Trying to Decide . . .

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   Welcome!  First question to ask when the question of generators comes up - do you plan on using it when boondocking with nobody around, or within campgrounds during non-quiet times?  A genset in the price range you mention will provide the power to run everything in the 'pod, but it will be loud - contractor worksite loud.  Not a huge problem if you get it 50 feet from your 'pod and behind a tree, when boondocking.  A huge problem for your neighbors if you are in a campground (or at a Wal-Mart for a night where the rule of thumb is to be discreet).  Once you get up to around $2000 you can get something that will be relatively quiet like a Yamaha or Honda inverter-genset - but still not quiet when you start your A/C and it has to rev up to full-speed.  If you do get one I agree with your choice to mount it on your truck and not the tongue of the 'pod, that will keep the vibration from driving you nuts plus you can keep it away from the 'pod somewhat.

Make sure your battery is a true deep cycle battery and not a starting battery.  Dealers install the batteries and not Forest River, and some go cheap by adding a cheaper starting battery.  Those will die after being used like a deep cycle after about 10 uses.  The cheapest deep cycle I've found is from Wal-Mart (I bought 16 of them 2 years ago so I priced around).  We've gone multiple weekends dry camping with our 1 battery w/o a problem, which includes washing dishes and taking 4 showers, plus some use of the lights at night.  We use a separate battery to run a small inverter for our laptops and cell phones.  If you find you need more battery power you could add a second in parallel to your first (assuming the first is decent to start with).  There is room on the tongue.