Is an RV generator worth it?
My RV has an Onan Microlite 4000 generator that has been well maintained. It now starts but stops running as soon as I release the Start button. My mechanic identifies the problem as electrical and ...
Forum Discussion
RLS7201 wrote:
What you are experiencing with you Onan generator is a common phenomenon with gas burning Onans. It is electrical but usually it's something like brushes, voltage regulator, armature, circuit board, oil level or oil pressure sending switch. If rats chewing wires are your mechanic's first guess, you may want to seek other expertise.
Richard
Yeah - if the initial suggestion is removing the generator for inspection go somewhere else. There are a myriad of things that can cause this behavior that do NOT require removing the generator.
Idling the engine for long periods of time, irrespective of whether you can rig up a way to match the output of the Onan, it not a good idea. In addition to less-than-ideal A/F ratios and cooling, you're also spinning your torque converter and pumping fluid through the transmission. Plus, engine idling for long periods is illegal in a lot of places. Bottom line is that it's ridiculously inefficient.
In answer to the original question - is an RV generator worth it? I believe yes. If mine didn't have one I'd junk it. I'm all about self-contained and dry camp (tail gate) mostly. The generator is critical for me to use the rig for the reason I bought it.
