Anyone travel with Gen running to power AC?

All the time when it's hot
couple hours before destination
works good

shawnct450r wrote:
Lots of people do it. As for me, for some reason, the alternator in my 04 F250 does not like it when I have the trailer connected and the genny running. That's not to say that yours will. You'd have to try it, but it is a common thing in the warmer climates. Hope this helps.

You just have to unplug the converter in the trailer, then it won't be trying the charge the truck battery (which the alternator thinks is your batteries being full).

You lose all the cool air when you open the ramp to unload. We dont camp in hot temps, its just no fun, unless we go to Pismo, then its fun, nice and cool.

I must have blinked or not mechanically gifted on this topic.

I understand how a trailer can operate on a generator/inverter.

What I don't understand is, when traveling, how can trailer lights function when disconnected from the tow vehicle?

Please help me to understand this one.

Gawd....I feel stupid even asking the question.

Thank you.

I do it when it's hot outside but not the entire trip. We usually get fuel 45-60 minutes from the camp site and turn it on then. No problems, and it does get quite a bit cooler in the trailer

You can run the gen down the road with no problems but I found this will not help on my Fuzion.

Last July 4th holiday we started out from Las Vegas heading to Lake Havasu City AZ. It was 114 in Vegas so I fired up the gen and both A/Cs to keep the camper cool. It was 76 degrees inside as I had been on shore plug running A/C at home.

When we got to Havasu it was 123 and when I went inside to set-up the rig it was 123. The Fuzion had allowed enough air thru itself on the road that it had lost all cooling that had been there.

Bottom line for me is running heat or A/C on the road is a waste of effort as the Fuzion doesn't insulate itself well enough.

Just realized that you were talking about the Trailer. I was talking about how we run the A/C in the MH, since we want it cool as we travel.

For the Trailer, I would think that it would just make sense to fire up the genset as you pulled into a CG, and give it about a half-hour (depending on the outside temps) to cool down. Start it up as you go into the CG's office to fill out paperwork, and then, by the time you have the TT all situated and leveled, you should be all set when you go inside.
To have it run during an entire trip would just be a waste of fuel and money!

We do it all the time. Probably doesn't make much difference with regard to fuel mileage, because we use the generator and A/C, and not the A/C on the engine, so that may get a bit better mileage.....which is lost to the genset.

Having the genset running also allows the TV and DVD player to run for the grandson....no load on the inverter.

Never had an issue with the genset.

Yep this topic comes up often, many do it. Class A owners do it since the dash air can't cool the whole rig. We did it with our Raptor since our dogs road in the back. Never had any issues with it. Turn it off if you pull into a gas station along with your fridge.

Lots of people do it. As for me, for some reason, the alternator in my 04 F250 does not like it when I have the trailer connected and the genny running. That's not to say that yours will. You'd have to try it, but it is a common thing in the warmer climates. Hope this helps.