Diesel Generator vs LP

It's a lot more convenient to just fill up one tank with diesel than it is to jockey around to also fill up with propane. Diesel is everywhere. While propane is certainly around, sometimes you have to look a little harder for it - make a second stop some place. Mine came with a diesel generator, that's what I prefer and it was one less detail to sort through. Also, after being around propane forklift engines for years, I find it a lot easier to find a diesel shop that can work on diesel engines than a good shop that can work on propane engines.

Bill

Are they viable?
Yes we have one
The real question is what is your camping leisure..style? How much will you use the generator?

If your going to be camping weigh hookups, going to resorts etc... using the generator very little, stick to LP

However, If you come from tent camping, and intent to do lots of dry camping in the backwoods or beach with no hookups, having a diesel generator running from the main fuel tank, has the runtime advantage over lp

You pretty much answered your own question.

With over 25 yrs playing the RV game with gasoline, lp fuel and diesel, diesel wibs in every way you can guess.
Fuel burn On a 7.5 gas, gasoline . 75 gph, lpgas 1.1 gph
Diesel on a 12 kw, .42 gph.
Simple
,

Thank you for your fast reply, one and all.
I guess several of the things that I am looking at are:
1. Traveling down the road and running the generator to power the A/C;
2. Doing a Wally World Camp...no hookups. How do you keep the lights on and the refrig cool (I know it will run on propane...but).
Guess that answers my question..in many ways, especially the GPH ratio..>WHEW<
Again, Thank You Very much.

You don't need any generator (propane or diesel) to spend a night or two at Wally World. You have batteries that will provide several days of lights and you have propane for the refer. Don't run your generator when you're at Wally World!

Bill

MrWizard wrote:
Are they viable?
Yes we have one
The real question is what is your camping leisure..style? How much will you use the generator?

If your going to be camping weigh hookups, going to resorts etc... using the generator very little, stick to LP

However, If you come from tent camping, and intent to do lots of dry camping in the backwoods or beach with no hookups, having a diesel generator running from the main fuel tank, has the runtime advantage over lp

Why stick with LP under the conditions you described? What if any advantage is there to the LP over the diesel? I personally don't use my generator a lot, but it's a diesel and there was no way I would have got an LP for the very reasons the OP described.

Trackrig wrote:
You don't need any generator (propane or diesel) to spend a night or two at Wally World. You have batteries that will provide several days of lights and you have propane for the refer. Don't run your generator when you're at Wally World!

Bill

That refer on propane power still uses electricity. And whether you have several days is dependent on a lot of things, such as weather or watching TV's. And why not run your generator at Wally World? If you're there while the store is open there's car engines all over the parking lot running. If you're there when the store is closed there is likely nobody else close by to be disturbed.

There was a period of time where companies producing short DP's used the LP generators because of space issues. They were never a good choice. They used a lot of fuel, which was limited by the size of the propane tank, and they were louder than the diesels.

If you see a coach you really love, the LP would be a no deal, unless you INTEND to rarely use it, otherwise you'll be dissatisfied. For those who say they are a good choice, have them show you one manufacturer who has used one in a DP in the last five years. I think the only place you might see one still, is in a slide in truck camper. Even than I would opt for a portable Honda.

msmith1199 wrote:

Trackrig wrote:
You don't need any generator (propane or diesel) to spend a night or two at Wally World. You have batteries that will provide several days of lights and you have propane for the refer. Don't run your generator when you're at Wally World!

Bill

That refer on propane power still uses electricity. And whether you have several days is dependent on a lot of things, such as weather or watching TV's. And why not run your generator at Wally World? If you're there while the store is open there's car engines all over the parking lot running. If you're there when the store is closed there is likely nobody else close by to be disturbed.

Yes, of course the refer still takes electricity, but it's so miniscule, it doesn't matter. If you can't run for one or two nights off of your batteries, you have problems that need to be fixed.

As for running the generator - you're trying to not be obnoxious. Yes people will hear you such as near by residential areas. Ask me. We live in a very nice residential area of one acre lots. Then Walmart built close by. Yes you can hear a generator, delivery trucks, snow removal equipment, etc from over there.

Bill