Camping with the Sound Police

toedtoes wrote:

As is the truth with most threads of this manner, posters are not going to admit that they ignore the campground rules and run their gennies more than is allowed. Perhaps those on this board don't. But there are a lot of folks out there who do.

I have been to more than one campground where, for reasons I cannot readily understand, they seem to be rather secretive about the generator hours. It's hard to put too much blame on people for overrunning them when they are neither posted on bulletin boards nor noted with the other campground rules and regulations in the informational pamphlet.

Vermont state parks seem to often be offenders in this regard. I know I've mentioned it on the comment cards a few times that it might be a nice idea to post the established generator hours somewhere a little more visible.

TomG2 wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
I believe your takeaway from all this is faulty. I believe that while none of us "camp" next to other people running generators night and day all the time, many of us have had to camp next to other people running generators outside of campground generator rules. While one day in a campground with someone running their loud generator for one hour isn't unbearable (as long as it's done during the day), a long weekend or week with someone running their loud generator on and off all day and night IS enough to complain about.

As is the truth with most threads of this manner, posters are not going to admit that they ignore the campground rules and run their gennies more than is allowed. Perhaps those on this board don't. But there are a lot of folks out there who do.

What you can takeaway from this thread is that if you are at an event type setting where round the clock generator use is an acceptable factor, then it is OK to use your generator around the clock. If you are "camping", then follow the campground's rules regarding generators. If the rules don't meet your personal desires regarding generators (whether they are allowed to run too much or not enough), then find another place to camp.

Well, if my takeaway is "faulty" then so is your since you agree with almost everything I mentioned. Noisy events, expect noise. Otherwise, obey the rules or avoid those places where generators are commonly used.

Not exactly. Your takeaway is that people who are "camping" don't run into generators being run all day and night. That is the faulty part. Yes, people who are camping run into this - more often than is shown by this thread because: 1) by default, this forum is populated with people who are more likely to have and use a generator than other forums dedicated to camping; 2) people who have and use a generator are more likely to make allowances for generators being run outside of the rules; and 3) there is a halo effect on forums - people tend to claim to "NEVER" break the rules, to "NEVER" act rude, self-centered, or self-serving even though in the real world they often do just those things.

So, just because you "see" most people agreeing with our above "general consideration policies", in real life many of these same people will ignore these policies because it doesn't fit what they want.

SoundGuy wrote:
Silent? That's funny ... the only time any genset is "silent" is when it's not running ... ANY genset.

pnichols wrote:
Hmmmm ... try a Honda EX650 if you can find one ... and you just might be surprized by the Sound of Silence. ;)

Sorry to disappoint but a friend owns an EX650 and while it is quieter than an EU2000i (of which I've owned 2 myself) it's NOT "silent" - NO genset is, other than when it's not running. :W

My SIG is SoundGuy for a reason, spent my career of 45 yrs in sound engineering ... and just for giggles I built an EU2000i Quiet Box just to see how "quiet" I could actually make that genset when running full tilt. The results were quite good, which anyone can view for themselves from the link in my SIG ... but it ain't "silent", nor more than is your EX650. ;)

toedtoes wrote:
I believe your takeaway from all this is faulty. I believe that while none of us "camp" next to other people running generators night and day all the time, many of us have had to camp next to other people running generators outside of campground generator rules. While one day in a campground with someone running their loud generator for one hour isn't unbearable (as long as it's done during the day), a long weekend or week with someone running their loud generator on and off all day and night IS enough to complain about.

As is the truth with most threads of this manner, posters are not going to admit that they ignore the campground rules and run their gennies more than is allowed. Perhaps those on this board don't. But there are a lot of folks out there who do.

What you can takeaway from this thread is that if you are at an event type setting where round the clock generator use is an acceptable factor, then it is OK to use your generator around the clock. If you are "camping", then follow the campground's rules regarding generators. If the rules don't meet your personal desires regarding generators (whether they are allowed to run too much or not enough), then find another place to camp.

Well, if my takeaway is "faulty" then so is your since you agree with almost everything I mentioned. Noisy events, expect noise. Otherwise, obey the rules or avoid those places where generators are commonly used.

TomG2 wrote:
OP here. My takeaway from all this is that very few of us "Camp" next to other people running generators night and day. Some of us attend events where that is to be expected. Why then, do people jump on every mention of a generator that is a couple of db louder than theirs? Most of us never hear a generator in out travels. Or do some folks just like to complain whether it affects them or not? I have hauled Hondas and Yamahas all over the country and they were silent, just like the Champion that rides back there now, ready for an emergency.

I believe your takeaway from all this is faulty. I believe that while none of us "camp" next to other people running generators night and day all the time, many of us have had to camp next to other people running generators outside of campground generator rules. While one day in a campground with someone running their loud generator for one hour isn't unbearable (as long as it's done during the day), a long weekend or week with someone running their loud generator on and off all day and night IS enough to complain about.

As is the truth with most threads of this manner, posters are not going to admit that they ignore the campground rules and run their gennies more than is allowed. Perhaps those on this board don't. But there are a lot of folks out there who do.

What you can takeaway from this thread is that if you are at an event type setting where round the clock generator use is an acceptable factor, then it is OK to use your generator around the clock. If you are "camping", then follow the campground's rules regarding generators. If the rules don't meet your personal desires regarding generators (whether they are allowed to run too much or not enough), then find another place to camp.

TomG2 wrote:
OP here. My takeaway from all this is that very few of us "Camp" next to other people running generators night and day. Some of us attend events where that is to be expected. Why then, do people jump on every mention of a generator that is a couple of db louder than theirs? Most of us never hear a generator in out travels. Or do some folks just like to complain whether it affects them or not? I have hauled Hondas and Yamahas all over the country and they were silent, just like the Champion that rides back there now, ready for an emergency.

Most of us have, at one time or another, been stuck next to someone running one of the Harbor Freight contractor generators (or their ilk). These things make a chain saw sound quiet.

SoundGuy wrote:
Silent? That's funny ... the only time any genset is "silent" is when it's not running ... ANY genset.

Hmmmm ... try a Honda EX650 if you can find one ... and you just might be surprized by the Sound of Silence.

We have an immaculate one we carry in the rig and when I start it up with one or two pulls it just sits there doing it's thing ... but you practically have to hold your hand near the exhaust opening to tell. ;)

SoundGuy wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
I have hauled Hondas and Yamahas all over the country and they were silent, just like the Champion that rides back there now, ready for an emergency.

Silent? That's funny :R ... the only time any genset is "silent" is when it's not running ... ANY genset. ;)

You got it. Way to go. Funny.

TomG2 wrote:
I have hauled Hondas and Yamahas all over the country and they were silent, just like the Champion that rides back there now, ready for an emergency.

Silent? That's funny :R ... the only time any genset is "silent" is when it's not running ... ANY genset. ;)

OP here. My takeaway from all this is that very few of us "Camp" next to other people running generators night and day. Some of us attend events where that is to be expected. Why then, do people jump on every mention of a generator that is a couple of db louder than theirs? Most of us never hear a generator in out travels. Or do some folks just like to complain whether it affects them or not? I have hauled Hondas and Yamahas all over the country and they were silent, just like the Champion that rides back there now, ready for an emergency.