Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Where you go, where you stay and everything to do with getting there and back.

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

ed_crouch
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 09 Jul 2012, 21:47
80-90 Mem No: 0
Location: North Hampshire

Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by ed_crouch »

Hi all.

Pondering battery charging for an 8day stay at Eweleaze farm down Dorset in August. Going with some friends, so there'll be maybe 4 vans between us all.

No leccy hookup down there. I could and might install 200W of solar panels on the top of the poptop, which would keep the battery topped up nicely in August. 300+ notes.

Orrrr, I could buy a 1.5kw genny for £125!

Ok, the solar option is more Eco, but the genny has a lot going for it too.


Would I be considered a scumbag glamper from hell and generally disliked if I fired up a 65dB genny for maybe a couple of hours during each day?

I'm an affable sort of chap, but have never used a generator before and don't know if they come with social leprosy / pariah status attached?

What's the opinion? Generator or solar?

Ta.

Ed.
P.s. whilst this might be applicable in the tech section, I'm really interested in whether or not people will complain, hence I posted it in here. :-)
1982 Autohomes Kamper, 2.0 CU, Automatic.

User avatar
jamesc76
Registered user
Posts: 6241
Joined: 14 Oct 2005, 14:42
80-90 Mem No: 1186
Location: Nottingham
Contact:

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by jamesc76 »

As long as during the day shouldn't be a problem tho take the time to piont the exhaust away from pointing at other campers will cut the noise they hear down!
Can you really only last 24hrs on battery before needed to charge um up tho??? might be every other day?
DJ at Dubdayz Summerfest
Now cutting about in an LT35 MWB

jed the spread
Trader
Posts: 9017
Joined: 09 Oct 2005, 17:31
80-90 Mem No: 1967
Location: Sutton in'it Syncronaut: 123
Contact:

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by jed the spread »

Those cheap petrol generators make a right racket. If you go with a quiet Honda or the like it will cost you as much, if not more than solar panels. The thing is if you fit Solar, although it might be more expensive it will be stress free and you can use it again and again in places that are not so acceptable. I would think (and this is only my opinion) that if you start up a generator everyone else who has paid to stay and want a nice holiday will hate you and you will be on edge the whole time. I am not being funny but if I was a paying customer on a campsite and I had to listen to a generator I would be straight over to ask you to turn it off. People in tents might beat me to it though as they have to lay on the ground and have canvas al around them.
I have been wild camping in places that other Motor homes And Campervans use and they think because everyone isnt paying they can be as rude as they like and and a couple have started up generators, I have asked them to turn them off and after some ranting and raving from them two minutes later they felt they had to because everyone else applauded me.

I say go solar plus you don't have to carry or buy extra fuel, I went with a Sterling charger and extra batteries but thats a whole different topic :lol:

Hope this helps.

Jed
CAMPERVANCULTURE.COM

VW T25 Van Spares, Westfalia Parts, Quality Camping Gear & More

chriscburgess
Registered user
Posts: 265
Joined: 19 Aug 2007, 20:38
80-90 Mem No: 4405
Location: Bedfordshire member
Contact:

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by chriscburgess »

Ask your self would you camp next to some road works?

Because thats what is like camping next to someone with a generator - go solar
T25 1984 Westfalia pop 1.9DG

User avatar
ghost123uk
Registered user
Posts: 6857
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 10:15
80-90 Mem No: 2585
Location: John in Malpas, in the very S. W. part of Cheshire.
Contact:

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by ghost123uk »

Sorry but both Gill and I hate generators of any sort on a camp site. I just couldn't use one on a camp site close to others. My sense of guilt just wouldn't allow it. We have more than once, broken camp and moved to the other side of the field just to get away from it. And anyone using one after dark should be immediately shot :twisted: (not literally ;))
Got a new van, but it's a 165bhp T4 [shock horror] Accurate LPG Station map here

Cruz
Registered user
Posts: 3919
Joined: 12 Oct 2005, 10:40
80-90 Mem No: 2092

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by Cruz »

Would quite a number of campsite owners ask you to turn a generator off anyway? As I am sure most don't allow them

Torches for when the battery is dead. Everything else is not needed

User avatar
ghost123uk
Registered user
Posts: 6857
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 10:15
80-90 Mem No: 2585
Location: John in Malpas, in the very S. W. part of Cheshire.
Contact:

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by ghost123uk »

If you took a normal battery charger, you could take the leisure battery out (or take a spare one) and ask the campsite owner if you could charge it up during the day, for a small consideration :)

Hey, that's a good idea isn't it (?)
Got a new van, but it's a 165bhp T4 [shock horror] Accurate LPG Station map here

User avatar
harvey
Registered user
Posts: 81
Joined: 20 Jan 2013, 15:43
80-90 Mem No: 11967

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by harvey »

chriscburgess wrote:Ask your self would you camp next to some road works?

