OT Camper generator ????

gmccool

Well-known Member
Help me out here guys. How big of generator will I need to run my newly purchased camper. It has a 15,000 BTU AC, small microwave, fireplace that is mostly for the mood & not for heat, mostly LED lites, don't know how big of furnace, 8 cu ft frig, 6 gal water heater, tv, elec jacks. I camp remote & NEVER use a camp ground & we all know not all of these things will be used at the same time. Just want some kind of idea how big of genny I need to look for. Thanks Gerald
 
5500 watt will allow you to run the AC, microwave, hair dryer and refer all at the same time. Or a 3000 watt will let you use selected appliances.
 
I run a 4,000 watt in my 22' motor home. with no problem. For your size you may want to step up a little larger. I also have a solar panel on the roof and use LED lighting inside.
 
I used to run my horse trailer on 4,000. I got tired of picking, and choosing. I stepped up to5,500, and retired the 4,000. If you have the room to pack it, you might consider going even higher. Then you'll have an acceptable unit for your house, in a disaster.
 
Just make sure you get a Honda or something QUIET, so you don't annoy yourself and others.

We're kind of minimialists, and just have a 2,000 watt Honda- it will run the AC on our pickup camper, or most anything else if AC not running. You'll run the hot water and refer on propane, of course.
 
Honda has a nice calculator use can use to estimate your requirements.

An inverter unit is going to be much quieter than a non-inverter generator. Note that the smaller Honda generators can be paralleled, so you can use a pair of 2000 watt generators to get 4000 watts, or a pair of 3000s to get 6000.
Honda generator sizing calculator
 
Gerald.

I have a 3500 w RV genny. I don't have an RV. The RV's that I've seen have a special 3 prong plug for 110v. So you need a special RV genny, much bigger than what I have, to start any AC compressor. You may want to check to see if your AC came wired with a Hard start kit. Check to see if your camper cord is 110v. JohnT would know if camp sites are wired for 220.

Don't get anything other than an RV genny. RV genny is quieter than all the rest. They have a single recept where all the power shows up. All other gennys, say a 7000w, puts 3500w at each outlet. That won't work well on an AC.
George
 
Since I used to buy and sell RV's Ive had a bunch and a 4KW Genny will operate a typical RV rooftop AC, 13,000 or 15,000 BTU. I've even had a few that only had around a 2750 genny that still started the AC but that was a 13,000 BTU not a 15,000 and that really crowded the genny when it started and was pretty marginal. However, the 4KW units never had a problem and you can even run the microwave while the AC was on which NO WAY with a 2750. IM NOT TALKING ABOUT ANY SORT OF SOFT START OR ADD ONS just typical run of the mill RV AC's.

MOST (never say never, depends on AC and genset, it is possible) of the guys (and I've seen a ton as I do a lot of RV travel and dry camping) who have the older Honda 2000 can not run a rooftop AC with much success, while the Honda 3000's I've seen CAN RUN A RV ROOFTOP AC. I see a bunch of them (Honda 3000) in the back of a pickup truck of guys that haul fifth wheel trailers with the gennys and AC units humming away.

Okay, most fairly modern smaller RV's have a 120 volt 30 Amp 10 gauge 3 conductor (Hot, Neutral, Ground) power cord that use a TT 30 P 2 Pole 3 Wire Grounding Plug. If the RV has such Ive seen some gennys that have the matching 120 volt 30 amp 2 pole 3 wire grounding TT 30 R 2 pole 3 wire grounding receptacle right on board you can plug your RV cord into. If not you would need an adapter that goes from a standard household type 120 volt 15 amp to the RV 30 amp receptacle, available even at Wally World and any RV shop.

Of course, larger modern RV's have a 120/240 volt 3 pole 4 wire grounding plug and 50 amp cord so they can run two 120 volt rooftop AC's, one on 120 volt leg the other on the other 120 volt leg.

Next, the guys that run those cheap loud screaming noisy Champion or cheaper brand of gensets aren't very popular with neighbors lol TOO LOUD and not nice n quiet like the Honda or Yamaha units, but of course, the good quiet ones cost a lot more.

