My husband and I are considering getting this small travel trailer basically for driving to places where we will be drinking, so we can sleep overnight in it, so we don't have to drive home. We also take our dog everywhere, so I want to be able to leave her inside for a couple hours with an air conditioner running. Most places we will be parked are just parking lots, with no hookups, so we wanted to get a generator to run the air conditioning, possibly the fridge, and some simple basic appliances.The Air conditioner is only 5 btu, and this is a tiny 16ft trailer with a fridge, microwave, and 3 burner cooktop. I literally know nothing about campers or generators, so any input would be extremely helpful. Thanks!

LisaLPharmD wrote:My husband and I are considering getting this small travel trailer basically for driving to places where we will be drinking, so we can sleep overnight in it, so we don't have to drive home. We also take our dog everywhere, so I want to be able to leave her inside for a couple hours with an air conditioner running. Most places we will be parked are just parking lots, with no hookups, so we wanted to get a generator to run the air conditioning, possibly the fridge, and some simple basic appliances.The Air conditioner is only 5 btu, and this is a tiny 16ft trailer with a fridge, microwave, and 3 burner cooktop. I literally know nothing about campers or generators, so any input would be extremely helpful. Thanks!You could get by with a 2k only using a 5000 btu A/C, you would have to shut the Air off to run major appliances. A bigger concern would be theft in a parking lot being left alone.

A definitive answer requires knowing precisely how many watts (thus how many amps) things draw, both on startup (surge) and for running. This information should be posted on a plate, tag, or sticker somewhere on the device.You then must add up both surge wattage and separately running wattage, and pick a generator capable of handling both. Things that have a motor, the AC for example, will require 2 to 3 times the running amperage for startup surge. Things without a motor, the fridge for example, will draw the same power on startup as running.It is possible to get an AC that can handle only the AC, but not the AC and the microwave at the same time. Using it would thus mean don't attempt to run both, or you will knock the generator offline. Typically (but not always) this requires shutting it off and restarting it, but it might mean resetting a circuit breaker.Without knowing how much power that AC uses, one can only guess at the most appropriate size generator. Otherwise, you could buy the biggest one possible -- which will, of course, cost a lot more and burn a lot more fuel.Colliehauler is right, theft of the generator is a major risk.

Please respond, telling us this post is not a joke.

2oldman wrote:Please respond, telling us this post is not a joke.I think it's a legitimate question. They like to drink and want to avoid a DUI and the associated problems.A RV forum is a logical place to ask this question.I commend them for using common sense. :)

gbopp wrote: They like to drink and want to avoid a DUI and the associated problems.That's fine, but that's not the whole issue.Leaving a dog inside, generator running, unattended, in a parking lot, at a bar. Is that something you would do? To me, this is another one of these first-post wonders.If I'm wrong, so be it.

Generator Size for a Shasta Airflyte 2015 (1961 reissue)

2oldman
Explorer II
Jun 07, 2015
greende wrote:
No further word from the OP yet.
Imagine that.
greende
Explorer II
Jun 07, 2015
No further word from the OP yet. I mean no offense, but I find this opening statement a little weird. And, she is apparently a Dr of Pharmacy per her screen name.
ROBERTSUNRUS
Explorer
Jun 07, 2015
:) Hi, hire a non-drinking pet sitter or give your dog to someone who won't risk it's life for a few drinks.
chr_
Explorer
Jun 07, 2015
Leave the dog at home.
oughtsix
Explorer
Jun 06, 2015
Nothing wrong with not wanting to drink and drive! My GF has wanted to go on the winery tours over here in Oregon. While I enjoy wine I do not drive when I have been drinking.

As for a 17' trailer with an external generator to run the AC to keep the dog cool while you are inside having fun sounds like a recipe for disaster. What if the generator runs out of gasoline? What if someone steals the generator? What if the AC overloads the generator causing it to shut down?

Oregon just passed a law allowing police officers to break into your vehicle if you leave a pet abandoned in it then arrest you for animal cruelty when you return!

Get the trailer and leave your dog at home! ... or maybe you just don't love your pet?
2oldman
Explorer II
Jun 04, 2015
westend wrote:
LOL, thread of the week.

My suggestion would be to take the $15K for the trailer + $2K for the generator + $40K for the truck and buy a couple of stays at rehab. You'll be time and money ahead in the end.
Now, that's the REPLY of the week.

Good one.
westend
Explorer
Jun 04, 2015
LOL, thread of the week.

My suggestion would be to take the $15K for the trailer + $2K for the generator + $40K for the truck and buy a couple of stays at rehab. You'll be time and money ahead in the end.
krobbe
Explorer
Jun 04, 2015
It should run it if you use some power management by keeping the other loads to a minimum. The 5000BTU A/C's use about 400 watts continuous and needs 1200-1800 watts surge power to start. You may have to run the generator with ECO-Mode off so the momentary starting current doesn't trip it out on an A/C restart cycle. But that shouldn't be a deal breaker.
BubbaChris
Explorer
Jun 04, 2015
gbopp wrote:
2oldman wrote:
Please respond, telling us this post is not a joke.

I think it's a legitimate question. They like to drink and want to avoid a DUI and the associated problems.
A RV forum is a logical place to ask this question.
I commend them for using common sense. :)

x2 - There's a fun Nevada town 35 miles South of us, but the road back wouldn't be anything related to fun if I've consumed even 2 drinks.

So last time we were visiting down there, (but not partaking) I suggested we come back with the TT sometime so we could do some responsible partying.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jun 04, 2015
gbopp wrote:
They like to drink and want to avoid a DUI and the associated problems.
That's fine, but that's not the whole issue.

Leaving a dog inside, generator running, unattended, in a parking lot, at a bar. Is that something you would do? To me, this is another one of these first-post wonders.

If I'm wrong, so be it.

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Generator Size for a Shasta Airflyte 2015 (1961 reissue)

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