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Good Sam Roadside Assistance

What Size Generator Do I Need For My Travel Trailer?

by Kim
(Oakdale Ca)

What size Generator do I need to run a 26 ft travel trailer, will a 2000 watt be enough?

ANSWER: Hi Kim I am afraid that a 2000 watt generator will not be sufficient for your Travel Trailer's needs. Please read the answer I gave to What Size Generator Do I Need For My RV?.

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I hope this helps.

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Comments for What Size Generator Do I Need For My Travel Trailer?

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Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Help
by: T

I just purchased a travel trailer that runs on 30 amps. I have a senior dog that is not able to hike with me anymore so he will be in the trailer while I am on the trail.

So, I need advice on a generator that will power the AC unit while I am away. I live in AZ so I would prefer solar but they seem to be really expensive and heavy.

Any suggestions?
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		2000 watts
by: Dave

I have 2 2000 watt champions that I run in parallel when using the AC or multiple appliances ex. microwave and coffee pot. Also to help the generators out a bit I put a hard start capacitors on the AC unit. If I don't need to AC or multiple appliance I only use one of the 2000 watt generators. You have to be smart about it and not overload the circuit. One appliance at a time.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Generator
by: Anonymous

I have 2 2000 generalc with converter and when the ac is on low with the microwave it blows fuses. I was told these would run it
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Size
by: Howard Ino

If your TT runs on 30 Amps, to fully power the unit, multiply 30 Amps X 120 Volts = 3,600 Watts (running power).

However, when dry camping, with some reasonable power management (not running A/C while making coffee or running the Microwave, this could be considerably lower. For instance the A/C will typically draw 10 - 12 amps. The Fridge will draw between 3 - 5 amps.

Assuming 17 amps, plus another couple for lighting, etc, 20 Amps X 120 = 2,400 watts on the high side.

That is running power, so kicking off the AC would suggest that a 3K generator will be more than adequate if you treat your electric consumption similar to water management.

That is part of the fun, is it not?
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Need Major Help!!
by: Anonymous

Good evening my name is Willie G and I own a 2013 keystone Hide Out made by keystone is 31 ft RBS travel trailer My A/C unit 13500 BTU and I tried running my travel trailer with a portable generator it's a 5500 power boss it says 8500 surge watts, I can run all the lights and the TV's witch is 3 of them 2 fridge when I put the A/C own it trips the breaker please help I dry camp a lot need to know what generator would run the whole camper with no problems thanks!!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		GENERATOR
by: BLACK

MICRWAVE AIR CONDITION LIGHTS TV VCR REFRIGATOR
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		what size?
by: hugh

you never answered the question..what size?

Comment from RVing Al: Well Hugh you are correct I did not tell her what size generator she needed. In order to do that I have to know what 120 Volt accessories she is going to be using. Since those details were not included in her question I cannot just guess and be wrong on the size, but I know that a 2000 watt generator will not be sufficient even for a bare bones RV.

The page I referred her to has details on the wattage usage on the most common appliances that people use in RVs. When a question is generic in nature I can only give a generic answer. I am sorry if you were disappointed in my answer.

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