most economical (but works) generator?

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I've just about decided if we can swing the extra cost or cut back on other things in our trip that I'd probably rather get a generator for our TT so we can just stop at rest stop to sleep and stuff- instead of trying to figure out where we'll be at what time and make reservations at an RV park on the way there and on the way home?
I mean we could also use it to be able to camp at places that might not have full hookup openings or not have that available at all? I dunno.

But I can't spend a fortune. I can search for the cheapest ones online but haven't a clue what size/wattage is the best to get or which ones are just junk and a waste of money. Any opinions/advice on this?

[2goofycampers]

Is your TT 30 amp or 50 amp ? 1 A/C or 2 A/C ?

[Tigger1966]

Also be aware that a nonRV type generator can't be used in a compartment and will have to be unloaded and set in the open to run. They are not designed to be used in a confined area and will overheat. Also most inexpensive generators are loud especially when running under a load.

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

DH says 30amp, 1 a/c

Do generators work like while you're driving? like you could keep it going so your fridge would stay cold? Just curious. I don't know how that works or if that's even possible but it would be nice when we go camping not to have to put all perishables in coolers with ice- then once we get there and get the fridge/freezer going move everything into that, then reverse that whole process when coming home. Yanno? Not to mention it probably would take awhile to cool off if like we were driving and then stopped to sleep in the summer and THEN turned on the a/c. Would probably take half the night to really cool down well in really hot weather?

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Also be aware that a nonRV type generator can't be used in a compartment and will have to be unloaded and set in the open to run. They are not designed to be used in a confined area and will overheat. Also most inexpensive generators are loud especially when running under a load.
How loud? I think I can deal with some loudness if it's saving me a lot of money (meaning I can't pay more to get quiet- I'll just do without it. KWIM?)

does RV type generator mean the same as the generators that say "rv model"? Yet when they show them in pictures they show them on the front of the TT where we have gas cannister things. LOL (you can tell I know so much about our TT right? :lmao: )

[Tigger1966]

If you are wanting to run your generator while you are moving you will need one designed for RV use and have it installed permanently in the unit. I would check out Ebay. Also doesn't your refrigerator run on gas?

[bigdisneydaddy]

If you buy an inexpensive one, anyone around you will not be your friend due to the noise. If you pulled into a truck stop or a rest area and fired up one of the cheap gens someone will most likely ask you to turn it off. This isnt really something that doable on the cheap (IMHO).

I am not sure why you would want to run AC power while going down the road ?

We tossed around the generator idea and figured it was much more economical to rent a site near the interstate for $30 and have power and water.

[stacktester]

You're camper fridge should run on propane/battery as long as the battery is charged and you have propane. The only thing in a camper that won't run on propane or battery is your a/c. Now if it's going to be hot and you need a/c then yes you're going to need a genny.

I have a Yamaha 2400 that I use at races and other dry camping places. You mentioned that you can handle some noise. Don't be sure you're neighbors will. When we camped in Ocala Forest while riding our 4 wheelers I can't tell you how many times people would come put their genny between our campers. While they sat under their awning enjoying the night we endured their fumes and noise from what I call a contractor generator. I won't go into it here but trust me, the one's who were jerks about it when we asked them to move it away from us paid DEARLY.

I would recommend a Kipor or similar that is an inverter type generator. They're under a $1k and are pretty quiet.

[Tigger1966]

We sell and service the Kipor and they are quiet but you have to remember that they are made in China and an inverter generator has a lot more parts to go bad that a standard RV type. For the money you can buy a used Onan 2800.

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

If you are wanting to run your generator while you are moving you will need one designed for RV use and have it installed permanently in the unit. I would check out Ebay. Also doesn't your refrigerator run on gas?
I have no idea. I thought it ran on electricity since we could never turn it on until we were at a full hookup site all hooked up. Maybe it's a battery we don't have? LOL


If you buy an inexpensive one, anyone around you will not be your friend due to the noise. If you pulled into a truck stop or a rest area and fired up one of the cheap gens someone will most likely ask you to turn it off. This isnt really something that doable on the cheap (IMHO).

I am not sure why you would want to run AC power while going down the road ?

