why do you need a generator

Because they can't do without there Microwave and electric blanket.

The world is just full of inconsiderate a$$holes.

They use the excuse thats its for charging batteries etc, just crap, I can't think of one piece of necessary camping gear that needs a a generator to run.

I don't have a problem with generators at all. People should just be more considerate as to when they turn them off and also where they position them. I have been camping with people who have generators and not even known they have them running.

Hmmm....

Which is worse... Inconsiderate a$$holes, or intolerant a$$holes?????

I carry a (Honda) generator, and during a recent 13-week trip "through the middle", used it (yes, for charging batteries to run 'fridges for keeping perishables and BEER cold!) a total of like, 5 or 6 times....

We always try not to camp within cooee of others, and If I'm camped, and you set up camp close enough to hear my generator, then you're TOO CLOSE!!!!!

I will add that if there do happen to be others camped nearby, then my generator will not be run for very long (if at all ) after dark.....

See ya out there sometime.....

Regards,
Ed. C.

Regards,
Ed. C.

I use ours on our own property - to power tools, and lights at night. No-one around for a couple of kilometres in any direction.

I never take it with us into the bush. I rely on the good old dual battery system for power there. If it runs out during the night (at 105A/H it never has) then so be it. Go for a drive the next day to re-charge. If we lob into a camp spot where there are generators in use, we move on. We are totally self-sufficient and don't need to be near dunnies , or showers, or water taps - just quiet.

I have a generator, and use it, but when we go away we don’t stay in designated camping grounds unless we have to.

Why do I have a generator well I don’t have a duel battery system or inverters so running electrical gear for longish periods of time isn’t good for the battery, And as fun as it is trying to cook, eat dinner and wash up under torch light is, I prefer something a little more powerful.

If we have a fridge with us we will generally take it off car battery power, as it gets dark (1930-2000Hrs) then fire up the generator and light’s+ switch the fridge over onto genie power and let it run till around 2300-2330hrs to keep the fridge cold for that night, then plug it back onto the car battery in the morning before we leave/ head out for the day.

If we do not have the fridge with us, we will run the light’s well we cook eat and wash up then depending on the consensus of the others in the group we will ether leave a light on in main camp (Near the 4WDs) for what ever, or shut it down.

It’s a robin generator you stick it 8metres away and you don’t even know it is running, and like I said where we generally head on trip's, we are generally the only ones camping in that location.

Kim and Doug

Are you opposed to generators per se, or only the noisy ones?

I don't own a generator, however many are quiet and you would only be aware of them if you sought them out.

If you are talking about noisy neighbours - accepting that noise comes from a variety of sources - then I agree with you. Although if others are nearby there has to be some level of sound.

Uncouth language and loud music annoy me most of all. But maybe the same people have loud generators as well.

I'd like the RV and trail bike crazes to be over and done with so we simple folk can get back to enjoying the bush.

I don't understand why people buy 240volt generators for camping.

If I wanted to recharge batteries, I can either use the 110amp alternator that came free with my vehicle ;-) or buy a 12 volt 55A Christies generator that you only need to run for an hour or two each day.

Cheers
phil

Insecure people buy generators and take them out bush

Hey John,

I think you are being very one eyed about the carrying and use of generators. I think these units have there use and time of use when camping near others and maybe a code of practice on the use of generators should be part of the unwritten law when camping.

If you are not with coeee of anyone and you run a super quiet generator to charge batteries and run other accessories then go for it. If you have a rig like a camper trailer setup then its abit hard to take it all down and then tow just to charge batteries.

Stuart M.

With a versa light, an engel fridge and a decent second battery you should be able to survive comfortably for days without a generator. When you go to Bathurst one expects this sort of background noise amoungst the yobbos but surely there is no real basis for them whilst bush camping. Best to stay home or stick to caravan parks if you need these comforts and distractions like laptops and DVD's etc. I for one don't want to be subjected to noise of this type when bush camping and I wish there was a way of conveying this without causing upset to those who are so self righteous in their justifications. A pox on your generator I say!!

You lot whinging about generators ... get over it!
You are most likely the ones that, when I have found a nice quiet spot, with my quiet generator, come & dump yourselves, kids, mini bikes & whatever within 10 metres of my camp, when there are thousands of hectares from which to choose your own spot!

Makes you wonder why some people go bush, instead of to a motel.

Your best bet is to start your car, and lay on the horn from 11pm until 6.30am to repay the favor.

I must admit that I have a generator but it only comes with us if we take the camper. That way when I've been camped up for 3 or 4 days I can plug the fridge into it while fully recharging the battery in the car. I only ever run it at night if no-one else is around or it's really windy and nature is making more noise than me.

I hate ppl who use BIG OLD generators untill all ours of the night so they can play cards inside.

