Solar vs generator

Do you really think you need the independent power? We found that we don't "need" a generator or solar.

For weekend camping without hookups, careful use of electricity makes our single battery easily last a weekend. From Friday night to leaving on the following Monday, single battery power is fine. For a week plus, I usually bring a spare camper battery so I know we have enough power.

Otherwise we plan camping trips at campgrounds with electric hookups, especially if we think we'll want to use the air conditioning. Although having a "full hookup" campsite with septic is nice, I have no problem with using the dump station at a campground so we will choose a campsite based on location and size, not just hookups. A lot of campgrounds around us have "electric only" campsites, or campsites with electric and grey water only drains - which is really nice, you can take long showers!

If I ever do get a generator for camping, I will spend the money to get a high quality and Quiet! one like a Honda. Friends have a Honda 2,000 watt camping generator, and it is just weird how quiet it is.

I have both solar and gen.
The solar gets used all year round; The generator is used in winter to supplement the solar when its rainy/cloudy. I use 2 batteries;

IF I had a choice between solar OR generator then I would choose the generator although in a pinch you can top off your TT batteries by running the tow vehicle and connecting the batteries together;

Every persons needs will dictate what works best for their type of camping. I started with larger batts, then got a honda 2000 then added solar and 6v batts. I mostly camp with services but the genset and solar allow me full freedom on my boondocking trips. If I could do it again I wish I had the Honda back in my tent trailer days!!

Daryll

I would start with a generator. Later on look into adding solar.

Hi,

I had solar only for 4 years. Now that I full time, I'd need to have a lot more wattage. Even so, in the last year I burned only 5 tanks of fuel in the generator.

For my detailed thoughts on solar surf here:


https://freecampsites.net/adding-solar/

Ladyeeyore wrote:
We just purchased a 2018 coachman freedom express. Some of our camping trips may involve boondocking. Is it better to invest in the solar panels or a generator. We were also told that we could install a second battery.
Any thoughts?

wrenchbender wrote:
A gen is the way to go. Solar has advantages only if you require very little power

Lol, technomadia runs full time with mostly solar, they can even run both AC units in their bus for 2.5 hours off just their battery bank, much longer with solar boost. They do have a 2.5kW generator but they've said they rarely run it, between 800W of roof solar, 600W of grounds panels, and 400WHrs of lithium they can get by running everything without it most of the time. Interestingly they've run off solar plus a 15A extension cord with AC for several weeks at a time.

We have three 12v batteries, we can go 7 days on this. And still have enough power at the end to bring in the slide. We have a Honda generator that has never been used., But have it just in case we need it. 120 volts only get us the microwave and the AC. We have a 12v Television with built in DVD, makes it really easy.

wrenchbender wrote:
A gen is the way to go. Solar has advantages only if you require very little power

Really? We boondocked for over 100 days using our solar, the wife uses her hair dryer every morning.

A gen is the way to go. Solar has advantages only if you require very little power

Only reason to have a generator is to run the air conditioner 24/7 and are you really going to do that? If I need air I am looking for hookups.

With conservation you may not need solar or generator for 3 to 7+ days once you adjust to conserving battery power. Then solar just extends the time or power you use.

OK solar will do about nothing in a solid canopy of shade. However even an hour or two of sun can really give the battery a boost. Generator seems like a quick, easy, low cost solution. However you still need more batteries and a good three stage converter to make it work properly. Then there is noise and the smell of exhaust for you and your neighbors.

I would encourage you to go solar.

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