Generator for full time use in destination trailer.

from the OPs post, it appears that he will live in a trailer with an adjacent shed while his home is being built. Is this going to be on the same lot as the house? if so this thread is silly, just get electricity run to the lot now and forget this generator nonsense.
bumpy

If you can't run temporary power for whatever reason (which seems like the best option), maybe you can find an a used Onan QD10000 somewhere. Those are $10K new, but I know someone that bought a wrecked Class A cheap just to get the generator, he had to replace the housing, but otherwise he got a diesel generator with 200 hours on it for $1000.

Those Onans will run for thousands of hours without a problem as long as you keep the oil changed, the diesels can go 200 hours between oil changes, so you'd "only" need to change oil once a week.

If you can get away with storing your fridge+freezer somewhere else (maybe a neighbor will let you put them in his garage), then you may be better off adding some batteries either inside or outside your RV to give 24x7 power, and use a smaller generator during the day when you're home to run your computers, etc and top off the batteries. So maybe you can get a much cheaper 3000W inverter generator (which will keep your computers happy with their clean power).

Size the batteries so you don't drop below 70% charge level and you can get years of use out of them. With the money you're saving from not buying the big diesel generator, you can add some solar to help keep the batteries topped off.

All this and little info. :(

A generator that is built for 24/7 service is referred to as PRIME POWER rated.

If rented a prime power generator will be installed, and maintained by the rentor. They take care of maintenance. This is not inexpensive.

A new home typically has 200 amp 240 service. A huge generator equivalent.

At a 20 Kw load it would not be unusual to see a 1 gal/hr fuel consumption, This would be with a 12-turn unit meaning 1,200 RPM, An 18-turn unit uses typically 12% more fuel.

Look at the starting load on a single worm-drive Skilsaw. Typically 2 Kw. Electric homes are terribly inefficient money wise. I remember at Lake Tahoe, condominiums with 3,300 kWh monthly usage. I pencilled out a preliminary design for solar power in my place in Mexico. NINETY group 27 lithium batteries, and eighty 300+ watt solar panels. For an all-electric home with Air Conditioning and dehimification for 1,700 square feet, electric clothes washing and drying, R/O system.

Fun, ain't it?

Running a generator full time for six months plus would be a nightmare. Someway, somehow get utility power to your homesite. Do you have any easements for power lines? Have consulted with the local power company?

Lwiddis wrote:
Running a generator full time for six months plus would be a nightmare. Someway, somehow get utility power to your homesite. Do you have any easements for power lines? Have consulted with the local power company?

it will be a lot cheaper to put in electricity now and run off that for a year than to buy a generator and keep pouring dollars into keeping it going. keep in mind that fuel prices are going to go up.
bumpy