Because thats what is like camping next to someone with a generator - go solar

+1
Freya 1.6TD California

ed_crouch
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 09 Jul 2012, 21:47
80-90 Mem No: 0
Location: North Hampshire

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by ed_crouch »

Thankyou for your thoughts, folks. I hear you loud and clear! The above posts are exactly why I asked - im not selfish and I like to get on with people :-)

I shall go solar, I'd like 200w on the roof and I plan to fit a 180ah battery. Might have to start smaller tho...

Ta.

Ed.
1982 Autohomes Kamper, 2.0 CU, Automatic.

User avatar
clift_d
Registered user
Posts: 3290
Joined: 04 Oct 2012, 23:51
80-90 Mem No: 11695
Location: Hackney innit

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by clift_d »

ed_crouch wrote:I shall go solar, I'd like 200w on the roof and I plan to fit a 180ah battery.

Definitely the best plan. We've camped at Eweleaze and a generator would make you stand out like a sore thumb there.
1988 LHD T25 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker Hightop syncro

User avatar
centro
Registered user
Posts: 305
Joined: 04 Oct 2009, 19:57
80-90 Mem No: 7575
Location: Southsea
Contact:

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by centro »

ed_crouch wrote:Hi all.

Pondering battery charging for an 8day stay at Eweleaze farm down Dorset in August. Going with some friends, so there'll be maybe 4 vans between us all.

No leccy hookup down there. I could and might install 200W of solar panels on the top of the poptop, which would keep the battery topped up nicely in August. 300+ notes.

Orrrr, I could buy a 1.5kw genny for £125!

Ok, the solar option is more Eco, but the genny has a lot going for it too.


Would I be considered a scumbag glamper from hell and generally disliked if I fired up a 65dB genny for maybe a couple of hours during each day?

I'm an affable sort of chap, but have never used a generator before and don't know if they come with social leprosy / pariah status attached?

What's the opinion? Generator or solar?

Ta.

Ed.
P.s. whilst this might be applicable in the tech section, I'm really interested in whether or not people will complain, hence I posted it in here. :-)

There is no etiquette in using a generator. Dont do it – it will pi$$ people off. Eawleaze is a basic site, so adapt to it.
http://www.typetwentyfive.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Type 25 Tintop, 1988 Petrol 2.1i

User avatar
ghost123uk
Registered user
Posts: 6857
Joined: 10 Mar 2006, 10:15
80-90 Mem No: 2585
Location: John in Malpas, in the very S. W. part of Cheshire.
Contact:

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by ghost123uk »

I find solar a waste of time unless it is a very clear day with the sun high in the sky, then it works fine.

So, I still reckon this is a good idea =

ghost123uk wrote:If you took a normal battery charger, you could take the leisure battery out (or take a spare one) and ask the campsite owner if you could charge it up during the day, for a small consideration :)

Hey, that's a good idea isn't it (?)


.
Got a new van, but it's a 165bhp T4 [shock horror] Accurate LPG Station map here

User avatar
Ian Hulley
Registered user
Posts: 12659
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 08:08
80-90 Mem No: 1323
Location: Wirksworth, Derbyshire ... or at t'mill

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by Ian Hulley »

ghost123uk wrote:I find solar a waste of time unless it is a very clear day with the sun high in the sky,

Then you'd be wrong John. Even here in dappled shade our's totally charged both batteries up and had switched off before we woke up.

Image
The Hulley's Bus
1989 2.1DJ Trampspotter
LPG courtesy of Steve @ Gasure

User avatar
T'Onion
Moderator
Posts: 10812
Joined: 07 Oct 2005, 17:39
80-90 Mem No: 255
Location: Sheffield or 07737167005

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by T'Onion »

ghost123uk wrote:I find solar a waste of time unless it is a very clear day with the sun high in the sky, then it works fine.



.


Wrong John me old mucker , Mine was working this week , half covered in 2 inch of snow ( could only reach that far and didn't fancy going up on t'roof :shock: )
victus in mutuo vicis
Ego mori tu mori

User avatar
ronsrecord
Registered user
Posts: 519
Joined: 26 Aug 2009, 13:39
80-90 Mem No: 7441
Location: West Midlands

Re: Campsites and "petrol generator etiquette"...

Post by ronsrecord »

Any chance we could get some pics of your solar panels? Are they permanently mounted or not? And what size?

(sorry for all the questions - always fancied a solar panel on the van.)
Making hay while the sun shines!

2.1MV Club Joker, 1988, LPG/ petrol

Locked