Generators - brand differences?
OK, our search for a used Class A is becoming narrower each day. After driving all over, I think that there are two fairly close to us that fit our needs and budget:
The leader is:
2007 Damon Daybreak
Next runner up is:
2006 Winnebago Sightseer
Both are the ideal within our length (30 to 34 footish), made in the midpoint of the 2K model year, and have seatbelts in the dinette booth in case we take friends or relatives along for an extended day trip.
Each of the two we've narrowed it down to have pluses and minuses. One thing I hadn't come across before was the brand of generator being anything other than Onan. The Damon has a Generac Guardian 4800 with 113 hours, and the Winnebago has the Onan 4000 with 503 hours. Does brand really make a difference? I had almost convinced myself to only look for coaches built on the Workhorse chassis because I prefer low-end gruntlike torque that can be produced by a big displacement V-8, but as yuo can see I've settled on two built on the Ford F-53 chassis with the V-10. So, I can get over stereotyped brand loyalty. I've just never run across Generac branded gensets in an RV. I've only ever noticed the Onan brand name. I have seen a bit of the Generac brand in home and commercial standby generator service though. Is there really enough of a difference to sway anyone's choice between coach brands, given all other things are pretty much the same (well, except for mileage and genset hours)?
My wife is a bit uncomfortable with the higher miles on the Winnie (74K vs. 17K), but I like their fiberglass roof over the TPO covered luaun roof of the Damon. Of course, either choice for roofing is much better than the years of RV's we've owned with the EPDM covered roof, and those were far better than the metal seamed roof on the earliest units we owned (i.e. '67 Shasta Ultralight 13' or the 1974 Terry)..
When we go look again this weekend, I plan to have them start the generators in both units and listen to them inside and outside of the coach. We will probably test drive those units too. For added info - the Winnie also has a Banks kit installed (full or?) and the non-ducted AC isn't hard-wired in, but is plugged in separately. According to the brochure I found online, I think that the unit is 30 amp, just like the Damon. I don't see being able to run both A/Cs with that.
So, opinions? I'm all ears at this stage of the search. And, I'm about worn down from looking at so many units......
The leader is:
2007 Damon Daybreak
Next runner up is:
2006 Winnebago Sightseer
Both are the ideal within our length (30 to 34 footish), made in the midpoint of the 2K model year, and have seatbelts in the dinette booth in case we take friends or relatives along for an extended day trip.
Each of the two we've narrowed it down to have pluses and minuses. One thing I hadn't come across before was the brand of generator being anything other than Onan. The Damon has a Generac Guardian 4800 with 113 hours, and the Winnebago has the Onan 4000 with 503 hours. Does brand really make a difference? I had almost convinced myself to only look for coaches built on the Workhorse chassis because I prefer low-end gruntlike torque that can be produced by a big displacement V-8, but as yuo can see I've settled on two built on the Ford F-53 chassis with the V-10. So, I can get over stereotyped brand loyalty. I've just never run across Generac branded gensets in an RV. I've only ever noticed the Onan brand name. I have seen a bit of the Generac brand in home and commercial standby generator service though. Is there really enough of a difference to sway anyone's choice between coach brands, given all other things are pretty much the same (well, except for mileage and genset hours)?
My wife is a bit uncomfortable with the higher miles on the Winnie (74K vs. 17K), but I like their fiberglass roof over the TPO covered luaun roof of the Damon. Of course, either choice for roofing is much better than the years of RV's we've owned with the EPDM covered roof, and those were far better than the metal seamed roof on the earliest units we owned (i.e. '67 Shasta Ultralight 13' or the 1974 Terry)..
When we go look again this weekend, I plan to have them start the generators in both units and listen to them inside and outside of the coach. We will probably test drive those units too. For added info - the Winnie also has a Banks kit installed (full or?) and the non-ducted AC isn't hard-wired in, but is plugged in separately. According to the brochure I found online, I think that the unit is 30 amp, just like the Damon. I don't see being able to run both A/Cs with that.
So, opinions? I'm all ears at this stage of the search. And, I'm about worn down from looking at so many units......
