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Using a Portable Generator for RVing

RVs and generators go together like peanut butter and jelly. Come to think of it, running a generator is a great way to keep your RV fridge chilled so you can enjoy a good PBJ with a glass of cold milk. Generators do all sorts of stuff like this; they keep your fridge cold, keep your AC running, let you watch TV from the bedroom, and even let you brew espresso from the comfort of your kitchen.

Many motorhomes these days come with a built-in generator. But if you're on this page, we assume you either don't have a built-in model (most travel trailers and fifth wheels don't come with one) or you could use some additional power for large appliances.

Fortunately, using a portable generator with your RV is pretty straightforward. For general help like identifying generator parts and figuring out how long you can run your machine, check out our article here. For advice specifically focused on RV use, keep reading below.

In this article, we will talk about:

RV Electrical Systems
Where Do I Put a Portable Generator for My RV?
How Do I Hook Up a Portable Generator to RV Power?
How Do I Secure a Portable Generator to an RV?
How Do I Charge My RV's Battery with a Portable Generator?
Can I Run a Portable Generator While Driving My RV?

RV Electrical Systems

For the purposes of this section, we're assuming that your RV already has a breaker box installed. If not, that's something you will need to install in your RV along with the necessary wiring to an externally accessed 30-amp or 50-amp inlet.

The breaker box welcomes power into the RV from a 30-amp or 50-amp AC inlet located on the outside of your RV. This inlet is where you plug in the shore cord from a shore power panel or a generator.

When choosing a portable generator for your RV, try to purchase one that has an amperage outlet that matches the service amps your RV requires.

If you cannot do this, you can always purchase an adapter cord to make your generator more compatible with your RV's shore power inlet. Although, if your generator produces 30-amp power and your RV requires 50-amp service, your generator will never supply 50-amp power. That means you won't be able to run every appliance at once in your RV.

Pictured: Example of an RV electrical system.

Where Do I Put a Portable Generator for My RV?

This question really depends how integrated you want your genny to be with your RV.

If you want maximum convenience, you can install (and heavily secure) the generator in one of your RV's exterior compartments and run tubing to vent the exhaust out of the compartment. You can wire the generator to your breaker box, which makes a portable genny act more like a built-in version. With this solution, you can drive your RV while still running the generator.

Image of two portable generators installed in an RV's external compartment

Pictured: A portable generator installed in an RV's external compartment

Another method is to secure your genny on a hitch cargo carrier or a bumper-mount generator carrier. Of course, you really want to make sure the generator is strapped down like nobody's business and keep it protected during inclement weather. You'll use a standard shore power cord to connect to your RV. With this method, you can also run your generator while driving the RV.

Image of two portable generators installed on an RV's hitch cargo carrier

Pictured: Two portable generators installed on an RV's hitch cargo carrier

You can also install and secure the genny in an exterior compartment but on a sliding drawer. When the generator is running, you'll just have it pulled out on the drawer, allowing the exhaust to vent in the air. You'll use a normal RV power cord, running it from the genny to the RV's shore power inlet. This method does not allow you to run the genny while driving.

Image of generator on camper sliding drawer

Pictured: Portable generator on a camper's sliding drawer

The final solution is to place the generator on the ground and run the cord from generator to RV. You can't run your generator while driving with this setup for what I think are obvious reasons.

Image of two portable generators on the ground

Pictured: Two portable generators on the ground

How Do I Hook Up a Portable Generator to RV Power?

You can use your RV's shore power cord to connect to the generator. If your generator puts out a different amperage than your RV needs, you'll need an adapter cable to make them compatible.

First, you'll make sure there are no cords connected to your generator.
Then, you start and run the generator.
Once your genny is stably running, you can connect the shore cord to the genny.
Lastly, connect the shore cord to your RV.

Image of 50-amp female to a 30-amp male plug adapter cable

Pictured: A Mighty Cord 50-amp female to 30-amp male adapter cord

How Do I Secure a Portable Generator to an RV?

