As you may know I my pickup tomorrow for my new tracer 2670. I am real new to all this trailer camping. I believe it comes with type 27 deeo cycle battery. 90% of my camping is done where there are full hookups so no need for battery. The other 10% is dry camping at nys campgrounds. I understand that the battery will not run outlets for coffee pot nor tv? If I want to use these do I purchase a generator? If so what size? Im in Adirondacks so would not need nor use AC while dry camping.. what size generator would run outlets and tv and also charge battery? ??? Thanks

I would buy a EU2000 Honda. Since you will not run a A/C, one Honda will do the job for you

yankeeslover,Congratulations on your new trailer.Yes, a generator is one way to run the TV and coffee maker. Another is solar and more batteries, combined with using your propane stove to make the coffee (like in the old days......). Since you only anticipate dry camping about 10% of the time, does it really make sense to pay $1000 (or more if you go solar) just for TV and coffee maker use on those rare nights? Of course, only you can make that decision. If you do get a generator, I suspect that you (and your neighbors) would be happiest with a low noise unit such as Honda or Yamaha. The Honda 2000 watt inverter generator is very popular and will run your outlets (not the Air Conditioner though) with enough power to spare to charge the battery. However they are not cheap at about $1000 each. Have fun and remember, it's just camping.Steve

You can get by with a 2000watt. If you heat coffee on the stove and no toaster you can use a 1000 watt. You might want to add a second battery to make dry camping a little easier.

90% of my camping is done where there are full hookups so no need for battery. Have you tried going without a battery? Going to be pretty dark in your RV with no lights. If no battery how are you going to use your lights? Most RV's need a battery to run 12 volt lighting system.what size generator would run outlets and tv and also charge batteryMost manufacture generator web sites have a guide that guides you thru what size to get. Error in favor of more not less. Our 2000 watt works good for our small trailer, but micro wave and coffee pot on at same time doesn't work to good.

path1 wrote:90% of my camping is done where there are full hookups so no need for battery. Have you tried going without a battery? Going to be pretty dark in your RV with no lights. If no battery how are you going to use your lights? Most RV's need a battery to run 12 volt lighting system.I have two batteries. I meant I would use shore power 90% of time as full hookup campingwhat size generator would run outlets and tv and also charge batteryMost manufacture generator web sites have a guide that guides you thru what size to get. Error in favor of more not less. Our 2000 watt works good for our small trailer, but micro wave and coffee pot on at same time doesn't work to good.

newbie with generator questions | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

2edgesword
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013
If you are really not concerned with running the ac go with a Honda or Yamaha 2000. For few hundred more the Yamaha 2400 will also start/run the ac and still light enough for one person to handle.
mlts22
Explorer II
Jun 18, 2013
yankeeslover wrote:
so, what advantage does a generator have? most campgrounds allow 2 hours in am and 2 hrs in PM... do I use those two hours to just recharge my battery?..

I've recharged my batteries to a usable SOC (~90%) in around four hours.
SailingOn
Explorer
Jun 18, 2013
A couple of hours morning and evening are plenty to recharge the battery, and you can run a coffeepot, TV, cellphone chargers during that time without draining the battery.
yankeeslover
Explorer
Jun 18, 2013
so, what advantage does a generator have? most campgrounds allow 2 hours in am and 2 hrs in PM... do I use those two hours to just recharge my battery?..
SailingOn
Explorer
Jun 18, 2013
- The furnace blower can drain a battery to 50% overnight.
- The slide motor runs on 12v power; lots of cranking if you drain the battery.
- An inverter draws 12v power from the battery to make 120v AC for the tv, etc. My 23" TV draws about 80 watts. The small inverter that will run it cost less than $100. Using the TV for several hrs a day uses 20+ amp-hours of battery.
- The truck's alternator would recharge a nearby battery quickly, but the 30 feet or so of small gauge wire between the truck alternator and the trailer batteries means recharging a half-dead 2-battery bank will require driving hundreds of miles.
- A small generator expands your options. Memorial Day weekend this year we were at Four Mile Creek, just north of Niagara. Last March when we made reservations there were no electric sites left. A 2000w gen running an hour morning and evening allowed us a great 4 day weekend.
yankeeslover
Explorer
Jun 18, 2013
so, if im only dry camping for 1-2 nights at a time, and I have two deep cycle batteries I should be ok? I hate to buy generator if im camping with full hookups most of time and would not need generator at a full hookup campground, its only the few times a season im dry camping that im worried about..with either one or two batteries what will and will not work? am I correct in that no outlets in camper will work on the battery?? so that would leave the TV out.. Im not concerned about coffee as I can cook that on stove.. but the kids like the TV w/dvd player... so the battery will run the lights, and that's it? I should be fine w/two batteries to run lights for two nights, but if my wife insist on running the TV, then what is an inverter that I keep hearing and what is difference between that and a generator and what is cheaper? also, will the battery run the slide? and if my batteries start to die on me, how long do they take to charge if I start my truck up? im sorry, all new to this..thanks again,
Ozark_Farmer
Explorer
Jun 18, 2013
Dennis Smith wrote:
I have a 19 inch 12 volt flat screen with built in DVD. Nice and easy to use and don't have to have 120 volts.
Do have a make and model to recommend Dennis? I am looking for something like that.
SprinklerMan
Explorer
Jun 18, 2013
Awww go buy an old generator 5k with a briggs and straton on it , get one that burns oil ( keep the bugs away ) since it will be louder than a harley with drag pipes you wont have to deal with too many campers next to you , they will leave . Or you could grab one of those quiet hondas . Me I like the honda .
69_Avion
Explorer
Jun 18, 2013
the bear II wrote:
You can get by with a 2000watt. If you heat coffee on the stove and no toaster you can use a 1000 watt. You might want to add a second battery to make dry camping a little easier.

My 1000 watt Yamaha generator will do whan the OP asks, but if a person was to buy a new generator, I would suggest the Honda 2000i. Add another one to it and he could run the AC.
BubbaK
Explorer
Jun 17, 2013
HONDA, HONDA and yeas I said HONDA. The EU2000I is the way to go. I have 2 of these and linked together I have 4000 watts of clean power. You can run the TV and computer if needed with no worries of power spike and destroying electronics. Nothing wrong with the Yamaha power as I do have a 6600 but for the small size of either Yamaha or HONDA they are well worth it. Easy to move where you need power and easy on fuel. An extended tank will add to the hours of power to do the things you went camping in the first place, having fun and relax.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bLBcJgR_kk