering heat in a campground with no electrical hook up will send me straight to the start button."

Interesting thread here!

If you do any traveling in California's Central Valley, Redding, Red Bluff, Corning, Sacramento, etc., in the summer then you know that it can get hot enough to broil your brains! For instance, I like to stay over at Rolling Hills Casino on I-5 and you can park in the truck lot overnight for free. BUT, you will NOT survive the night if you do not have a generator to run the AC. You will be mighty uncomfortable and your dog will surely die.   :'(
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #34 –
With our luck, we ended up traveling the length of the CA Central Valley last July - 99-110+ degrees.  In fact we pulled into a campground with no hookups near Three Rivers about 6pm.  Host said it was 114.  My little thermometer hanging out the driver's window showed 120 when we parked, but maybe that included some engine heat.  Anyway, we parked in the shade, closed all the blinds, and ran the generator for at over 4 hours to cool down the rear.  Couldn't have managed without the generator for sure.

Re the frig, I precool it overnight before leaving on a trip and then run it on Propane while we're travelling.  Aside from a few experiences like the above, when really hot we aim for hookups to keep it going overnight.  We also tend to keep a bag of ice in the freezer.  Not only do we use it for drinks but the bulk helps the freezer keep cool.  Misplaced them on a previous trip but we used to also have several packs of blue ice to freeze at night and move to frig during the day in hot weather.

My main problem running propane while driving is remembering to turn frig off while gassing up.  Any suggestions for reminders?  Need something that will reach out and slap me upside the head.
2007 MB
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #35 –
"My main problem running propane while driving is remembering to turn frig off while gassing up.  Any suggestions for reminders?  Need something that will reach out and slap me upside the head."

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•  •~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•  •~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Perhaps a little laminated note at the propane tank that says something clever like :  ??Fridge off??.

Don't forget the furnace.  One time, during cold weather, we gassed up, obediently turning off the refrigerator, but neglecting the furnace.  It had warmed up considerably since morning, and the furnace was not making heat at the moment.  But as we pulled away from the gas pumps, the furnace sensed "too cold", and fired itself up!

Whew!

   Virtual hugs,

   Judie  <-- Sierra Vista, Arizona
   Adventures of Dorrie Anne | Photographing the West

   Today:  Pasilla Burger
   ******************************
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #36 –
For me, my generator is a tool.  When I don't need it, it is just something I am carrying around, but when I need it, it sure makes itself useful.  From late May to early September, I can get by without using the generator, PROVIDING I have good sky for my panels and I don't need to run any heavy loads - no air compressor, no charging my electric dirt bike, no microwave, and I unplug my DVR at bedtime (no recording a late night special event).  With the generator, I am quite comfortable kicking on the air conditioning if I am in a heat wave, using the microwave, or charging my bike.  With the generator, I can take a campsite under the trees.  With the generator, I don't have to be miserly with electrical consumption on cloudy or rainy days.  Bottom line, for me the generator is a valuable convenience, not essential, but something that makes my days more relaxed.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
 
Re: How important is having a generator?
Reply #37 –
Bottom line, for me the generator is a valuable convenience, not essential, but something that makes my days more relaxed.
---
Agreed; I seldom camp with hookups, and try to avoid hot/cold weather extremes unless I do have shore power, so, despite having 300W of panels, the generator can be very useful for those circumstances when only 120VAC will do a job.



2003 TK has a new home