We tossed around the generator idea and figured it was much more economical to rent a site near the interstate for $30 and have power and water.
Oh, that's true (about the noise) but I was thinking along the lines of if we're in a situation where we'd need the generator (ie: no hook up sites while camping) that we wouldn't be right next to someone that the noise would bother. Usually if you're camping in a place right next to someone those are full hook up sites. KWIM?
Oh I was thinking along the lines of if we're only stopping to sleep for a few hours- that it would take too long to cool it off in there if we THEN turned on the a/c once we stopped. :confused3 I was thinking in hot places- we live in Texas and we usually camp in the summer.. yanno?

I had about forgot about getting a generator too but it's just SO HARD to figure out where along the way we might be by the time DH wants to get some sleep... to then figure out ahead of time which RV park to rent a spot ahead of time. Or are there some that it's okay to just show up at night and ask to hook up for the night without a reservation?

You're camper fridge should run on propane/battery as long as the battery is charged and you have propane. The only thing in a camper that won't run on propane or battery is your a/c. Now if it's going to be hot and you need a/c then yes you're going to need a genny.

I have a Yamaha 2400 that I use at races and other dry camping places. You mentioned that you can handle some noise. Don't be sure you're neighbors will. When we camped in Ocala Forest while riding our 4 wheelers I can't tell you how many times people would come put their genny between our campers. While they sat under their awning enjoying the night we endured their fumes and noise from what I call a contractor generator. I won't go into it here but trust me, the one's who were jerks about it when we asked them to move it away from us paid DEARLY.

I would recommend a Kipor or similar that is an inverter type generator. They're under a $1k and are pretty quiet.

How do you know which ones are noisy and which ones are quiet? Is the cost the only way to determine that?

[Tigger1966]

The quiet type will be fully enclosed. Where are you planning on storing the generator while traveling?

[bigdisneydaddy]

I guarantee you that the noise from a cheap gen will drive you buggy after a very short time.

Most of the contractors around here that use them either put plywood around them or set them in a small hole, they cant stand to listen to them drone on and they are on a construction site.

Your trailer is required to have a battery for the breakaway switch, if the trailer comes loose form the tow vehicle it will apply the brakes on the trailer. Typically, this battery also powers the 12v items (lights and fride) on the trailer when you are not connected to 110 volt at a site.

[ftwildernessguy]

I think the cheapest and easiest solution would be to pull into a campground. We seldom make reservations and have not had an issue just pulling into one for the night. I cool down the fridge running off propane while travelling when we stop for the night or at a rest stop for an extended period.

[stacktester]

I have a friend with a motorhome that has a genny like mine and he has a slide in storage tray for his tow hitch and he has it strapped down to it and runs the power cord to it while he's driving so the camper a/c runs. He takes his whole family so there are people in the back to keep cool.

I don't know why I suggested the Kipor. Honda and Yamaha are the best on the market even if you pay more IMHO. No offense to Tigger1966, but I've owned many Yamaha and Honda products since the mid 70's and they all outlasted me and I sold them still running.

Let me make another suggestion. There are rental places you can get one from and you only pay when u absolutely need it and the maimtainance is not your problem.

If you do buy an inverter type (quiet) change the oil every other use. I don't care what the manual says, you will get double the time out of it at least.

[Tigger1966]

The only fridge that works on 12 volt are the small pop up type the others only use 12 volt for the controlls. I have seen some older units that were 12 volt but nothing newer.

[Tigger1966]

None taken. That was the point I was trying to make.

[stacktester]

[QUOTE=bigdisneydaddy;30575195]I guarantee you that the noise from a cheap gen will drive you buggy after a very short time.QUOTE]

Scott is so right. Before I bought my genny, I borrowed my grand dad'e emergency genny he uses for the storms and after about 15 minutes I was like I can't be this guy and shut it off. There are some manufacturer's who make muffler systems that will make the contractor one's quieter. I saw a guy at the Daytona 500 who had one and his genny wasn't much louder than mine.

Like other's have posted, if you're not going to do a lot of dry camping, pull into a campground.

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Okay- talked to DH.
He said the fridge is 120volt and won't run off the battery (which we do have and he said was just for the lights or something like that- probably what someone else mentioned). He said it runs off gas or when we hook up to a site- but he said that he had a problem where the light wouldn't stay lit and THAT'S why we can't ever seem to cool down the fridge until we get somewhere hooked up.
What would cause the light to not stay lit when he tries to light it? Weird in my opinion.

