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Old 03-27-2019, 08:50 AM   #21
jking
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At what price difference?
 
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Old 03-27-2019, 09:02 AM   #22
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Originally Posted by JABURKHOLDER View Post
Just a couple of thoughts...

Something important I think everybody missed is the fact that your model rv has a residential fridge which will be drawing power 24/7. Depending on your battery setup, you can go maybe 2 days before having to recharge your batteries. (assuming you did not use anything else in the rv). You may need a constant source of power to boondock with your 3791rd. Solar will provide that, but as stated before, no microwave or a/c. To be honest, you will probably be best served by having both solar and generator.


As far as dual fuel generators go, less output on propane and cost more. You can get 2 2000 watt inverter generators and parallel kit from harbor freight for about $1000. Very portable and easy to use for that extra needed power.
JMHO
A properly sized and engineered solar system can power microwave and AC system.
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Old 03-29-2019, 09:33 PM   #23
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I was just noticing that HF makes both a 2,000 watt inverter generator and a 3,500 watt inverter generator. With the 3,500 only about 56% more than the 2,000. Would it be better to by the 3,500 instead of 2 2,000 watt inverter generators? I know the Predator 2,000 watt is highly thought of, but I have not heard much about the 3,500 watt one.
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Old 03-30-2019, 12:11 AM   #24
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I have 2 of the HF 3500 and run them in parallel. Runs everything. I bought one several years ago, not expecting much but never had a problem. So I bought another and a parallel kit I would recommend them. Change the oil and clean the air filter, pretty much all the maintenance I have done.
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Old 03-30-2019, 04:31 AM   #25
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In the 31 years of camping with my wife, there are 2 things I have learned from her. She likes to be comfortable and no one uses more water than her on a camping trip.

So for the comfortable part I would start out with a HF 3500, because she would most likely want to run both ACs and at some point and I could always add a second 3500.
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Old 03-30-2019, 05:54 AM   #26
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You may not get the a/c to start on anything less then 3-3500 watts.


Lots of folks have used paired Honda 2000 watt gen sets. That starts to get expensive with so many other decent ones now already at 3500 and the savings will pay for a 'lifetime' of gas.


There's a watt draw chart on this - accurate or not, a place to start:


https://www.ramsond.com/wattage-chart/
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Old 03-30-2019, 06:33 AM   #27
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Two Easy Starts are much cheaper than a generator. Reduces the starting current significantly.
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Old 04-04-2019, 06:58 AM   #28
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We find ourselves dry camping much more than connected. Having shore power and water is kind of a luxury for us.

I run 650W of solar and 4 Sam's Club 6v golf cart batteries. We spent two weeks in Key West (dry camping, Navy Trumbo Annex) and never needed to run the generator. I do keep my Honda in the bed of the truck in the event of prolonged cloudy days but even overcast, I still find my batteries are fully charged at the end of the day. I have an Onan 7KW installed for those summer days / nights when I want to run AC. And I'm considering doubling both the solar and battery capacity so I could run a single AC during the day. (You definitely want to go with Easy Starts if you're going to run an AC off an inverter) I think I'd still be running the generator at night, even with the extra storage capacity but that's why I put that Onan generator in there.

The longest we've dry camped (in one location) has been 17 days. Didn't run out of fresh water nor did we fill a waste tank. That said, after 35 years in the Navy (13 of which on submarines) I'm a little OCD when it comes to water conservation. We set up an outdoor galley on extended stays (15 gal barrel with my 'spare' water pump connected) and I wash dishes outside (RV sinks are entirely too tiny IMHO) The wash water is strained and used to flush the toilet. The rinse water is reused as the next day's wash water and I've been known to catch water from the awning when it rains. But getting 3 uses out of the same dishwashing water (wash, rinse, flush) helps stretch a tank.
Navy showers every other day unless we're doing something particularly strenuous or getting dirty, and we refill drinking water jugs at the Twice the Ice stations along the way. (Like I said, I get a little OCD about water but it's been bred into me)

I never dump on the ground (again, bred into me) but as long as you understand your surroundings it can be done safely and with minimal environmental impact.

