We prefer to have one. We have a Progressive Industries 50 amp Hard Wired Unit. We felt it best to have one since we travel to many different campgrounds. While you can check the pedestal before plugging in, that is only a reading for that moment in time. We prefer to be out and about and not sitting around the campground checking a monitor to see if the power goes up too high or browns out when everyone's Air conditioners kick on all at once. We also plan to keep this motorhome for a very long time and see a Progressive Industries unit as an investment in preventive maintenance.