No matter where you plan on placing your portable generator, when you're driving your RV, it absolutely must be secured. Although generators seem like hefty, strong pieces of equipment, they're comprised of many precisely placed and breakable parts. If your genny is flying around the inside of your RV, we can guarantee you that you'll have some broken parts.

Also, most likely your genny is going to have fuel in it. Do you want a highly combustible object flopping this way and that in your RV? We doubt you do!

There are many ways to secure a portable generator in your RV using straps, cables, and chains.

The surface you place the generator on must be stable and level. Once you have your generator in a good location, use your straps, cables, or chains to hold your generator down. You don't want your genny to be able to move up/down, side-to-side, or front-and-back.

Campsites are filled with people looking for a five-finger discount, so you'll also want to secure your genny from thieves.

We recommend using a heavy gauge steel chain or cable lock wrapped through the generator's frame or handle and looped through your RV's rear axle. Use a lock to secure the chain. This should keep would-be thieves from running away with your generator.

Pictured: Portable generator properly strapped to a hitch cargo carrier

How Do I Charge My RV's Battery with a Portable Generator?

If your generator is plugged in, your RV will use some of that power to provide a charge your house batteries. (Your rig's built-in converter will change your generator's AC power to DC power and feed it to your batteries.) If you really need additional power flowing to your batteries, you can also turn off your appliances and let all the power flow their way. However, this still isn't the most efficient process.

The most efficient way to charge your batteries with a generator is to use a portable battery charger that draws from the generator as a power source. To use one of these, plug your charger into your generator and connect your battery's positive and negative terminals at the charger's other end.

I should note, however, that using a portable genny is not the most efficient way to charge your RV's batteries. Plugging into shore power is always going to recharge your batteries more quickly and with less fuel.

Can I Run a Portable Generator While Driving an RV?

We couldn't find any laws against this, and some RVers do choose to do this. It's typically not a huge deal to just wait until you get to the campsite to fire your genny up, but if you really want to run it while driving, you need to ask yourself these two questions:

Is my generator properly secured, stable, and level outside of my RV's interior?
Is my generator's exhaust properly vented?

For the first question concerning the security of your RV, you should never run a genny while driving if it's not strapped down. You absolutely do not want a loose generator bouncing around your RV, especially if it's running. That is a major safety hazard.

Your genny must be strapped down to prevent all movement. Moreover, it needs to be in a stable location to keep it from wiggling loose from its straps. Lastly, it needs to be level. An unlevel generator can throw off the internal pressure for fuel and oil. Some generators even have internal sensors so that if a generator becomes unlevel, it will automatically shut off.

For the second question—your generator has to be in an exterior location, either an external compartment or other carrier, like a hitch cargo carrier. This is to help prevent exhaust fumes from getting into the main cabin of your RV.

If your generator is in a compartment, the exhaust pipe must be vented to the outside. Otherwise, the compartment will fill will exhaust, which has the potential of getting into the RV's main cabin.

If you have checked both questions, then you should be ok to run a generator while driving your RV.

Image of two portable generators on a trailer tongue

Pictured: Two etrailer portable generators secured to a trailer's A-frame tongue

Jim R.

8/26/2023

Absolutely no mention was ever made of a transfer switch. If a generator or inverter (or both) are direct wired into an electrical system of an RV without a transfer switch, somebody and somethings are going to get hurt!

Lazer S.

8/28/2023

@JimR You are absolutely correct in that a transfer switch is extremely important and not using one can potentially damage your rig, your appliances, and yourself. This is why a good amount of inverters, like the # PD64FR, will come with the transfer switch built in. In a perfect world, all inverters would include this. But unfortunately, this is not a perfect world. This is why we carry the 30 amp # 34264403 and 50 amp # 34270278. Whenever we get questions about if a transfer switch is installed on a camper or RV, we recommend contacting the manufacturer of said camper or RV. There is no list or spec sheets available to us for reference, so we can't make a blanket statement about one already being installed or not.

Erik K.

8/25/2023

I strongly suggest you get solar panels instead of a generator. Your neighbors and your family will thank you for the quiet. Plus, no gas bills, spills, smell, etc. Almost all RV fridges run great on propane, you don't need a generator for the fridge. And if you must get a generator, please get a modern quiet one.

