[VAL] generators for our Airstream trailers

["Tom" <thomm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

When I first posted my thoughts on building a generator for my Airstream I
stated that I wanted it to be quiet.  And my idea of quiet is not dead silence
but rather something that I can live with as can any camping neighbors of mine
who say they "can hear a bird fart at 100 yards."

Now that doesn't mean that I would ever be an "in your face" kind of person to
another fellow camper, but it does mean that I am very aware that the
tolerance for any *noise* has a range that goes from zero to so many decibels
that are needed just to talk.  Some of these generator engines advertise with
charts showing how many decibels their engines produce at power while pointing
out at the same time how many decibels it takes for noise to be painful and
harmful to the hearing of a human being.

I believe that it is entirely possible for those of us who enjoy the outdoors
to get along and do our own version of camping which is not detrimental to the
other guy.  But, if anyone feels that you should not even utter a whisper out
in the woods because it will pollute the enjoyment of another from that dead
silence I spoke of then you really are not living in the real world.  People
who'd be so bothered by this dramatic picture I've painted would be far better
off camping where few men have camped before.  Now, it would really be cold up
there on those mountain peaks but you'd have your own world without people to
bother you and finally, FINALLY, some real peace and quiet. ;)

If anyone cares to go back and read what I've posted in the past you will find
that on this power generator quest of mine I've always been of the opinion
that MY unit needs to be quiet.  By that I don't mean dead quiet either but
rather sort of a dull sound versus a deafening one that would be obnoxious.

It never was my intention to appear like I was patting myself on the back for
anything, I merely was telling about what we do and how we go about doing what
we do.  Period.  I don't ever expect nor will I ever demand that others follow
my example as one of being the *correct* way to do things, far from it.

When you go camping  you should expect some "noise" (and noise to me might be
different than noise to you) if you are around others who have their own rigs.
I think the most intolerant species of campers might be those in a tent where
they are sleeping on the ground parked right next to a bus type RV who's
generator is belching "noise" and exhaust into their nostrils.  I think I'd be
upset too if I was there first and someone came in with a bus and destroyed my
"experience" with nature.

What I have said before and I'll say it again is that I'd like to have a
system where I can use our Airstream at all places and in all types of venues.
We bought our Airstream to be comfortable away from home when we traveled.  I
could have bought a bus type RV but I didn't and still won't for at least the
next 20 years or more.  We like being able to have our "family" with us at all
times in the same part of the vehicle we are riding in -- I won't subject my
animals to riding in the "back of the truck" under a pickup topper for many
reasons, one of which is their safety and comfort.

When I mentioned "boon-docking" that implies not being hooked up to utilities.
That's all, no more, no less.  Having the ability to use our travel trailer
like others use their driving type of RV's means that we really can "have it
all" when we desire to do so.  Having a way to travel with our "family" and
still be good neighbors no matter where we go is our desire both for ourselves
and our animals.

Now, some might not agree with me and that's your right.  However, I have
almost been adamant from the start of my quest to have electrical power that
is fully portable with our Airstream, that it needed to be "made quiet" and
that runs the full gamut from being water-cooled to being inside a very
sound-proofed box that is of my own custom design.

Some of you have kidded (?) me about the boon-docking, shopping, etc. and
that's all been in good fun, I think.  But really being able to be
self-sufficient and good neighbors to others means that I won't be out there
in your face with "my idea" of what it is that you should have to put up with.
I will do what I feel I want to do regardless of  how you might not like "my
ideas" or the way I go about doing them. There has to be room in this very big
world of ours for differences of opinion and ideas, and if you are a social
person than you also must decide for yourself how much of the other people you
are willing to either put up with or move down the road to your own slice of
heaven.

As far as animals are concerned:  I wish everyone was as thoughtful as the
most thoughtful people who travel with animals are.  Animal owners need to
clean up after their animals and they also need to make sure that IF they take
their animals into the world outside of the animal's home they NEED TO BE
SOCIALIZED and good animal citizens.  I can't stress that enough.  There are
some real slobs out there that I wish I could pick up and put in with the
other trash but I'm told that's illegal. ;)

Your turn.

Tom
WBCCI 5303