New Take on Tow Vehicle

[rodsterinfl]

So I have been traveling around our beautiful country with my Airstream and my 2022 F150 PowerBoost. Great combination. I have been staying almost exclusively in our National Parks and while I am able to read “no generators” I have used the PowerBoost on a few occasions. I was told twice so far by park volunteers to stop using it. That said, I have also noted their lack of knowing what I am doing.

Both times it was from 12-3pm when I returned from hikes, etc- so not at night and anyone who has heard a PowerBoost or even Lightning knows there is very low sound- nothing like even an inverter generator. Close to that of an aquarium pump running. I was timing the event the second day I “was caught” at a different park. The truck ran at a quiet idle for 3 minutes and then would stay off for 22 minutes all the while charging the house batteries. It is a fabulous feature.

So here is what I got from the Ranger the second go-round. “Are you running your truck to charge your batteries on your camper?” “That is not allowed. Why are you turning it off and on? Did you know you were not supposed to do it and did it anyway?”

I tried to explain that it was not a generator, that it was not obviously loud and that it was not the same as what they said- running a truck continuously to use the alternator to charge camper batteries. I said it is a hybrid that cycles that way, that it actually is charging its battery for about three minutes then transfers power to the camper (7.2KW). They did not care. All they cared about was the idle sound during the three minutes. Which I was amazed it bothered anyone. From the factory it is very quiet exhaust and a very low hum in the camper and outside. I believe they were making an issue out of something that was not an issue, especially with nearly the entire campground devoid of people at the time of day. I did not hear them stop the rock music and drum players the night before. Oh, well. Just thought i would share. The feature is a great camping option but Rangers need to understand the difference in using a truck alternator and letting a truck run for hours idling or one of these. It is totally not the same and should not be a problem.

[SunchaserV]

Rods
It would seem to me that the Park guys have it correct. No engine charger running means that whether with a Honda 2000 or a sporadic idling eco boost.

[jcl]

I agree with the park rangers. Where we live there is a 3 minute limit on idling when a vehicle is occupied, and no idling is allowed when a vehicle is unoccupied. That is in a city, not even a park.

[blacklab]

Rod,

Couple of clarifying questions:

1. Were you in a No Generator site?

2. If not, and generators were allowed at your site, was the 12-3 pm period during times when generators were allowed?

Cheers,

Bryan

[Andy543]

I don't think that running your PowerBoost for a few minutes in the afternoon is a big problem. The truck starts and runs very quietly. It's not like the guy warming up his diesel pusher in the next site at 6 AM. The rangers probably overreached in enforcement of the rules (assuming they were not responding to a complaint). I think the bigger problem is the overabundance of rangers in our national parks with nothing else to do.

[SlowPokePete]

Originally Posted by Andy543

I think the bigger problem is the overabundance of rangers in our national parks with nothing else to do.

Sheesh.

SPP

[Merlintiaga]

Originally Posted by SunchaserV

Rods
It would seem to me that the Park guys have it correct. No engine charger running means that whether with a Honda 2000 or a sporadic idling eco boost.

totally agree

[Bearstream01]

Originally Posted by rodsterinfl

...Rangers need to understand the difference in using a truck alternator and letting a truck run for hours idling or one of these. It is totally not the same and should not be a problem.

??????Maybe they understand just fine. Its still the rule.

If the music players were breaking the rules too, then yeah it was unfair to single you out, but only because the ranger shouldve spoken to them ALSO.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Rules are rules. The "no generators" thing is about engines running / making noise. In a "generators allowed" area, there are limits on how much noise the generator can make. A quiet generator is ok. A noisy one will get you a visit from a ranger. Is a quiet generator is ok in a no generators area .... apparently not.

Bob

[nelsonh]

Following, since I'm also a PowerBoost™ owner. So far I've only used mine once at a campground mainly for experimenting and practice, so I'll file this under "good to know!" and keep it in mind for possible future scenarios. Thanks for passing along your experiences!

[aftermath]

Originally Posted by Andy543

...I think the bigger problem is the overabundance of rangers in our national parks with nothing else to do.

Well, we won't have to worry about this moving forward. Cuts, cuts, and more cuts will take care of this over abundance of Park Rangers. Wow, such waste.


I have been to many parks that limit the use of generators but, as of yet, none that completely outlaw them. If they are outlawed, you can't use them, plain and simple. There is no wiggle room here. Don't make it about how much money you spend either. I have camped next to the $400 Champion contractor's generator that rattles the fillings in my teeth. I spent $1K on my Honda many years ago and it is much quieter. Should I be allowed to use mine and the other guy can't? Now, throw in an $80k truck that is really quiet....who gets to use what?

[AldeanFan]

No generators means no generators,
That includes if you are using a truck as a generator.

[Andy543]

How about changing the rule. Instead of "No generators allowed", we could have "No noisy generators allowed".

[G8trwood]

Rangers right they were.

