Posted 2008-02-18 8:41 AM (#77139) Subject: New to Camping w/ Horses Battery Life
Veteran
Posts: 105 Location: parker, co.
Hi,
I am new to this forum and Horse Camping. When camping where there is no access to electricity and you don't have a generator, how long will the normal trailer batteries last? Would it be worthwhile investing in a generator. Most of my first trips will be long weekends.
Posted 2008-02-18 9:00 AM (#77145 - in reply to #77139) Subject: RE: New to Camping w/ Horses Battery Life
Member
Posts: 29 Location: Elizabethtown, Kentucky
It has been my experience that running a couple lights and fridge on 12V power the battery will last about 14 hours or so. If you have a charge line on your truck and the trailer is wired up for it you can recharge your batteries by running your truck awhile. I would recommend a small generator though that way you can run a A/C unit and anything else 110V. I would go with the Honda or Yamaha generator as they are very reliable and quite. A 3000 watt should handle everything for you with no problem.
Posted 2008-02-18 1:18 PM (#77162 - in reply to #77139) Subject: RE: New to Camping w/ Horses Battery Life
Elite Veteran
Posts: 781 Location: La Cygne, KS
We have two marine batteries and if we only run the lights in the evening, it will last 5 days. We also use a coleman lantern in the trailer for bedtime lighting etc. The fridge runs off propane. We do have a generator, but it takes away from the quiet solitude of camping not to mention bothering other campers.
As far as entertainment without the TV/DVDs, we use a battery powered radio/CD/Cassette player and listen to Old Time Radio programs such as the Lone Ranger, The Six-shooter, and the Shadow. The imagination is so much more vivid and fun listening to these old radio programs from the 40s.
Posted 2008-02-18 5:44 PM (#77190 - in reply to #77139) Subject: RE: New to Camping w/ Horses Battery Life
Veteran
Posts: 212 Location: novinger, mo
How many batteries do you have? We have 2 so we can, with careful use of electricity, camp for a long weekend. As a last resort, you can run your truck to recharge your batteries, but it can take a while. Be sure to unplug from your truck unless you're running it or you could run down the truck battery.
We have a Honda 3000 generator and it does everything including the AC. (We don't run the AC and microwave at the same time). It is pretty quiet, too. But, we like the silent solitude of camping best!
Posted 2008-02-18 8:06 PM (#77201 - in reply to #77139) Subject: RE: New to Camping w/ Horses Battery Life
Veteran
Posts: 105 Location: parker, co.
Thanks for the info. I don't have the trailer yet but am looking at one that has 2 batteries. Don't really want a generator unless it is necessary. Much prefer the "quiet". Just had no idea how they worked. Goff info about recharging off the truck. I didn't know you could do that. Another stupid question. Do certain trailers have specific areas for the generator ...... where would it go.
Thanks
Lindsay
Posted 2008-02-18 8:54 PM (#77205 - in reply to #77139) Subject: RE: New to Camping w/ Horses Battery Life
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Some folks put the generators below the saddles in the tack room. Some in the hay rack, Some under the mangers. I use a a Yamaha EF2400 and just leave it in the truck bed.
If I go camping, the batteries will last the weekend. If I take my wife and daughters, They last one day.
I usually turn on the generator for 1 hour a day. I use my Microwave to cook with. Oatmeal or cinimon rolls heated for breakfast, Heat up a bowl of chili or soup for dinner. Maybe even a bag of Popcorn. I also use a George Forman grill to cook various meats. All of these run off 110. And it charges the batteries while I cook.
I rarely use A/C in mountains. my fridge, furnace and water heater are all propane.
Posted 2008-02-18 9:37 PM (#77212 - in reply to #77173) Subject: RE: New to Camping w/ Horses Battery Life
Elite Veteran
Posts: 781 Location: La Cygne, KS
Where did you find those? I LOVED the Lone Ranger.
I've found them on eBay and have also bought a few from Amazon. They are listed under Golden Age of Radio, Nostalgia, and Old Time Radio. The six-shooter is my favorite - it is narrated by Jimmy Stewart.
Posted 2008-02-19 2:15 PM (#77276 - in reply to #77212) Subject: RE: New to Camping w/ Horses Battery Life
Veteran
Posts: 211 Location: El Paso, Texas
Channel 164 on XM Radio (old tyme radio) I listen to it as I am going to sleep, its cool the images your mind produces while you listen. They have them all
Posted 2008-02-19 3:52 PM (#77287 - in reply to #77139) Subject: RE: New to Camping w/ Horses Battery Life
Elite Veteran
Posts: 648 Location: Coconut Creek, FL
The water pump also runs off the batteries, and it will go off when running the sink, taking a shower, etc. I'm like the others that I don't run the generator much, but mine is in the truck bed. I have to pick it up and move away from the trailer, run the electric cord, pull start, etc so it's a lot more work than the ones that are installed inside the trailer somewhere and you push a button.... Someday....
It's only an 1850 (came w/ the trailer) so it won't run the AC, but it will run the microwave, fan, charge the battery, etc. Make sure you get a trailer that has propane to run the fridge, cooktop, and hot water heater.
I just camped from Sat - Mon and never turned the generator on and was fine. Plus I have the hydraulic jack which runs off the battery and I only have 1... so if you are conservative, it lasts longer than you think. I use a headlamp to read by before going to sleep.
New to Camping w/ Horses Battery Life
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