Looking at buying my first Travel Trailer. What size Generator is needed? Looking at a 2210 SurfSide trailer. Comes with a ducted 15k Roof A/C unit but no generator. Just curious what size generator would be required to run a unit .like that? What other considerations do I need to consider and what a good portable generator. Thanks

Hi,If you go to Costco or Home Depot, or another hardware store, you might find some 4,000 - 5,500 watt 'portable' generators in the 120 pound size range, that will be extremely noisy! Think about 80 Db, or louder than your kids play the radio. Others considerate of the neighbors will buy a pair of Honda 2000 watt inverter generators. They slow down when load is low, and speed up when more power is required. Thus under small loads, such as battery charging it will be REALLY quiet, and get up to about 60 Db under full load when running the microwave.You can link together a pair of the 2000 watt generators and get the 4,000 watts that you need to meet the air conditioner start up wattage requirements. While the A/C is running, you will also be able to run the microwave. Small loads like a 90 watt TV, laptop, cell charger are not big deals for a 2,000 Honda, that is actually rated at 1,600 watts with a 2000 watt 'surge' rating for 30 minutes.Also the Honda is only about 50 pounds, so light enough for one person to move it around. They are easy to steal, so lock it up too! Some have even had the handle cut, and thought that their generator ran out of fuel, but in fact someone had cut it, loaded it into a pickup, and unplugged it as they drove away with it! Mayberrys.com is a good place to buy one, along with the cord to link together two of them to a RV style plug. Have fun camping and dry camping is the best!Fred.

I have the Yamaha equivalents to the Honda - they are both excellent productsand they are QUIET - which is probably the biggest concern when camping with neighbours. I usually put the generators as far as possible from the camper and make sure that the exhaust faces the woods to reduce noise even more and lessen any disturbance to others.Gerry

You will have plenty of advice about inverter or non inverter, and brand, and those "awful contractor" generators. Start with the basic question - how much load capacity? Generators are rated by watts. Volts x amps = watts. Volts figure at 110. Does your camper have 30 or 50 amp service? Do the math to figure your wattage requirement. You can build in a larger requirement if you are thinking upgrade in the future, or maybe for use at the house if power is out.

lacofdfireman wrote:..........What other considerations do I need to consider.......One consideration is that many people dry camp without the use of generators at all. The 12v systems can run off the batteries.

As an occasional matter of convenience with two 2000 watt generators, take two when needed & only one when not. Honda's & Yamaha's are the typical recommendation here on the Forum, but don't overlook Champion.SUPERGEN is a good source for reviewing the Champion line-up.Here's a side by side chart for noise levels.

Looking at buying a TT. What size Generator is needed?

BubbaChris
Explorer
Jul 08, 2015
korbe wrote:
BubbaChris wrote:
......
I spent last weekend dry camping at a CG where we believe a full half of the RVs there were using generators. First time we've seen that many as a percentage. .........

Oh boy, SOUNDS like a lot of fun.

LOL, less disturbing than folks on the highway 1/4 mile away hitting the rumble strips in the center line.

The layout of the CG was such that it was a fairly minor issue from our space. It was only obvious when we kept walking the loop to give our dogs a bathroom break.
korbe
Explorer
Jul 07, 2015
BubbaChris wrote:
......
I spent last weekend dry camping at a CG where we believe a full half of the RVs there were using generators. First time we've seen that many as a percentage. .........

Oh boy, SOUNDS like a lot of fun.
BubbaChris
Explorer
Jul 07, 2015
The first reply on this thread and the chart Dakota98 posted are really, really good.

As has been noted, you can get the AC running in most situations with a 3100. But the trade off is in weight and you don't need all of the capacity when you aren't needing AC. So most often people will go with a paired set of 2000 units. That way you can run (or even only take) just 1 if all you need are your batteries charged and the ability to run the microwave, etc.

I spent last weekend dry camping at a CG where we believe a full half of the RVs there were using generators. First time we've seen that many as a percentage. Number one in quantity were the Hondas, and pleasantly surprised to see some going as small as a 700. We walked by Class A and Class C motorhomes with onboard units that sounded louder than the Hondas. And we saw one guy with a toyhauler who had consistent problems getting his onboard started (at 8,600 ft elevation).

And then there was the 1 open-frame generator. It's not just that it was louder, the mechanical noise (not just the exhaust) is part of what makes it cringe-worthy. Luckily they only ran it a little.

I mentioned the altitude earlier and that's part of why I have a single Honda EU2000i. I have the high-altitude jet for the carburetor and can change it out in under 30 minutes (at home). All my camping for the next couple of months will be at 7,000-10,000 ft, so I already made the swap. And if I need the AC, I can buy a second EU2000i and pair them.
samsontdog
Explorer
Jul 07, 2015
I had a Honda EU3000, loved it but it would not run my 13,500 A/C in the mountains. It would run the A/C anywhere else. Sold it for what I payed for it and bought two EU2000 Hondas. All is good now. I take both most of the time but if A/C is not needed, I only run one. I keep both chained in the back of my P/Up
and slide out onto tail gate when running them. You cannot beat the Honda or Yamaha generators
danimal53
Explorer
Jul 07, 2015
some great info on generator stuff, including A/C, fridge, different small appliances and electronics:

http://www.steadypower.com/pages.php?pageid=133

i'm probably going to get the Champion 3000 inverter someday, though we are also new to RVing so haven't yet determined whether we really need one.
goducks10
Explorer
Jul 07, 2015
Honda EU3000i with remote start. Quiet and will power the AC+ other things. Leave it in the truck, start from the TT.
aftermath
Explorer III
Jul 07, 2015
To answer your question, you will need at least 3000 W to run your AC. I have a Honda 2000 and it has been a fantastic generator for us. Quiet and dependable but it won't run the AC. We are heading out soon to our favorite lake spot and it is going to be hot! We will just spend lots of time in the lake and sitting in the shade.

If I were in the market I would look at a 3000 but the weight would be a big issue for me. The 2 Hondas that can be matched together is a good idea but quite expensive. I would never get one of those loud contractor generators. Nothing like going out in the woods and have to listen to a neighbor run one of those.
hbillsmith
Explorer
Jul 07, 2015
I recommend the Champion 3100 Inverter. Runs my 15k A/C, ecomode is quiet 53db, full mode for A/C 58db. Mine runs about 7 hours on a gallon of gas. At 83# one person can lift and move. Now available with elec. start. Check Amazon for good reviews and prices.
Dakota98
Explorer
Jul 07, 2015
As an occasional matter of convenience with two 2000 watt generators, take two when needed & only one when not.

Honda's & Yamaha's are the typical recommendation here on the Forum, but don't overlook Champion.

SUPERGEN is a good source for reviewing the Champion line-up.

Here's a side by side chart for noise levels.
korbe
Explorer
Jul 07, 2015
lacofdfireman wrote:
..........What other considerations do I need to consider.......

One consideration is that many people dry camp without the use of generators at all. The 12v systems can run off the batteries.