generator for fifth wheel

[DBelshee]

Hi all,



I need to pick the brains of all of you who tow trailers or fifth wheels. I want to buy a decent generator so we can dry camp with the fifth wheel. I'd like to be able to on occasion run the air conditioner, etc. I contacted the local Honda dealer because it appeared to me that a super quiet Honda 3000W would run the unit. They suggested that I bring the fifth wheel to them, and they would do a load test on it to see what power it would draw. After doing the test, they said I needed at least 4500 watts of generator, just for the AC. They said something about the AC would start the first time or two on a 3K gen set, but after that the set would not have the power to run it. I don't want to go to 5500watt set, which is there next size in the super quiet model because of size and weight. Oddly enough, when I got home I brought out the old beater 2. 6KW Craftsman gen set (loud and ugly), and it started the AC at least six times, and seemed to run everything I need. Am I missing something, or is the Honda ******* trying to make a sale? What are your experiences with generators. Any ideas or input you have would be greatly appreciated. What size generators do you guys run. Thanks, Don.

 

[RThompson]

Do a generator search on this site. .

http://www.rv.net/forum/

Surplus of information on what will work and what won't/

 

[DavidC]

I just installed the Onan 3600 LP and used it this weekend. It worked flawlessly. This test was at 5000 feet and everything worked perfect. Can't beat those Cummins products.



Dave

 

[WestTN]

I have a new EU3000is Honda generator and it workd fine for me. Possibly the dealer thought you would run everything in the trailer at the same time, or possibly your A/C draws an unusual amount of power on starting. These generators don't have quite as much extra power to carry the temporary overload for starting motors.



Another solution might be to get 2 of the 2000 watt quiet Hondas and parallel them. If I had known about them first, I might have gone that way myself.

 

[klenger]

I have an Onan 3600 LP and I can run the AC and MW at the same time. Great generator. See my webpage at http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/generator-installation/index.html for details.



Altitude plays a role in generator selection. Power output is reducted about 3. 5% per 1000' of altitude, but you usually don't need to run A/C much if you are above 8000' anyway.





Good luck

 

[bombero]

Yamaha now has a 3000 watt generator that has a remote starter and shut off. Boy I would love to have a remote shut off on my honda. I cant get the wife trained to shut the thing off at 10pm or when its raining.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Originally posted by bombero

I cant get the wife trained to shut the thing off at 10pm or when its raining.

Narrow minded of her Bombero...



You need to get a replacement for that training bridle you lost.





I can hear it now..... the sounds of Bombero running off in the forest yelling "I didn't mean it hon'"

 

[bombero]

That may be the problem. 35 years and I havent tried one of those bridle things. Sounds kinda kinky?

 

[Sparky10]

I have been researching the same thing... . which size generator to get for my 5th wheel.



DBelsee, you never mentioned the size of your Air Conditioner Unit, is it a 13,000 or 15,000 A/C unit, this makes a big difference in which generator to get. I have a 15,000 A/C unit on my 5th wheel.



My local Honda dealer told me the same thing, bring it in and they will test it. He leaned towards the EU3000is model for me. He also mentioned they would not sell me, in good faith, 2 of the EU2000i models to be hooked together. He said there has been to many problems doing it that way and would have me sign all types of waivers if I wanted to do that. They were very helpful and seemed to be concerned I get the right model. I just haven't taken it in yet to them.



The local Yamaha dealer said the EF3000i they sell would do just fine and I didn't need any type of testing done on the trailer! Makes me wonder why no concern!!



Just my 2 cents worth!!

Scott

 

[John - K5AWO]

Maybe the Yamaha gen set has more "grunt" capability when over-loaded for a brief time.



Honda builds very efficient generators. I suspect that very much over the specified limit the fields and armature saturates and just simply can't produce any more power. Same as the alternator on our trucks. They will put out "X" amps and then they are done...

 

[RMcCulloch]

One thing that you haven't said anything about: is your trailer "prepped" for an on-board generator and, if so, is it your intent to permanently mount one?



If you're just looking for a portable unit then the Honda EU3000 (or a parallelled pair of EU2000's) will probably get you by.



If you're planning to mount one in the trailer, and you already have the transfer switch, etc. , in place, the Onan 4. 8 KW MicroQuiet would be a far better choice. It would provide you with enough "reserve capacity" to run your AC and other electrical appliances.



As for us, we're using an Onan CME7000. [That's 7KW - enough to run the two ACs, the Microwave, the Washer/Dryer, the Hot Water Heater, the Refrigerator, the lights, two TVs, two Computers, etc. , simultaneously and still recharge the batteries and power all the 12V stuff at the same time. ]



We've used ours quite often.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Yamaha 3000iSEB - with boost technology is what I use. I have a 2003 Keystone with the 15,000 BTU A/C.



Inverter technology that uses the starting battery for boost when a large load kicks in - like starting your A/C.



So far I am very pleased with it. I didn't get the remote start/shutoff.



It has run 12-13 hours under full load on 3. 5 gallons of fuel.

 

[FDNYMOPARGUY]

Honda 3000 is a nice unit. It will run everything in my camper - just not ac and microwave at same time. Very efficient too - two campers with furnaces going (early April) - 21 hours on a tank of fuel.

 

[RSeverance]

Get the ONAN that way when you need service on your truck you can also get the genset taken care of the local Cummins Distributor. They are coast-to-coast service/parts. But hey what do I know, I just sell generators (ONAN) for a living. If you didn't go with an ONAN I would then look at the inverter type genset from Yamaha they are really quiet and work well too.

 

[Sparky10]

RSeverance,



Can you e-mail me some specs & prices for the Onan Generator. I interested in looking at everything before I make a purchase. Want to do it right the first time.



RMcCulloch,

We have a Montana 2980 RL - 2004 model. We love it! Very nice rig!



Thanks, Scott

 

[mberry]

What about a diesel generator? I am looking into this now and there are many manufacturers of them. Just wondering why not too many people consider this?

 

[mike r]

Running two generators in parallel could pose some serious electrical problems for you in that you'll probable damage one or both before you damage the air conditioning unit and the microwave and anything else that may have a microprocesser in it. This would primarily deal with the frequency shifting of the generator sets. This very easily damages electronics. Don't do it. Second, running on a unit that is too small you will likely damage it also because of the inrush current required on AC units. The other appliances will suffer electronic problems from an insufficient voltage supply and lack of available current. Take the camper to an RV dealer that supplies Gen-Sets like Onans and have it evaluated. The Honda guy wasn't lying to you but needs to be more clear on the analysis of the problem to more successfully solve the problem.

 

[John Berger]

I just ordered two Honda eu2000i generators to run my Montana 2955RL. I wanted to get the generator installed, but the front cargo area is just a bit too small. I'll run these two together when I want to use the A/C and should only need one for running most other stuff. There have been other posts on here that have stated that no problems were encountered running two generators in series.





The Montana's are nice rigs. I don't like the sloped down appearance of the roof on the newer models, but that's just me.

 

[Sojourner]

For those so inlined to go with the quiet Honda EU2000 (possibly in parallel) or the Yamaha 3000iSEB (with boost), I found a vendor on ebay that offers the Honda EU2000 for $885 delivered, which is a very good price for that unit.



Their ebay listing for the Yamaha is here -



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11771&item=3831962787&rd=1



I just talked to someone there that advised me that have a lot of people using the Yamaha 3000iSEB to run their 15,000BTU a/c on their RV without any problems.

 

[FParisi]

Hello All

I have a 15,000 btu Dometic AC under my Alfa - I tried my Honda 2000i on it.

At home at 200ft elevation + temp 75 it would start it + voltage was still about 110.

Camping at only 1500ft + temp 90 it would not start. 2 2000i's would work great. A 3000i should work fine too. Since the AC is on a 20 amp breaker any generator with that output should work AS LONG AS you shut off ALL other AC draws - I put my refridg on gas + turned off the converter.

Frank