Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-25-2010, 08:54 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 4
Generator help

We recently purcahsed a pre-owned RB Sportsmobile Sprinter Van, and we're ready to give it a trial run. We'd like to spend some time off the beaten track, so we want to maximize our self-contained capacity. We would appreciate any advice regarding purchasing a 30 amp generator. Any recommendations as to brands and where to store it in the vehicle would really help!

sherryhans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2010, 09:34 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,837
Re: Generator help

Welcome

i have a yamaha 2400 watt generator
only purchased to run roof air

our rig was designed to be self contained with solar and batteries

perhaps if you posted some pictures and details of your rig we could better help you


IMHO a couple of solar panels. a sure power isolator and 400 amp hours of battery storage
should keep you running indefinatly

we always like pics

but let us know details on:
tv/dvd
fridge
lights, led, stock
laptop
microwave

bw
billwilson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2010, 11:11 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
kmessinger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Disguised as a fat guy, deep inside a secret bunker, drinking martinis, playing rock and country.
Posts: 489
Send a message via Yahoo to kmessinger
Re: Generator help

I have 2-7amp solar panels so we are pretty well fixed but, in cases where we are in days of rain, I just use my Sprinter engine as my generator. I have an adjustable idle control so I can idle it at whatever rpm I want. It is quiter than some of the portable generators I have heard.

Regards,

Keith
__________________
2008 2500 Sportsmobile West conversion, badged Mercedes, 22B package, accessory group, adjustable idle control, sway bar upgrade, koni shocks, daily drive.
kmessinger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2010, 11:51 AM   #4
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 4
Re: Generator help

Thank you so much for your suggestions, Bill and Keith. It will help us as we talk with our local dealers this week. We're new to posting, so I'm still trying to figure out the logistics. I'll take some photos, then work on how to post them! Our sportsmobile is a 2004 Sprinter Van and did not come with a TV/DVD or laptop. It does have a small fridge, microwave, and marine toilet w/shower. It had 35,000 miles when we purchased it a few weeks back and it seems to be in perfect shape. We're planning to do an overnight at a local state park this week, so we'll see. We looked at Bill's photos and liked the way you mounted the truck box and bicycles. We plan to do something similar with ours.
Thanks, again!
sherryhans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2010, 12:06 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Ford_6L_E350's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
Re: Generator help

Unless you are trying to run an AC unit while stopped, you don't need a 30A generator. 1-2000 Watts should be more than enough.

The biggest reason you might need to run a generator at all is a weak or bad house battery or extended dry camping. We have two house batteries (as opposed to starting batteries) and can go ~3 days on battery power alone. With our 130W solar panel we never have run out of battery power.

Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
Ford_6L_E350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Sportsmobile Registry

Zengi

Amy V

[HOONIVAN]

Shaggy
Add your Sportsmobile
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:12 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.