Generator size?

[troutkilla]

I am about to buy a 31 ft. travel trailer and would like to know if anyone can tell me how much generator I need to buy in order to run it. I will be taking along my better half who wants to run the a/c. microwave, hairdryer etc.. I was told 5600 watts with a 8250 surge would be fine but I would like some first hand advice from someone who uses one instead of the salesman selling me the trailer if you know what I mean.

[GRIZZ64]

5600 watt should do you fine. FYI - I would not run all three a/c, microwave and hairdryer at the same time. Maybe two of them at a time but not all three.

[sailor]

5600 watt should do you fine. FYI - I would not run all three a/c, microwave and hairdryer at the same time. Maybe two of them at a time but not all three.

x2

[Tmag]

Great choice. Nothing less than 5000 watts or you will regret it. If you have the money, buy a Honda. They are the quietest I have seen.

[Mike Murphey]

Look on the web site for Northern tool and they have a chart for generator sizes

[DrenalinJunkie]

my 5000 will run my house. Just not everything at once.

[BIG RED BOWHUNTER]

I Have A Champion 3500 With 4500 Surge. I Thought It Would Be Too Small, But They Told Me It Was Designed For Travel Trailers. They Were Right It Runs Everything And Is Quieter Than Everbody Else's On The Lease. Whatever You Get Make Sure It Has A 30 Amp Plug Or You Will Have To Use An Adapter And It Will Lose Power.

[Leftridge]

I'm no electrician but it all has to do with amps not watts per say. Figure out your amp load (i.e. ac-15amp, microwave-10 amps, coffee maker-15amp) and then that will tell you what size generator. To figure use: volts divided by watts = amps (ex. 120 volt (everything listed above) / 4000 watt (generator) = 33.3 amps.. So I COULD run the A.C. & Microwave but just barely...

In your generator (5600) would support 46amps constant.

[deerplanter]

I just had this conversation with my dad who is a retired electrician and an avid camper. He told me you can get away with 4000 watts. You may not be able to run it all at once depending on the amperage ratings on all of those appliances. The main thing is to make sure the trailer is connected to a 30 amp plug or over time it will burn up your ac. He actually bought 2 Honda 2000 watt generators and hooked them up in series. Honda sells a kit to be able to do this, they are light weight and very quite but expensive.

[troutkilla]

Thanks for all the info guys I really appreciate it.

[greenflag]

I used my neighbors generator this weekend on my camper. It is 5,000 watts and change. I had to use a 115v adapter because my plug didn't match what was on the generator so I probably lost some power there.

My camper has central air so it cycles completely off and on rather than just the compressor cycling. When I had several lights on and the A/C on occasionally it would throw the circuit breaker on the generator. Once we went to bed and the lights were off the generator handled the load fine.

I just think the initial startup of the fan and compressor combined with the adapter being used put too much load on the generator at once.

[Landrover]

5600 watt should do you fine. FYI - I would not run all three a/c, microwave and hairdryer at the same time. Maybe two of them at a time but not all three.

Yep!

IWhatever You Get Make Sure It Has A 30 Amp Plug Or You Will Have To Use An Adapter And It Will Lose Power.

Just bought one last week from JAYCO dealership.
Do a search on this site and you will see a long thread about generators and Travel trailers. I will see if I can find it to put it up top for ya. Oh, I have a 5000 HONDA but have not tried it on my 31 footer yet.