If you’re about to book a campsite reservation for two nights but suddenly learn it doesn’t have electric hookups, what do you do? Do you stay anyway (you don’t need electric hookups for two nights) or is it a deal-breaker?
There are many variables that will determine your answer, we know that. But please tell us below how important it is to you. And remember, we’re only asking about two nights here. Feel free to leave a comment though and tell us how long you could go without electric hookups.
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I would be ok, but SWMBO would be miserable. And you know how that goes: if momma ain’t happy, ain’t NOBODY happy.
SWMBO?
She Who Must Be Obeyed
She Who Must Be Obeyed 🙂
She Who Must Be Obeyed
For us it all depends on the outside temp (as in high temp). We cannot run our A/C units without shore power. We recently had to stop into a nice, but inexpensive, campground for a couple of days due to high outside temps. Otherwise, we typically travel using Harvest Host and Boondockers Welcome locations.
If I can run the generator, I would be ok. Better off if I don’t need the furnace. Generator is propane so fuel supply is limited to the built in tank, extenda stay will not supply generator. So, two-three days max.
If I wanted to camp without lights, A/C, plumbing, etc.I would revert to tent camping. Whether I wanted to or not, I got old. Therefore comfort is mandatory, not optional.
The lack of shore power is not an issue as long as the location allows the use of our generator especially if we need to use our air conditioners or our furnace.
It would depend on how hot it was. In fall just add another blanket…lol
I answered it’s important, but not a deal breaker. Here’s the caveat: allow generator hours and I’m good. My motorhome is power hungry and I haven’t installed solar yet. Two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening for my generator times and I’m good, unless it’s like now where temps have already hit the low 30s and my heat is running constantly.
We can do it, we just don’t like it. As long as generator hours are available we can last more than a couple of days but our preference is to park with full hookups when we plan to stay for more than one night.
I could go without electricity easily for a couple of days IF the weather were mild. In mid-summer? NO.
we recently got a few lithium ion batteries just so we could do this. First time out with them (mid June), went 3 1/2 days before we had to charge with generator. Of course if we had to run the air, the generator would have been charging the batteries more often.
As I’m on oxygen it’s pretty important for my oxygen machine.If it wasn’t for that then the answer would be we could do with out a couple of days.Happy camping!
While I prefer hookups, it is not a necessity. If I have advance knowledge that I will be without electrical hookups and fill both gas tanks on my you hauler, I can go as long as 3 or 4 weeks without power depending on how hot or cold it is. If I need to run heat or air-conditioning all day that could be shorter.
Both my husband and I use CPAPs which we could survive with battery and generator to get batteries back up. However he also uses an oxygen concentrator at night and that cannot run for 8 hours on batteries.
Like many others, would need to be able to run generator for a bit, morning & evening. Interestingly, when traveling from CA to FL every January, we only use electric, except once, midway when we will hook up water/sewer to dump & take a “real” shower.
I’ve been camping monthly since 2012. I have “needed” power not once. My solar panels are all I’ll ever need. I am, of course, a Southwest camper – lots of sunshine! I have also only used my air conditioner once – in Death valley in January when it was 90. Lastly, hook up spots are almost always close to other campers – the bane of my existence.
Have a solar system and inverter for my power. Even if I did stay in a regular campground I wouldn’t plug into power pedestal for power. Don’t need to.
Only need electric connection during hot or cold weather to run the heat pumps. Otherwise we run on solar plus occasional genny.
Heat is the biggest issue here for me…over 90 deg and I need electric to run the A/C, that’s why in the hottest season we camp in the mountains.
If it is terribly HOT it is important otherwise we have camped 6 days with no power happily!
Completely agree. If it is super hot, having shore power is always a big plus.
Like may others, I need A/C.Otherwise, I can go for several days on propane.and battery.
I need the AC, my residential refrigerator needs the shore power.
It really depends on the weather. We travel with dogs. If it’s hot, we’ve got to be able to keep them at least comfortable. If we have to leave them for a few hours electricity and AC is a real deal breaker. On the other hand, if we’re with them the whole time, we have a bucket-fed misting fan (battery operated) that can cool our outdoor living space until it’s cool enough to go inside. We have just tested this at 2 dog Agility trials in Montana. Dry camping for $10 one trial, free at the next one. Hot (90s) then snow – we used/tested ALL systems in our RV this past weekend. And we survived comfortably.
We can be OK for a couple of days. However, when we travel we do hemodialysis for my husband. So we require electricity at least a few days a week. We are able to run with the generator, it’s just noisy. All of this takes planning and it’s well worth it to be able to travel.
It all depends on the weather. It may be critical if it’s 100 degrees out or not necessary at all if it is 80 degrees.
Your question asks “if staying for two days” My question is that “two full days” or “two nights” with one full day in between?
I’ve had bad luck with batteries. Power lasted only a few hours running lights only. Different trailers. Would consider non-electric only if stay was for over night.
My wife and I are on oxygen and its critical for us to have electrical hookups.