Camping with the Sound Police

TomG2 wrote:
It has never happened to me in hundreds of campgrounds and traveling forty states over fifteen years. That is why I asked. I must be lucky.

Didn't you say that you are a NASCAR fan, Tom ?

If so, does the above statement include "campgrounds" at major races ??

Having done about 15 of the tracks myself, I would find that near impossible to believe.

Lol....We camp in the open desert, and we all use our gennys to power our needs. You all need to get over the abrasive noise issue and go with the flow. I and all I camp with are thankful we have these items to make life better. Technology has given us this option, so we use it.

Complain, Cry or Moan....I don't care.

CopilotCompanion wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
The way I see it is as long as you follow the rules, then you're fine.

If the rules say "generators between 6 and 8 a.m. and 4-8 p.m., and you insist on running it at midnight, then YOU are in the wrong; If you are running it at 7 p.m. and someone else complains, then THEY are in the wrong.

If you want to be able to run your generator all day and night and/or at will, then you need to pick campgrounds/camp spots that allow that.

If you want to not hear a generator all day and night, then you need to pick campgrounds/camp spots that don't allow that.

If you are boondocking, then be courteous. Don't park next to someone and start running the generator non-stop. Maybe ask them (they were there first) if they have a problem if you run it all day and night and maybe even explain why you want to run it and why you want to park next to them.

I suspect most people would say "no problem, please do what you need" if you explained that your child has medical devices that run on electrical but this is his favorite place to fish. Be prepared for the neighbors (who were there first) to say they do have a problem with the generator and be prepared to move away to another spot - don't just ignore their wants because you think yours are more important. Heck, maybe a conversation with them will result in finding a new perfect fishing spot.

Maybe if both sides would take a moment to COMMUNICATE instead of ASSUMING, we'd find fewer problems with the use of generators, scare lights, and so on.

It's really a shame that compromise has been lost to our society.

X2. Yeah, what TToes said.

X3

I tent camp off the grid with 3 kiddos for up to three weeks every summer. 2 of them are up to eating like stevedores and the last one still eats like a "normal American 8 y/older".
Never hear complaints about not enough food. Just silliness about say too much Italian vs BBQ vs Chinese vs French.
Jaded lil buggers..

I expect when the RV is delivered I'll still be more dependent on the Coleman white gas stove and fire pit to cook or heat up on. A microwave is useful but still a secondary cooking tool in my life, on and off the campground:).

toedtoes wrote:

pconroy328 wrote:
I'll fess up we run our on-board Onan more than I wish. And I do think about the noise bothering the neighbors. I feel really bad when I'm the first one starting up.

But - we're a family of five. 3 teenagers.
The predominate reason we're on the genny is not AC, not the TV.

It's the microwave.
Three starvin' teenagers - I can feed one or two off the campstove, but I do need the microwave.

cream of wheat, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, etc. can all be made easily on a campstove (or RV stove) in bulk without needing a microwave.

If the kids are so hungry they can't wait 5 minutes for the food to cook on the stove, then they can eat a poptart or fruit to tide them over.

Or pick up another campstove and let the teenagers fix their own breakfasts.

What do tent campers do with teens? They seem to eat very well. There are options for a microwave, electric coffee pot, toaster, etc.

It has never happened to me in hundreds of campgrounds and traveling forty states over fifteen years. That is why I asked. I must be lucky.

TomG2 wrote:
I still ask the question, "Do people really park next to each other in campgrounds and run their generators?"

Yes. You don't always have a choice in the matter.
Sometimes all or most of the spaces are full.
Sometimes the owner/manager puts you where HE wants you to be.

And some of those times it is above 90 degrees with a heat index over 100 until a couple of hours after the sun goes down......and there is no shade anywhere nearby.

toedtoes wrote:
The way I see it is as long as you follow the rules, then you're fine.

If the rules say "generators between 6 and 8 a.m. and 4-8 p.m., and you insist on running it at midnight, then YOU are in the wrong; If you are running it at 7 p.m. and someone else complains, then THEY are in the wrong.

If you want to be able to run your generator all day and night and/or at will, then you need to pick campgrounds/camp spots that allow that.

If you want to not hear a generator all day and night, then you need to pick campgrounds/camp spots that don't allow that.

If you are boondocking, then be courteous. Don't park next to someone and start running the generator non-stop. Maybe ask them (they were there first) if they have a problem if you run it all day and night and maybe even explain why you want to run it and why you want to park next to them.

I suspect most people would say "no problem, please do what you need" if you explained that your child has medical devices that run on electrical but this is his favorite place to fish. Be prepared for the neighbors (who were there first) to say they do have a problem with the generator and be prepared to move away to another spot - don't just ignore their wants because you think yours are more important. Heck, maybe a conversation with them will result in finding a new perfect fishing spot.

Maybe if both sides would take a moment to COMMUNICATE instead of ASSUMING, we'd find fewer problems with the use of generators, scare lights, and so on.

It's really a shame that compromise has been lost to our society.

X2. Yeah, what TToes said.

DutchmenSport wrote:
Yup, I see where this is heading. Time for the:

Please pass the salt.

??

To the OP: Only places we have noticed or expect generators to be running All Day and Night are at large events,Festivals,NASCAR,Tailgating,large parades ETC.

We try not to camp in the California heat around here. If we need to go in because it is over 95 or 110 degrees out then we will make sure sure we get a site that has power. Or we head to the Coast where it is usually cool and windy and only need the generator for short periods at a time.

Only time we experienced generators running for long periods of the time have been at fishing tournaments that require camping, but then that goes back to EVENTS in general.

I do understand that the East Coast tends to stay warm at night and some folks run their generator to stay cool,, but again the situation seems to dictate the use. Like the two pictures of camping out in the middle of no where,, Yeah, I would have no problem bringing my generator out there,, after all,,,,whos going to care or know???

TomG2 wrote:
I still ask the question, "Do people really park next to each other in campgrounds and run their generators?" Why not park farther apart, or choose campgrounds with hookups instead of being aggravated by your neighbor, whether his generator is Red, Blue, or Yellow? Or is it more fun to complain? We have a few of those here.

Where I camp, there are no hookups - anywhere. There is no option to park "further apart" because the campsites are established and they fill up during the season (and close off-season). So, Jake with his generator could come in, park halfway around the campground from me (without a generator), and within a few hours, the 20 sites between us are filled with folks with and without generators.

Again, as long as the generator owner is following the rules of the campground, then it's my problem and I need to get over it or go elsewhere. If the generator owner is ignoring the rules, then it's his/her problem and he/she needs to get over it or go elsewhere. It really isn't that difficult until people start trying put their own wants above the rules (and that's on both sides of the argument).