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crankster78
Senior Member
Joined: 08 May 2018
Location: Minn
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Posts: 163
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Topic: Electrical Hookups When Camping? Posted: 14 Jan 2019 at 9:44am |
Greetings I attend a couple of antique farm equipment and steam shows every year. I dry camp for up to 7 days. I run a Honda 2000 watt during the day and battery during the night due to sound restrictions. I don't run the air but do use a microwave. I have dual LP tanks and a group 27 deep cycle battery. I usually add some fresh water if it gets low using a water can. A dumping station is available when I leave. I travel by myself, so it works out fine. Anytime shore power is available, I use it I avoid most chain type RV parks and prefer State Parks. I'm older and have a handicap placard for my TV so I can stay at Parks here in MN for 1/2 price, which is really helpful.
Crankster78 R-179
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Crankster 78 R-179 2015
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp
Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128
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Posted: 14 Jan 2019 at 7:46am |
We can roll in any manner, and have and do.. heck last summer I spent a few nights at Balsam Mountain in the GSMNP, (in a new, and very nice) expedition tent. But.. can't take the dog, the wife isn't that keen on it any more, and the weather has to be right. Of course it pretty much always is up there. So we almost always have the "basics" W/E. But as we age, we find we like FHU's the best, especially as our trips start to be 2-4 weeks long. Not having to A) use someone else's bathroom, and B) not have to tote a tank at any point during the stay, are trade offs I am willing to make to get in the outdoors as much as possible. A lot of our trips revolve around hiking, walking, cycling, and sightseeing.. none of which you do right at the camper anyways. But a little research with google maps and such, and you can tell if a CG is to tight etc. For 7 days or less we can roll completely self contained no problem. With FHU's at home, if need be, we can roll home to dump/flush.
We have KOA'd 2 nights total, but not in one of the resort or destination parks.Our annual 2 week holiday trip to HBSP, we like the "old CG" now known as the "North CG", much more then the "new CG" known as the "South CG" BUT.. only about 15% of the NCG sites are FHU, where 100% of the South are.. so MUCH easier to get a spot in the new section, even if it means being closer to other sites.. For next year, we mitigated as much as we could, we and our camping partners reserved spots at the very end, and across from each other, so we will have nothing but nature in front of us..
One nice thing is, around here, (TN, KY, IN) many many state parks have very nice site spacing AND E hookups. Some have E/W, and very few sites or parks have W/E/S..
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Guests
Guest Group
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Posted: 14 Jan 2019 at 6:19am |
This question is kind of tough, for me. There is what I like/prefer but, on the other hand, there is what I need.
I prefer no hook ups/primitive. However, when temperatures are much above 80 degrees, I need electrical to run the A/C, to provide Dixie (my dog) with a cool/safe environment.
So, I voted half/half.
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lostagain
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
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Posts: 2587
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Posted: 13 Jan 2019 at 5:47pm |
For us, we almost always camp in Forest Service or state/federal park campgrounds. As a last resort we'll go to an RV park, but we don't like being sandwiched between two class A motorhomes with their machinery going off and on all night. If an RV park has lots of space between the parking spaces, then it can be quite pleasant, but that is the exception to the rule from our experience.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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jato
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
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Posts: 3227
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Posted: 13 Jan 2019 at 5:41pm |
Although the poll states I cannot vote for reasons unknown, I will cast my vote here. We tend to gravitate toward national parks, forests, state lands where electricity is not available. Having tent and pop up camped for 35 years before purchasing our 177 in 2011, we never had a need for electricity and even now, not having A/C, microwave/convection oven, or entertainment system, don't have a need for it now either. Both batteries, now 8+ years old have given a lot of dependable service and they are relied upon heavily. There have been times when there have been few options and have had to go to a location that has electricity, but like a few posters have already mentioned, it is nice to have "space" between you and your neighbors. Can't imagine shelling out 50 or more bucks/night at a KOA but did go to a similar venue in Traverse City a few years ago for the ERU, and that was a lot of fun because of the comaradarie of meeting and hanging out with a lot of fellow podders. Our preference is the 10 dollar a night deal at national parks/forests.
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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Kup-Pod
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Joined: 08 Jun 2017
Location: Guelph, Ontario
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Posts: 153
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Posted: 13 Jan 2019 at 4:07pm |
We have typically stuck with Provincial or National parks when camping. Our experience with private campgrounds has been OK, but crowded and not friendly to a family of greater than 2 kids. About 50% of the sites in provincial parks are electrical, and we tend to book those now. For years, a couple of our kids refused to let us book electrical because "that's just not camping!" :-) But when we can enjoy a rainy day in the trailer - they started to see the advantage! :-D
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2017 RP-178
2021 F150 5.0l
"Lead me on a level path"
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
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Posted: 13 Jan 2019 at 2:34pm |
My setup is similar to geewizard's, except I use the standard rPod furnace. Two propane cylinders. Typical off grid stay is 5-7 days, limited by fresh water tank size, the desire to see some new scenery, and/or my wife's work schedule. I don't experience any limitations on electric usage unless we need air conditioning. The generator doesn't really help much for that because of campground quiet hours.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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geewizard
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Joined: 16 Apr 2017
Location: Spokane
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Posts: 347
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Posted: 13 Jan 2019 at 2:20pm |
I have solar, two deep cycle batteries, a Wave 3 heater, and a Honda generator as backup. I don't see camping as going to a campground with hookups. We have had hookups but only as a last resort.
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2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1708FB
2017 R-Pod 177 (Blue) HRE SOLD
2004 Outfitter Apex 8 camper
2014 Toyota Tundra DC
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Tars Tarkas
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Joined: 14 Jan 2013
Location: Near Nashville
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Posts: 1446
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Posted: 13 Jan 2019 at 2:02pm |
For me, deciding where to camp is more about ambiance. For instance, we go to the Outer Banks pretty often. It's very easy to stay at a private campground or at a National Seashore campground (which, until last fall, had no hookups -- they've added a few sites with hookups and will be adding more I understand). We choose the National Seashore campgrounds for the beauty, location, and for the space between sites. (These factors vary considerably among the NS campgrounds at OBX.) The alternative is to stay someplace that seems more like a crowded trailer park. I want to be able to sit and read outside without smelling my neighbor's feet or listen to their arguments. The lower fees are a bonus. I can get by quite well without cable and a swimming pool, but I understand to each is own.
I don't turn down hookups if most of my other requirements are met. Hookups can be very nice.
TT
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
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Posts: 3419
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Posted: 13 Jan 2019 at 1:33pm |
I moved away from off grid camping, did it for years, now I want comforts and no stress.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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