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What Size Generator Do I Need for an All-Electric Catering Trailer?

by Ibz
(London)

Navy blue converted horsebox catering trailer with a portable generator

Navy blue converted horsebox catering trailer with a portable generator

Hi I have purchased an old rice horsebox trailer which is full wired up for electricity use only. I need to know what generator would work to run the following items.

Griddle 4400w
Tea urn 2500w
Fryer 2500w
2 X fridge 260w (total)
1 x toastie machine 900w
Lighting is no mor than 30w

I have been looking at the following 2 generators and wondering if they would do the job.

https://www.toolden.co.uk/electrical-lighting/generators/hyundai-hy10000lek-2-16hp-459cc-petrol-4-stroke-electric-start-site-generator-10kw-115v-230v/?sku=HY10000LEk-2

&

https://www.amazon.co.uk/B%C3%B6hmer-AG-Electric-Generator-8000W-Petrol/dp/B07KKLK6R3

Thanks

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Jun 30, 2026
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by: MobCater

Good question, Ibz, and it's one I hear a lot from people who've bought an electric only trailer without realising how hungry catering kit is for power.

Let's add up what you've got. Your griddle at 4400 watts, the urn at 2500, the fryer at 2500, two fridges at 260, the toastie machine at 900 and your lighting at 30 come to roughly 10,600 watts, near enough 10.6kW. The catch is that in a busy fast food trailer the griddle, fryer and urn are usually all working at the same time, so there isn't much of that load you can shed during service. As a rule you never run a generator flat out, you want it sitting at around 75 to 80 percent of its rating so it isn't labouring all day. That pushes you up to needing something in the region of 12 to 15kVA to run the lot together safely. Most of the generators people look at online for a job like this are 5 to 7kVA, and they simply won't cope, you'll trip them the moment the griddle and fryer both call for heat.

So you've really got two honest choices. You can buy a bigger generator, somewhere around 12kVA and up, though they're heavy, thirsty on fuel and noisy, which event organisers tend not to love. Or you can do what most caterers in your shoes end up doing, which is run the griddle and fryer on LPG gas and keep the electric side for the urn, fridges, toastie machine and lights. That drops your electrical load to under 4kW, and a quiet 5 to 6kVA generator will run that all day without breaking sweat.

Whichever way you go, choose an AVR or inverter generator so the voltage stays clean for your fridge compressors, and have the trailer's fixed wiring inspected and certified by a qualified electrician. Your appliances want to be CE marked and PAT tested too, both for your annual electrical test and for your insurance. If you decide to look at kit, mobcater.com is where I'd point you for equipment and reviews.

Good luck with it

David

Disclaimer: This is based on my experience in UK mobile catering. The fixed electrical installation in a trailer must be checked and certified by a qualified electrician, and rules and costs can change, so always do your own research before you commit.

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