Forum Discussion

Hemi_Joel's avatar
Hemi_Joel
Explorer
Feb 10, 2023

Laser printer/scanner recommendation?

Hi, I would like to add a color laser printer/scanner/copier to my pickup camper. Looking for recommendations/experiences on what to get or what not to get. Sometimes I have to do work from the road that involves printing and scanning. Quality scans of documents are important for my business, I can't use my cell phone for that.

Since I am in a pickup camper, compactness is important. Up to a 16" x 18" footprint would be preferred, smaller being better.

Rugged enough to survive the rough roads.

Is there something that I can print wirelessly directly from my laptop PC, or do I need to buy and set up some type of network equipment?

I want laser because my ink jet kept drying up from lack of use. Separate color and b&w cartridges would be a plus.

A (reliable) document feeder would be a big plus.

I used to have an HP inkjet that was constantly doing popups and was trying to sell me stuff. The HP software was like a virus that I couldn't get rid of, and was consuming my computers resources in the background, slowing it down. I don't want anything annoying like that.

I want something that does not connect to the cloud or the web unless I tell it to, and will function completely off line.

When I have to interrupt my vacations for work, I like to jump in, do it, jump out. No time for fiddling for hours with unreliable software/connectivity snafu's.

I have a 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter for power.

I'm hoping to stay under $600ish.

What do you recommend?

Thanks, Joel
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    Feb 10, 2023
    I have no experience with color laser printers, but I've had a couple of Brother laser printers and have been very happy with them. They do the job and the toner cartridges are cheaper than HP. Just my experience with Brother, don't know about the color lasers. Not much help I know, but I like the Brother. :)
  • rk911's avatar
    rk911
    Explorer
    Feb 10, 2023
    Brother is now our go-to brand for printers here at home. but in the RV we carried a small Samsung B&W laser, model M2020W. measures 13" wide by 8" deep. we chose a laser for reliability...no clogged ink nozzles. and that particular printer for its size.
  • BarneyS's avatar
    BarneyS
    Explorer III
    Feb 10, 2023
    I think this Brother color laser printer meets all of your requirements. It is the one I would get if I needed a color printer. As it is my B&W Brother Laser has been flawless for the past several years so don't need a new one.
  • theoldwizard1's avatar
    theoldwizard1
    Explorer II
    Feb 10, 2023
    Hemi Joel wrote:

    Rugged enough to survive the rough roads.

    This is a BIG issue ! Toner cartridges have very fine (like talcum powder) toner. Bounced around it could leak out making a mess. You can not vacuum toner ! It will blow right through the vacuum bag !

    Also, if your cab gets very hot, the toner is likely to clump together.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Feb 10, 2023
    I've used a Cannon laser printer for years now, no issues. 15 years ago I cut the wires and have been wireless ever since.

    Why not visit electronic stores, Costco, Wallmart etc and see what they recommend? There is a variety of equipment available including online of course.

    Be interesting to see what you find.
  • rk911's avatar
    rk911
    Explorer
    Feb 11, 2023
    theoldwizard1 wrote:
    Hemi Joel wrote:

    Rugged enough to survive the rough roads.

    This is a BIG issue ! Toner cartridges have very fine (like talcum powder) toner. Bounced around it could leak out making a mess. You can not vacuum toner ! It will blow right through the vacuum bag !

    Also, if your cab gets very hot, the toner is likely to clump together.


    we carried our Samsung laser (see my earlrier post) in an overhead cabinet in two motorhomes for many years in all kinds of weather and and never experienced any of the problems you describe. luck?
  • deltabravo's avatar
    deltabravo
    Nomad
    Feb 11, 2023
    The organization I work for uses HP laser printers exclusively. I bet we have 400 printers, of varying models, all from HP.
    The previous org also used them.
    THey always have been very reliable.

    I have an HP 1102 laser printer that has traveled in my truck camper for 8+ years and I've never had a toner leak issue.
    It usually goes in a plastic tote in my truck cab, then I move it to the camper when I reach my destination. It lives in the camper until I get home. I use the tote to transport it from the house to the truck camper because I use it at home too.

    The HP M110WE Laser Jet is similar in size to what I have.
    It's nice and compact.

    Hemi Joel wrote:
    Is there something that I can print wirelessly directly from my laptop PC, or do I need to buy and set up some type of network equipment?


    Since you want scanning capabilities, you will need to connect the laptop to the printer via USB. Even for printing, USB is a more foolproof solution. It works. Always.

    Costco has a nice HP MFP Color Laserjet that I'm tempted to buy.
    It's $100 off when ordered online right now.

    MFP = Multi Function Printer (aka printer, scanner, fax)

    HP Laserjet M283cdw at Costco

    NEVER, EVER use aftermarket (cheap, refilled, non OEM) toner cartridges.
    They have caused many problems over the years that I've been working in the IT industry (since 2001).
    I wouldn't hesitate to buy another HP printer. Toner is available every for them, including Amazon and ebay.
  • deltabravo's avatar
    deltabravo
    Nomad
    Feb 11, 2023
    Hemi Joel wrote:
    I used to have an HP inkjet that was constantly doing popups and was trying to sell me stuff. The HP software was like a virus that I couldn't get rid of, and was consuming my computers resources in the background, slowing it down. I don't want anything annoying like that.


    The key here is to not install the software from the CD when you set up the printer. Just go to control panel, devices and printer, add new printer, then when you get to the screen to tell Windows which brand/model printer you have, browse the CD for the driver, then Windows will only install the drivers.

    Better yet, download the latest package of drivers from HP and do the "driver only" download, not the "software and driver" download.

    For SCANNING function, you will likely have to install the scanning software from HP.
    I've never used the scan function built into Windows, so I can't say what it's capable of.

    Hemi Joel wrote:
    I want something that does not connect to the cloud or the web unless I tell it to, and will function completely off line.


    See my info above.
    The only time a printer should try to talk to the internet is if the software for the printer is installed.
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    Feb 11, 2023
    "NEVER, EVER use aftermarket (cheap, refilled, non OEM) toner cartridges.
    They have caused many problems over the years that I've been working in the IT industry (since 2001)."

    This may be true for HP printers, which is why I don't care for HP and quit using them 20 years ago, but aftermarket toner cartridges for my Brother printer work just fine. Bother cartridges aren't all that expensive, but the aftermarket ones are even cheaper and work fine for me.
  • Matt_Colie's avatar
    Matt_Colie
    Explorer II
    Feb 11, 2023
    For about six years, what is now our RV was my office (and more). I have had a color laser in the home office all that time and loved it, but it is power hungry and huge. Admittedly, I always saved the big printing jobs for when I got home, but having the multi-function onboard was a terrific help.

    Toner for the laser lasts a long time, but is also seriously expensive.

    Ink for the little ink jet is also expensive, but this one has the print head as part of the cartridge. This is good and bad. That makes them expensive, but it also means that if a print head clogs, you can try cleaning it really fast (about a 50% success rate), or change it out to get on with the required printing.

    Space and storeage in the coach are at a premium. The ink jet could stow its cables (it was not wireless), and it could run off the tiny inverter forever (we didn't have the big inverter then). It lived under the towels in the linnen cabinet when not in use. This was all in Michigan and I never had a cartridge dry out before it ran out.

    You are going to have to do your own market research, because both of my printers are out of production.

    Before you get too far along, look at your schedule C and remember that you can deduct the cost of the printer and supplies right up front.

    Matt

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