Arkansas traveler
New Member
Can anyone tell me what would be the best generator size/style for a 2025 3123RL?
Generators
- Thread starter Arkansas traveler
- Start date
DutchmenSport
Senior Member
The answer is hard to give not knowing what the intent is for the generator's use. Will you be using the generator as a back-up for power outages, and for the camper when no power is available? Or, at the other extreme, use it for 100% boondocking in remote, non-developed locations? Will the generator be used for anything else other than your camper (like power tools or at home). And, do you want one that's a stand-alone generator (portable) or do you want one that's permanently installed in the camper front bay? And, Gas, Propane, or diesel powered. They also make solar generators, which are called "generators" but are just glorified rechargeable batteries that get their charge via solar?
Arkansas traveler
New Member
I’m looking for a portable, gas- powered generator for power outages.
Harbor Freight makes a 11,500 watt for $2200 and a 5000 watt for $1200. Both are quite inverter units with remote start and dual fuel, gasoline and propane. The 11,500 also has natural gas. Depending on what you wish to power both are good options. The 11,500 is 240 volt and 120 volt while the 5000 is 120 volt. Both are remote start. The 11,500 unit weighs, I think about 250 pounds while the 5000 is about 110 pounds.
I have had 3 HF generators all three have been good dependable units. I have a 5000 mounted on my motor home.
If you can wait HF will put them on sale by spring or certainly by summer for at least 20% off. My moto dealing with HF is never buy anything that isn’t on sale. You can save an additional 10% by opening up a CC.
I power my home with my truck which is 7200 watts. It will run every thing in my home including the 36,000 BTU heat pump just not everything at once.
Lynwood
I have had 3 HF generators all three have been good dependable units. I have a 5000 mounted on my motor home.
If you can wait HF will put them on sale by spring or certainly by summer for at least 20% off. My moto dealing with HF is never buy anything that isn’t on sale. You can save an additional 10% by opening up a CC.
I power my home with my truck which is 7200 watts. It will run every thing in my home including the 36,000 BTU heat pump just not everything at once.
Lynwood
Last edited:
LeftOverParts
Senior Member
Basic calculations:
3600 watts / 120 VAC = 30 amps
6000 watts / 120 VAC = 50 amps
You’ll probably want to upsize for spare capacity. Also, a dual fuel generator puts out less watts on propane.
We have 2, 2500 watt generators that can linked together. They are 40lbs each. On propane, output is about 1800 watts. We’ve only run them on propane. Usually only carry one to make sure our coffee maker or DW’s hair dryer can function. Carry both on longer trips or where I know there will not be power along the way or the power might be iffy.
You probably want an inverter generator for a “clean” power signal for your phone, computer, and TV
3600 watts / 120 VAC = 30 amps
6000 watts / 120 VAC = 50 amps
You’ll probably want to upsize for spare capacity. Also, a dual fuel generator puts out less watts on propane.
We have 2, 2500 watt generators that can linked together. They are 40lbs each. On propane, output is about 1800 watts. We’ve only run them on propane. Usually only carry one to make sure our coffee maker or DW’s hair dryer can function. Carry both on longer trips or where I know there will not be power along the way or the power might be iffy.
You probably want an inverter generator for a “clean” power signal for your phone, computer, and TV
DutchmenSport
Senior Member
Took some time to get back with you. Good advise from the above posts. All are worthy contenders.
I looked into generators for quite a while before purchasing ours, Cummins Onan P4500i Inverter Generator. (I now have 3 of them).
Most of the time, (for the camper) we run only 1 generator for 30 amp especially if the weather is cooler and no need to run the 2 AC's at the same time, or even run 1 of them in colder weather.
But, we have 2 we can run in parallel for full 50 amp service and can run everything (and I mean everything) in the camper at the same time, exactly like being plugged into shore 50 amp power.
I finally purchased a 3rd Onan for the house when we are gone. Our son lives in our house and works from home (Information Technology), and wanted to make sure he had very reliable generator back-up in the event of a power outage at home.
The P4500i weighs a little over 100 pounds each (empty, and no oil), add 4 gallons of gas and a quart of oil and they get a bit heavier. The do have wheels and I have a set of ramps to get them in out of the bed of the truck and in and out of the camper. When traveling, they are inside the camper (not the bed of the truck). When raining, they run under the over hang of the fifth wheel so they don't get wet.
