Tent-camping & portable generators

I just started tent-camping about a week ago; first time in my life. It's not awesome but it doesn't suck, either. If I'm going to stay with it for a while, though, I want to improve a few things. A bit of context...

I own a car. I want to upgrade to a van and leave the tent as an option rather than having to crawl in and out of it as the default way of being. It's going to take me a couple months or so to save enough for a decent used van (I'm lookin in the $1,000 - $1,500 price range) so I've got to get thru the winter in a tent; doesn't sound awesome but since I gave up my apartment to do this, it's the tent or the car, and I need to stretch-out flat to sleep so... it's "tent or BUST!"

I'm thinking of getting a portable generator that's not to unwieldy to lug around while I'm in my car, and that will still serve me well once I get into a van.

A I'm doing right now is charging my cell phone & electric razor from a small inverter that plugs into the car's cig. lighter, but the inverter isn't strong enough to power my aging laptop. I think I should go with a 2nd battery & larger inverter off of it to power my laptop, and a portable LPG generator (@2,000 watts?) to keep the 2nd battery charged but I'm so new to all this that I want to hear from others before buying anything.

Tell me what you think about this idea: good? overkill? other? :juggle:

 

Hey ZenRogue I been Van Dwelling for 3 years now, and have a 210 watt solar panel on the roof mated to a 250 amp hour battery, this set-up runs the laptop 6 hours a day refrigerator all night, and as much tv as I wish to watch. On cloudy days I have to run my generator for a couple hours in the morning and a couple at night. Its only 1000 watts and thats way more then I need even without the solar equipment. Is there a reason you need to use LPG? Cheaper in your neck of the woods? Have you considered a small solar panel? Hope this helps!

Edit just noticed your in AZ as well Harbor freight sell a 900 watt gas generator for $120

 

Thanks for your reply, hoboberg.

The solar panel setup sounds pretty nice. I don't know enough about the different choices to have any strong persuasion for or against any particular option but some things I've run across so far include:

LPG keeps longer than gasoline. LPG is less problematic to store/transport. Generators that run off LPG are said to be quieter, as well as led expensive, to run; also are supposed to burn cleaner, giving off less exhaust smells than has generators.

That's just some of what I've read so far but again, I'm so new to this that I can't be sure of anything. LOL!

I would certainly consider a solar panel setup like you described as long as its got enough juice to run my desktop PC & monitor for many hours each day. If I'm gonna last through the winter in a tent, I'm gonna need to be able to lose myself in the virtual world on demand. LOL!

Funny you should mention harbor freight because a nearby camping person mentioned them today, too.

Just to be clear, are you saying that I should consider a smaller generator while adding the solar panel setup to the mix?

 

No Problem

Interesting didnt know all that stuff 2000 watts seems like alot for a fella in a tent. I believe most generators have no way of knowing the load that is on them so if your running 500 watt computer with a 2000 watt generator theres a lot of fuel being wasted. Honda makes some super quiet generators that can run 7 to 8 hours on a half gallon of fuel, and also sense the amount of watts being used and adjust accordingly. If your camping next to people they will be happy you purchased such a quiet Genny, but these r pricey unless found used believe yamaha makes a similiar model as well.

Not sure of your situation if your planning on spending any length of time living in a vehicle? In my opinionsSolar is by far the best modification that can be done, and many others would agree.

 

I dunno what I'm talking about, but I personally would get the van and install any cap or roof-raising thing you plan on, bunk or whatever, and then get a generator and bolt it to a strategic part of the roof, along with a cowl to protect it, and in such a way that a solar panel could still be mounted. Or you could make a cowl that would cover the whole top, for other storage as well as the generator, and that could still have a solar panel added.

 

Take a look at the Honda 1000. Although much more expensive it's a top of the line unit and will serve you well for 20 years. The harbor freight isn't a bad unit but it's crap compared to the Honda.

I know money is tight but if your going to invest, and you can swing it. get the Honda. I personally own one and it's worth every penny.

 

Yep Kens right you wont regret it! Just change the oil, and if you have neighbors they'll be happy as well.

 

A generator will use a minimum amount of fuel, irregardless of the power used, but will use more if you are maxing out the load. This is why fuel consumption is always rated at half load. I believe that is the most efficient load level.
You need to size a generator for the maximum load you will experience. If you are planning to operate anything that has a motor, you have to allow for your start up power. Lights, computers and other such stuff will only use the rated power, with no start up surge.
In this case a laptop will likely use 120 watts max (check your adaptor). Even if you are going to use the generator to charge up batteries, 500 watts would be plenty. If you want to only run the genny for a few hours a day, you would be best to invest in an inverter/charger unit, similar to a ups unit. When you run the generator, it will charge the batteries while you are using the power, and when the genny shuts down, it automatically switches to battery power. This helps make more efficient use of the generator.
As for the LPG vs. gasoline, go with whichever you are more comfortable with. Gas is more available, but LPG will store better. Do keep in mind, though, that when you refill a LPG bottle, you usually pay the full cost of a refill, even if the bottle is half full.

Just some food for thought anyway.

 

I've been hearing high praise for Honda generators from everyone I've asked so far (off forum, I mean) so when the time comes, I'll most likely get one.

Frankly, I'm not sure what I'm doing long-term. I tell people that "my life unfolds in 5-minute segments" because yesterday's 'bad idea' is sometimes the very thing I intend to do today. Clearly, I have issues lol Even so, I like the idea of solar and will do some more checking along that line.

Thans for your helpful information!

 

I'm leaning toward a van right now, too. I mean, tent living is fine enough as it is but I feel kinda tied to a place with a tent setup because I can't just go whenever I please; gotta break camp, pack the car, etc. It's not hard to do but I'd prefer just to go when and where I wish on a whim. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me

 

I certainly will; thank you!

 

Great info; thanks!

 

Hey, no problem. I have spent quite a lot of time researching generators and other power supplies. Finally figured out what would be the best for our situation. 25 kW PTO drive unit. Runs everything without a second thought. But I'm also running a farm household, and when you go too long with out power in the middle of winter, it gets really bad.

 

okay first off don't buy a generator to charge electric razor in cell phone, thats silly. Shave with a big boy razor and charge you phone with a 12v charger. Charge your laptop when you go sit and use wifi somewhere. you seriously don't need a generator what are you going to put a flat screen TV and a deep freeze in your tent? Save your money get a van. Or a old sailboat (i did) then worry bout solar panels and battery banks and inverters.