2014 Camping Thread

[brocoli]

Has anyone used this Inverter Generator?

http://www.costco.ca/Champion%c2%ac%...100118537.html

I've had my eye on it for a whille, and think that it just might be exactly what i'm looking for without going up to a Honda.

[MacDaddy77]

that's the exact one I'm looking at as well, that and the Kipor 3000 watt one

http://www.generatoremporium.com/kipor-IG3000.html

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

so based on that chart if I have a 3000 watt inverter and went on a 3 day trip making say 6 pots of coffee and have 2 12 volt deep cell marine batteries I should be good to not run out of power right?

Let's go with the following numbers:
1200 watt coffee maker
Brew cycle takes 15 minutes
Two 12 volt batteries at 100 amp hours each
And we don't want to push the batteries below 50%

So each brew cycle would draw 25 amp hours from your batteries
(1200 watts divided by 12 volts is 100 amps; divided by 4 (1/4 hour)= 25 amp hours)
Conceivably you could get 4 brew cycles out of your batteries, assuming the following things:
- nothing else is drawing power. Not even a clock or single light.
- There is zero loss when using the inverter. (which is not true, there is always loss.)
- The last big assumption is that your batteries could provide that amount of continuous power for that long. I know I ran into issues providing power for a 200 watt Xbox from battery power in my SUV, the power level kept dropping.

I think that if you have to have electric appliances running, the generator is the way to go. Personally as mentioned I've gone away from needing AC power for anything; to the point that on my last dry camping trip a buddy gave me his generator in case I wanted it, and I left it behind.

You might be able to get it to work with a lower power coffee maker, or rigging something to run from your vehicle and have the engine running while making coffee. However like Bob said, having a vehicle running to make coffee would just kill the aroma factor.

[Diemenz]

How many people?
If for a few http://www.amazon.ca/The-Coleman-Com.../dp/B001K7IDVU
I'm not a coffee drinker but my addicted friends use that.

If youre making a solo cup get the jet boil java. Coffee in two minutes.
I have one and use it for soup. Amazing as it burns in extreme cold and ridiculously fast.
http://www.jetboil.com/Products/Flash-Java-Kit-Tomato/

[MacDaddy77]

I had absolutly no idea it would draw that much! definitely getting the insulated french press mug X2

thanks,

[bossy22]

The champion generator is loud, but does the job. I have a honda eu2000i and it's pretty quiet, but expensive. I just bought a goal zero yeti 400. One thing I found is that most sites we go to, only have limited generator use. It helps having a quiet one, because sometime I've had to run beyond the hours, and never had a complaint, but it's also the reason I got the Yeti.

For coffee we use an Aeropress. Awesome coffee and super easy cleanup.

[brocoli]

Did you have the champion one? My buddy has the 2000W one and although is not quite on the same level as my other friend's Yamaha, it still was surprisingly quiet.

Or are you just compairing the Champion to your Honda? Because that I get for saying that it's loud

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by brocoli

Did you have the champion one? My buddy has the 2000W one and although is not quite on the same level as my other friend's Yamaha, it still was surprisingly quiet.

Or are you just compairing the Champion to your Honda? Because that I get for saying that it's loud

sorry, yes, I'm comparing it my honda. I borrowed a friends Champion once. Then a neighbours Yamaha 2400, which I quite liked. Had enough power to run AC (with nothing else running), and was quiet. I searched for used Yamaha's and Honda's and ended up with the Honda because it was in great shape and a good price. My Honda will not run my AC. But I've only ever wanted and used AC once while camping, so I'm not too worried about.

Also, if you are down in the US, go to Costco. They have this one with a Yamaha engine for $599

http://www.costco.com/Smarter-Tools-...100121916.html

[brocoli]

Originally Posted by bossy22

Also, if you are down in the US, go to Costco. They have this one with a Yamaha engine for $599

http://www.costco.com/Smarter-Tools-...100121916.html

Thanks for that. I'm going to look into this one as well. I like the idea of the 3100W for the Champion as I do run my AC once in a while in the summer when we dry camp. It's just nice to have the option.

[pylon]

Quick bump.

Anyone who needs tickets for free admission to the RV show tomorrow, or half price Friday, shoot me a PM, and I can arrange to meet you in the concourse before the show with passes.

They are good for free admission tomorrow, or 1/2 price Friday until 1:00.

[Canehdianman]

thread title might need a change to just "camping thread". Not sure the year is relevant.

Anyways, we just bought a used 2004 Mallard 20N trailer. I grew up camping (in a tent trailer) but my wife never did. We compromised on the hard-walled trailer (with a toilet/shower for her) and I'm hoping to get some good camping trips out of it this year!

The previous owner didn't give us a really good run-through of how things work, so I'm wondering if there are any tips/tricks/things to watch out for?

He seemed to take good care of it. upgraded the batteries to 6V and everything looked good inside (and roof had no leaks or damage at all).

I also know he winterized it every year, so I guess my first step will be figuring out how to drain the antifreeze.

and the black water draining. eww, not looking forward to that.

[Canehdianman]

Just read through this entire thread again.

Great information, good work all

[ken0042]

De-winterizing is the easy part. Just run fresh water through until everything runs clear. I use bottled water for drinking, so I don't run my system as long. If you want to use it for drinking, I'd run a bleach solution through your water lines.

I buy disposable gloves for dumping the black tank. Also my trailer now has an outside enclosure for the hose. Don't buy a cheap sewer hose. Dump black tank before the grey; so the hose gets rinsed.

[Canehdianman]

Do you save the antifreeze to use again next year? I don't imagine that it gets used up at all?

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

Do you save the antifreeze to use again next year? I don't imagine that it gets used up at all?

When you run fresh water through all the antifreeze will empty into your grey tank, and you will dump it when you dump the tank. so there is no way to save it (and no point).

Also for future reference you aren't using typical antifreeze like you would use in a car. You will be using special antifreeze that is pink.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

When you run fresh water through all the antifreeze will empty into your grey tank, and you will dump it when you dump the tank. so there is no way to save it (and no point).

Also for future reference you aren't using typical antifreeze like you would use in a car. You will be using special antifreeze that is pink.

Thanks, that makes sense.

[Hevishot]

If anybody needs a small genny I will be putting a honda 1000 for sale shortly.

[MillerTime GFG]

Bumping this one for what looks like a lack of better options...

It's the annual scramble to find a campsite on May long where it isn't going to be freezing cold!

We don't own an RV, so we'll be tenting, but the family we're going with does have an RV. We were going to go to Sibbald Lake, but the weather is looking less than ideal there. It looks like the weather might be OK near Red Deer. So with that said, anyone have any campsite recommendations for that area?

Thanks!

[woob]

CBC had a segment on the radio this morning about last minute camping for the long weekend. They listed some sites which still have spots. Maybe check the podcast out.

[ruddstud]

We have room at our group camp site this weekend. We are all 35-45 y/0 with kids so theres lots of noise!! If you have kids and fit the age range PM me and i can send you the info...