I agree several thousand dollars just to be noiseless is not worth it to most.
The difference is 10 years ago a quiet inverter genset was as quiet as you could be. There was no silent solar option at any cost.
Ten years ago we used to often debate/discuss if it were worthwhile to buy and expensive inverter genset just to keep the noise down. You don't read those types of threads any more. For the most part this forum agrees one should use a quiet inverter genset for camping vs. and open frame genset.
Solar packages have raised the bar.
I have a built in genset and I am merely a convenience user. I may overnight off the grid while traveling. I may meet friends at a local Marina and camp on the parking lot. I may camp on friends remote land. All of those adventures only last a day or 2. +My built Onan will keep me powered for a day or 2.
But that built in was a bit expensive. While I have no regrets on buying the Onan If I were buying today I would seriously consider a A/C capable solar for the same money.
Yes its pricey but so is a built in genset. A solar powered A/C package would allow me to maintain my current camping style. But it would also open up oportunity to escape genset rules and camp on non electric sites...and still have electric without producing any noise to disturb other around me.
Assateaque state park has limited electric sites and genset rules. I could avoid those rules and have electric on some of the non electric sites without distubing the neighbors.
It will take years but solar A/C will become commonplace in the RV world.
It's just a natural fit
