AC use when boondocking

[Al and Missy]

Well, this wasn't really a poll, but the results are 3 AC users, 4 who don't. It is closer than I thought it would be and has me thinking more about getting the second generator. I was mostly concerned with fuel consumption, thinking I wouln't be able to carry enough to make the AC useful for more than 2-3 nights.

Thanks everyone for the input!

Al

[BoldAdventure]

I would just go out and see how bad you want it first. None of us are you two after all.

[Doc Foster]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

I was mostly concerned with fuel consumption, thinking I wouln't be able to carry enough to make the AC useful for more than 2-3 nights.
Al

To get longer run time, i Purchased one of these, they work great:
http://www.amazon.com/IPI-BERG-Dual-.../dp/B003BURT3C

[Native143]

Where can you boondocks in Key West. I've been staying at the state parks but can't in Bahia Honda. Wanted to go further south without the high fees at an RV resort Thanks

[xrvr]

Don't think you can. Too many ordinances.

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by Native143

Where can you boondocks in Key West. I've been staying at the state parks but can't in Bahia Honda. Wanted to go further south without the high fees at an RV resort Thanks

Are you retired Military or civil service? If so the Navy has two areas with dry camping available for $14 a night. No hookups but does have available swimming pool, clean showers, water and dump. 10 minute walk to all the action from one of the areas.

[larryglarson]

We bought the twin to the 2000 and the work well for 1 air conditioner, I am told the will not run 2 even with all other users off.

[Doc Foster]

Originally Posted by larryglarson

We bought the twin to the 2000 and the work well for 1 air conditioner, I am told the will not run 2 even with all other users off.

Correct, the two 2000 will only run A/C.

[Thiatt55]

We purchased a second 2000 generator just to run the AC have done it once in 5 years. Our travel plans are designed to avoid heat. We can't stand the 2 generators and/or the AC running as they are too loud. If we run into heat we decide it is time to move on at least to a park with hookups. Hopefully we will trade up to a unit with ducted air and that will be nirvana.

[LakeState]

don't leave home without them. Many times between camp site destinations they come in handy to weather the storm or aid in AC power.

[CDONA]

I was in Death Valley two weeks ago, I went with a full hookup spot in Furnace Creek.
Got bumped into a lesser spot (overflow employee housing) with overhanging dead branches and had a ding installed the end cap.
Temps were bouncing around 100*, no shade, only one 2k genny for dry camping, so I went with full hookups.
I'm on my way north to get that hybrid system Lewster installs, sure could have used it then.

Dent Valley

[B00merang]

A&B
I grew up in Florida...so was used to the heat and humidity.... then moved out west. Now, when I get back to Alachua County and the Big Bend beaches twice a year I need the AC (although, when it broke down at Ft. Clinch SP last year a 20" fan did the job somewhat). For the 13,500 AC you need both 2,000W Hondas, for sure. So its your decision: Can you put up with the heat and humidity in the southeastern U.S. while having your AS sitting in the sun all day or not? For me, its worth schlepping both units with me unless I head down there after September. Safe travels. jon.

[rmkrum]

Ditto on growing up on Florida east coast and then getting ruined by living in San Diego. Nowadays I don't go to Florida without operational air conditioning in the summer. Went to Disney World a couple years ago in the fall, and it was ok. We all get to be "weather wimps" when we get older.


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[Boxite]

Well, it's a slight variation on the theme for me,... wife and I travelled to the BreauBridge swamp area (So. Louisiana) last July for a week and with the heat and humidity I was very glad to have our generator with us. It's a 3500 watt Coleman/Powermate that runs everything and AC just fine. We don't travel to sit in a can during the day, but we occasionally return for lunch and/or a nap and certainly want AC at night in the warm/humid swamp, so we chained the thing to a tree and left it running all day and night to power the AC keeping the AS cool and dry inside. It would run 11.5-12 hrs on a tank of gas (3.5 gals) with the AC running full time. I'd fill it up from a gas can when we left for the day and again when we turned in for the night. It was a week-long stay and we were very comfortable as the result. I don't care for the expense and trouble of twin-Hondas or their copies and am quite satisfied with our solution. (Found it on a sale for $159 plus tax.)
I see a Similar unit for sale at Tractor supply for $329 with the Champion label on it, and would prefer that to maintaining and feeding two smaller units.
(BEWARE of the Harbor Freight model that claims 4000 watts if you shop for a contractor-type gen. My buddy thought he'd made a bargain with it and found that it's improperly designed with only 13 Amp circuit breakers on 120 volt outlets, which means it won't run anything like an AC unit because the breakers won't carry the load and "pop". You need at least 20 amps to run a single AC unit.)

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by Boxite

Well, it's a slight variation on the theme for me,... wife and I travelled to the BreauBridge swamp area (So. Louisiana) last July for a week and with the heat and humidity I was very glad to have our generator with us. It's a 3500 watt Coleman/Powermate that runs everything and AC just fine. We don't travel to sit in a can during the day, but we occasionally return for lunch and/or a nap and certainly want AC at night in the warm/humid swamp, so we chained the thing to a tree and left it running all day and night to power the AC keeping the AS cool and dry inside. It would run 11.5-12 hrs on a tank of gas (3.5 gals) with the AC running full time. I'd fill it up from a gas can when we left for the day and again when we turned in for the night. It was a week-long stay and we were very comfortable as the result. I don't care for the expense and trouble of twin-Hondas or their copies and am quite satisfied with our solution. (Found it on a sale for $159 plus tax.)
I see a Similar unit for sale at Tractor supply for $329 with the Champion label on it, and would prefer that to maintaining and feeding two smaller units.
(BEWARE of the Harbor Freight model that claims 4000 watts if you shop for a contractor-type gen. My buddy thought he'd made a bargain with it and found that it's improperly designed with only 13 Amp circuit breakers on 120 volt outlets, which means it won't run anything like an AC unit because the breakers won't carry the load and "pop". You need at least 20 amps to run a single AC unit.)

Those low priced generators can be very loud and annoying to others. What is the Db levels of yours?

[J. Morgan]

My 3500 Champion is a little loud for being five or ten feet from my trailer, and not so loud at 25 feet. I think that if I was staying more or less isolated in the swamp, I would run my Champion instead of my Yamaha.


Superat stultitia.

[BoldAdventure]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Those low priced generators can be very loud and annoying to others. What is the Db levels of yours?

On that comment, YES. And solar will make you more of a snob/more aware of the annoyance of others and their generators running non-stop or first thing at 6am in the morning at full throttle when you are accustomed to silence.

[J. Morgan]

If the generator that the poster ran is like the Champion that I have, it is louder than a Honda or Yamaha inverter set, but not obnoxiously loud as some others are.


Superat stultitia.

[dayner]

LOL, we don't see many "solar snobs" in the swamps of south Louisiana...we do see a lot of happy non air-conditioned summer heat tolerant sportsmen/women and tough locals making a living outside, and we have a lot of other air-conditioned local folks and visitors..but RVing "solar snobs complaining about generators" are scarce as hen's teeth. Here, AC by any means, trumps silence on a 90/90 day when camping in an aluminum Bud can in the sun.

[Lily&Me]

Yep....there ain't no humidity like Loooozianna humidity.

Me, i like to boondock when and where I can enjoy the full, outdoor, freedom-from-hookups experience.

If I need AC or heat, prefer electricity to trying to juggle fuel to run the generator for hours on end.

But....that's just me.


Maggie