just starting out full timing with no generator,or inverter.

I have the Honda eu3000isClickythingyand find it a very quiet, reliable and well built genny however its a touch heavy at 134+LBS and it's overall height was higher than the bed on my truck with the Retrax tonneau closed so honorable son-number-one welded me up a dandy rack that hangs the genny on the left corner right near my shore power plugs in and I have a short 30 amp cable to hook up to along with my gas BBQ grill and two mountain bikesyou'll notice the broken shroud on the genny compliments of my pin box and too tight a turn while it was originally in the bed of the truck which is why it's on the back now.As a full-timer this rack set-up works for me because it keeps the genny where it's needed at all times and with the locking Retrax tonneau and locking tailgate i'm able to lock up the bed of my truck when i'm not pulling my fiver so I consider this to be the way to go.

Red Green:
They say necessity is the mother of
invention. Don't know who the father is,
probably remorse.

If your going to leave it in the truck bed I would at least have a 4,000-6,000 Watt unit.I usaully dry camp so no power hookup available for me and I have found that sometimes I can't get my truck close enough to trailer to plug in (only been a couple of times but it has happened),so I bought two Honda EU2000 and have been very happy I would buy a third if they come up with away to parrell three. I have ran the AC and Micro at same time and you can use them for your house or where ever you need power easy to move.They are very quiet at idle but once you start putting a load on them they do increase in noise espeally with two but still a lot quiter than most other generators.
Most parks have certain times you can run generators (Quite time) so I would suggest you buy a Coffe percolator you can put on the stove
At my daughter's wedding the DJ had no power where he had to setup so I brought the Honda's and it worked fine couldn't even hear them with the music. My daughter has an onbord generator and just brags about how nice it is just to push a button and not have to go outside but it will go out someday and then I will ask her how much she loves it when they are forking out the MONEY

Our 5er has Generator Prep, we held off buying a generator to see if we would actually use it and justify the cost to install and upkeep.
We have been fulltime almost 2 years now, only had a need for a Generator once in the last two years during a 4 hour power outage at a state park.
At this point we are still holding the generator money in my pocket. :)

greende wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
I would prefer one yamaha EF2400iS at 75 lbs. myself. less money, less weight, less maintenance, assuming that 2400 will work. I am guessing that if needed, a smaller one could be paired with that?
bumpy

Bumpy,
No way to pair a smaller genny unless you are running separate circuits with the two generators. The 2400 is supposed to run "most" new efficient ACs but the OP has an older carriage and I doubt his will run on the 2400.

thanks, since the OP is evidently just going to leave this in the TV bed, I would just get a 4,000 to start with and be done with it. as a full timer get it right the first time?
bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:
I would prefer one yamaha EF2400iS at 75 lbs. myself. less money, less weight, less maintenance, assuming that 2400 will work. I am guessing that if needed, a smaller one could be paired with that?
bumpy

Bumpy,
No way to pair a smaller genny unless you are running separate circuits with the two generators. The 2400 is supposed to run "most" new efficient ACs but the OP has an older carriage and I doubt his will run on the 2400.

I would prefer one yamaha EF2400iS at 75 lbs. myself. less money, less weight, less maintenance, assuming that 2400 will work. I am guessing that if needed, a smaller one could be paired with that?
bumpy

barney bugle wrote:
some experienced full timers have had their equipment a long time.any regrets?

what would you upgrade to today have a 2003 37 ft carriage cari lite 50 amp service.and

what is a in bed quiet jenny?
/

If you want a quiet generator, that you can lift - the 2,000 watt Honda's are only about 50 pounds, and get reasonable fuel mileage. You can pair two of them to get 4,000 watts (though actually the 2000 watt rating is only for 30 mintes, and 1,600 for hours on end).

Mayberrys.com has them for about $850?

Most full timers carry a 50 to 30 amp adapter, and a 30 to 15 amp adapter, so they can plug in at a friend's home. I have a 30 amp RV and carry a 30 - 15 as well as a 50 to 30 adapter, to plug in when there is only a 50 amp working receptical.

I have a inverter, I would recommend a 150 - 300 watt inverter. They are the most energy efficient, as a 1,000+ watt inverter will have much larger capacitors, and they consume more power to run a 100 watt TV and the satelitte system.

Then you can run a TV set without needing a generator running or making any noise. And who wants to go out to the pickup and turn offf the generator at midnight after watching the news and weather program.

Some of the most scenic campgrounds have "generator hours" that might end as early as 4 pm.

If you want to start out the morning with coffee, before starting the generator, I would suggest hot water from the stove, 3 coffee cups, and a Mr. Coffee filter holder. Put in a filter, add 2 Tbs coffee, and put on cup #1, pour in a little water. Move to cup #2, and 1 Tbs coffee. Add more water. Move to cup 3 (don't drink the very strong drippings) Then move back to 1 or #2 of you want more, and add a little more coffee then hot water.

I typically make toast in the broiler of my oven. Usually butter it first, then broil, then eat. Stays very moist.

Want to conserve water while dry camping? You can do dishes in a dishpan, then toss that out on any thirsty grass (unless in a National Park) to save space in the grey tank. Sometimes I would refill a 1 gallon jug, and use it to flush the toilet at night. You can use shower water for the same thing. Saves fresh water and grey space. Also because you "Need" or rather should fill the black tank to about 1/2 full or more to carry out the black stuff from the bottom of the tank when dumping, it helps to add all that extra grey wate to the tank.

Find that your "Black tank" is at 50% or 75% full after the second flush? Yes it happens. The tank is not full, but a tiny peice of TP has stuck to the sensors, and now it will readfull all the time. Ignore it. I have never used special TP, just the regular 4 pack of 12 roll TP from Costco. With enough water at each dump, everything comes out.

I also carry along a couple of 7.5 gallon blue jugs, and will fill those while out sightseeing, to bring back water to the RV, and refill the fresh water tank. I can use a syphion, and hang it from the ladder with a tie down strap, and syphion the water from the jug to the fresh water tank in about 10 minutes.

Some have set up a 50 gallon fresh water tank in the back of the tow vehicle, and then transfer the water with a 12 volt pump. I have not gone that far, but that is a plan for a full time rig.

Mostly I liked spending 2 weeks in a BLM camping area, then move on to someplace else, usuallly spending a day in town refilling the batteries, fresh tank, dump the others, and do laundry.

Have fun camping!

FreeCampgrounds.com

Fred.

A Yamaha EF3000iSEB Inverter Generator with remote start would be a good and quite choice if you are going to leave it in the bed of the truck.