Running engine when stopped

I assume you're really concerned about drawing down the battery. I've owned a popup, a TT and a MH. I sincerely doubt you need to use a generator or keep the Class B engine idling. If you have two house batteries I would expect you to be able to go several days without depleting the batteries. If you were running a heater fan in cold weather maybe just one night. Class B owner's need to advise you with real world usage experience. Forget the other well-meaning posters.

You should easily get by in a class b with 2 house batteries. I wonder what kind of shape they are in. Changing out the lights will make a bid difference.

In Vermont idling for more than 5 minutes is now against the law! A cop going in for a donut is idling an "emergency vehicle" so that's OK...

Handbasket and Dave - thanks - will upgrade lights. And Handbasket's comment suggests that the idling is in any event not doing what I thought it would do (i.e. maintaining the juice in the house batteries).

This unit (new to us) does have 2 new house batteries. I think my first move should be to get a sense of how much power I do have on board without plugging in. I can do this by actually experiencing it on our first long road trip. Or perhaps invest in a trial in my driveway without being plugged in and leaving lights on until bedtime and then leave the furnace on for one night. For the cost of the propane for one night I will then be better informed.

Thank you all.

Without knowing what chassis we're talking about, there's going to be same 'maybe' in the answers you get. Extended idling is generally not a good idea, since it may lead to oil dilution or CO poisoning.

To me, the main objection aside from those dangers, is that the alternator is not putting out anywhere near rated amps at normal idle. The chassis is probably using a large percentage of those few amps to keep running.

Jim, "Mo' coffee!"

sch911 wrote:
I'd be worried about CO poisoning more than anything else...

X2

Get a small generator. I personally would definetly find a different wwy to solve
Your problem. Extra battery, led bulbs.

No problem idling. However, if you do a lot of idling, you should change your oil more frequently. For example, my service interval is 10k, but I change around 8k because I idle for naps, depending on the temperature.

Around our province, we have all sorts of "No idling" rules.

If you're running out of juice, maybe another battery is needed. You should be able to run overnight on a single battery. Have you changed your bulbs to LEDs? That makes a big difference.

I'd be worried about CO poisoning more than anything else...