Information about a generator

HockeyRick

New Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2024
Messages
4
Location
Rochester N,Y, 14526
We just purchased a 2025 GD Imagine 2970-RL. I would appreciate any recommendations on what size generator we would need to fully operate our trailer. In case of a power outage. Looking toward buying a Honda. We are new to the camping with a trailer world. Really looking forward to a new adventure in camping.

Thanks,
HockeyRick
 
We just purchased a 2025 GD Imagine 2970-RL. I would appreciate any recommendations on what size generator we would need to fully operate our trailer. In case of a power outage. Looking toward buying a Honda. We are new to the camping with a trailer world. Really looking forward to a new adventure in camping.

Thanks,
HockeyRick
Hard to beat a pair of Honda eu2200i .
Most of the time only one would be needed
When AC is wanted, then run them twined.
Enjoy the light weight vs. a single larger gen, every time you move one
 
Ditto what was just said above. We also have a pair of Honda 2200i's. FWIW, I also made an extended run tank for mine. I can run either or both off it.
 
Depends greatly on what you want to power.
We have a big microwave, three air conditioners, two electric heaters and lots of electronics - and have been happy with a single 2Kw Champion which can't manage much more than 1300 watts continuous. Most of the time when not on shore power we do fine on batteries and solar. When solar is not enough, the 2Kw charges batteries just fine.
It chokes trying to run even one of the air conditioners, so when it's hot we have to have shore power.
It won't run the microwave. The electric heaters will spin up, but don't put out much heat. The small gen will run lights, big TV, ham radio with careful management, but makes too much noise.
So it runs only as a stopgap when solar can't keep up, and we do without the AC and microwave.
 
We just purchased a 2025 GD Imagine 2970-RL. I would appreciate any recommendations on what size generator we would need to fully operate our trailer. In case of a power outage. Looking toward buying a Honda. We are new to the camping with a trailer world. Really looking forward to a new adventure in camping.

Thanks,
HockeyRick
“Fully operate” varies. You need to define what you want to run.

50A service is 12,000W. To equal shore power, you’d need around 14,000W. A generator that size would huge.

Most trailers that come with generators have either a 4500 or 5500W generator. As mentioned, a pair of 2200 inverter generators is a common choice.
 
Ditto what was just said above. We also have a pair of Honda 2200i's. FWIW, I also made an extended run tank for mine. I can run either or both off it.
I forgot about the extnded run tank. I have that as well. 6 extra gallons will run one of the Hondas for 72 hours.
It has been a huge plus on late season deer hunts when the temp drops below zero. We have run them nonstop for more than 10 days. I can refuel the extended run tank without shutting the hondas off.

I bought them for my previous TT, and can get by with the solar and on board Onan 5500 with the Momentum
But sometimesthe Hondas are the best choice.
When snow covers the panels and we need elec. nonstop for days, I am glad we still have them
 
“Fully operate” varies. You need to define what you want to run.

50A service is 12,000W. To equal shore power, you’d need around 14,000W. A generator that size would huge.

Most trailers that come with generators have either a 4500 or 5500W generator. As mentioned, a pair of 2200 inverter generators is a common choice.
Kind of like this.......Westinghouse 15,000W peak/12,000W running on gasoline. It's not for my trailer though, it's an emergency generator I bought for the house a couple of years ago after we went through rolling brown outs at Christmas time in 2022. Loaded up with fuel and oil and battery it weighs right at 420 lbs....but it's on wheels so it's "portable"........if you can lift one end of it and roll it outside...LOL!
 

Attachments

  • 15Kw Dual Fuel.jpg
    15Kw Dual Fuel.jpg
    182.9 KB · Views: 19
My vote also goes to a pair of Honda 2000 watt generators. I've had mine for more years than I want to admit; but the still run great!
Ditto what was just said above. We also have a pair of Honda 2200i's. FWIW, I also made an extended run tank for mine. I can run either or both off it.
Ditto what JPS350 said... I've had 2 Honda 2000's for over 20 years and they are still running smoothly. It's great to be able to use just one or pair them along with an extended run tank when needed. We've spent quite a few weeks running on them when we dry camped in the past. Probably the best feature is one person can lift them.
 
I prefer a larger gen that stays in my truck bed. Electric start but not remote. Remote start would be nice but it wasn't an option on mine. I have a 3500W inverter gen and it powers everything in the trailer but not everything at the same time. I can run a 13.5BTU AC and hairdryer at the same time and the gen barely goes off idle. Without the AC on it will stay in ECO mode and is as quiet as a Honda 3200W and my Honda 2000W gen. I've ran then side by side and my Generac 35001q is pretty quiet. Quieter than my sons Champion Dual Fuel 4500 inverter gen.