Okay... so back to staying at a campground but it just seems like such a pain to try to figure out where we'll be. I mean even if we take the chance of not booking some place ahead of time and still being able to get a spot -we don't know where we'll be when he gets tired (could be early evening if he starts getting road drowsiness, could be later- you never know with them) and then what- write down info (name of the place/phone number/driving directions/etc.) and just drive around trying to find a place that will let us stay the night? He's an early riser- so we wouldn't be there long and just didn't want to waste extra time- JUST the time he needs to sleep.

I guess there's no way to run some portable fans off the battery huh? $30 is NOT the issue.. it's finding a place/knowing where we'll be when it's time for him to get some sleep- so that i don't have to spend his sleep time trying to drive this thing. I don't wanna. LOL

[Tigger1966]

Make shure the burner is clean and all covers are properly installed around it. You mat have to fabricate something to keep the wind away from the flame while letting the cooling unit breathe.

[stacktester]

I would bet it would be cheaper to get the fridge fixed than buying a genny. I would set a realistic stopping point up before your trip and stay there. If he can drive further call a campground where he thinks he can make it but only if that's a safe option and there is no cancellation fee where you originally planned.

IMHO, you're stressing yourself out over a couple things that can be straightened out and planned ahead of time. It's only going to make the trip unenjoyable.

[bigdisneydaddy]

I meant that the fridge needed 12v to run on gas, not that it ran on 12v. That wasnt very clear.

We load our fridge and freezer when we leave for FL and it keeps everything perfect for the entire trip while running on gas.
I suspect that yours needs service if it wont stay lit.

[ftwildernessguy]

I might also suggest you pick up a copy of the latest version of "The Next Exit". It will list campgrounds along your route along with phone numbers, so you can call a little ahead with your cell phone and see if they have space. It will also have restaurants, rest areas, motels, etc. They are sold at most truck stops.

[LONE-STAR]

I can understand wanting the generator and not knowing where to stop. Its easier to find a Wal-Mart to sleep in then a campground. We normally drive it straight through from Tx but every year it gets harder. I wanted a built in generator when we ordered our toy hauler for the same reason as you. But I just could not justify the extra 5 grand. Our trailer did come generator prepped though so if we ever do want one is not a big deal.

[LONE-STAR]

We do have a contractor grade generator and yes very loud. After IKE our neighborhood could be heard for miles.:rotfl:

[69RoadRunner]

Avoid the Chinese noisemakers. You'll be miserable and your campground neighbors may band together and approach with pitchforks.

Save up and buy quality. It might save you money in the long run, too.

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I would bet it would be cheaper to get the fridge fixed than buying a genny. I would set a realistic stopping point up before your trip and stay there. If he can drive further call a campground where he thinks he can make it but only if that's a safe option and there is no cancellation fee where you originally planned.

IMHO, you're stressing yourself out over a couple things that can be straightened out and planned ahead of time. It's only going to make the trip unenjoyable.
Straightening out and planning ahead is my forte- which is what I do to AVOID making the trip unenjoyable. The problem is this one thing- I have no idea WHEN he'll want to sleep or where we'll be when that happens. It's making it hard for me to plan ahead- which is what I usually do.. so the trip goes smoothly and not stressful. That's what I'm attempting to do- now. LOL

I might also suggest you pick up a copy of the latest version of "The Next Exit". It will list campgrounds along your route along with phone numbers, so you can call a little ahead with your cell phone and see if they have space. It will also have restaurants, rest areas, motels, etc. They are sold at most truck stops.
Thanks- I'll try to find that...

about the fridge-all he said is it kept blowing out when he tried to light it to get it to cool off before our last camping trip (as I was packing the TT for that camping trip). I don't know if it was just windy that day and he gave up easily or what. LOL

roadrunner... I wasn't planning on using any generator at campgrounds. I thought I made that clear! LOL

[becky1960]

Keep in mind a lot of campgrounds have Quiet Times and some state no loud generators, we use Dry Ice for our first leg of our trip( 12-14 hrs) and this is after letting it run for a couple of days. If you drive less than 6-8 hrs most of the time for everything stays cold..

[bigdisneydaddy]

The fridge in my 03 Fleetwodd was just okay, really didnt keep things as cold as a home fridge but it would run the entire time we were on the road and everything in the freezer stayed that way. Our new one in our Outback is very much like our home fridge and will keep soda and milk at the right temps.
I typically stock the freezer completely full with pre made food for the trip. We have never had a problem keeping things at the right temps. I did notice on one trip that the fridge wasnt on but that was just because it was so cold that it didnt need to run.....:lmao: which was why we were heading to FL.....

