Generator
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4314
Printed Date: 08 Jun 2025 at 12:52am
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Topic: Generator
Posted By: JKPOD
Subject: Generator
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2014 at 5:19pm
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Hello, New members here with question about generators. Never owned one before. We are new owners of an RP 172. Our hope is to take a 3 week camp trip from Pa. to out West to national parks. Maybe Yellowstone or Yosemite. Anyway it looks like alot of the campgrounds are without electricity and that having a small generator would be wise to charge the batteries? Again, we are newbies and dont even know how this can be dode with a generator.
John & kathy M. ------------- 2014 R-Pod 172 2007 Ford F-150 |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2014 at 6:04pm
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Welcome. We'll be doing the same trip this summer for 3 1/3 weeks (we did 3 1/2 weeks across the southern states last summer), starting in MD and heading out to the Utah, Arizona, Colorado area. We spent around 6 nights in Wal-mart parking lots and truck stops, running our generator for ~12 hours each time to run the A/C and the microwave (not at the same time, mine isn't big enough). If you only need to charge batteries you could go with a smaller genset, 1000 watts, which will be cheaper to buy and operate. There are 2 major types of gensets now. One is the old-style "construction screamer" which runs at a full 3600 rpms at all times even if there is no load on it at all. The other is the newer inverter-generator style, which will run at an idle with no load and slowly ramp up as load is applied. Most don't run at 3600 rpm even under a full load so they are much quieter at any load. They also use a lot less gas. Downside is while a cheap construction screamer is a few hundred bucks you'll spend four figures for a Honda or Yamaha. If you will run it a lot you'll make your money back in gas saved with an inverter-genset... and if you are running this in a campground your neighbors will thank you. Here is how I mounted mine to my truck for last year's trip: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3689&KW=&PID=35205&title=my-generator-mount - http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3689&KW=&PID=35205&title=my-generator-mount ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: JKPOD
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2014 at 7:12pm
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Great info...thanks Doug! Wewill be going in September and will only need 12v power for bathroom fan and lights. Would a small cheap one charge the battery? Does the generic manual cover how this is done? In just using the lites and fan marginally how long would the marine battery last? We would be counting on the fridge to run on the propane but I think it also needs 12 volt power also along with the propane...is that true? I see Cabelas has a small generator called called a Powerhouse 500/2000 watt unit for $285.00. Would that work? ------------- 2014 R-Pod 172 2007 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2014 at 8:09pm
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I just took a look, there are many cheap Chinese-made versions made now, just be prepared that you won't be able to get parts or service if it breaks. For the price that really doesn't matter if you get 1000 hours out of it. Usually they are fairly loud compared to the Honda or Yamaha units. I would get the 2000 watt version and not the 500 watt version. The converter - the device in campers which convert 120 volts AC to 12 volts DC and charges the battery - has a very high start-up surge when it is plugged in and will probably shut down the 500 watt model. My usual recommendation is to plug in the camper for 2 hours every 2nd or 3rd day for a quick charge, but once a week you need to top off the battery properly with a long charge - overnight if you have an outlet available, or at least 6 hours if you are using the generator. The fridge's control board does need 12 volts even when running from propane, yes. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2014 at 8:24pm
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This topic has come up frequently on this site and most of the folks have the more expensive inverter type gensets. Some have found out the quite one they chose was to small to run the air conditioner or the microwave oven. I chose a Champion, made in China instead of Japan, will run the pod with all systems engaged, and will run all night on a tank of gas, It is much quieter than the old school generators, but louder than a Honda. The estimate the Honda dealer gave me for the system that would run everything was over $2000. My Champion cost $300. Since you can't run either after quiet time in a campground, and my unit is quieter than many of the generators on motorhomes I have heard, I went for the cheap yellow one instead of the expensive red one. To each their own. In my case I doubt I will ever use it enough to wear it out camping. I have far more time on it for non-camping things and so far it has worked flawlessly. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2014 at 11:57pm
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I always have the minority opinion when it comes to generators. I have 4 generators of various sizes, but the two largest ones are too heavy for RV use and I use them primarily for power outages. The other two are a Dometic LW3000 which is electric start almost as quiet as Honda and is capable of running our pod's air conditioning, as long as the water heater and microwave are not used, and a small 1000 watt model from China. The Dometic is sized right for dry camping unless you need one that will run all night without refilling. But, for me, it is too heavy for me to comfortably lift from the TV to the pod. Fortunately, we prefer campgrounds with full services. The 1000 watt model is the most versatile for me. I can easily carry it from home to where our pod is stored, and it will power any small power tool I take. Plug a battery charger into it, and it will charge the pod's battery fairly quickly. I normally just plug it into the pod (cord adapter required) and then I can even take a break and watch TV. These generators are normally on sale for around $100 and probably won't last as long as a name brand, but at that price I consider them disposable should mine eventually fail. I have had mine for 3 years, use it about twice a month, but the hours of use are still low. As Keith-N-Dar said, to each his own. Read all the responses you receive, then buy what you think is most appropriate for your needs. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: JKPOD
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2014 at 10:51am
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Hi all,
Thanks very much for all of the great advise. Will probably go with the $100 china model and my old battery charger. We will be staying in mostly campgrounds that have electric. Special thanks to sleepless! Bob, is the $100 China model available from places like Harbor freight?
Thanks everyone!!
John & Kathy ------------- 2014 R-Pod 172 2007 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2014 at 11:31am
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I bought mine at Home Depot a few years ago. The China models are available from several sources but I noticed that Harbor Freight has one on sale now. Another way to charge your battery is simply to start your TV (pod plugged into it). This has been mentioned before on this forum and I have used this method several times in the past. The China generator has served me well. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2014 at 7:10pm
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If you use your TV it is best to use a good set of jumper cables - more charge in less time.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2014 at 7:15pm
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Good point, Doug! Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |