Fifth Wheels and Generators

[Kirwin]

Generator fuel usage

I have a question for you guys using propane generators. How long does, say, a 30 lb cylinder last running your A/C unit? I have considered getting one of the Onans mounted in a cross bed tool box type set up that I saw in the back of Trailer Life. My real question is do I go ahead and tap into the trucks fuel supply or use propane as the fuel source. The smallest diesel generator from Onan is 7. 5 Kw as far as I know. But it would seem to me since propane has less energy per gallon then diesel that you would use up 7 gallons of propane in less than 14 hours of operation. If my trailer sets in the sun in the south the A/C runs just about continuously. Has anyone ran theirs until they used up a tank of propane just running the generator? Thanks Ken Irwin

 

[RMcCulloch]

I'm running an Onan CME7000 in the generator compartment with a 30 gallon gasoline tank mounted between the trailer's frame rails.



I considered going with a diesel genset but the cost was exorbitant for my budget.



Your 30# tank won't last long: it's only a 7 gallon tank and, at only . 5 GPH, would only last 14 hours. The specific genset may use up to 1. 5 GPH depending upon load.



Of course, with 2 A/Cs, microwave, 2 TVs, etc. , etc,. I'm not putting a whole lot of "stress" on my genny.

 

[BPINE]

I mostly dry camp, I have had many RV's with generators. Having one mounted permanently is the only way to go. That being said I also have a small EU 2000 portable for charging batteries in the winter. A good charger/ converter is a must.



I used a Honda 6010 in this RV and it is to loud and high RPM. At first it was run on gas with portable boat tanks which worked OK but is much better on propane. It runs much smoother and doesn't smell as bad as it did on gas.



I have two 10 gallon propane tanks and can run the generator several hours a day and both heaters all night for about 5 days.

 

[LowellR]

when i had my race car trailer built i had a generator door installed. we built our own living quarters. i went with a generac quietpac. it's an onan clone. remote start/stop with hourmeter. it has a spin on oil filter. designed to run two 15 amp circuits. 4000 watts, very quiet. i mounted mine on a slide but you dont have to. i run a marine tank also. got it from a place called norwall, great service. in the $1200. 00 range.

 

[Mniver]

I also went with an installed Onan 4Kw Gen when I ordered my new camper (04 Jayco 31RLS). Came with a 6. 5 gal marine fuel tank and additional room to add a second one. I boondock at the Nascar races and with my old Coleman 5Kw the noise was pretty bad, good news was that we could keep it at the rear of the camper which cut down the noise a bit. You will be surprised when it comes in handy. Last week during the ice storm while we were outa pwr for 3days we managed to live in the camper while we waited for pwr to be restored. Was great just to take stuff out there and kick back and wait for the power to come back. Get the installed sat dish too so u can just move ur box and still be able to watch your favorite programs.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Good news bad news, Mniver. When you stuck it on the rear and was not to loud there, you probably stuck it under my slide and I had to listen to the damn thing all night. I run my Onan 5500 Marquis all night just to get a sound I'm use to. That's the only way I can sleep because of your gen.



Now what?



. . Preston. .

 

[Mniver]

It's good news Turbo, I don't use that gen anymore, my new 5th wheel has the Onan built in too so now I'm in the same boat as u trying to drown out the other ones. Course the dang drunks cruising bye keep ya up till after midnite betting on which one is going to fall off the back of the truck 1st :-laf and since I drive truck for a living, I used to all sorta noises going on outside so I can still sleep like a baby. Mike

 

[tgrfan2]

You might want to check out the Open Roads forum. There are plenty of generator posts there. I have a friend who has a Marquis 5500 in his fiver. It is a good setup and will pull everything if you have the gas.

Personally I still like my Honda 3000. It will pull ( but not start) my 15K AC and the microwave at the same time, but I don't normally do that. Several of us with Keystone products have Hondas mounted on slides in our generator bay for a semi permanent application. I can have it out and hooked to the house in five minutes if the need arises.

I understand the new Yamaha inverters have a remote control option which might be a good choice. I would like to put a remote kill switch on mine. I like to check it over before I start it anyway.

We tailgate in close quarters and I can hear my friends Onan and the motorhome generators over my Honda all the time. In fact people will walk by and lean in under the fiver to make sure it is running.

After being iced in 100 miles from home for two days in the fiver and getting home to five more days with no power last year a generator is a must for us.

 

[BPINE]

I just saw in Trailer Life that there is a company that makes a remote start for the EU3000, sorry I don't have the details with me.

 

[tgrfan2]

Thanks for the info. I will check that out.

 

[FCecelin]

Will that Honda eu 3000 start your 15K AC ?? Assuming nothing else running .

 

[BPINE]

Yes the EU 3000 will start a 15k AC.

 

[FCecelin]

thanks for the reply ,,,Bpine. . i

 

[BPINE]

If any one is interested the remote start for the EU 3000 is made or sold by Sun @ 303-287-7566 or www.sunent.com the price listed is 239. 00.

 

[Robert415]

My mom and step dad have a propane fired generator in their Mobile Suite. They don't know what they would do with out it. Another tip if your looking to spend a little extra cash. If you are considering a washer and dryer, get stack unit not one of the combo types. My mom got a vented combo unit and it is a joke. The instructions for the thing says to actually take the clothes out after washing, ring them out in the tub or sink and only put back half the clothes to dry. Once they're done do the other half. I have a stack washer dryer in mine and it works as well as the one in my house.

 

[RMcCulloch]

If you are considering a washer and dryer, get stack unit not one of the combo types. My mom got a vented combo unit and it is a joke. The instructions for the thing says to actually take the clothes out after washing, ring them out in the tub or sink and only put back half the clothes to dry. Once they're done do the other half. I have a stack washer dryer in mine and it works as well as the one in my house.

That's strange our Splendide 2000S [vented, of course] has no such issue!



It gets clothes much cleaner than the seperates we have at home. :-laf