It just feels wrong

[JiminDenver]

We went camping last week testing out the new solar, inverter and the toys they will run. We were talking about them when Honey gets excited and starts digging through a storage that hasn't seen light since we got the trailer. Pretty soon I hear "will it run this?" The box held a 120v auto drip coffee maker. Sure I said but we make coffee on the stove the Melita way like we have for 25 years. Well before I was even finished saying that, the thing was out of the box and being set up for a test pot.

So now the thing sits there taking up space and I have to listen to it running each morning. It ain't right I tell ya, we are boondockers for goodness sakes. The next thing I'll hear is the stove top toaster isn't good enough anymore. :S

[JiminDenver]

Well I suppose the auto drip does save me some propane but considering we only fill the two 20 pound tanks once a season, it's not a big issue.

My biggest benefit is not needing the generator. With it being remote controlled you would think it would be easier to press the fob and run the big loads. The hassle aside from the noise is the loading, storing, and there is always that nasty smelling gas can. With a SUV and a trailer, there is no where to store it outside while traveling.

So the only thing left is the air conditioner and it only gets hot enough for a few hours a day. I'm considering a Frigidaire 5000 btu unit that is rated for 150sq ft, uses less that 470w on high and 440w on low. Add a third ECO-w and bring the 230w poly back on line for 720w total and we should be able to run it and keep the 8-D in float.

[RoyB]

BURBMAN - Your hiding the generator reminds me of a true story I have..

Wife and I got into Smoky Mtn Natl Park ELKMONT camp around 2PM in the afternoon and got all setup in our OFF-ROAD POPUP. Was dieing for a cup of coffee while resting in the big chair under the awning.

I thought what the heck - fired up my generator which sits under my fold-a-cover bed cover in the tail gate corner of my truck bed. Plugged the trailer into the generator and started my coffee maker up sitting on table outside under the awning. We use the Cuisinart Grind and Brew coffee maker to make our been coffee we love. For some reason I just closed the tailgate on the running generator and it vents good from the front folding lid if I put a small stick under it so it won't fully close.


Its not all that full under the cover when I setup camp

As luck would have it here comes the Ranger greeting new arrival folks. I offered coffee and there both were about five feet away from my truck with the 2KW Honda running in the closed bed swapping stories etc...

I finally asked about the generator run time restrictions which was 8AM-10AM and then again at 4:30PM to 7:30PM (I think it is 8AM to 8PM now).

I told him well I needed coffee real bad after setting up and my generator is running right now. He jumps up and I dropped the tail gate and sure enough there it was purring away... Then I closed the tail gate again and the purring noise went away...

He sits back down and we finished our coffee and he went on his way... I shut it down as he was leaving... I'm sure it was the good ole fresh ground bean coffee that saved me hehe...

True story

Roy Ken

[pianotuna]

12thgenusa wrote:
Solar coffee and toast is the best!

x2

The whole idea for me was to save on propane costs.

[noteven]

bigorange wrote:
French press...simple and oh so tasty!

x deux

[JiminDenver]

Water-Bug wrote:

Valkyriebush wrote:
Big waste of battery juice. Generator perhaps, waste of fuel, stove top makes good sense when boon docking.

No ! Camp fire makes good sense when boondocking.

This is the first time in a few years we have been allowed to have a campfire due to fire bans. Cooking over a propane fire pit just isn't the same.

[JiminDenver]

Believe me, it has taken a while to get out of the tent style of camping. We fully intended to use the trailer like a hard sided tent when we first got it. After one cold trip in the fall and Honey found the thermostat. Since then it has been a slow progression to glamping out in the middle of no where.

So I'll keep making my coffee my way when I get up at dawn. It's quieter and I like really strong coffee, unlike the tea looking stuff that comes out of the auto drip. However if toys makes Honey enjoy camping more then I'm fine with it if not just a bit embarrassed.

Now short term things like a microwave, hair dryer, vacuum and yes even the dreaded auto drip are no sweat for the system. I really do have to draw the line at frying pans and toaster ovens though. My poor little inverter bank would up and quit.

I do like the idea of a thermal carafe, that warming plate slows the recovery time down and with my luck, Honey will want to nuke a danish too.

[bigorange]

French press...simple and oh so tasty!

[Water-Bug]

Valkyriebush wrote:
Big waste of battery juice. Generator perhaps, waste of fuel, stove top makes good sense when boon docking.

No ! Camp fire makes good sense when boondocking.

[Ductape]

If you'll let me run an extension cord to your grid I'll plug in and run the heat pump... Save on propane. 😉

[BurbMan]

Dude the hairdryer is what prompted the generator purchase in the first place....

[DutchmenSport]

Time to get a couple more new batteries and solar panels, the hair dryer is coming next!

[bshpilot]

when i used to tent camp (while motorcycling) i used a JET BOIL / coffee press
french pressed coffee in less than 3 minutes !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWx-J5urWOM

[Valkyriebush]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
We use our basic Mr. Coffee drip coffeemaker both with power and without. If power is not available and we can't or won't run the generator, we just heat a pan of water on the stove and pour it in the top through the coffee basket. When the coffee is done, it goes in an Airpot carafe that keeps it hot all day or all night. No waiting in the morning!

Never thought of that, good idea.

[dave17352]

Tassimo makes great coffee.