Just another mini generator rant.

[tfischer]

This is my opinion and I'm sticking to it: If you're camping on a primitive (no service) campground, you should be prepared to camp off the grid. If you *must* bring a generator along, it should be a quiet one, used sparingly just enough to top off batteries. This goes up a magnitude moreso if the temperatures are far too cold to warrant A/C.

Now I'll start by admitting that this didn't affect us, fortunately we were far from the offenders and could barely hear them. But we camped in a primitive campground this weekend. It was so primitive that the whole section of the park didn't even have electrical power: the fill and dump stations were elsewhere in the park (by the entrance), there were only pit toilets, and the available water at the campground was via a solar well. There were several larger RVs that brought generators. The ran them from the earliest allowed hour until quiet hours. They may have even run them longer for all I know. They were running even when the people weren't at the sites. Most of them weren't particularly loud... the one I actually saw was the Predator 3000. It's quiet for what it is, but it's still an engine running... one running for 14 hours a day. When we'd walk by there I'd just shake my heads... what exactly do people need power 100% of the time for? Temps barely made it into the 70s this weekend, and overnights were down into the upper 40s. Definitely not A/C weather. Do they not even have batteries in their RV?

Again, really not a problem for us, but I would have been furious if I had camped near these people. Even the tiny bit we heard from our site was somewhat annoying as the site was very quiet and peaceful other than that.

We used lights, some heat, water pump, and charged 4 phones, 4 watches, and a couple DSLR batteries and other various things, as well as other power uses, all silently thanks to our solar suitcase and battery.

 

[rsdata]

I have a hybrid, with tip out bunks. One February we camped for two nights in a Federal primitive campground in S FL. Next to us was an older MH with a built-in diesel genny... loud but worse the fumes were terrible, exhaust pointed right at us and no wind. In Feb it gets dark early. The sites were closely spaced and reserved. I knocked on the door and asked the fella if he could please turn off the genny as the fumes were suffocating us and to come outside and see for himself... he promptly told me that genny quiet hours allowed him to run it to 10 PM and that was what he was going to do. I think he turned it off about 9:30 and thankfully left the next morning.

 

[Steveo4090]

They probably ran them just because they had them and didn't even think about how anyone else would possibly be upset about it...or didn't care if they were.

I agree with you though and idk how it wouldn't bother the owners of the generator to be near that all day.

 

[tfischer]

If I had been near the ones that ran it when they were gone, I would have went over and switched it off.

If people want to "RV" (vs "camp") they shouldn't go to a primitive state park campground. These same people had their fancy camper decked out like a vegas casino in LED strip lighting.

 

[Toedtoes]

Unfortunately, as long as they follow the generator rules of the campground, they can do it.

I really try to pick my campgrounds and campsites carefully. I tend to stick to small campgrounds that have 25ft or shorter parking pads on one loop and longer pads (if any) on another loop. I look for loops with the fewest campsites. I look for campgrounds that cater to hikers and fishing rather than boaters and water sports. This tends to avoid the generators and lights brigade.

 

[tfischer]

Unfortunately, as long as they follow the generator rules of the campground, they can do it.

I really try to pick my campgrounds and campsites carefully. I tend to stick to small campgrounds that have 25ft or shorter parking pads on one loop and longer pads (if any) on another loop. I look for loops with the fewest campsites. I look for campgrounds that cater to hikers and fishing rather than boaters and water sports. This tends to avoid the generators and lights brigade.

This really kind of met that description. Only 25 sites in our campground... small sites (it was tricky enough to get the popup in our site). The park had another much larger campground with pull through sites, hookups, etc. Catered to canoeing and kayaking, not power boating. Still, there they were...

 

[A-Ranger12]

Glad that NY state parks and campgrounds have strict hours for generator use, and enforce them. I do use a small Inverter generator on occasion, for air conditioning or when solar hasn't worked well. Only during generator hours.

Those folks would have had a ranger turning off their generator outside of generator hours had they been camping at a NY state run facility. Seen it done a few times.

 

[tfischer]

I'm not sure they were actually running outside of hours. MN State Parks don't have "generator hours" outside of the standard quiet hours. But I think there should be a rule that a site doesn't run a genny for more than 3 or 4 hours a day tops. If you need more than that, get a powered site or go boondock.

 

[Jimbow]

I dislike anything that leaves my campsite and enters another. Fumes, noise, lights, etc. I also dislike people who don't follow the rules of a campground or who are inconsiderate.

Having said that, if generators are allowed I avoid the area. I can't fault someone for obeying the rules. I also understand the huge difference between camping and full time RV living. While I've never watched TV while camping I do at home and I understand others wanting to.

 

[Bowman3d]

I absolutely detest large rvs that start their generators up first thing in the morning. One of things I love doing when camping is getting up early(6am or earlier) and enjoying a quiet cup of coffee while listening to the world awaken then I hear grrrrrr phffffffffffffffff. Just bothers me. They shouldn’t be able to start them till after 9am and have a set run time like 2 hrs( just throwing a number out) then off for a set amount of time. I’ve posted here before my dislike of generators while camping. Although I will agree there are some instances where they are warranted. I realize everyone has a different idea of camping this is just mine. Cranky old fart rant out!!!

