Do I need a generator?
I've been camping for years and haven't felt the need for a generator but now I will be doing more trips without hookups available. My trailer has a single battery, and I only use it for lights, and ...
Forum Discussion
Steve, you could manage nicely with a couple of flashlights and some batteries for them! I'm sure your RV battery is more than adequate, particularly with some engine charging while traveling. We camped for quite a few years with one of those battery booster things with a motorcycle battery in it. We plugged it into the cigar lighter while travelling and into the tent trailer when camped. No problems with just several lights.
The first couple of years with our motorhome we only had engine charging on two batteries and it wasn't enough for lights, water pump, furnace fridge (ours uses 12 volt power all the time, more when cooling), and the usual phones and tablets to charge. We had to take a drive every day to get some charging and the batteries failed in the second year due to spending too much time below 50% charge. Now, a 100 watt solar panel keeps those batteries well above 80% all the time. Never plug in, no generator.
The first couple of years with our motorhome we only had engine charging on two batteries and it wasn't enough for lights, water pump, furnace fridge (ours uses 12 volt power all the time, more when cooling), and the usual phones and tablets to charge. We had to take a drive every day to get some charging and the batteries failed in the second year due to spending too much time below 50% charge. Now, a 100 watt solar panel keeps those batteries well above 80% all the time. Never plug in, no generator.
