Installing Onan generator in a Fifth Wheel
Well, we had an offer we couldn't refuse on our Class A and sold it! We discovered we absolutely LOVE RVing so now, we have moved into a Fifth Wheel (first time)for the additional room, etc. We fell...
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If this is what you got - you are wasting your time trying to retrofit this in a 5th wheel. They are designed for motorhomes in an open and insulated cabinet.
If this is what you got - it is tailored for the 5th wheel gen prep and is relatively easy to install, although a little larger than normally installed. These are completely enclosed and ventilate, exhaust and draw combustion air out the bottom through the knockouts in your cabinet.
I have removed and installed our Onan 5500 LP in our 3rd 5th wheel now. It's actually plug and play with the generator prep.
I got a 500 lb lift table from harbor freight to slide the generator out of the old RV and set it in the new RV. The table lifts to any height. (I sold it for about the same price as I bought it for last month).
On the gen prep, the floor knockouts should already be there - no door vent required.
Output power for ours was a 30A and a 20A, which connected directly to the gen prep automatic transfer switch in the same compartment. Your outputs will be a higher amperage.
Battery cables go direct to the battery, and you should have a remote start button wire harness in the gen compartment somewhere, connected to an interior start button in the camper.
LP feed can be made up at a propane shop and "T" in downstream of your main regulator. If it's gasoline, I have no idea where to install tanks.
Toughest part is exhaust. You can order a tailpipe kit from Onan that directs your exhaust out beyond the outside edge of the coach, but you really shouldn't go under a slide. If you need to customize to avoid the slide, you'll end up looking for a muffler shop willing to deal with that small of a pipe.
The notches in the base are for multiple tailpipe mounts if you are surface mounting. Cover those in aluminum tape as described in the Onan manual, or you will generate excessive heat out those notches and can damage your cabinet door or other interior parts near the gen prep heat shield.
If this is what you got - it is tailored for the 5th wheel gen prep and is relatively easy to install, although a little larger than normally installed. These are completely enclosed and ventilate, exhaust and draw combustion air out the bottom through the knockouts in your cabinet.
I have removed and installed our Onan 5500 LP in our 3rd 5th wheel now. It's actually plug and play with the generator prep.
I got a 500 lb lift table from harbor freight to slide the generator out of the old RV and set it in the new RV. The table lifts to any height. (I sold it for about the same price as I bought it for last month).
On the gen prep, the floor knockouts should already be there - no door vent required.
Output power for ours was a 30A and a 20A, which connected directly to the gen prep automatic transfer switch in the same compartment. Your outputs will be a higher amperage.
Battery cables go direct to the battery, and you should have a remote start button wire harness in the gen compartment somewhere, connected to an interior start button in the camper.
LP feed can be made up at a propane shop and "T" in downstream of your main regulator. If it's gasoline, I have no idea where to install tanks.
Toughest part is exhaust. You can order a tailpipe kit from Onan that directs your exhaust out beyond the outside edge of the coach, but you really shouldn't go under a slide. If you need to customize to avoid the slide, you'll end up looking for a muffler shop willing to deal with that small of a pipe.
The notches in the base are for multiple tailpipe mounts if you are surface mounting. Cover those in aluminum tape as described in the Onan manual, or you will generate excessive heat out those notches and can damage your cabinet door or other interior parts near the gen prep heat shield.
