ugh
IL
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My wife and I want to take our 3 children out camping for two to three months this coming summer. We plan to move to different places. I know that motorhomes are self contained units. What about trailers? For example, when we stop for the night at the Wal-Mart place as we travel between places, the motorhomes will have generator to run things.
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davidj54
South Alabama
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Most travel trailers don't come standard with generators. There's a few that do and there's no reason you couldn't add one to any unit. That being said, if you're just stopping for the night you can run almost everything but the A/C off the batteries. There's really no need for a generator unless you must have A/C.
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bikendan
Napa, Cal.
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travel trailers are considered self-contained units because it has it's own power supply(12v), FW tank and Bl/Gr holding tanks.
generators are not necessary to be called self-contained.
the only TT's i've seen with generators are toy haulers.
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smkettner
Southern California
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You can buy or rent a TT with a built in generator if needed.
With or without the generator you are self contained.
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awsmom8
Tehachapi, Ca
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Depends on what you mean by self contained. I used to have a 5th wheel without a generator, and boondocked alot, as well as used WalMart. Sure, we had lights, a water pump, and a gas stove, but were unable to use the microwave. It sure got hot without air conditioning--a necessity in some areas!
So I sold it and got an older Class C motorhome with bunkbeds and a generator and LOVE it. Didn't pay much more than I did for the fifth wheel. I can turn on the generator and run the airconditioning and microwave. The generator recharges the coach batteries also each time I use it.
The kids get the bunkbeds in the rear, and I can close the door while they watch a movie on their portable DVD's. I take the queen sleeper above the cab, and have some quiet time (but it usually doesn't last long!)
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wny_pat
Western NYS
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If I stop at a Walmart overnight, I run off the batteries.
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Kirk
Livingston, Texas.
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There are many fifth wheel trailers that do have the option of a built in generator set, and a few travel trailers do also but the reason that they are not common is that there is no fuel tank on a normal trailer to supply fuel to a generator set. If you choose a trailer and must have a generator, then I suggest a portable one but a much better idea for stops with children is to use RV parks. Wal-Mart parking lots do not seem to offer much to entertain children and most will not want more than one trip where they must sit around looking at parked cars each evening. If you choose kid friendly RV parks then each night can be one more fun experience for the kids with swimming pools and play grounds and all sorts of other amenities.
It is quite rare to see families spending nights in Wal-Mart or other parking lots and the same is true for truck stops. Even if you choose to buy a motorhome with an on-board genset, parking lots are not a child friendly setting.
Good travelin! ........Kirk
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Being "self contained' has nothing to do with the presence or lack of a generator. It simply means that they have holding tanks for waste water and storage tanks for fresh water. For THAT matter Walmart campgrounds have NO regulations requiring that their customers using their parking lots even BE self contained. If they DID have those kind of regulations you couldn't park your Accord there while you shop. Good luck / skip
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ugh
IL
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Thanks for clearing that up. I am still not sure which one I want (motorhome or travler trailer).
Thanks.
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awsmom8
Tehachapi, Ca
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I travel with kids and have used WalMart parking lots extensively for over night camping. They are ideal for families as they are safe, and have 24 hour security. You have to realize that stopping at Walmart means that you are using their parking lot for overnight parking, not as a playground. I stop at Walmart after using a nearby park, beach, or playground and allowing the kids to burn off steam. Occasionally though, I'll toss the football to the kids at Walmart if we are parked in a safe, traffic free area. We have even unloaded the bikes and gone for a ride. But usually we pop in a movie, followed by bedtime. And we have met many families at Walmart parking lots.
Think about looking at Class C's. They are more family friendly and will sleep more people. It gets old breaking down the dinette and couch every night as it means you have to go to bed the same time as the kids.
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