Diesel generator for 5th wheels?

Happy to oblige :-) This Yamaha is pretty popular. There are a ton of different options at this vendor.

Atom Ant wrote:

fly-boy wrote:
The gas is way more efficient (as said) and if you start it every few months for an hour with a load it will always run when needed.

"way more efficient" might be a stretch of the term, but the gasoline is more efficient:

Per spec on 5500 Onan

Gas no load = 0.3 Gal/h
LP no load = 0.4 Gal/h

Gas half load = 0.6 Gal/h
LP no load = 0.8 Gal/h

Gas full load = 0.9 Gal/h
LP full load = 1.1 Gal/h

The highly efficient gas gens are the portable inverter types that idle down on no load. The Onan only knows 1 RPM.

Could you point me to one of these inverter type gens? Thanks.

fly-boy wrote:
The gas is way more efficient (as said) and if you start it every few months for an hour with a load it will always run when needed.

"way more efficient" might be a stretch of the term, but the gasoline is more efficient:

Per spec on 5500 Onan

Gas no load = 0.3 Gal/h
LP no load = 0.4 Gal/h

Gas half load = 0.6 Gal/h
LP no load = 0.8 Gal/h

Gas full load = 0.9 Gal/h
LP full load = 1.1 Gal/h

The highly efficient gas gens are the portable inverter types that idle down on no load. The Onan only knows 1 RPM.

fly-boy wrote:
You simply can't beat an Onan gas generator for most applications. Your fifth wheel will literally fall apart around the generator.

I have both gas and LP Onan generators in different trailers and they are both very good. The gas is way more efficient (as said) and if you start it every few months for an hour with a load it will always run when needed.

A Honda or Yamaha is good if you have light power needs from time to time. I like the Yamaha's as they come with a petcock valve so you can run them out of fuel and not have to worry about a gummed up carb. That said, OI would never be without an on board generator and I can buy a lot of fuel for the investment in a Honda or Yamaha.

What do you mean "Your fifth wheel will literally fall apart around the generator"? Which generators are you referring to?

You simply can't beat an Onan gas generator for most applications. Your fifth wheel will literally fall apart around the generator.

I have both gas and LP Onan generators in different trailers and they are both very good. The gas is way more efficient (as said) and if you start it every few months for an hour with a load it will always run when needed.

A Honda or Yamaha is good if you have light power needs from time to time. I like the Yamaha's as they come with a petcock valve so you can run them out of fuel and not have to worry about a gummed up carb. That said, OI would never be without an on board generator and I can buy a lot of fuel for the investment in a Honda or Yamaha.

Acei wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Built in gensets are all about convenience not price. There are lots of cheaper ways to go than a built in but none will be as convenient to use as a built in. Yes you pay for one button operation,but that is what convenience is all about. There is no set up, no take down, no loading and unloading. No plugging in,no cables etc. With propane there is also no tanks, and clean reliability.
The difference in price will avoid a lot of lifting, and hauling.
Because built ins are convenient to run, they will get more use. You are not as likely to run a portable genset for a lunch stop. If you have to set it up first.
To appreciate the value of a built in you must have the just push a button mentality.

This is very true, at least for me. I really don't want to lift heavy generators whenever I needed to use it for 1 hour.

Are generators water-proof? Can I leave it outside when it is raining?

I'm trying to find out the truth behind the usage of LP gens under sub-freezing temperatures. So far, I'm hearing positive stories from both sides! Why is it working for some, but won't work for others? Ack.

My thought is that the regulators are freezing because of excessive demand. The furnace and genset a simultaneously using a lot of gas. Causing the regulator to freeze. I can easily seeing this scenario taking place in cold weather. If the genset were connected to a dedicated propane source vs. the general RV propane source these freeze up would not happen.
This is why some are successful and some are not. I'd be curious to know how is the propane tank connected.

Lantley wrote:

Built in gensets are all about convenience not price. There are lots of cheaper ways to go than a built in but none will be as convenient to use as a built in. Yes you pay for one button operation,but that is what convenience is all about. There is no set up, no take down, no loading and unloading. No plugging in,no cables etc. With propane there is also no tanks, and clean reliability.
The difference in price will avoid a lot of lifting, and hauling.
Because built ins are convenient to run, they will get more use. You are not as likely to run a portable genset for a lunch stop. If you have to set it up first.
To appreciate the value of a built in you must have the just push a button mentality.

This is very true, at least for me. I really don't want to lift heavy generators whenever I needed to use it for 1 hour.

Are generators water-proof? Can I leave it outside when it is raining?

I'm trying to find out the truth behind the usage of LP gens under sub-freezing temperatures. So far, I'm hearing positive stories from both sides! Why is it working for some, but won't work for others? Ack.

laknox wrote:

Acei wrote:
Thanks for more information on the LP generators, guys.

Looks like the LP gens are the best option for me. I especially like that fact that LP gens don't require much maintenance when used occasionally. I'm going for 900+w solar setup with 900+Ah 6-battery setup so hopefully, I won't be burning through propane at a crazy pace.

Don't forget that you're looking at straight generators. They either run at full RPM all the time, or idle. You should also consider the inverter-style generators. They only run as fast as the load demands, which is why they have such great fuel economy. As far as I know (and I haven't looked in a while), Onan only makes pure generators and no inverters. Hell, you can buy a 7500w generator at Costco for < $1,000, last I looked. Loud and fairly uneconomical, but they work and will charge your batteries and run your AC, when needed. The difference in price will buy you a =lot= of fuel =and= another generator if this one craps out, then still =more= fuel. :-)

Lyle

Built in gensets are all about convenience not price. There are lots of cheaper ways to go than a built in but none will be as convenient to use as a built in. Yes you pay for one button operation,but that is what convenience is all about. There is no set up, no take down, no loading and unloading. No plugging in,no cables etc. With propane there is also no tanks, and clean reliability.
The difference in price will avoid a lot of lifting, and hauling.
Because built ins are convenient to run, they will get more use. You are not as likely to run a portable genset for a lunch stop. If you have to set it up first.
To appreciate the value of a built in you must have the just push a button mentality.

I picked up a 550 Generac. I only paid $700 for the Generator and the wiring for the remote start / stop and hour meter. The guy that had it put it in a regular Fifth Wheel. He had a neat setup for the fuel tank. It was recessed into the floor of the pass thru. It was still installed when I got there so I was able to see it run with a load. Another plus was it only had 100 hours on it and the owner had already changed the Oil and Filler.

I took my TH'er to Bike Week in Daytona this year. There were no hook up and the generator came in handy. I was sitting under the awning when my wife called. She was shocked when I told her that the Gen was running. The only place where it is a little loud is in the Master Bedroom.

I would recommend this Generator or anyone.

Acei wrote:
Thanks for more information on the LP generators, guys.

Looks like the LP gens are the best option for me. I especially like that fact that LP gens don't require much maintenance when used occasionally. I'm going for 900+w solar setup with 900+Ah 6-battery setup so hopefully, I won't be burning through propane at a crazy pace.

Don't forget that you're looking at straight generators. They either run at full RPM all the time, or idle. You should also consider the inverter-style generators. They only run as fast as the load demands, which is why they have such great fuel economy. As far as I know (and I haven't looked in a while), Onan only makes pure generators and no inverters. Hell, you can buy a 7500w generator at Costco for < $1,000, last I looked. Loud and fairly uneconomical, but they work and will charge your batteries and run your AC, when needed. The difference in price will buy you a =lot= of fuel =and= another generator if this one craps out, then still =more= fuel. :-)

Lyle