Caravanning v Camping

rockylizard · Guru

Caravanning v Camping

Muso · Veteran Member

Now I know the difference!!.............................................A generator.

We like to knick up to a free-camp at Port Parham (20 minute drive) once a month. Went last weekend and had 3 big rigs in. They either all had their gensets going or they seemed to take it in turns. grrrrrrrr.. I know that these big rigs are there home on wheels (or a surrogate) so they need the big screen T.V., the washing machine, reverse cycle air-con, the coffee maker (to make their latte), and so on.

Our luxuries are solar panels, LED lighting, Waeco fridge and Baby Q. But I guess it's "horses for courses" and if everybodys happy then that has to be a good thing.

jimricho · Guru

unfortunately there are some self centred generator owners who don't give a hoot about the amenity of their fellow campers.

They probably tell their friends(?) how they enjoy the quietness and serenity of the great outdoors without realising the irony!

beiffe · Guru

Nothing worse than sitting in a nice camp spot and some bugger comes in and start his bloody loud generator.

I don't mind someone who needs it for medical reasons or even someone starting out but I feel anyone who is serious about their plans should have the facilities to stay the duration of their stay without a generator or at least keep it to respectable hours and have one that does not annoy everyone within a half a mile.

Just because they have a large rig gives them no slack and if anything it goes against them as they have the roof space to carry the solar required and also be able to carry the required batteries, even if they use old style batteries.

To plan your rig for freedom camping they should consider the power requirements and set up to supply that power.

I often excuse the new campers as many don't know what is available or how it can be done but the people who have been camping for many years and state they are happy with the noisy generator and stuff every one else get me riled up.

If they want all the mod cons but not provide a system to run them without annoying every one else then best if they stay in a caravan jail or stay home.

Regards
Brian

jules47 · The Happy Helper

This is our home - and we can manage quite well with the solar and our batteries, but there are times when we do need to use big power draw items - we use the generator then, but at a reasonable hour, and turn it off as soon as we can. It is also very handy when you are in bad weather, not a lot of sun to power batteries, etc., so is a necessary adjunct to our way of life.

We don't run washing machine or coffee machine, just the basics as well as our laptops.

spida · Guru

I ran my generator for the first time at Rocky Creek, and there were several others doing the same. I was actually surprised at how quiet they seemed - but then it is a very big site. Maybe they seem noisier is in a small camp in the bush?

beiffe · Guru

No body worries if there is a reason but to run from 6 in the morning to after midnight every day is not one.

I have full 240v bus and I get by with solar and batteries. I can run everything in my bus from batteries but that also means that I have to consider the battery level and what the days charging will give.

In the summer time I can run my aircon for a few hours to cool the bus but not 24/7.

I have the 240v fridge, coffee machine and the bread maker etc and use a 240v induction stove when it is cold or I want a quick meal when travelling but I use the wood stove when camped and it is allowed.

You should design your rig to suit your needs or change your needs to your rig.

I don't use a TV but I do use the computer for a hour or two for photos and a bit of forum etc but not heavy usage.

Washing machine and coffee machines don't use a lot of power. With my old bus I used a 300w inverter to run my washing machine and a 500w ran my pie cooker etc so not big draw.

My old Mazda had a 40w panel on the roof and I had 320w of portable and found that I could easily get through 3 days with little sun and I can do the same now with my new bus and I still have the portables if needed.

Regards
Brian

rockylizard · Guru

jack biggles wrote:
Hi Rockylizard, Whilst i can appreciate you are much more considerate than many genny users, I cannot understand why you (& so many others) choose 5pm to 8pm ish as a time slot to run ur genny. Sunset & early evening is just so wonderful without gen sets.

Gday...

Simple I guess. I camp mostly - not at 'roadside free-camps' (wayside stops) but in the bush - and spend most of the day away from camp, bushwalking etc. So, when I get back I used to fire up the genny. If I stayed overnight at a 'roadside free-camp' like a sardine I never used the genny.

Each alternate night, at 5pm the genny would begin charging the van battery, run the 240v hotplate on me stove (savin' a bittta gas aww ), charge the laptop and mobile. Also, while all this was happening I could run the light/s. Three hours used to have the van battery charged and I would have my "laptop duties" completed by 8pm and then when genny was turned off I would begin preparations for hittin' the hay.

I must agree that sunsets are wonderful and, interestingly, they used to look exactly the same with or without the genny running. biggrin

However, I have stated that last January I got solar panels installed on the roof of the van because I always felt a wee bit guilty "making a noise" in the bush - even if others were not camped near me. Now I can be whisper quiet and more relaxed. The solar panels provide the charge 'constantly' throughout the day and the laptop and mobile charge via an inverter during the day.

Having said that, others running generators never bother me, to be honest a Honda 2Kva is such a quiet unit on 'eco mode' you have to be pretty close to it, or idealisticly fussy, to hear it.

cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 26th of July 2012 09:18:52 AM

Mousey · Senior Member

we only use ours to gharge the batterys and phones i always ask anybody if they want something charged up while its going

jack biggles · Senior Member

Hi Rockylizard, Whilst i can appreciate you are much more considerate than many gender users, I cannot understand why you (& so many others) choose 5pm to 8pm ish as a time slot to run ur genny. Sunset & early evening is just so wonderful without gen sets.

jack biggles · Senior Member

Hi John, Thanks for your reply mate, I got it all even the subtle swipes

Ole jb was born at note, but not last nite! You & I are probably very similar in many ways, I bush camp the most, followed by nat parks, state forests & various paid camp. In the last 12 months my dairy tells me about 10% caravan pks (I've had 2 stints in the cities due to my failing health). I've got a Honda gender, used it 4 days in 365, always in the daytime when it was too wet to ride crocs or frisby kangaroos. My POWER comes from the gods whilst I'm out haunting the hills. I always get caught out by the genset brigade when stopping in those nasty free camps where all those durrie munching welfare recips loiter, spending their cash on durries & cheap cask wine instead of renewable sources of energy, after all the good ole Chinese gen banger is a good option for some, ESP those who seldom think of others. I agree with most of what u r sayin young man except sunsets looking the same irregardless of genset activity or not. For me old mate it reminds me of my days behind enemy lines after ditching my ride mid flight one time & hiding about the place with my mates shelling me THUMP THUMP THUMP. A cupola times I've even found myself sharpening up a redimade bayonet redy to run someone thru, somehow I always manage to bring myself round to 2012..... Anyway bad news for me this week probably means my days of being wild jack are almost over & pleasse forgive my poor penmanship as it seems I've misplaced my specs again, so I'm just fingering away here with reckless indiffference.