Generator or no Generator
Buying new 40ft fifth wheeler, and curious if anyone has comment one buying a generator with the camper or if of one is even needed. Thanks
Forum Discussion
If you plan to camp with hookups all the time a generator would be of little use. If you plan to do some mixed camping where there would be occasional camping without hookups, a generator can be a nice addition to keeps batteries charged and provide power as needed. If you prefer camping off the power grid a generator and some solar panels is a combination that provides the best scenario for this style of RVing.
When choosing to get a generator you will need to add up all the items you intend to run at the same time to get a unit with enough watts to do the job. To keep it simple, it boils down to if you intend to use your generator to power your air conditioner. If not, a portable 2000 watt genny will power most everything on your 5er including most microwaves. They don't use much gas and are not very heavy so they can be stored and carried without much effort.
Onboard generators are an expensive option but nice to have if your want to power your entire rig as if plugged into shorepower. They are sized according to how many AC units your rig has and fuel sources are propane, gasoline, and diesel. These generators do not do well with limited use and they must be maintained and exercised regularly for best performance.
Another popular route is to parallel 2 portable units in order to have enough wattage to run a rig's AC unit, when AC is not needed the second unit can just stay home. It really boils down to the type of camping you plan to do, we purchased a RV to camp with the same amenities we have at home and have invested in a generator. We prefer camping off the power grid and also have solar to keep batteries happy and reduce the amount of genny runtime. Enjoy your new 5er!!!
When choosing to get a generator you will need to add up all the items you intend to run at the same time to get a unit with enough watts to do the job. To keep it simple, it boils down to if you intend to use your generator to power your air conditioner. If not, a portable 2000 watt genny will power most everything on your 5er including most microwaves. They don't use much gas and are not very heavy so they can be stored and carried without much effort.
Onboard generators are an expensive option but nice to have if your want to power your entire rig as if plugged into shorepower. They are sized according to how many AC units your rig has and fuel sources are propane, gasoline, and diesel. These generators do not do well with limited use and they must be maintained and exercised regularly for best performance.
Another popular route is to parallel 2 portable units in order to have enough wattage to run a rig's AC unit, when AC is not needed the second unit can just stay home. It really boils down to the type of camping you plan to do, we purchased a RV to camp with the same amenities we have at home and have invested in a generator. We prefer camping off the power grid and also have solar to keep batteries happy and reduce the amount of genny runtime. Enjoy your new 5er!!!
