Dash air vs generator

The most economical way, is to run only one engine, not two. So that means, dash air is most economical. Summertime, it will feel much better with both A/C's running, and it doesn't really matter the cost, cause after all, these big vehicles only get 10mpg anyways!

For the sake of the environment I would love to burn less fuel. Given that argument I should travel in a Prius not a DP. My generator burns 1/2 gal per hour under moderate load and 1 gph under full load. If we are driving for 4 hours a day (not unusual for us) and running one roof AC on the gen I will burn through 2 gal of diesel for the privilege of keeping the house cool for when we stop. Worth it to me!
Run the dash air too as the panorama windshield functions as a greenhouse.

Leaving Julian, CA going to our home in Lake Elsinore, CA. the temp was 100 degrees plus. The dash A/C was unable to keep up so we got the generator going and turned on the coach A/C. Its so nice to travel in comfort.

Whether your ScangaugeD sees the fuel usage on the genny or not depends on where fuel flow is measured. If it's where it leaves the tank, then yes. If it's measured at the input to the lift pump, no.

My gen runs on propane and the dash air doesn't do a great job of cooling the pup if he's on the couch. So far I haven't needed to run the house A/C, but it's there.

In the last such discussion, I think I saw a number of 0.5 MPG to run the generator.

In warm weather, we ALWAYS start the generator and run the rooftop AC to cool the ENTIRE coach before we park for the day. It makes no sense to be uncomfortable after we have parked for the night waiting for the coach to cool off.

JC2 wrote:
Agreed. :B

Effy wrote:
I bought a motorhome for the comfort and convenience while travelling. That means running the gen and ducted AC if needed. I never really understood the school of thought for curtains and what not to avoid running the gen which may impact about 1/2 MPG. Frankly I don't even monitor MPG. It's smiles to the gallon for us. If you are concerned about using fuel and partition off most of the coach to use dash air (which actually uses more fuel) then why not get a TT. I mean what's the point of a MH and all it's travelling conveniences if you aren't going to actually use them? But to each his own.

Effy is a wise soul.

Yep...in the summer, I fire up the genset before leaving...crank up both rooftop A/C units and use the dash air. I have been known to set a fan in the middle of the coach blowing towards the driver's area to help the cool air circulate too. Worst I've lost in fuel mileage is about .5MPG.

Agreed. :B

Effy wrote:
I bought a motorhome for the comfort and convenience while travelling. That means running the gen and ducted AC if needed. I never really understood the school of thought for curtains and what not to avoid running the gen which may impact about 1/2 MPG. Frankly I don't even monitor MPG. It's smiles to the gallon for us. If you are concerned about using fuel and partition off most of the coach to use dash air (which actually uses more fuel) then why not get a TT. I mean what's the point of a MH and all it's travelling conveniences if you aren't going to actually use them? But to each his own.

mc.cc wrote:

Mile High wrote:
So....does the fuel mileage indicator on the dash account for the gen running if it's drawing from the same tank? I don't know enough about it.

Yes. Unless you are one of the very few who have their gen set configured to run on propane.

Thanks, I was curious. It is diesel.

I doubt if you could really measure any appreciable difference, so we do what we need to do to be comfortable.

Many people don't give their generators the "exercise" specified by the manufacturer anyway, so running the generator to power the AC is a good side benefit if you don't use the generator too often. Too few hours on the generator is probably worse than too many.

~Rick