What does it feel like to sleep over a generator? We are looking at class c's and I'm concerned about generators under the bed. Do they vibrate the bed? How much? What is the noise like, is it consistent or does it change frequently? TIA for any input!!

The noise consistency will depend on what it's powering. As an example, you know how microwaves power themselves on and off depending on what power setting they're set on - our generator, if absolutely nothing else is drawing power, will rev up when the microwave power cycle kicks on and then go back to an idle when the microwave power cycle kicks off. So the noise level goes up and down and the microwave power cycle kicks on and off.If you're running it at night, I'm assuming it will be for air conditioning? So yes, it could change its noise level as the AC kicks on and off if there's nothing else drawing power from the gen set to keep it's revolutions up producing the power.I wouldn't want to listen to a gen set under my bed all night and it will add some heat to the bedroom over it. The heat increase could be a little or a lot depending on the build of the generator compartment.Bill

You'll know it's running, but I don't think the vibration will be much different at the genny vs. near the genny. That said, I don't think too many of us sleep with genny running unless it's a daytime nap while other people are dong other things. Thoughts that come to mind:1. Unless you add a vent kit, there's risk of carbon monoxide entering the non-moving coach.2. Many (most, actually) campgrounds have night time quiet hours when you are not allowed to run your genset.Class C we have uses the ONAN 4KY and that's what I base the above on. Previous coach didn't come with a genny and I added an old ONAN BFA. Both were 4KW and the BFA was a longer-lasting genny, but it was rough and loud in comparison. Like we had a garden tractor in our closet - trying to get out.

Thank you, Bill, what about vibration?I was told by an RV dealer that most class C's carry their generator under the bed, as a selling point for the one we were looking at that did NOT have the generator under the bed. So, perhaps its not true that most have them under the bed? There would likely be few intances where we would need the air conditioner at night.

It all depends on the mounting of the generator, acoustic insulation used, if the pipes and wires are places so they don't carry vibrations, and if they used the Onan resonator. Badly done, it will be like a magic fingers bed. Done right, it will be noticable, but you can still sleep.I highly recommend having at least two CO monitors, one that shows PPM just in case, as well as considering a Gen-Turi or similar unit to disperse exhaust gases above the roof.

I've had 4 Class Cs, none of which had the generator under the bed.

Sleeping over generator | Good Sam Community

48 Replies

bukhrn
Nomad
May 07, 2015
Gjac wrote:
mgirardo wrote:
Gjac wrote:
The reality is the only reason that you would want to run the genset all night is that in extremely hot weather where fans are not cooling enough and you are dry camping you would want to run the AC which is much louder that the genset anyways.

The reality for us is we use the generator more to run the heater at night than the AC. We camp year round. When it gets below 40 degrees, the wife needs the heater. We usually only camp in the Northeast in hot summer months, so AC isn't usually needed at night. In North Western GA and SC, it can get pretty chilly at night in the winter.

-Michael
Are you saying that your RV does not have a propane heater so you use electric heaters or you just run the generator to keep the batteries charged?
A propane fired furnace still needs electric to run the fan, it will run on the battery ,but will kill a single battery overnight, if you set at much above 60, it may even drain 2 batteries, depending on state of charge when you start.
Gjac
Explorer III
May 07, 2015
mgirardo wrote:
Gjac wrote:
The reality is the only reason that you would want to run the genset all night is that in extremely hot weather where fans are not cooling enough and you are dry camping you would want to run the AC which is much louder that the genset anyways.

The reality for us is we use the generator more to run the heater at night than the AC. We camp year round. When it gets below 40 degrees, the wife needs the heater. We usually only camp in the Northeast in hot summer months, so AC isn't usually needed at night. In North Western GA and SC, it can get pretty chilly at night in the winter.

-Michael
Are you saying that your RV does not have a propane heater so you use electric heaters or you just run the generator to keep the batteries charged?
mgirardo
Explorer
May 07, 2015
Gjac wrote:
The reality is the only reason that you would want to run the genset all night is that in extremely hot weather where fans are not cooling enough and you are dry camping you would want to run the AC which is much louder that the genset anyways.

The reality for us is we use the generator more to run the heater at night than the AC. We camp year round. When it gets below 40 degrees, the wife needs the heater. We usually only camp in the Northeast in hot summer months, so AC isn't usually needed at night. In North Western GA and SC, it can get pretty chilly at night in the winter.

-Michael
klutchdust
Explorer II
May 06, 2015
Genset is under front slide out. Use it on hot nights when without it you would not be able to sleep anyway. Was parked at a NHRA event with limited

parking and used it during hours where it was permitted. Some had cheap portables that sounded like lawnmowers but for me it's like moving next to

an airport and complaining about noise. Going to an event knowing this I have no complaints. Truck stops same way. I liken it to flying and hearing

the constant drone of the aircraft . I can sleep in a muddy stream if i am tired enough so a genet isn't a problem.
Gjac
Explorer III
May 06, 2015
I was worried about this also when I first bought the MH with the genset under the bed. The reality is the only reason that you would want to run the genset all night is that in extremely hot weather where fans are not cooling enough and you are dry camping you would want to run the AC which is much louder that the genset anyways. Even with just the fwd AC on I can't here my genset running. And again if it is that hot I run both AC's and that drowns out the noise of the genset. In 10 years and I dry camp 95% of the time I have only had to use the genset and AC's maybe twice. Fan's usually work fine. So to me this is a non issue. Just think of where and how you will camp if you are using a SP, NP, COE, or NF CG you can't run the genset at night anyways.
Jopops
Explorer
May 06, 2015
Speaking from a different angle here - I'm rather spoiled by my Honda EU3000is that I camped w/ when I had my travel trailer. Talk about QUIET and fuel efficient.

The Onan 4000 on my Winnie is pretty much just slapped inside a metal box aft of the driver's seat. Its loud. I'd almost rather they didn't put a generator in there at all and save me the OCCC as I never camp w/o full hookups. I couldn't imagine sleeping w/ all that Onan noise. About the only comfort I get from my generator is being able to run it while underway to keep the fridge going. And MAYBE knowing I'd have power if the campsite lost theirs.

I'm sure other rig's have a bit more sound proofing and maybe even a bunch of rubber dampers and all. However, you can't touch that EU3000is's 58db at full load.

Should've never bought that thing. Now I'm spoiled.
pianotuna
Nomad III
May 06, 2015
Hi,

I will not sleep with a generator running.

It is far cheaper to go to an inexpensive campground than to run the generator to run the roof air conditioner.

Inexpensive campgrounds
TyroneandGladys
Explorer
May 06, 2015
Sleep just fine. Biggest advantage INMHO of moving the generator towards the front is taking weight off of the rear overhang. The downside is that I have seen the exhaust on some very near slide outs and again INMHO if that seal on that slide out is not 100% you could get carbon monoxide in your RV. No matter where the generator is use a carbon monoxide alarm.
mgirardo
Explorer
May 06, 2015
Our generator is up front, just behind the driver's seat. The couch is a few feet behind the generator. Our daughter has slept on the couch at night with the generator running several times without complaint.
ronfisherman
Moderator
May 06, 2015
Generator in our MH is under the bed. Vibration is not a problem. Noise has not bothered us. It is a Diesel Onan.

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Sleeping over generator

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