Do we need a generator?

No way would I purchase Class C with no generator. Would have regrets. Use generator often at beach/parking lots, off highway, around towns, etc.. Then again, that is my opinion only.

We pop-up tent camped for >30 years.
Always dry camped and never needed a generator.
We almost always camp in the fall.

Bought a class C and went on a four week trip.
Used generator twice. Once so current wife could blow dry hair.
The second time to use the microwave.
Class C has solar and we drove a lot so that kept battery charged.
total hours on generator = 0.5 hours.

Now come winter the power went out for three days.
Ran what needed to be run in the house from the RV generator.
Glad to have it!

Next four week vacation will be less driving per day so battery will not get the charge it will need so I'm sure the generator will get some run time.
Still like to dry camp.

Agree with everyone else, would not buy a RV with out a generator.

IMHO A/C is the only reason to have the built in generator.

Just took a 2 week trip with my family. We used the generator mostly for the House A/C and the TV while driving. You'll be thankful you have it.

I live in Texas and could not do without my generator. We have taken two multiday boondocks trips where we have to run the generator almost day and night to keep cool. I also use it going down the road when the grandkids are with me as they are always hot in the back of the coach.

cgmartine wrote:
You should also consider the resale value of a motorhome without a generator. If buyers are like me, I would not buy a motorhome without a generator. I can't say for sure, but selling one without a generator will be harder than selling one with one.

Very true. You can't say it's fully self contained without it.

If you don't have one you will wear your legs out kicking your self in the butt. Buy a unit with an Onan or buy yourself a Honda that will meet the full draw of the camper. Stay away from those cheep Champions. Everybody in the campgrounds will hate you.

Spartan41 wrote:
We are considering buying a class c to take a trip out west from Michigan next summer. We are currently looking at one but it doesn't have a generator. Will we regret not having one? We can hook up to electricity when we stop. But I'm not sure if we will have issues during the driving parts of the trip. Thanks

What model year is the Class C you're interested in? As far as I know, you'd have to go back to the early 90's model years to even find a Class C without a built in generator!

We've used the built-in generator mostly for cooling down the house section while traveling in sunny hot climates. We do this when the house is occupied for travel (e.g. carrying family) or to pre-cool on the way to the campground on very hot days. We've also used it during enroute stops, even when not the C is not occupied, to keep the A/C running. In full sunlight, with outside temperatures in the 80s or higher, the interior can get to over 100 F in an hour or less.

We've not used it this way traveling in Michigan, Wisconsin, northern Minnesota, not even in summer. We've found we get adequate cooling with use of the A/C in the cab or often just vents and windows.

We've used the generator in a campground just once, when a lightning strike on a nearby substation took out power during an early morning thunderstorm. That required going out in the storm to unplug from shore power and plug into the generator socket (no automatic transfer switch on my C).

I've never run the generator while sleeping, whether or not I would have liked to have air conditioning. I don't want to sleep with CO building up underneath and around me.

With all these uses, I've put fewer than 200 hours on the generator, in 10 years of RV use and 30,000 miles of travel.

One alternative to a generator for on the road use would be a whole-house inverter of 3KW or more, and at least 300 amps of 100% duty cycle alternator capacity (the equipment supplied for emergency vehicle use on these van cutaway chassis).

Here in Texas, it is assumed a motorhome has a generator. It would be similar to assuming the motorhome has a steering window and accelerator pedal. Without it, people will look at it and pass it by. I definitely would not buy a motorhome without it, because A/C is so important, and even when on the road, I'd be running the generator to keep the roof unit running.

Michigan may be different, but unless one has a good solar charging system, the generator will still be needed to keep the house batteries charged up, and for electric heat, if one doesn't want to use their propane.

I'd say get it. You may not use it often, but when you need it, you will be happy you have it.