 

[jmkay1]

I'm with you. I'm thankful most places I go have a generator free loop which is where I always try and grab if I can. So I haven't had too many issues myself. The problem is, at least in my state this year, all campgrounds are jammed packed. People who want to camp are forced to grab the only site or campground available. So people who prefer hook up site are forced to dry camp etc. So they are going to continue to camp as they are accustomed which means they are going to be running their generator all day if they can. It's not fair, but at this time we really don't have a choice if we want to camp.

 

[Bowman3d]

I actually haven’t been camping since February this yr. so I have no experience with the new covid campers, but I can imagine it’s pretty nuts with people who never camped before who just want to get out of the house and party. Hopefully when this is over the ones that keep camping are the more respectful of other campers type. I’m sure once I get away from Ca it’ll be better retirement can’t come quick enough.

 

[MNTCamper]

To the OP, I completely agree with you (another MN person). This is especially true if other sites / loops in the park do have electricity, then no generators in the primitive areas. Some campgrounds do have no generator loops which is good. Fact is, there isn't much need for 120 unless you need AC, but we never camp in need AC areas. I think one of the big issues is that some people don't want go camping, they want to bring all their house stuff into the woods. Lots of little Forest Service places that you can hide away in and no generators. Can't wait until I have a set up for true dispersed camping and always peaceful.

 

[LongHammer]

I boondock only my camper does not even have a place for a battery. I will run my generator all night when it is cold. Cold is around freezing. The furnace and heating pads don't use a ton of juice so a 100ft extension cord gets the genny away from camp to where I don't even notice it. Small honda is eco mode really doesnt make anymore noise than my 23 year old furnace!

 

[tfischer]

I boondock only my camper does not even have a place for a battery. I will run my generator all night when it is cold. Cold is around freezing. The furnace and heating pads don't use a ton of juice so a 100ft extension cord gets the genny away from camp to where I don't even notice it. Small honda is eco mode really doesnt make anymore noise than my 23 year old furnace!

There's always a place for a battery.

 

[Toedtoes]

I'm not sure they were actually running outside of hours. MN State Parks don't have "generator hours" outside of the standard quiet hours. But I think there should be a rule that a site doesn't run a genny for more than 3 or 4 hours a day tops. If you need more than that, get a powered site or go boondock.

I know a few campgrounds like that. They are small but are near one or two other campgrounds that are larger. Lots of times, folks will stay at the smaller campground because it's cheaper and/or they think they won't have rangers, etc., around like at the bigger campground. I avoid those also.

 

[Toedtoes]

Hopefully when this is over the ones that keep camping are the more respectful of other campers type. I’m sure once I get away from Ca it’ll be better retirement can’t come quick enough.

Considering how many posts about inconsiderate campers are about non-California campgrounds from non-Californians, I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[Toedtoes]

From the survey I did a while back, most people on this forum use a generator/120 for A/C, heating and cpap.

Around here, I don't see a lot of "go inside and watch tv" campers. I probably go inside more than most around me - I admit, I like relaxing inside my camper.

 

[grandpa mikey]

Sorry folks. But when I go out camping that gen of mine is going to run for the a/c. I've got to have that cold air, especially at night when its so humid. I do run a fan but when that humidity is high I've got to run the a/c with a gen. Wished I could find a more silent gen

 

[Sneezer]

I have had my pup for about 5 years now, maybe 6. I have yet to camp in a site with no hookups. I require electric and A/C, a good nights sleep is tantamount for me. I didn't buy a pup to be primitive or have an upgraded tent on wheels. Granted, I live in TX, the summers are brutal, we have limited time off and the cooler free weekends during the fall and spring tend to be taken up with scout trips. I have no interest in boondocking, I don't feel the need to go hiking or biking through the wilderness, and I don't like to fish. When I do camp at state parks, most of the day campers are elsewhere when I am hanging around the camper, so it tends to be pretty peaceful anyway. My A/C runs 24/7 when I am out, just like every other camper in the loop. In the evening when the others start showing up and cooking dinner it really is not that bad. When folks get a little too rowdy the rangers are pretty good at reminding them of the rules. Around that time I'll retreat inside anyway. I haven't built a fire in years, half the time there is a burn ban in place, and the smoke always follows me and irritates my senses, so I generally avoid it whenever I can.

With that being said, if I were to boondock I would do my best to be respectful of fellow campers. Primitive camping attracts a different breed of camper than those I see at state parks. I am the outsider in those situations. I couldn't imagine parking my pup in a primitive loop and running the genny the whole time when in close proximity to others. Pretty sure they don't allow gennys on the primitive loops here, and most are limited to tent camping only.

If I felt the need to go to dispersed camping and thought I would need a generator, I guarantee it would be an Inverter generator with a doghouse over it. I have seen a few that muffled the sound so much you could hardly tell it was there. The A/C or heater would be louder. That would also require me investing about $1k for a genny, supplies and auxiliary fuel tanks, and it would take up valuable space in the TV that I don't really have.