[69RoadRunner]

roadrunner... I wasn't planning on using any generator at campgrounds. I thought I made that clear! LOL

Sorry, I didn't go through every post.

[Specularius]

You may want to check out the Champion generator model C46540. It has a 30A plug for RV's on it and is just slightly louder than the Yamaha's and Honda's. It is not as loud as a reefer on a semi at the truck stops. The best deal I see for the Champion is at Tractor Supply, where it is 349.99. Home Depot had some last year for 299.99. It is a China made genny but alot of people have had very good luck with them.

[clkelley]

Okay- talked to DH.
He said the fridge is 120volt and won't run off the battery (which we do have and he said was just for the lights or something like that- probably what someone else mentioned). He said it runs off gas or when we hook up to a site- but he said that he had a problem where the light wouldn't stay lit and THAT'S why we can't ever seem to cool down the fridge until we get somewhere hooked up.
What would cause the light to not stay lit when he tries to light it? Weird in my opinion.

Okay... so back to staying at a campground but it just seems like such a pain to try to figure out where we'll be. I mean even if we take the chance of not booking some place ahead of time and still being able to get a spot -we don't know where we'll be when he gets tired (could be early evening if he starts getting road drowsiness, could be later- you never know with them) and then what- write down info (name of the place/phone number/driving directions/etc.) and just drive around trying to find a place that will let us stay the night? He's an early riser- so we wouldn't be there long and just didn't want to waste extra time- JUST the time he needs to sleep.

I guess there's no way to run some portable fans off the battery huh? $30 is NOT the issue.. it's finding a place/knowing where we'll be when it's time for him to get some sleep- so that i don't have to spend his sleep time trying to drive this thing. I don't wanna. LOL


I really wouldn't worry about finding a campground when you want to stop. All of the campgrounds I've ever stopped at had a late night checkin board. Open up the box, fill out the paperwork, and pick a site. Leave a check or cash in the envelope, or wait till they open in the morning and pay then. Also, as you drive down the interstate, there are signs for the campgrounds the same as the hotels.

[LarryJ]

I really wouldn't worry about finding a campground when you want to stop. All of the campgrounds I've ever stopped at had a late night checkin board. Open up the box, fill out the paperwork, and pick a site. Leave a check or cash in the envelope, or wait till they open in the morning and pay then. Also, as you drive down the interstate, there are signs for the campgrounds the same as the hotels.

I agree and would ditch the idea of a generator, fix the frig (it probably only needs cleaning and adjustment) and there are many more CGs close to the major roads than Truck Stops or Walmarts and getting off and running around to get the the nearest WalMart is IMO a waste of time.

This is just a guess, but to have a good quality genset like in MHs actually installed in you TT in say the 4KW range which is about what you would need would probably cost you between $4,000 and $6,000. This is not a "cheap" option.


Larry

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Keep in mind a lot of campgrounds have Quiet Times and some state no loud generators, we use Dry Ice for our first leg of our trip( 12-14 hrs) and this is after letting it run for a couple of days. If you drive less than 6-8 hrs most of the time for everything stays cold..
Our trip is 24-25hrs if we drive straight thru (like last time- where I did most of the driving because we didn't have our TT with us then LOL). that's each way... which is why I was hoping we could get the fridge working because that's just such a pain to bring so much food and keep it cold. And before anyone says just buy it when you get there- no, we won't buy everything when we get there. We've seen the grocery prices there and do not like those prices. LOL We intend to bring especially a lot of meats with us since we plan on cooking so many meals in the TT and we buy meat in bulk to save money. We're a "3 freezers in the garage- full of food bought on sale- mostly meat bought in bulk" type of family. How do you think we afford Disney trips? :lmao: LOL

I really wouldn't worry about finding a campground when you want to stop. All of the campgrounds I've ever stopped at had a late night checkin board. Open up the box, fill out the paperwork, and pick a site. Leave a check or cash in the envelope, or wait till they open in the morning and pay then. Also, as you drive down the interstate, there are signs for the campgrounds the same as the hotels.
Okay that is reassuring- thanks!