BOTTOM LINE ADVICE FROM A VERY EXPERIENCED RV USER. Id suggest at a minimum a 3000 unit (like the Honda) or else a typical RV genset like an Onan 4000. I would NOT even consider a 2750.

Your money your choice so do as you like, NO WARRANTY ON THE ABOVE as there are always exceptions out there depending on the genny and AC units used and perhaps modifications, IM ONLY TALKING generic run of the mill typical standard units of which I've used or observed literally hundreds over many years. Others may have different experiences.

John T
 
"JohnT would know if camp sites are wired for 220"

Most new, modern, even older with upgrades RV parks have a power pedestal with:

(A) 120/240 volt 50 amp 3 pole 4 wire grounding receptacle for larger RV that have two rooftop AC's

(B) 120 volt 30 amp 2 pole 3 wire grounding
receptacle (NEMA TT 30 R) for smaller RV's with one AC.

(C) A standard typical household 120 volt 15 amp 2 pole 3 wire grounding NEMA 15R Duplex Receptacle

Most RVs Ive used and sold had a 4 KW Onan Genset that would operate the rooftop AC not a problem. I've even seen a few with a 2750 that ran an AC but that was really marginal and I wouldn't recommend such. Ive seen Honda 3000 that run rooftop AC's AND BELIEVE ME IF YOU ATTEND FLORIDA FLYWHEELERS WITH 400 RV'S IN A FIELD DRY CAMPING YOU WILL SEE THAT LOL

Take care, maybe run into you at Elnora

John T
 
I ran a 5500 at my remote camp (similar needs, house trailer)
worked fine.
But, like the other posters said, have them start the one you are thinking about.
Mine was a cheapy, and it is amazingly loud!
(as in, hearing it running miles away when on a gas run :( )
 
friday night and sat night reserved camp spot May drive down thursday and place used billboard tarps to sell in consignment section. Also going to sell IH modal LA engine
 
You will need at least 3000watts.
I have a nice little Honda 2000 watt that I run my 30ft. 5th wheel with. It works nice but its not big enough to run the air. I keep it in the back of my truck. You can barely here it running. Honda makes a nice 3000watt that is really quiet. You can get it with electric start. The downside it weighs 150 lbs and cost about 2400 bucks. Although the little 2000 will cost you a grand.
 
Regional terminology differences here, I think.

Around here, a "camper" is one that slides into the bed of a pickup. Then you've got your trailers, and your motor homes.

But I suspect your camper is something more than a slide-in, isn't it? I think Midwesterners also call a trailer a "camper".
 
Size like everyone says is the most important but noise is also important. No one likes to be near you with a loud generator. Stayed at a campground one time where al the campers got together and gave this guy a choice--shut it off or leave. He was mad and left. I want to get one for the house but haven't found one in my price range that's quiet enough.
 
Does your trailer have a place for a permanent install? 3000 watt weighs over one hundred pounds dry weight.
Not something I would want to toss around more than once a trip.
I have a 23 ft hybrid so my requirement may not be so much. I have two Honda 2000"s. If I am going to need air I take both,if not I just take one. weigh about 80# a piece.
 
The other made recommendation about output/size. My $.02 get an RV genset or Hondas, noise is in issue. A lot of RV gensets only run at 1800 RPMs so they're quieter and last longer. Hondas also run quiet but I'm not sure how fast they turn. The advantage of the Honda is some of their models can be daisy chained together giving you the ability to run one or two generators on the same circuit. So if it's cool enough for no A/C you can run one, together the two units may be able to run your A/C when you need it.
 
I would take the time to mount a permanent Onan genset and hard wire it in. When it is raining you can start it from inside and see the gauges and such. It is a bigger expense to start with but worth it.

Whatever you do don't buy a Generac RV unit. Throw your money at a homeless person before you give it away for some of that junk.
 
I don't have too much experience with generators since 1997. thats when I installed a G50 GENERAC permanently on the tail end of my fifth wheel and have had ZERO PROBLEMS with it
 
Likely will take camper friday noon set up will leave to get grand son after school as he will be staying with brother and I. Be back to show later. Likely will have supper at great resturant in odon. Will be there all day sat. will leave some time sunday. Best day to catch me will be sat.
 

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