Westinghouse make an identical (looking) 4500i and folks say it is identical except for the label and the color of the body. I don't know. They do cost a couple hundred dollars cheaper, but when it came to generators, I decided to go with the company that truly knows and support their generators. Cummins has been around for a long time, been servicing the RV community the longest, and seems to be the standard when RV manufacturers install a permanent generator in an RV.
We considered a permanent generator, but we did not want to loose any of the front storage bay space. And, I use my generators for a lot of other uses than just the camper, so "portable" and something that could power "power tools", reliability, customer support, weight, all out weighed the higher price tag on them.
By the way, I've own my first 2 Onans for 7 years now and I've NEVER had to service them, other than oil. They've been used a lot!
Click here - Cummins P4500i
Well, when I went to look up the Westinghouse, I did not find the 4500 on their web site. Looks like they might have replaced it with a 5000:
Click here - Westinghouse iGen5000 Inverter Generator
FYI: In order to run the Cummins P4500i in parallel for 50 amp, you'll need the adapter also. It connects both generators together and then and then another adapter that has the female 50 amp plug on the other end for the camper plug.
I looked into generators for quite a while before purchasing ours, Cummins Onan P4500i Inverter Generator. (I now have 3 of them).
Most of the time, (for the camper) we run only 1 generator for 30 amp especially if the weather is cooler and no need to run the 2 AC's at the same time, or even run 1 of them in colder weather.
But, we have 2 we can run in parallel for full 50 amp service and can run everything (and I mean everything) in the camper at the same time, exactly like being plugged into shore 50 amp power.
I finally purchased a 3rd Onan for the house when we are gone. Our son lives in our house and works from home (Information Technology), and wanted to make sure he had very reliable generator back-up in the event of a power outage at home.
The P4500i weighs a little over 100 pounds each (empty, and no oil), add 4 gallons of gas and a quart of oil and they get a bit heavier. The do have wheels and I have a set of ramps to get them in out of the bed of the truck and in and out of the camper. When traveling, they are inside the camper (not the bed of the truck). When raining, they run under the over hang of the fifth wheel so they don't get wet.
Westinghouse make an identical (looking) 4500i and folks say it is identical except for the label and the color of the body. I don't know. They do cost a couple hundred dollars cheaper, but when it came to generators, I decided to go with the company that truly knows and support their generators. Cummins has been around for a long time, been servicing the RV community the longest, and seems to be the standard when RV manufacturers install a permanent generator in an RV.
We considered a permanent generator, but we did not want to loose any of the front storage bay space. And, I use my generators for a lot of other uses than just the camper, so "portable" and something that could power "power tools", reliability, customer support, weight, all out weighed the higher price tag on them.
By the way, I've own my first 2 Onans for 7 years now and I've NEVER had to service them, other than oil. They've been used a lot!
Click here - Cummins P4500i
Well, when I went to look up the Westinghouse, I did not find the 4500 on their web site. Looks like they might have replaced it with a 5000:
Click here - Westinghouse iGen5000 Inverter Generator
FYI: In order to run the Cummins P4500i in parallel for 50 amp, you'll need the adapter also. It connects both generators together and then and then another adapter that has the female 50 amp plug on the other end for the camper plug.
I also have a Cummins / Onan P4500i. Nice thing about it is it fits in the back of my Ram 2500 with the tonneau cover closed, obviously not running. Runs 1 15K AC and about anything else in the rig without any problems. Also no issues with the genset over the last 5 years of ownership.
Now that I have a couple of Lithium Ion batteries and a 3K watt Victron Quattro that will do power share (look it up)... I wish I had it's little brother, the 2500i as it would be used mainly to top off the batteries when they get low as I have no solar at this point.
Now that I have a couple of Lithium Ion batteries and a 3K watt Victron Quattro that will do power share (look it up)... I wish I had it's little brother, the 2500i as it would be used mainly to top off the batteries when they get low as I have no solar at this point.
You first need to determine how you would use the generator and what your power needs will be. Whatever those are, I would highly recommend a dual fuel generator. I have two WEN brand 3500 dual fuel. As I am not as young as I used to be, I can manage the weight much better, and can use only one if that’s all I need, or hook them up in tandem and be able to run both my a/c units (50 amp total) if boondocking. Lots to consider when picking a generator, so do lots of research first.
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