Portable Printer

[MainerBob]

As we plan for a long winter trip we find we want a printer with us. What are your suggestions for one that is rugged and small. It doesn't have to run on 12v but should be easily storeable. Color would be nice too. Thanks for your help.

Bob

[thestoloffs]

M GO BLUE wrote:
Ok...take all the above suggestions and add that the printer needs to be wirelss to connect to a laptop and android phone...any suggstions there?

The HP model listed in my previous post has Bluetooth; many of the home/home office printers may also have Bluetooth, but most of them have Wi-Fi networking.

[wa8yxm]

I carry a full size "home" printer Pixima IP 4300) I got it because at the time it was the only US home grade printer that could squirt ink onto Ink-Jet CD's other than Epson and I won't buy Epson after my daughter's C-82.

Today there are some others that can do that.

Works great.

[M_GO_BLUE1]

Ok...take all the above suggestions and add that the printer needs to be wirelss to connect to a laptop and android phone...any suggstions there?

[1775]

We also have the Canon PIXMA IP-100. It is small and we fit it into a laptop case to protect it while traveling. It must be connected by USB to the computer. It is full color (two cartridge system - black and color) and will print a regular 8.5x11 sheet of paper (or smaller or larger up to legal size). We use it for business while on the road. It can be used for photos also. It has good print quality. It is very rugged and made for travel. This is much better than dealing with an all in one that is much larger and you have to deal with remembering if the scanner head has been locked down for travel.

As to clogged heads. We pull it out every few months and print a test page to keep the ink flowing if we have not used it in that time. Cartridges last us a very long time.

[SteveAE]

I bring an Epson Small-In-One and a set of the smallest ink cartridges I can find for it. Not fast and the ink often dries out between trips (often works to just clean and then wrap in plastic), but works "good enough" for printing/copying maps, etc. when using the trailer as a base camp for hiking trips.

Steve

[Gdetrailer]

Thunder Mountain wrote:
Over the years I've had really bad luck with ink printers that I use very infrequently in the RV. They clog up from disuse. Last winter I purchased a cheapo toner based printer. Can't remember the brand. It's packed away in the MH awaiting next winter.

X2

ALL inkjet printers suffer from the same lack of use problem, you MUST use them or risk loosing a set of extremely expensive ink cartridges.

Toner based printers do not suffer from this issue, toner will not go bad nor dry out, basically will outlast you, your children, grandchildren and beyond.

However toner based printers do have one quirk.. toner getting anywhere you don't want. Simply put, the bumping and banging around from traveling may cause some toner to spill on some of the internals of the printer. If that happens do not use air, nor standard sweeper to remove unless you want a cloud of black dust all over things. Otherwise a perfect choice for occasional printing.

[Thunder_Mountai]

Over the years I've had really bad luck with ink printers that I use very infrequently in the RV. They clog up from disuse. Last winter I purchased a cheapo toner based printer. Can't remember the brand. It's packed away in the MH awaiting next winter.

[trb46]

I saw an HP (can't remember model #) at WalMart the other day for $30. Inkjet. Small footprint. Save the original packing and it should travel safely. Just a printer, not an all-in-one. If I needed one, that's what I'd buy.

[hitchup]

We carry an HP Photosmart 6520 that replaced an HP 4410 that died after a year. I always set it on the floor under the dinette when we travel and have no problems with it.

Don't print photos anymore, but is good for color printing, which DH needs for his job.

[obgraham]

I don't print very much these days, but when we are out for a longer time I sometimes have the need.

So I carry the cheapest Canon, like $35, from WalMart. In a brown bag on the closet floor. Never had anything malfunction on it.

**Sounds like the poster above me does about the same.

[ctpres]

We don't print much on the road, we just store it on external hard drive, usually just print tickets and park info. Got tired of dealing with replacing high dollar ink cartridges. So from now on, when inks gone or dried out (yes I tape em) I will just buy a new color printer/scanner/fax on sale. Just bought one at Walmart for $28.

[the_bear_II]

We use a all in one HP Deskjet. It's a color printer, scanner and copier. It is small when closed up about 12W X 10D X 8H. We just leave it sitting on the desktop on a non-slip pad when travelling. It's about 5 years old and still works great.

It's a Deskjet 1200 series not sure if they still make them.

[RoyB]

Mine is small footprint HP DESKJET with color ink... The cheapest I could find haha... Got it at Office Depot i think it was... Seems to take the punishment pretty good in my off-road POPUP setup... Of course everything has it locked down position in the POPUP trailer makeshift ops console.

I use it mostly with my MARS STATION Radio setup - works well with my Dell M90 laptop docking station with monitor, keyboard, and speakers setup... Use the Verizon MIFI 2200 WIFI HOTSPOT setup for getting on the internet.

Roy Ken

[sdianel_-acct_c]

HP Deskjet 1000 printer from Walmart. Small printer that folds up. Not speedy but gets the job done. $29.98. Have used an older model for 5 years. Not wireless. I just sit it on the top shelf in our closet which has a lip to prevent it from sliding off. Wedge it between 2 bins. Put the cords in a plastic zip lock storage bag. L 16.0 x W 16.81 x H 9.8