[NutmegsCamper]

I would agree with the ranger's stance. No means no. Just because 1 generator is sitting on 4 wheels doesn't mean it's anything less than a combustion fired, exhaust spewing, electricity producing device. If you choose to go to a place that has rules, you have chosen to accept and follow those rules or suffer the consequences.

You can't poop in the toilets in the Lowes plumbing section, can you?

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by Andy543

How about changing the rule. Instead of "No generators allowed", we could have "No noisy generators allowed".

Some campgrounds already do allow only quiet generators, others do not allow any and some only allow quiet generators in certain places and/or certain times.

[Andy543]

Originally Posted by Wazbro

Some campgrounds already do allow only quiet generators, others do not allow any and some only allow quiet generators in certain places and/or certain times.

I like that. That last rule should satisfy everyone.

[Boba911]

Originally Posted by rodsterinfl

So I have been traveling around our beautiful country with my Airstream and my 2022 F150 PowerBoost. Great combination. I have been staying almost exclusively in our National Parks and while I am able to read “no generators” I have used the PowerBoost on a few occasions. I was told twice so far by park volunteers to stop using it. That said, I have also noted their lack of knowing what I am doing.

Both times it was from 12-3pm when I returned from hikes, etc- so not at night and anyone who has heard a PowerBoost or even Lightning knows there is very low sound- nothing like even an inverter generator. Close to that of an aquarium pump running. I was timing the event the second day I “was caught” at a different park. The truck ran at a quiet idle for 3 minutes and then would stay off for 22 minutes all the while charging the house batteries. It is a fabulous feature.

So here is what I got from the Ranger the second go-round. “Are you running your truck to charge your batteries on your camper?” “That is not allowed. Why are you turning it off and on? Did you know you were not supposed to do it and did it anyway?”

I tried to explain that it was not a generator, that it was not obviously loud and that it was not the same as what they said- running a truck continuously to use the alternator to charge camper batteries. I said it is a hybrid that cycles that way, that it actually is charging its battery for about three minutes then transfers power to the camper (7.2KW). They did not care. All they cared about was the idle sound during the three minutes. Which I was amazed it bothered anyone. From the factory it is very quiet exhaust and a very low hum in the camper and outside. I believe they were making an issue out of something that was not an issue, especially with nearly the entire campground devoid of people at the time of day. I did not hear them stop the rock music and drum players the night before. Oh, well. Just thought i would share. The feature is a great camping option but Rangers need to understand the difference in using a truck alternator and letting a truck run for hours idling or one of these. It is totally not the same and should not be a problem.

I have a f150 Limited Hybrid and love it. I a have driven about 20K miles with the AS and used it extensively. I have used it in many places where generator hours are restricted but never been asked to shut the truck down, I would guess it depends on where you camp and how flexible they are with the rules. You are right about the truck being very quiet and only runs for a short period of time.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by rodsterinfl

So I have been traveling around our beautiful country with my Airstream and my 2022 F150 PowerBoost. Great combination. I have been staying almost exclusively in our National Parks and while I am able to read “no generators” I have used the PowerBoost on a few occasions. I was told twice so far by park volunteers to stop using it. That said, I have also noted their lack of knowing what I am doing.

Both times it was from 12-3pm when I returned from hikes, etc- so not at night and anyone who has heard a PowerBoost or even Lightning knows there is very low sound- nothing like even an inverter generator. Close to that of an aquarium pump running. I was timing the event the second day I “was caught” at a different park. The truck ran at a quiet idle for 3 minutes and then would stay off for 22 minutes all the while charging the house batteries. It is a fabulous feature.

So here is what I got from the Ranger the second go-round. “Are you running your truck to charge your batteries on your camper?” “That is not allowed. Why are you turning it off and on? Did you know you were not supposed to do it and did it anyway?”

I tried to explain that it was not a generator, that it was not obviously loud and that it was not the same as what they said- running a truck continuously to use the alternator to charge camper batteries. I said it is a hybrid that cycles that way, that it actually is charging its battery for about three minutes then transfers power to the camper (7.2KW). They did not care. All they cared about was the idle sound during the three minutes. Which I was amazed it bothered anyone. From the factory it is very quiet exhaust and a very low hum in the camper and outside. I believe they were making an issue out of something that was not an issue, especially with nearly the entire campground devoid of people at the time of day. I did not hear them stop the rock music and drum players the night before. Oh, well. Just thought i would share. The feature is a great camping option but Rangers need to understand the difference in using a truck alternator and letting a truck run for hours idling or one of these. It is totally not the same and should not be a problem.

If they don't see it, complaining won't cross their minds.

Bob
🇺🇸



The enclosure can be closed, and the Honda can just sit there telling itself stories until unnecessary.

[goldenchase]

I have operated my PowerBoost in National Parks in generator designated areas during generator allowed periods and never had a complaint.

The reason I am sure is that it is impossible to hear the PowerBoost over the noise associated with the stand alone generators running continuously during generator hours.

Sounds like a Park Ranger who had nothing else to do except make up new rules. He probably watches Bill Maher.