Power needs

[Marquezfamily]

I am wondering if anyone can point me in a direction to find out the power needs of my travel trailer, it’s a 20BH Jay feather. I trying to find a generator to power it.

 

[Siamese]

Depends on what you want to power.

If you want to include AC, in addition to battery charging and so on, figure on getting up around 3500 watts.

If you're not going to be powering the AC, then you'll be fine with 2000 to 2200 watts. That's what we do. We don't do any hot weather camping, but we want to be able to keep the batteries topped off, and run the microwave or the toaster, hair dryer and so on.

There are plenty of discussions on this forum about how much generator is required, and about which brand of generator to buy. Let the search function be your friend.

 

[Marquezfamily]

The Ac is important but not has important as a coffee maker.

 

[Siamese]

Then you're looking at around 3500 watts. Definitely go with one of the quiet generators made for camping (not a job site generator). One of the popular units is the Predator brand. Made in China, not expensive, and users report them to be quiet and reliable. The Predator is one of several available, but it's likely the least expensive generators to provide 3500 watts with proven reliability.

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

X2 on the Predator. Mine is over a year old, runs like a champ.

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

It's from Harbor Freight and they are having a Black Friday Sale very soon, check their web site.

 

[maejoicer]

X2 on the Predator. Mine is over a year old, runs like a champ.

Does the Predator run on gas or propane ?

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

W

Gas...don't think they make a dual fuel model. One thing I wish it had was a gas guage, but it seems to run forever on a tank of fuel.

 

[Calmseas6]

I got 2 of the Craftsman 1700watt continuous 2200watt surge units and a parallel kit. When we don't need the air conditioner one will run the whole camper. You have to load manage some. Can't run HWH and microwave or coffee maker at same time for example. In some cases even may have to cutoff converter for a bit when using higher demand items.

The two together will run our whole camper(30amp). I like this setup because they are only about 47 lbs each and easy to transport and move around. I can run one if that's all I need or two in high demand situations. Saves fuel that way too.

I bought the generators off OfferUp or Letgo new in the box for about half of retail cost and got the parallel kit off eBay for about 25 off. All in I got both sets and the kit for around $100 more than one generator retails for.

Westinghouse makes a igen4500 dual fuel that will run the whole camper on its on. The dual fuel model will also run off propane. I almost went this route but ended up sticking with the smaller units for the portability and flexibility.

 

[skids-JAY]

(snip) I like this setup because they are only about 47 lbs each and easy to transport and move around. I can run one if that's all I need or two in high demand situations. Saves fuel that way too... but ended up sticking with the smaller units for the portability and flexibility. (snip)

Weight is definately important for lifting the gen into the bed of the truck!

 

[Mokurt]

I bought 2 Yamaha 2000IE's.
I can run one or both if needed.

Honda seems to be at the top of the list and the price for them is too.
Yamahas are up there too but these are very good units that are not loud.

If money is tight go with Harbor Freight.