New and looking for a generator

[GravelRider]

Hello everyone. I'm buying my first travel trailer, a Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 16BHS. I am planning to do a lot of boondocking, and I want a generator. I want a small portable generator, but I don't want to go too small. I'm thinking I can comfortably do a 3000 watt generator, but I'd like to get some opinions of experienced RVers.

The travel trailer has a 13,500 BTU AC unit, a microwave, and I think everything else will be DC. We'll be running the normal lights, water pumps, etc., charging a couple phones and tablets, and may add a DC television as well. That's about it. I'm completely fine with shutting off the AC while using the microwave.

What size generator do I need?

And any suggestions on quiet cheap generators? (quiet being more important than cheap, but I'd prefer not to spend a ton)

Thanks everyone.

[2012Coleman]

I bought the Powerhorse pressure washer at Northern Tool last year. Just had to take apart the new carb and found the main jet was blocked. The petcock also no longer works. The old carb was in bad shape from who knows what so I had just replaced it. I wasn't overall impressed with the quality of the carb either - and I run non ethanol gas. Good luck with their generator - but I'm going to stay away from this brand.

[valhalla360]

pianotuna wrote:

The autoformer I use can handle a lower input voltage. Lowest I've seen is 100. Output voltage was above 107 (I don't remember what it was). I'm supposed to be able to use it down to 90 volts input.

I was referring to the output voltage when I said 105v. I don't think you'll see much lower than because usually the main park breaker will be popping before it can drag the voltage much lower.

If you want to burn up your electrical system with low voltage, go for it. I'll break out the generator and deal with the consequences.

[TurnThePage]

I would have to say, at first blush, that venerable NT Powerhorse 3500 looks almost EXACTLY like that throw away HF Predator 3500.

[happy2rv]

colliehauler wrote:
... The only thing that would concern me is parts availability if you should have a issue beyond warranty. Maybe the people at Harbor freight / Northern tool can clarify the availability of parts.

My post in an earlier thread, here, addressed this. That was my primary reason for going with the NT Powerhorse over Harbor Freight or Champion. Northern Tools has in store service on all of their small engines and they have extended service contracts that cover unintentional damage as well as failures. I've only had mine about 6 months and have had no issues, but I haven't used it heavily either. I don't have personal experience with the service they provide, other than the advice of a friend I trust. I do have some experience trying to track down parts for Harbor Freight items. Lets just say if you buy it from HF, its a throw away when it breaks. That's OK for some things.

It looks like the NT Powerhorse 3500 Surge/3000 rated is on sale right now...

[pianotuna]

valhalla360 wrote:

pianotuna wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
When it gets really hot, the park electrical systems tend to start going out because everyone is running the air/con. Even if it doesn't go out, you can get damaging low voltage.

If the power goes out, crank up the genset and you still have air/con.

Or one can correct the low voltage issue with an autoformer.

Already have one but have still seen voltage drop below 105v with it boosting. Also, it doesn't help when the entire circuit goes out.

The autoformer I use can handle a lower input voltage. Lowest I've seen is 100. Output voltage was above 107 (I don't remember what it was). I'm supposed to be able to use it down to 90 volts input.

[theoldwizard1]

GravelRider wrote:
I do eventually plan to get solar, but it's lower on my priority list than a generator. I am going to be purchasing the rig with two batteries and two propane tanks.

2 golf cart batteries is a good for looking to the future for solar.

The next step would be an inverter/charger/automatic transfer switch. The integrated automatic transfer switch is key to making this useful.

You will probably never be able to use A/C with batteries (it would require 6 or 8 golf cart batteries), but even 2 GC2 batteries and an inverter/charger/automatic transfer switch could run a microwave for a few minutes. Also run light household appliance at night without the generator.

[TomG2]

GravelRider wrote:


What size generator do I need?

Since your trailer is almost certainly wired for 30 amps input, anything more is irrelevant Someone mentioned 6,000 watts of which nearly half would be a waste with your setup.

No mechanical generator is "Silent", so how close will you be camping to other campers? A couple of "quiet" generators howling outside your bedroom window all night long is not fun, but another generator one hundred feet away might not bother anyone.

Like so many, I like the idea of "independence" and "freedom" that buying a generator promises. I have hauled one of half a dozen models for twenty years and 100,000 miles with almost no need for a generator. In that twenty years, I have encountered damaging low voltage in one park and I monitor it everywhere I go. If you want a generator, get one. You do not need one to have a lot of fun traveling and camping.

[HawkTX]

I run two of these parallel to run my 15K BTU air conditioner and everything else in my travel trailer/camper. When it's cool outside I only use one and it runs everything. You could probably get away with just one for your 13.5 BTU air conditioner. I've had Honda and Yamaha GENS and after multiple uses I feel like these are just as good and they are super quiet. Good luck!


Click to see on Amazon Westinghouse GEN

Click to see on Amazon Parallel Cord on Amazon

[Gulfcoast]

I prefer Champion and now the Harbor Freight Predator, which is a fine inverter generator.

[Lwiddis]

“Have yet to have one complain...of course, if they complain, they have to first explain why they aren't providing the power that we contracted to include with the site.“

RV parks need to supply what they publicly offer...adequate voltage, not excuses.

[colliehauler]

GravelRider wrote:
Thanks for the welcome and replies everyone!

Regarding the quiet and nature... I completely agree with this sentiment. I'm an avid backpacker and tent camper and generally a bit of a minimalist, and I also do a lot of motorcycle travel/camping, so having a noisy generator is definitely something new for me. HOWEVER, now that I'm moving from taking what I can carry or fit on my bike to a travel trailer, I want the creature comforts. I also have a wife who is not a tent camper, and she wants a microwave and AC, whether we're in a campground with shore power, or off the grid... So a generator is a must for me. But I do appreciate the advice of enjoying the quiet nature. I also don't plan on running it 24 hours a day; just long enough to do what we need.

I do eventually plan to get solar, but it's lower on my priority list than a generator. I am going to be purchasing the rig with two batteries and two propane tanks.

I'm definitely leaning toward the Champion 3100 watt inverter generator. I do want to check out that Northern Tools one though too.

Neighbor uses the Harbor freight inverter generator and is completely happy with it. The only thing that would concern me is parts availability if you should have a issue beyond warranty. Maybe the people at Harbor freight / Northern tool can clarify the availability of parts.

[valhalla360]

2oldman wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
Depends, we use ours most often in RV parks.

RV parks that let you run a gen? Don't see that often.

Have yet to have one complain...of course, if they complain, they have to first explain why they aren't providing the power that we contracted to include with the site.

[valhalla360]

pianotuna wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
When it gets really hot, the park electrical systems tend to start going out because everyone is running the air/con. Even if it doesn't go out, you can get damaging low voltage.

If the power goes out, crank up the genset and you still have air/con.

Or one can correct the low voltage issue with an autoformer.

Already have one but have still seen voltage drop below 105v with it boosting. Also, it doesn't help when the entire circuit goes out.

[2oldman]

valhalla360 wrote:
Depends, we use ours most often in RV parks.

RV parks that let you run a gen? Don't see that often.

[pianotuna]

valhalla360 wrote:
When it gets really hot, the park electrical systems tend to start going out because everyone is running the air/con. Even if it doesn't go out, you can get damaging low voltage.

If the power goes out, crank up the genset and you still have air/con.

Or one can correct the low voltage issue with an autoformer.