RV Hair Dryer

[Anoyes]

In my REAL camping days as a backpacker, I didn’t give a flying fig about my appearance. However, my recently acquired trailer will be used during work travel, so I have look presentable. The tricky part is I’ll be dry camping in expo center parking lots.

Has anyone found a decent 12v hair dryer that will blow my hair but not my fuses?

Thanks!!

[rmkrum]

Google "12 volt DC Hair Dryer" for lots of choices to evaluate...

[Protagonist]

I've seen a few 12vDC dryers on Amazon. I even know someone who has one. But they say it's worse than useless for hair. They only use theirs to defrost their side windows on cold mornings. It's only rated for 220watts.

220w at 12vDC draws 18amps, compared to 1600w at 120vAC draws 13amps.

I think you would be better off using a 1600w 120vAC hair dryer powered through an inverter than using a 220w 12vDC dryer. But electrical is not really my field, so hopefully someone will double-check my numbers.

[rmkrum]

Good point. I'm not even sure the wiring to the cigarette-lighter style plugs on an Airstream (and many new ones don't have them) has enough grunt to run 13-20 DC amps or more for a relatively wimpy hair dryer.

2000 watt Inverter plus big honking lithium battery bank and solar recharging covering the whole roof is the solution for running a real hair dryer, but it's going to be an issue dry camping.

I guess its an issue for styling, etc. I've never been accused of having 'style', I'm just handy with tools, radios, computers, and test equipment.

If I had any real hair left on my head, I could relate to this better. I'd say a quick trip to the nearest rest room with a purse-sized hair dryer might be an answer...

[Piggy Bank]

maybe consider an inverter plug, regular dryer, and use in the car with the engine running to power up.

[AirstreamJim]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

I'd say a quick trip to the nearest rest room with a purse-sized hair dryer might be an answer...

Or use a generator for the 5 minutes you're drying your hair.

Jim

[YippieKiYa]

Since you will be dry camping a lot, you might want some sort of small generator for emergencies. A Honda/Yamaha 2000-watt generator would do the trick, would be easy to move and store, and you wouldn't have to think twice about running even the largest home hair dryer with it. The generator should handle your a/c, too, on the hot days. Not simultaneously, but would give you the options.

I noticed that your tow vehicle was a Jeep, so hauling a gas generator will present some issues with fumes, etc. You might consider a propane conversion from Genconnex that you could run off of your existing propane tanks. They're good people with great customer service.

http://www.genconnexdirect.net/honda...g_packages.htm

[3wd67rg]

I use a normal hair dryer in our 1988 325 Classic Airstream Moho. I just don’t run anything else at the same time, and only use a single light.

[Fly at Night]

I just stick my head out the truck window and go fast.

Really fast.