Do I need a Generator?
Hi, I just got a travel trailer.. What uses are generators good for? Do I need one? Gas or diesel? thanks!
Forum Discussion
What are they good for? When you want to camp away from campgrounds that supply power and you don't want to severely limit you power consumption (air/con in particular is near impossible to provide without one). If you will be at campgrounds with power, they are not needed.
Do you need one? Depends how much you plan to be away from shore power and how much you are willing to give up.
Gas or Diesel? For portable generators it's pretty much a gas only world. The big differentiator is noise level. The Honda & Yamaha inverter lines are the best but there are knock offs coming out that are closing in.
A bigger question is how big. To run the air/con, you will need a unit that puts out 2 to 3 times the rated amperage of the air/con (starting the compressor takes much more than what is needed to keep it running). For typical RV units that's going to be on the order of 2400-3000watt generator (you can pair 2 - 2000watt Honda or Yamaha units also) If you just want to charge the batteries, you can go much smaller.
Do you need one? Depends how much you plan to be away from shore power and how much you are willing to give up.
Gas or Diesel? For portable generators it's pretty much a gas only world. The big differentiator is noise level. The Honda & Yamaha inverter lines are the best but there are knock offs coming out that are closing in.
A bigger question is how big. To run the air/con, you will need a unit that puts out 2 to 3 times the rated amperage of the air/con (starting the compressor takes much more than what is needed to keep it running). For typical RV units that's going to be on the order of 2400-3000watt generator (you can pair 2 - 2000watt Honda or Yamaha units also) If you just want to charge the batteries, you can go much smaller.
