So Cal Fires and generators...

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Cyncity

Cyncity

Active member
Joined
Nov 10, 2017
Posts
31
Location
San Diego, California
So my rig delivery is delayed due to the high winds and fires in So Cal... the campground where I'll be living has been out of power for days... they told me for my rig size 38.5 fifth wheel that I better get an 8-10000 watt generator?  I am new new new and have no idea about this but it seems that 10k watt generators are not that common?  Advice? Suggestions? help!

Thank you,

Cynthia
 
Cyncity said:
So my rig delivery is delayed due to the high winds and fires in So Cal... the campground where I'll be living has been out of power for days... they told me for my rig size 38.5 fifth wheel that I better get an 8-10000 watt generator?  I am new new new and have no idea about this but it seems that 10k watt generators are not that common?  Advice? Suggestions? help!

Thank you,

Cynthia
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input..
 
I've got a 36 foot Class A with two air conditioners, side by side refrigerator, convection oven, etc. My Onan 5,500 watt handles the load fine with everything turned on.  You don't need 10,000 watts.

I think someone is trying to take you for more money. I get really aggravated at places that take advantage of women!

If you have more questions get on here and we'll help you out.

We have a license plate frame that says:

"Not all who wander are lost"  Very true.
 
Unless the campground is in the business of selling generators I don't see how they are taking advantage of you. We have 50 amps and our 5500 Onan generator has more than met our needs. If you're not planning on any extended boon docking and just need a genny for occasional use or for emergencies you could probably get a way with something smaller.
 
A 50A powered RV could use as much as 12,000 watts, but typically they can operate everything needful on much less. If factory equipped with a genset, it would be about 6000-8000 watts.

I'm guessing that CA is still hot, so a/c will be a must.  To run 2 a/c units and routine appliances, somewhere around 6000 is probably sufficient. If it has 3 a/c and you think you need all 3 running at once, add another 1500 watts.
 
You might consider two smaller gennys that are able to run in parallel.  I bought two Yamaha 2000 portable generators that will run everything in my rig (Montana 40ft FW) but I only use one AC when on the generators.  They might run both, but use more gas, so I don't run the aux AC in the bedroom. 
 
Arch Hoagland said:
I've got a 36 foot Class A with two air conditioners, side by side refrigerator, convection oven, etc. My Onan 5,500 watt handles the load fine with everything turned on.  You don't need 10,000 watts.

I think someone is trying to take you for more money. I get really aggravated at places that take advantage of women!

If you have more questions get on here and we'll help you out.

We have a license plate frame that says:

"Not all who wander are lost"  Very true.
Click to expand...


Thank you so much for your input... it's really challenging trying to figure all of this out and not get taken advantage of... I will be living in it so I don't want to learn the hard way! 

One of my favorite quotes for sure!  =)
 
Dragginourbedaround said:
Unless the campground is in the business of selling generators I don't see how they are taking advantage of you. We have 50 amps and our 5500 Onan generator has more than met our needs. If you're not planning on any extended boon docking and just need a genny for occasional use or for emergencies you could probably get a way with something smaller.
Click to expand...

Thank you.. I will be living in it and they said if I want to use 'everything' on a daily basis then I better get 8-10... they are not in the business of selling generators and said they could help me find good used ones to save from paying retail for a new one.  They were just without electricity for 5 days... scary thought.
 
Gary RV_Wizard said:
A 50A powered RV could use as much as 12,000 watts, but typically they can operate everything needful on much less. If factory equipped with a genset, it would be about 6000-8000 watts.

I'm guessing that CA is still hot, so a/c will be a must.  To run 2 a/c units and routine appliances, somewhere around 6000 is probably sufficient. If it has 3 a/c and you think you need all 3 running at once, add another 1500 watts.
Click to expand...

I do have 2 a/c units and I'm on 50 amps... and lots of stuff working in there including a residential side by side sized fridge... also I can use the elect for heat through the electric fireplace...

Thank you so much for your help.
 
meternerd said:
You might consider two smaller gennys that are able to run in parallel.  I bought two Yamaha 2000 portable generators that will run everything in my rig (Montana 40ft FW) but I only use one AC when on the generators.  They might run both, but use more gas, so I don't run the aux AC in the bedroom.
Click to expand...

Now there's something that I haven't thought about... 2 smaller generators... I'll have to check into that... thanks for the help!
 
I bekieve that if you survey newer 50A upscale motor homes you'll find the vast majority of them have 6 or 8 KW iverter generators. They may well know what they are doing. I do know my 8KW has worked well for five years of fulltiming.

Ernie
 
You will want to think about where you are going to put the generator.  Will it be a semi-permanent mount on the ground or will you try to mount it in the front compartment (check measurements)?  It will take at least two people to lift a 3000 watt generator and more to lift a bigger one.  I have two Honda 2000 watt generators that can hook parallel to give 4000w and each weighs 47 lbs.
 
meternerd said:
You might consider two smaller gennys that are able to run in parallel.  I bought two Yamaha 2000 portable generators that will run everything in my rig (Montana 40ft FW) but I only use one AC when on the generators.  They might run both, but use more gas, so I don't run the aux AC in the bedroom.
Click to expand...

We have a 28ft trailer with 2 a/c units.  We had trouble at elevation using the 2 Yamahas we have.  Just something to consider if you are not staying in one place...
 
Ernie n Tara said:
I bekieve that if you survey newer 50A upscale motor homes you'll find the vast majority of them have 6 or 8 KW iverter generators. They may well know what they are doing. I do know my 8KW has worked well for five years of fulltiming.

Ernie
Click to expand...

Thank you... I think you're correct.

Cynthia
 
jackiemac said:
We have a 28ft trailer with 2 a/c units.  We had trouble at elevation using the 2 Yamahas we have.  Just something to consider if you are not staying in one place...
Click to expand...

I'm up 4800 ft... never thought about the elevation being something to consider... thank you.

Cynthia
 
kjansen said:
You will want to think about where you are going to put the generator.  Will it be a semi-permanent mount on the ground or will you try to mount it in the front compartment (check measurements)?  It will take at least two people to lift a 3000 watt generator and more to lift a bigger one.  I have two Honda 2000 watt generators that can hook parallel to give 4000w and each weighs 47 lbs.
Click to expand...

Ugh.. of course I didnt think about that...  :-\ 

Thank you,

Cynthia
 
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