I agree and would ditch the idea of a generator, fix the frig (it probably only needs cleaning and adjustment) and there are many more CGs close to the major roads than Truck Stops or Walmarts and getting off and running around to get the the nearest WalMart is IMO a waste of time.

This is just a guess, but to have a good quality genset like in MHs actually installed in you TT in say the 4KW range which is about what you would need would probably cost you between $4,000 and $6,000. This is not a "cheap" option.


Larry
We'll discuss this in more detail later but I don't know if the fridge needs to be "fixed" or if he just didn't want to keep messing with it because it was windy that day or what! But otherwise it's always worked wonderfully (knock on wood) once we're somewhere hooked up to electricity....... just couldn't seem to get it going on gas.
Yeah, that's nowhere near what I'd considered a cheap option. LOL

thanks to everyone for your help and suggestions!

[ftwildernessguy]

Spiders love to build webs in and around refrigerator pilot openings, for some reason. The fridge may work great one trip, then won't stay lit the next for this reason. My guess is the orifice is blocked and needs to be cleaned out. I always have the dealer do this, since running too large a guage wire into the hole to clean it can mess the orifice up, and it's too much bother for me to take everything apart and blow it out with compressed air. I think last time he charged me 10 bucks to do it during the inspection.

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Spiders love to build webs in and around refrigerator pilot openings, for some reason. The fridge may work great one trip, then won't stay lit the next for this reason. My guess is the orifice is blocked and needs to be cleaned out. I always have the dealer do this, since running too large a guage wire into the hole to clean it can mess the orifice up, and it's too much bother for me to take everything apart and blow it out with compressed air. I think last time he charged me 10 bucks to do it during the inspection.

Okay- will relay this to DH. Thanks!

[chilipyro]

Spend some time at the rv.net forums. You'll find enough information on generators there to keep you reading for weeks. They have a thread that is 60 pages long on the Champion generator alone.

I have a Honda 2000 and a Champion 4000/3500 RV Model. The Honda 2000 putts along very quietly when doing light duty tasks (like recharging the battery), but is not so quiet when powering a load as large as (for example) the microwave. It struggles with the air conditioner - sometimes it will not run it at all. The Champion is twice as loud as the Honda. A good picture that describes the difference might be a lawnmower on idle as compared with a car on idle.

Many good things have been said about both of these generators. I bought the Champion for WalMart nights or longer rest stops. I expect you might be able to get away with using the Champion at a campground during generator hours (usually a couple of hours at breakfast time and a couple of hours at dinner time), but any neighbors within 6 or so camp sites from yours will likely be not so happy with even that use.

In my opinion, there is no good solution for powering an air conditioner at a campground with a generator. No matter how much you spend to buy an ultra quiet generator, you'll still hear the generator rattling from across the campground under that kind of load.

At a rest stop or Wal Mart, a generator like the Champion should be fine for powering your air conditioner. It's not quiet, but neither are the trucks that often end up there. Others have mentioned the Yamaha 2400. That one is reported to be successful at powering a 13.5K btu air conditioner. At a bit over $1000, it is very costly, but does allow you to have a quiet generator for light duty campground use and a much less quiet generator for ac powering at a rest stop - all in one package. If you have a 15K ac, then you are probably out of luck with using the Yamaha 2400 to run the ac.

[chilipyro]

Removing first duplicate

[chilipyro]

Removing second duplicate

[disney4dan]

I agree with Jim and others (Fort Wilderness Guy, etc) that the generator is probably not money well spent, unless you need it for other reasons like temporary power at home after storms.

Your propane should run the fridge for the trip, may just need some maintenance. Ours did not run well on the trip to FL last August and would blow out while on the road. Because we did not want to take the time to find a service place, we dealt with it by buying bagged ice and placing it on the top shelf in the fridge, everything in the freezer stayed frozen. Spending two or three bucks per day on bagged ice is a low tech, low cost, guaranteed way to get the job done. We just put it inside an extra plastic bag to deal with the dripping water.

We have one of the inexpensive Champion Gensets with the 30 amp RV plug that we picked up cheap last winter when the ice storms took out our power. I could not see trying to run that while on the road just to keep the trailer cool, and would not feel safe trying to figure out how to attach it to the trailer and connect it to the power.

It is fairly quiet compared to other contractor generators (we have used them a lot while building), but not so sure I would want to listen to it while camping. It is listed as being 68 decibels, but I haven't checked it while under full load conditions.

Good luck with whichever you choose.