5.0 with solar, do we carry a generator or not?

[Honair]

We are to get e 5.0TA with the 160 solar. Should we travel with a generator or not? Why? What are your experiences?

[Vermilye]

It really boils down to how you camp. If you rarely dry camp, there is not much use for a generator. If you do lots of dry camping, and like to use the microwave & air conditioner, a generator is going to be handy.

That said, I've managed to spend a couple of winters dry camping in Arizona with 355 watts of solar & a pair of 6V batteries without a generator. I do use an inverter to make a pot of coffee, toast, etc, even power a 600 watt microwave for a quick frozen meal.

I'd try a couple of trips without one. You can always head for a campground with hookups if you find you are running out of battery, and if that happens often enough, a generator probably makes sense.

[Mary F]

How much power do you need? (Air conditioning and furnace fans are big users; also hair dryers, microwave ovens, and coffeemakers. Personally, our 3.1amp solar panel can handle our furnace fan, if we don't run it very long, and we don't use the microwave or air conditioner if we are camped without electrical hookup. We never use a hair dryer and make coffee by heating water on the stove and pouring it over the grounds, using a cone/filter system. But, YMMV.)e

Oops. Jon beat me to it... and said it better.

[padlin]

Haven't carried my generator since I got the Escape with solar. If it gets too hot I head for somewhere with power.

[Mike Lewis]

Also consider a portable solar panel to complement your rooftop setup. You will find yourself in situations when boondocking where you have been assigned a campsite that has a lot of tree shade, yet ten feet away there will be a sunny spot where you can park a portable panel to help charge your batteries. This happens a lot at national and state parks.

I'm in such a situation right now as I type this. My batteries are at 68% and will probably fall below 50% tonight since I'll need to run the furnace.

[burnauk]

If you carry a generator, you are not limited in your choice of boondock
campsites. You can choose 'targets of opportunity' without concern
for solar exposure.

[Honair]

Originally Posted by burnauk

If you carry a generator, you are not limited in your choice of boondock
campsites. You can choose 'targets of opportunity' without concern
for solar exposure.

This sounds good to me!!!