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05-07-2019, 08:28 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 1
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Generator advice
Hi Everyone!
New to the forum and have a questionable question about generators.
Just purchased a 2019 Mini Lite and wonder what generator to purchase. We most likely will be running air conditioner, TV and fridge at the same time. A/C is 11,000 BTU's. Would like a generator around $500.00 give or take.
Also, any advice on gen. use?
Thanks!
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05-07-2019, 08:57 AM
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#2
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 17,591
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Hi griffibaby, welcome to the forum, I see it is your first post.
To new-comers, we often suggest a forum search for your question and generator advice is an often talked about topic with thousands of threads/posts.
Do a forum search (such as best generator) and you'll have days of reading.
You'll find plenty of folks posting THEIR opinion on what THEY think is best.
Do your homework and make YOUR decision based on what YOU feel is best.
If you plan to use the generator anywhere other than private land where no one else is around, be sure to purchase an INVERTER type generator, as the open frame/contractor type generators are TOO LOUD for campground use.
A $500 dollar budget will likely only get you an open frame/contractor type generator so again, in a campground, it will not be appropriate.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=110 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=93
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05-07-2019, 12:21 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 16,142
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker
Hi griffibaby, welcome to the forum, I see it is your first post.
To new-comers, we often suggest a forum search for your question and generator advice is an often talked about topic with thousands of threads/posts.
Do a forum search (such as best generator) and you'll have days of reading.
You'll find plenty of folks posting THEIR opinion on what THEY think is best.
Do your homework and make YOUR decision based on what YOU feel is best.
If you plan to use the generator anywhere other than private land where no one else is around, be sure to purchase an INVERTER type generator, as the open frame/contractor type generators are TOO LOUD for campground use.
A $500 dollar budget will likely only get you an open frame/contractor type generator so again, in a campground, it will not be appropriate.
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Might also get him close to a Harbor Freight Predator unit, if he has coupons and is willing to throw another two hundred bucks or so into the purchase.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2004 Nissan Titan
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05-07-2019, 02:49 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 31,316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by griffibaby
Hi Everyone!
New to the forum and have a questionable question about generators.
Just purchased a 2019 Mini Lite and wonder what generator to purchase. We most likely will be running air conditioner, TV and fridge at the same time. A/C is 11,000 BTU's. Would like a generator around $500.00 give or take.
Also, any advice on gen. use?
Thanks!
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I doubt that the a/c is 11k btu. Should be at least 13.5k btu.
You usually only find 11k in super small trailers.
Unless you buy used, you won't find a capable new generator for only $500.
Only if you installed a Micro Air Micro Air unit, could run the a/c with a 2000w inverter generator for $500.
Don't need to run the fridge on electric. Switch it over to propane, while you run the a/c and tv.
Lastly, if you are going to run the generator in a campground, PLEASE get a quality INVERTER generator.
Any cheap open-frame contractor-style generator will exceed campground noise rules.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.) 
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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05-07-2019, 03:03 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Georgia
Posts: 581
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My 2000 W inverter (Generac) will not pull my 13.5 AC. Very comparable to Honda in test and I have been please with it for 3 years or so. I knew going in that we would not be able to do AC but that suited our mountain BD'ing and if too warm we go to full hook up site. The 2000 is a bit over your budget # and the Honda is even higher.
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05-16-2019, 03:17 PM
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#6
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Noob
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 65
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Champion makes some great generators at great prices. You could spend a little bit more and get two of these inverter generators and run them in parallel - plenty of power to run the AC. 
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05-23-2019, 02:37 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 44
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Generator advice
I run a Boliy 3000watt digital inverter electric start generator, runs everything in TT works great.Stole it at an auction brand new (still had the plastic on the gas cap never even fuelled) for $499 Cdn.
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05-23-2019, 02:54 PM
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#8
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Kanadian Kamper
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 6,961
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan
I doubt that the a/c is 11k btu. Should be at least 13.5k btu.
You usually only find 11k in super small trailers.
Unless you buy used, you won't find a capable new generator for only $500.
Only if you installed a Micro Air Micro Air unit, could run the a/c with a 2000w inverter generator for $500.
Don't need to run the fridge on electric. Switch it over to propane, while you run the a/c and tv.
Lastly, if you are going to run the generator in a campground, PLEASE get a quality INVERTER generator.
Any cheap open-frame contractor-style generator will exceed campground noise rules.
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Cheapest isn’t the biggest concern. If it’s incredibly noisy for the price, others will shut it down and you still won’t have power for dry camping.
Just sayin.
__________________
Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count, pushed by our 2017 GMC Terrain
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05-23-2019, 07:21 PM
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#9
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Noob
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 65
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Griffi - come camping with me at some motorcycle rallies. You can run a cheap contractor generator all night long, and it still won't be he loudest thing around. 
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06-18-2019, 07:26 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 26
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06-18-2019, 07:34 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: North Port Florida
Posts: 2,050
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanMike
Might also get him close to a Harbor Freight Predator unit, if he has coupons and is willing to throw another two hundred bucks or so into the purchase.
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Get it .... love it ... 
__________________
Frank & Cindy--- (SOB) 5th Wheel ---2019 Ram 3500 Cummins 6.7 SRW 4x4 8' bed--- Payload 4394------Remi & Sage camping pups---TST 507 TPMS ... B&W Patriot 18K---3.73 axle ... Predator 3500---2019 48 days ---2020 28 days Camping
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06-22-2019, 04:47 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 217
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Generac 3500 inverter
Generac has a recent addition with a 3500 inverter/generator with what should be enough power but closer to 630-700. I have heard it run on the back of a pick-up tailgate with the cap on and it was quiet there. It was only done briefly for noise demonstration. The 80lb weight makes it still light enough to be picked up. Not perfect but there are accommodations in price range with a dealer network.
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06-26-2019, 01:38 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 14
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New Champion Generator
Just picked up a Champion 3400 Dual Fuel for boondocking. Best investment I’ve made for the Toy Hauler to date. Work flawlessly right out of the box on either Gas or Propane. Dry camping for a week and no issues with power.
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06-26-2019, 02:17 PM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 31,316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by updhaul
Generac has a recent addition with a 3500 inverter/generator with what should be enough power but closer to 630-700. I have heard it run on the back of a pick-up tailgate with the cap on and it was quiet there. It was only done briefly for noise demonstration. The 80lb weight makes it still light enough to be picked up. Not perfect but there are accommodations in price range with a dealer network.
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The Champion 3500w inverter generator is half the price of the Generac and has wheels.
The only advantages the Generac has is it's a little quieter and lighter.
No sure if that's worth twice the money.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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