I'm preparing to make a long trip and buying a travel trailer. It will be something a bit older like early 2000s and around 24ftish. I'd like to be able to have my dogs ride in the trailer while traveling. I know this controversial but I've weighed the benefits and risks and I'm ok with it. Also there's no where else for them to ride. Way to big to ride in the cab, and the reason for posting here too hot to ride in the bed with a camper shell. A big problem that I'm presented with is the heat. Is it possible, and safe to wire up an generator that would ride on the back to run the ac in the camper? I'd have it sit on one of those receiver hitch platforms. How much power do these really pull? I'd like to run the fridge too but that's optional. How long could I run off the house batteries? Im talking 2000 miles of driving most likely almoat non stop ( ill have multiple drivers) Maybe wire the batteries to charge off my truck battery? I did that with an winch on my car trailer.

You can't run the air conditioning at all on the batteries you can run it on the generator everybody does.

I am one of the few here that have actually set up a TT to do this. It CAN be done. But it won't be easy or cheap. And for most it won't be practical. If you cannot do the mods that are necessary yourself, it will be VERY expensive.I installed a Onan Microquiet 4.0 using their underfloor mounting kit. I was wired with a ATF. I used about 45' of the thickest welding cable from it to the batteries. The genset was mounted just forward of the axles for best weight distribution. I installed a custom stainless steel 26 gallon gas tank for it. A fuel pressure regulator was used to prevent the carb from flooding from over pressure when climbing hills. A custom fire shield was installed.All of this stuff required many hours of fabrication and a lot of welding.It was a really slick setup, and was trouble free for over 1500 hours and many years until a lightening strike fried the genset.I posted on threads about this with pics on this forum back then. If you are interested in more details, a search should turn it up.It was before 2010, when I bought my present TT. I did not make this mod to it. Too much work, and the little Hondas do a fine job for me now.

In all practical theory, I see no reason why you could not run an air conditioner from a generator on your TT. After all, folks driving motor homes do this all the time. Their campers are equipped with the same air conditioners too. Figure out a safe and practical way to mount the generator and run the wire and it should work. Good luck!

It will work. But how will you know if there is a problem?

Can you just leave the roof vents open and a window cracked? I'm picturing a dog head sticking out of a trailer window. hahah

Running roof ac while driving | Good Sam Community

70 Replies

hohenwald48
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
I have my Honda 3000 mounted on a Stromberg-Carlson generator rack Tongue Rack and I installed an automatic transfer switch. Wired it all up so that when the generator is running it feeds everything in the trailer. When it's hot out, I stop about an hour before arrival and crank the generator and turn on the A/C. All is cool and comfortable on arrival.

I see no reason why you could not run the generator during the entire trip. My Honda goes about 20 hours on a tank full so that's a lot longer than any days drive I'll ever do. Most folks stop every couple of hours so in the event of an issue I doubt the trailer would heat up to "dog killing" temp before you noticed it. However, there are all manner of wireless remote temperature monitors available at Lowes, Wal-Mart or Amazon.
hohenwald48
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
llowllms wrote:
I was wondering, why bother? After hooking up the water hook up the a/c and it will be cool in your rig while finishing up outside.

You might want to re-read the question.
TomG2
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
Not that big a deal to run a generator in the bed of a pickup with the trailer plugged into it while towing. Many have done it. Easy to monitor and dogs will be cool. Get a big enough generator. 3500 watts is a great match for the trailer you mentioned.
llowllms
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
I was wondering, why bother? After hooking up the water hook up the a/c and it will be cool in your rig while finishing up outside.
rdmike
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
I have a dog and would not do it. What happens if the gen stops or ac trips? Will you know it? A dog stands a better chance with windows open that they can reach to breath out of.
boosTT
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
Can you just leave the roof vents open and a window cracked? I'm picturing a dog head sticking out of a trailer window. hahah
Mfan
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
It will work. But how will you know if there is a problem?
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
In all practical theory, I see no reason why you could not run an air conditioner from a generator on your TT. After all, folks driving motor homes do this all the time. Their campers are equipped with the same air conditioners too. Figure out a safe and practical way to mount the generator and run the wire and it should work. Good luck!
Huntindog
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
I am one of the few here that have actually set up a TT to do this. It CAN be done. But it won't be easy or cheap. And for most it won't be practical. If you cannot do the mods that are necessary yourself, it will be VERY expensive.

I installed a Onan Microquiet 4.0 using their underfloor mounting kit. I was wired with a ATF. I used about 45' of the thickest welding cable from it to the batteries. The genset was mounted just forward of the axles for best weight distribution. I installed a custom stainless steel 26 gallon gas tank for it. A fuel pressure regulator was used to prevent the carb from flooding from over pressure when climbing hills. A custom fire shield was installed.
All of this stuff required many hours of fabrication and a lot of welding.
It was a really slick setup, and was trouble free for over 1500 hours and many years until a lightening strike fried the genset.

I posted on threads about this with pics on this forum back then. If you are interested in more details, a search should turn it up.
It was before 2010, when I bought my present TT. I did not make this mod to it. Too much work, and the little Hondas do a fine job for me now.
Sprink-Fitter
Explorer
Jan 06, 2017
You can't run the air conditioning at all on the batteries you can run it on the generator everybody does.

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Running roof ac while driving

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