Generator in Class C Rental

1 GPH is likely the full-load rating. It'll be closer to 1/3rd of that at partial load, such as charging the battery bank.

Also, the V10 burns 0.6 GPH at idle, so that's an option for charging batteries too. And if it has a basic converter, the alternator will charge the battery bank faster anyways. And it makes far less noise.

DutchmenSport wrote:
Well, here's my opinion.

Assuming the price of gasoline is $2.50 a gallon (US), and the on-board generator uses 1 gallon an hour, for the $225, you can run the on-board generator for 90 hours. That means over a 14 day period, you can run the generator for 6.42 hours each day and will cost you $225.

If you rent, you have to pay the $225 for the generator and then still pay fuel. If the price of gasoline is $2.50 a gallon and the generator burns 1 gallon every 4 hours, to run the rental generator for the first 90 hours, it will cost you $56.25 for fuel and $225 for the rental for a total of $281.25

If it were me, I'd just use the on-board generator and have nothing else to worry about.

yep, and where and how are you going to transport this generator/and extra gasoline.
bumpy

Well, here's my opinion.

Assuming the price of gasoline is $2.50 a gallon (US), and the on-board generator uses 1 gallon an hour, for the $225, you can run the on-board generator for 90 hours. That means over a 14 day period, you can run the generator for 6.42 hours each day and will cost you $225.

If you rent, you have to pay the $225 for the generator and then still pay fuel. If the price of gasoline is $2.50 a gallon and the generator burns 1 gallon every 4 hours, to run the rental generator for the first 90 hours, it will cost you $56.25 for fuel and $225 for the rental for a total of $281.25

If it were me, I'd just use the on-board generator and have nothing else to worry about.

How do you know the onboard generator burns 1/gal per hr? That seems really high even running the AC. Also, I am certain somewhere in your contract you are going to be charged for generator usage by the hour. So it's not just the cost of fuel,but the cost of the charge at the rental company for the hours used. It adds up. But read the fine print. There maybe a clause in your contract that you are not allowed to use another generator to power the unit. Either the onboard generator or an approved power supply, like at a campground. If something were to happen to the electrical system, and they knew it was from another generator, it could be on you to pay to fix it.

We used to own an RV rental business, I assure you there are charges for miles per day, generator usage, cleaning fees etc. The cost of the rental itself is only part of the cost and read your fine print. We used to mandate no boondocking, but we were pretty particular.

How long are you planning on running the generator?
Will you be somewhere where the weather will be cold and rainy?
Will your generator hours be restricted by campground rules?

The Honda will burn less fuel, but the convenience of pushing a button on the inside of the motorhome, outweighs the cost of the extra fuel burned, in my opinion.

Also, you're already paying for the onboard generator, and the rental cost of the Honda will offset the difference in fuel usage.

1 gallon per hour does seem high. What size/make of generator is it? I might start by confirming the fuel consumption rate of the onboard generator.

Skip the rental, go with the included generator.

Are you dry camping in a campground or boondocking somewhere like out in the middle of the desert? The reason I ask is I the Honda is a high theft item. So if in a campground I would probably go with the onboard generator because it can't be picked up and carried away. Out boondocking I might go with the Honda as it is quieter and can be plugged in at the end of the shore power cable with the exhaust pointed away from camp (but not at your neighbors camp)