fla-gypsy
North Florida
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Joined: 04/19/2005
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Most state park systems would fit that bill nicely.
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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Joined: 03/19/2005
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To the best of my knowledge, most state and county campgrounds in California do not have hookups. If they do, it is a very limited number of sites. but you don't live anywhere near here.
I would skip the built in generator and buy a portable generator. Take it with you when you want and leave it at home when you do not need it.
That is what I do with my trailer.
Wayne in San Jose
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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A lot of NC state parks do _not_ have electricity, tho' the ones I've been in mostly have shade. Same for the federal parks along the BRP (and on the Outer Banks, but no shade). Not having a generator is going to limit your choices sometimes. Not that you won't be able to find a CG, just that the ones you might want to stay in won't be satisfactory, or being private, may cost more.
Having a generator means you can stop in rest areas for lunch on a hot day much more comfortably. Having an installed generator means no going outside to start & stop & fuel, and no added length.
All a matter of personal preference.... but the way we pre-envision using our RV's often doesn't turn out to be the way we actually use them.
Jim, "If I'm capable of working smarter instead of harder, why the heck am I still working here?"
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
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dogcomestoo
Massachusetts
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Joined: 08/19/2006
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Wow! Thanks for all the answers. I'm not asking what the camp site situation will be in 5 years- I know you can't know that. I was just curious about how it is now.
My husband and I don't like having extra fuel around (mostly him). We are eliminating the propane system and the only generators we'd consider would be built in ones that get their fuel from the van's fuel tank.
I'd have no problem paying more for a private campground site if it had the type of site I like. I guess I should have said something like " with space around it for privacy and the land is in its natural condition " instead of "wooded". When I camp out it is to be in nature. I'd actually prefer to tent camp but my husband doesn't want to do that. I would use a fan and do without A/C but he has allergies- so we can't be letting fresh air in
I figure when we're traveling in the B we'll pack a screen house (DH is very susceptible to bug bites.)
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mockturtle
Northwest
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Joined: 05/31/2005
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Most of the state parks here in the west have hookups, except, as has been noted, in California. And, as someone else suggested, you can always get a portable generator if you find you need one. The Hondas are better than those installed in most MHs.
Husband: Derek
Dog: Bucky
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This car used to be our toad, now is our TV!
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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I do not understand how you will run the stove, oven, water heater and fridge if you do not have any propane.
I can't see the reason to fear gasoline. I carry it on my back when I go backpacking, but it is only a few pints.
There are ways to transfer gasoline between the van fuel tank and the portable generator fuel tank so that you do not need to carry or store extra cans of gas.
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mockturtle
Northwest
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PopBeavers wrote:I do not understand how you will run the stove, oven, water heater and fridge if you do not have any propane. Exactly!! 
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bananadanna
Cambridge, MA
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Joined: 11/30/2005
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dogcomestoo wrote:
I'd have no problem paying more for a private campground site if it had the type of site I like. I guess I should have said something like " with space around it for privacy and the land is in its natural condition " instead of "wooded". When I camp out it is to be in nature. I'd actually prefer to tent camp but my husband doesn't want to do that. I would use a fan and do without A/C but he has allergies- so we can't be letting fresh air in
I figure when we're traveling in the B we'll pack a screen house (DH is very susceptible to bug bites.)
Sounds like we have similar camping tastes. We reluctantly stay at private campgrounds. Camping at state and federal sites with hookups is typically tightly spaced. Summer season aggravates the crowded conditions everywhere.
Drycamping or offseason camping provides many more choices. You can solve the summer heat problem by throwing money at it with built-in gen sets and avoiding "restricted gen use" sites. Harder to solve the summer crowds.
Camping trips near MA eliminates most boondocking. We mostly drycamp in New England at state parks or the White Mtns in NH. Maine is an exception, with much wilder options.
Our longer forays to the West offer extensive BLM and boondocking choices. Our last trip to southern Appalachia gave us eight forest land campsites backed up to a different babbling brook or river. Much easier in the shoulder seasons.
We have survived happily without a/c by limiting the summer trips south of the Mason-Dixon line and avoiding "swampland". We just tried two July weeks in TN and NC. Great sleeping weather above 2000 ft in NC. A hotter, more humid week lower in the TN Smokies---perhaps closer to our tolerance. We have not regretted the absence of an a/c in the many offseason trips to AZ and TX or elsewhere. It would be different if we lived in the South.
DW suffers from allergies more than me but the thought of staying in a closed up B for any length of time is unthinkable to us. Perhaps a different story in a larger vehicle. Sure your hubbie is cut out for outdoor life?
Dan
02 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 long tall home brew conversion
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CSG
ID
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Joined: 03/02/2001
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Handbasket wrote:.... but the way we pre-envision using our RV's often doesn't turn out to be the way we actually use them.
Jim, that's one of the wisest observations I've read in awhile.
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dogcomestoo
Massachusetts
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Well, I plan to have at least 2 auxiliary batteries. I want a 12V/110V fridge. I don't expect to use a stove much at all- we mostly eat cold cereal, sandwiches, etc and will eat out when traveling. There is a new kind of electric hot plate which you have to use magnetic pans on but which is very energy efficient- I think it's called an induction cooktop. and of course microwaves. There are on demand electric hot water heaters for Bs, too.
I also can't use a portable generator because I want to be able to stealthily park in friends' driveways, and generator on the back would be kind of a give away, I think.
DH backpacked a lot when he was young so I think I can lure him into B camping again.
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