Get over it - generators are becoming more popular (and quieter) every day and as a result are being used more frequentlly out in the bush. I have both battery and genny and use them both dependant on the area I am going to/at.
It's still a free country (I hope) and I will use my generator if I need to and not have to put up with someone telling me what to do especially when they arrive AFTER me.
The ppl I despise are the type that when I have set up camp with no-one around (and if someone should come be away from them all) - and they have a tribe in tow and have to pull up right near me and whilst setting up their camp leave their engines running all the time they are there ("we better charge our batteries Charles as mummy will not be amused if we run out of power") and then have their kids, dogs, cats, goats etc run around MY camp all day making all sorts of noise and then complain to ME about my super quiet gennie making too much noise for their Chardonnay Set.
They want to get away from it all and away from the noise yet HAVE to camp right on top of someone else.
I let them know in no uncertain terms how I feel too.
I am also considerate of others when I do use my genny and only use it when I need to and not all hours of the day and night - more than I can say for some of the alternative powers consumers.
It also amazes me how you can be set up enjoying your own company with no one around within a bulls roar of you - having your genny running and they will come driving into your area, pull up and then ask you to turn the genny off because the noise upsets them.

I was on a fishing trip with some mates once when I had a woman come over to our camp one night and tell us to stop talking as loud as she couldn't hear the water running in the river because of our voices - and she was right on top of the river and we were camped about 200 metres further inland from her. We quickly told her where to get off and then made more noise just to pi$$ her off.

On the subject of inconsiderate a$$holes - whilst I was out fishing one day I had one lot, move in right alongside of my out of the way camp, stick their gigantic solar panel right in the middle of my camp as they 'needed' the shady tree lined area for their camp and could'nt get enough sunshine for this monster of a thing so they ran the lead etc and put it right in the middle of my camp - it soon disapperaed when I got back that's for sure.

It's amazing how a 6'4" 160Kg axe wielding "mad camper" can get rid of the Chardonnay set quite quickly. "I was only chopping some of my own firewood for my camp fire - really Mr. Ranger".

My 0.02c worth

Regards
BigPop
(I never get lost because everyone tells me where to go)

A very good friend of ours loves camping but without a generator she is unable.

Why becuse she is on dialysis.

Maybe you should consider the reason why some people use them before you start criticising.

Well I'll fess up, I have a Honda and its pretty quite. That doesn'r stop me being considerate though and turn it off at some reasonable hour if others are around. In respect to taking one camping, wouldn't be without it! Charges the batteries etc but most importantly is able to run the electrical tools and welder when away. On my last trip this got a reasonable workout and we would have been stuffed without it. Fancy tools for bush camping I hear you say - maybe, but I feel self sufficient.

Kind regards

PS still take some 8 guage wire and good fencing pliers for emergency repairs - ah the old cobb and co. The welder is more permanent, sounder and neater.

Why do you go to the spot where others are already there 1st with their genny , ,, We run a 5 battery system and solar and still sometimes need to run the generator ,, never for long and always during the day ,, we have found in all our travels and camps that the only ones who complain about generators are the ones who wish they had a 12v fridge ect ect yet struggle with ice ect.

people with generators should somehow indicate that they have one and intend using it. Maybe a sign hanging from their vehicle. Then you know that if you are entering a camping area you can keep away if they upset you. Recently at Drysdale River Station we arrived, chose a spot and set up. The next group to us fired up their gen to watch TV about 7pm. They had arrived first but if we knew they had a gen we would not have set up near them. We had no way of knowing as they had solar panels set up. The gen was kept in a box on the drawbar and was only bought out after dark. So lets get our heads together to work out a way people can inidcate to others they have a gen and give the opportunity to camp away from them if they choose to do so. This may save some anxiety .

All a matter of commonsense, as many have shown. Yet there really are some inconsiderate arce-wholes about. It wouldn't bother me if somebody ran a moderately quiet one for a few hours during the day if really necessary. Yet we get somebody posting on here actually admitting he runs his until nearly midnight. Camp at a powered site mate.

touchy subject eh?
but i will do as i damn well please...gennie or no gennie.....just make sure i am at the camp spot first...any one who comes later has to put up with what ever!!!!!

After reading this entire thread, the only sticker/sign you need is "Exploroz", as all the hardcore, natureloving, selfrightous, good people have been posting on this thread, and every other camper is an a..hole!!

Kim and Doug

"the point i was trying to make was the signs say no gens in qld parks except remote locations"

Perhaps you should have included this in your original post.

I do have a gennie and do only run it under certain circumstances and i do this because its a free world and if i wish to own a gennie then so be it, the choice is mine just as its your own choice to go camping and own a 4wd or anything else you wish to own or do ...........Cheers .........DAVE

Kim and Doug,

Thanks for starting a very entertaining thread LMAO

Gotta say after reading all that I really feel sorry for you guys over East who cant find a campsite without finding hourdes of kids on mini bikes, load music,gennies,people talking to loud, lugging coolrooms and shooting anything that moves etc etc because I certainly find it alot harder to find a noisy spot than a quite one

I didn'nt even bother reading this entire post as it goes on and on and on (like these anti/pro genny ones do).

All I've got to say is it's SO simple. If you don't like what other people do (like me) and you think other people might not like what you do (they probally hate me) then camp somewhere where there ain't anyone else around!

That's what we do, and we love it.

For the record I don't have a genny, but I have been known to idle a smelly noisy diesel engine for half and hour or so, but WHO CARES, I'm the only one that's going to smell it!