Mike L.

8/28/2023

@ErikK Good advice. Unfortunately, solar won't always provide enough power to keep the house batteries fully charged, so a generator would be needed for back-up.

Dave S.

8/25/2023

I’d always assumed running the generator (Honda 2200i) plugged into the shore power for the camper would charge the battery to some degree. Are you saying doing the above AND using the 2nd 15 amp outlet on the generator for a portable battery charger to also charge the house battery is even faster? In other words, two battery chargers working at the same time on a single battery.

Mike L.

8/27/2023

@DaveS Not quite. We're saying that if shore power isn't available, you can use a battery charger coming off the generator to charge your house batteries.

Mountain G.

8/25/2023

Something most folks do not. pay attention to is the decibels of generator operation. I have to enforce 60 decibels as a park host.

Mike L.

8/27/2023

@MountainG Absolutely true! Some campgrounds do have a maximum noise level that they allow.

Mr. B.

8/25/2023

My question is about grounding. My ginny has a floating ground. How do I ground the unit. Do I need to ground neutral to the frame? Or just use it as a floating ground. If operating the unit while driving how would I ground the unit? Help!

Splitshaft

8/25/2023

@MrB When plugging into a portable single-phase generator with a three-prong plug, one prong being the ground prong, the generator will be grounded to the vehicle or device plugged into it. If needing to satisfy a surge protector, a Neutral/Ground bonding plug can be used at the generator. A Neutral/Ground bonding plug can be purchased or home made by using a simple three prong repair plug and tying the ground and neutral lugs together with a length of wire inside the plug. Then plug it into a spare receptacle of the generator to tie (bond) neutral and ground together at the generator.

Ongoingfreedom

8/25/2023

@Splitshaft is correct. Here is a great website of how-to. When I did mine I asked a friend for a foot of house wire (so I didn’t have to buy it) and got the plug from Lowe’s. When I want it I plug it into one of 15A house plugs, leaving the other plug and my 30A RV plug free to work. Don’t forget to label your new plug as a floating ground!

Mike L.

8/27/2023

@Splitshaft Thank you!

See All (5) Replies to Mr. B. ∨

What S.

8/25/2023

The idea that you all are suggesting people run generators while driving (legal or not) is beyond ridiculous. Any RV owner who actually needs to read an article like this to find out anything should also not be trusted to actually secure anything down, allow for proper ventilation or simply not burn the forest down.

Shut I.

8/25/2023

@WhatS Funny you were here reading it and took time to comment what’s the name of your rv forum so you can teach everyone everything you know

Leslie A.

8/25/2023

@WhatS YES YES YES agree completely. Many RV's have built in Generators and generator bays. Mine is on drivers side close to the drivers seat or behind it but access door is outside. I am not aware you would ever want to run this type of Genny (Onan 4000) or portable when driving down the road. That includes any strapped down outside carrier or inside. To turn ours on there is a control on dash of cab. Mine requires gas tank be filled over 1/4 to run and if it goes below 1/4 full it will cut out. Not just because of the gas exhausts that are dangerous but so many other levels of common sense to stay safe comes to mind. Usually love advise from E-trailers but this one alarms go off and warning signs with huge red flashing stop words appear. Sorry E-trailer love you as I do this one is poor advise as too many people have no experience or understanding of safety when it comes to gas generators or wiring period when it comes to generators. Btw most portables do come with warnings not to run inside anything. Like not in your basement at home or inside your house during a power failure so you will usually need an extension cord or if in a garage the garage bay doors left open and the unit is close to the door. Stay safe everyone.

Ray

8/25/2023

@LeslieA you do understand that the reason the on/off switch on your dash is so you can turn it on while you are driving right? Some people like to run their AC while driving. Without the gen running, no AC. That's why it has an outside access door. If you looked you will probably see a little exhaust pipe that goes outside of the compartment. A generator is just a little version of the big motor under the hood. No problem running it.

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