I have been looking for a smaller class C and I have found 2 that fit the bill and are within budget.1. 2008 Georgie Boy Maverick 213Qb (pretty much the same as Coachmen Freelander 21/2130QB)with 23,000 miles, comes with an Onan 4000. I like the bigger fresh water tank and gen, but build quality and materials make this one seem a bit more used than I would like.2. 2011 Winnebago Access 24V, 8,000 miles and NO generator. I like the fibreglass roof and build quality, but it is $8,000 more.So how often do you use the generator? Where we live, their use is frowned upon in most campsites, and none of my previous RV's had one and we got by just fine. About the only time I think it would be really useful is to run the A/C on very hot days.Is it reasonable to put some money into a couple of fantastic fans for hot days and LED lights, and maybe solar, to help out the batteries?Anybody have any comments about either of these units? Just my wife and I, to be used for everything from fishing trips at local lakes to spring and fall trips to Utah, Colorado, Alaska, etc.Thanks

I would never buy a motor home without a generator but that's just my personal preference.

I don't own a Class-C but am looking to buy however I have owned five other RV's through the years and my last one was a big fifth wheel and I ordered with a genny. From that day forward I promised myself no matter what type of TV I owned, trailer or motorhome, I would always have a genny. In my fifth wheel it was so easy to stop on a long trip and fire it up and make lunch, watch TV or take a nap. I used it many times while I over nighted at rest stops, truck stocks and one funeral home. We were invited to a wedding that was in a pasture and was so nice to have power and AC. As far as running it at a campsite, I assume you mean a primitive site that doesn't already have power, they do make noise but I had a 5500 Onan and it was very quiet, a campsite or two over and your couldn't hear it. Now some people take their $300 china gennies and set them on the ground and they are so loud. Keep in mind I'm in the south and having AC is important to me but might not be to you. Good luck

I seldom use mine, but it is handy when needed and nice to have..

We do a lot of National Park Service and National Forest Service campgrounds that do not have hookups, aka boondocking. We go 2 to 3 weeks at a time without hookups. We frequently use our generator. It would be too limiting to only be able to go to a CG that provided power.

I use my generator everytime I take unit out. The other good thing is that when we have power outage at home, its our back up. Works for me.

How often do you use your built in generator?

pnichols
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2013
Snowman9000 wrote:
What is the special spark plug? And did your genset's starting get better after installing it?

I have used one of these type plugs in our Onan for the last 3-4 years. It starts instantly and it seemed to smooth out and slightly quiet down with one of these. There seems to be just a little less vibration in the motorhome's floor area right above the Onan, too .... probably due to it's smoother running. Just look up the correct cross-referenced type of these plugs to the main-line plug type that Onan recommends to get the correct one. I took my Onan plug out, looked at what it was, and just used the correct cross-referenced type of these:

http://www.e3sparkplugs.com/

P.S. I also use the correct one of these in my RV's small Honda portable generator, too.
Snowman9000
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013
pnichols wrote:

By the way, we use Mobil 1 Extended Service oil and a special small-engine spark plug in ours for (many will not agree with this) instant starting, added longevity, and slightly smoother running.

What is the special spark plug? And did your genset's starting get better after installing it?
fordman17
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013
You will be glad you have the generator i'm sure, we use ours often as many dog shows sites have no hookups and many hot summer weekends our 4000 Onan will run from Friday until we leave sunday nonstop.Couldn't do without it.
pnichols
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2013
Way to go, Jose!

You should really grow to appreciate that Onan that is started by a wall switch inside the RV and fed from the vehicle's large capacity main fuel tank.

By the way, we use Mobil 1 Extended Service oil and a special small-engine spark plug in ours for (many will not agree with this) instant starting, added longevity, and slightly smoother running.
DaHose
Explorer
Sep 18, 2013
Great! Ours has a 4000 Onan. If you ever have questions about it head over to smokstak.com. They are a great bunch. I also have both manuals for mine. If you have questions, I can try and look up info. for ya as well.

Jose
tred0956
Explorer
Sep 18, 2013
tred0956 wrote:
UPDATE! We bought a unit with an Onan 4000. Thanks for all the replies and great info!
tred0956
Explorer
Sep 18, 2013
UPDATE! We bought a unit with an Onan 4000. Thanks for all the replies and great info!
pnichols
Explorer II
Sep 17, 2013
Olddud wrote:
I thought the excuse was they either absolutely must warm them up before leaving, or they absolutely must cool them off after arriving, and at least 3 times longer than it takes to tick everyone off around them.

Olddud ..... you nailed it dead on. This is way more irritating to me than generators, and is one of our reasons for boondocking as much as possible - where we can both listen to one of our generators if we wish and not hear any idling diesels. :C

By the way another reason for there idling of their diesels is endless moving back and forth trying to position a giant motorhome or fifth wheel.
Olddud
Explorer
Sep 17, 2013
Dakzuki wrote:

And just why is it that diesel pickup/RV owners have to idle their vehicles for protracted periods of time....do they all have bad starter motors or are they trying to show off how loud they are?

Sorry to hijack the thread but I had a rant slip out.

I thought the excuse was they either absolutely must warm them up before leaving, or they absolutely must cool them off after arriving, and at least 3 times longer than it takes to tick everyone off around them.
Dakzuki
Explorer
Sep 17, 2013
pnichols wrote:

With respect to "rudeness", it's no more rude than those idling those confounded diesel trucks and motorhomes early in the morning cuz they're leaving or late at night cuz there coming.

And just why is it that diesel pickup/RV owners have to idle their vehicles for protracted periods of time....do they all have bad starter motors or are they trying to show off how loud they are?

Sorry to hijack the thread but I had a rant slip out.