I would go 4500 for not much more money with remote start. That would power larger AC's along with most everything else.

FWIW I've never lost power at a CG of any kind in 15 years of RV'ing. Lucky or not? We boondock 40% of the time so having a gen when solar won't cut it is a main priority. Thats why we went with a larger gen. I also have a Honda 2000w gen but as we got older we found we need the AC more so I upgraded to the 3500.

With that being said I would think a small gen like the Honda 2200 would be all you need based on the chances you'll lose power.
 
What is the best small generator is like what is the best truck manufacture. Honda, Yamaha, Cummins Onan inverter gens are all good for the most part. I have a Yamaha 2000, had it for years & still runs great. It has a fuel shutoff valve that Honda didn't have when I bought it & was one of the main selling points for me. It goes when we have hook ups (& have lost power twice over the years).
I also have a Cummins 4500 for when we boondock. Heavy sucker so it stays in the truck bed.
 
We just purchased a 2025 GD Imagine 2970-RL. I would appreciate any recommendations on what size generator we would need to fully operate our trailer. In case of a power outage. Looking toward buying a Honda. We are new to the camping with a trailer world. Really looking forward to a new adventure in camping.

Thanks,
HockeyRick
You will find if you install an AC soft start that you can run your trailer with this unit, however, as with most generators, you won’t be able to run your coffee maker and microwave (etc) at same time.
My unit is 39amp and I love this one, as I can just use propane. No mess, no fuss with gasoline.
1733347666746.png
 
Thanks for all the info. Lots to think about.
I run a Champion 2000 dual fuel (gas/propane). It will run my AC with a soft start. I only run on propane and have three 12 foot hoses that allow me to run it off the factory propane port on the trailer and get it far from the trailer or even run it while it is still in the bed of my truck. It is small, light, low maintenance (propane is cleaner than gas), and I don't need to carry an additional fuel source.
 
Predator is the way to go. There are kits to join two so you can have 50amp.
 
We put a generator tray on the front of an Imagine 2600RB with a Cummins 4500i. Runs everything perfectly. The only setback was we had to buy an extension cord to reach the 50amp connection on the rear of the RV.
 
@HockeyRick

I suggest that you get a Hughes power Watchdog power conditioner/epo or similar.

The unit I have gives me a Bluetooth connection to an app that shows me how much power I'm drawing.

Then you can record what your converter, appliances and air conditioners draw. Then decide if you want to put soft starts on your air conditioners.

Then decide on a generator size.

I mentioned soft starts because I ran a 15K BTU and a 13.5K BTU air conditioner on a 30 amp pedestal this past Summer. Only when necessary at certain sites but I never tripped any breakers.
 
Last edited:
We just purchased a 2025 GD Imagine 2970-RL. I would appreciate any recommendations on what size generator we would need to fully operate our trailer. In case of a power outage. Looking toward buying a Honda. We are new to the camping with a trailer world. Really looking forward to a new adventure in camping.

Thanks,
HockeyRick
The Honda inverter generators are rock solid with a long history of reliability... they just work, and their output power is as clean as possible for a generator. I have the (2012) EU2000i, which meets most of my needs, and have considered buying the EU2200i Companion and an interface kit. Another option would be the newest model which does ~3,000 watts and is still fairly small and lightweight.

If parts are needed, they are readily available from Honda dealers and some aftermarket sources.

A friend and I were discussing these last evening... he converted his EU2000i to LP so it would run for a longer time and be even cleaner. There are aftermarket kits for this.
 
We also have a 2970RL, and I have two generators that I use for different purposes. If I want to work on the trailer in the storage field of the county park, I have a Champion 3500 watt generator that I'll load into the bed of my pickup. That gives enough power to run many things but will power up only one of the two air conditioning units. If I pull the trailer to take to the house for maintenance of to get ready for a trip, I have a 5500 watt generator that will power everything. The only thing I have not used with that generator is the microwave if I have both AC units going. But I have used the microwave with only one AC unit. But it seems to do well overall.
 

Try RV LIFE Pro Free for 7 Days

  • New Ad-Free experience on this RV LIFE Community.
  • Plan the best RV Safe travel with RV LIFE Trip Wizard.
  • Navigate with our RV Safe GPS mobile app.
  • and much more...
Try RV LIFE Pro Today
Back
Top Bottom