So I recently purchased a pair of champion inverters and the parallel kit. We used it during overnight road stops during our recent trip to FL and they were great. Ran the 15K AC and everything else no problem. As we head into the summer I am curious to know if anyone runs a generator while towing a travel trailer to keep the AC running and whatever else similar to what motorhomes do? My outback has a nice rack on the rear and I think I could secure both generators and the parallel box pretty easily. The next thing would be finding a very short 50amp shore power cord so that I don't need to secure 25'. Anyone doing this?

Most portable generators need to be level when running. Roads are not level, and the carrier may not be level, when hooked to tow vehicle.Some folks are afraid to run their fridge on propane, while going down the road. I would not feel comfortable, with two running gens, bouncing around on back of a towed trailer.Jerry

Some run the generators just before their last stop so the AC cools the trailer down. They don’t have to be perfectly level. I’d be concerned about the bouncing more than anything.

While I’m sure you’d be ok, your A/C should cool your unit quickly when you arrive. What else would you need electricity for going down the road?

I have in the past ran my fridge on LP while traveling remembering most times to turn it off while fueling. I don't anymore as I found the fridge will stay cold for a 7 hour and even up to a 10 hour trip with it in the off position. So I don't see the value of running a portable generator on a TT taking the chance that the fuel cap will stay tightly closed. Or fuel spilling out the vented cap. Keep in mind that portable generators weren't designed for this purpose.As for the AC, as was stated already, they will cool the TT quickly.

Thanks guys. Regarding propane Fridge, I have done that for years and never had a problem. I start it 24 hours before I leave, load it just before leaving and keep it running the entire time. Our trailer is 38' and if the temp is above 80 degrees it takes a while to cool and we end up soaked in sweat getting setup. Would be nice to have it nice and cool when we arrive. I figured motorhomes do it all the time but I did not consider the vented cap. Although they are in the back of my truck getting there and dont ever spill?? Anyway, thanks!

Generator while traveling for travel trailer | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

badsix
Explorer
May 05, 2019
Trackrig wrote:
MFL wrote:
Most portable generators need to be level when running. Roads are not level, and the carrier may not be level, when hooked to tow vehicle.

Jerry

I've never seen anyone have a problem with the generator running while on the road. When we go salmon dipping in Chitna, we often take a chest freezer in the back of one of the trucks and run it off of a Honda 2000. Other friends have gone to Colorado for elk hunting and used a chest freezer all the way back to Alaska with a Honda 2000 and no problems.

Bill

we did this, my gen a 3500 Champion is mounted on the back of my T/T. I ran a heavy duty extension cord up to my pickup bed were I had a 7cu. freezer. going down the road i would run the gen about a 1/2 hour every other hour it kept everything frozen solid.
Jay D.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Apr 30, 2019
If you do it then you might want to run a chain over them and lock them down. (I don't like being the paranoid guy) But, it's possible that if you leave them back there and stop for lunch or something then someone could grab them and go before you even realized they were gone. Same thing at the concert. While you were off watching the show they could disappear.
sgfrye
Explorer
Apr 29, 2019
living in north carolina our summers can get very hot. if we tow during the day our TT temp inside can easily get to 90 plus degrees on a long trip and it takes a long time to cool down. what i found that helps somewhat is to turn on ac night before we leave and put ac thermo on about 65 degree. everything in TT heats up, furniture, cabinets etc. not just the air. when we leave home i open the roof vent in bathroom and bedroom and crack open a couple of window in the back. the air will circulate some going down the road which helps.
MFL
Nomad II
Apr 29, 2019
hussbuss wrote:
The only problem you might run into are low oil alerts on the small generators. As the oil sloshes away from the sensors it will shut them down. Motor home units don't have these. I tried with my bumper mounted champion and this what happened.

This is the reason I mentioned earlier about generator sitting reasonably level, and not bouncing on the rear of a TT. Many posters saying they run theirs in truck bed (no problem), need to sit on a carrier, on back of a TT, and go for a short ride. Just 25 miles at hiway speed, add a few bridges, RR crossings, etc, should give an idea of the difference. :E

Jerry
austinjenna
Explorer
Apr 29, 2019
I ran 2 Honda EU2000's in the truck bed while running down the road so the AC could start cooling off the rig and never ran into a problem doing it. Im not sure what kind of ac's the others have but when its high 90's and the trailer has been baking in it all day it takes a while for it to cool off - at least for mine it does.
Trackrig
Explorer II
Apr 29, 2019
MFL wrote:
Most portable generators need to be level when running. Roads are not level, and the carrier may not be level, when hooked to tow vehicle.

Jerry

I've never seen anyone have a problem with the generator running while on the road. When we go salmon dipping in Chitna, we often take a chest freezer in the back of one of the trucks and run it off of a Honda 2000. Other friends have gone to Colorado for elk hunting and used a chest freezer all the way back to Alaska with a Honda 2000 and no problems.

Bill
Lantley
Nomad
Apr 29, 2019
kfp673 wrote:
Lantley wrote:
In general I think your plan is doable but not necessary.
It just doesn't take that long for the RV to cool down once I turn on the A/C to justify running it hours before arrival.

OK, I admit it. My real plan was to make it cool so I can convince my wife, kids, and dogs to ride back there the whole trip. I'm not sure how all the silence in the truck might negatively effect me, but these are the sacrifices I am willing to make! :W

I get it. it's all becoming clearer to me. I feel your pain:B...LOL
hussbuss
Explorer
Apr 29, 2019
The only problem you might run into are low oil alerts on the small generators. As the oil sloshes away from the sensors it will shut them down. Motor home units don't have these. I tried with my bumper mounted champion and this what happened.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Apr 29, 2019
kfp673 I hope that was a joke.
kfp673
Explorer II
Apr 29, 2019
Lantley wrote:
In general I think your plan is doable but not necessary.
It just doesn't take that long for the RV to cool down once I turn on the A/C to justify running it hours before arrival.

OK, I admit it. My real plan was to make it cool so I can convince my wife, kids, and dogs to ride back there the whole trip. I'm not sure how all the silence in the truck might negatively effect me, but these are the sacrifices I am willing to make! :W