The more dry camping you do, the better you get at it.
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Old 04-04-2019, 08:59 AM   #29
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I hesitate to add anything because I have just completed a solar install and only boon docked 15 total days, in 3-4 day increments. Following great guidance from “Handybob” (see his lengthy blog) and others I am very pleased. Battery percentage has not been below 70% and I have only used the generator because I don’t like to have it sit too long. We have not been limited in power usage to any great extent. Yes, it is going to take a while to amortize the cost of the install (I am a checkbook electrician) but I like the option of camping free and not going without my comforts. My opinion.
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Old 04-04-2019, 12:34 PM   #30
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I second that notion. Boondocking with comforts!! AC, microwave and espresso all day.
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Old 04-04-2019, 02:24 PM   #31
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As to the waste tanks.....a large blue boy (my poop hearse is 42 gallons) either in the bed of your unhitched truck or if the dump station is not too far away, on a smooth road, towed by truck hitch. Gravity feed waste if towing blue boy or macerator pump if going to blue boy in truck bed. Yes, if a honey wagon is available that seems to be worth the cost but I don’t wish to boondock where there are enough other folks to make this a likely option.
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Old 04-04-2019, 07:13 PM   #32
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Hi my name is Ed, have you had any experience or know anyone that has with the 9200-Watt Portable Generator?
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Old 04-04-2019, 07:40 PM   #33
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Hi my name is Ed, have you had any experience or know anyone that has with the 9200-Watt Portable Generator?

I am going to assume that at that wattage you are talking about an open frame contractor style. If you are within a 1/4 mile of others they will hate you as contractor style generators tend to be very loud. Also if your particular model does not put out a pure sine wave your electronics may not be happy either. Just food for thought.
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Old 04-05-2019, 04:08 AM   #34
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Hi

we see more and more people getting banned when using contractor generators at public as well at private grounds.
Inverter Generators are really not expensive anymore.

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Old 04-17-2019, 03:51 PM   #35
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Just got the wife her Mother's Day/Weekend present since she was talkin about needing a generator for the past three months. A Champion 3400 wireless, with electric start for $750 via Walmart and thats with a 10% employee discount. Happy wife, happy life. I'll get my 100 watt solar panel in June. Seems like you need both options available to you.
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Old 04-17-2019, 04:04 PM   #36
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Hi

we see more and more people getting banned when using contractor generators at public as well at private grounds.
Inverter Generators are really not expensive anymore.

Mike
Seen more than a few campgrounds limiting noise levels from portable generators. NASKW has had a 70db limit in place for some time now (in addition to a no-generator rule from 11PM - 7AM) and we were told that limit will be lowered to 65db next season.
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Old 06-14-2019, 09:41 PM   #37
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Dual fuel gen

You can buy a motor-snorkle and install it on a regular generator to convert it to dual fuel. https://www.motorsnorkel.com/
I bought one and put it on my home gen after hurricane sandy. Having natural gas at the house you never run out of fuel.
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Old 06-15-2019, 05:18 PM   #38
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We have not done any boon-docking, and would like to prepare for the possibility that we would. Which in your knowledgeable opinion is the better way to go: Dual Fuel Generator or Solar. In other words - which is more efficient in the long term? Not, in cost, but in providing electrical power over a longer period of time?

Also, for those of you who do a lot of boon-docking, how do you handle the waste water?

Anything specific I need to know about boon-docking?


BOTH!
We love our solar, and my wife loves our Champion Triple fuel REMOTE start inverter?Generator. She can start it and stop it without going outside.
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Old 11-19-2021, 08:27 PM   #39
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Chris, welcome to the forum. You chose a thread that was last commented on over two years ago. A lot has changed with solar and even generators in that time.
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Old 11-25-2021, 10:06 AM   #40
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What is the right size generator to run every thing.
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