Towing the 5th wheel with the generator running

[desertryder]

Does anyone tow thier trailer with the a/c and generator running.

My dogs ride in the trailer and I need to keep them cool when we are traveling through Barstow to baker Ca.

 

[klenger]

I've done it here in the summer. I have a built-in Onan 3600LP. Motor homes do it all the time.

 

[Foil Freak 1211]

I have a Honda EV 6010, and have run the gen while pulling the trailer. As klenger said, motorhomes regularily run the gen and a/c to avoid using the dash air. I can't imagine why it would be a problem.

 

[YFZBOB]

I have done it many times... Always wondered though. Is the generator charging your truck battery?

 

[Loren]

Desertryder,



We have done it a lot with an Avion fifth-wheel, and for the same reason. Pay attention to the fuel supply and make sure the generator doesn't run out. You don't want the dogs trapped inside with no a/c.



YZFBOB,

The truck's batteries will be charged from whatever source produces the highest voltage. That may be the truck's alternator or the trailer's DC converter (powered by the trailer's generator). I would guess that sometimes it's one, sometimes the other. When you shut off the engine, the truck's batteries will be charged from the trailer as long as it has AC power from any source and you leave it plugged into the truck.



Aside: If you leave the trailer plugged into the truck without AC power to the trailer, the trailer will drain the truck batteries.



Loren

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

Great! now I can keep the propane closed and still run the fridge on the road!

 

[smd]

Great! now I can keep the propane closed and still run the fridge on the road!

You can do that as long as your refer is a 3 way. AC/DC/propane, a lot of them are 2 way with AC/propane. If that is the case then you will still need to run with the propane on.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Great! now I can keep the propane closed and still run the fridge on the road!

Yep, I do that quite often in the hot summer weather in our Lance slide-in truck camper with the built-in Generac 3600LP Impact generator. I run the generator going down the road and the fridge automatically switches over to AC which seems to cool better in hot weather on AC rather than LP. Lightly loaded with the fridge running on AC, the generator runs at a slow speed and doesn't use much fuel. I cool the camper with the truck's A/C.



Bill