LP vs Gas vs Diesel Generator

Pros of propane generator:

Light weight when compared with diesel
Inexpensive when compared with diesel
No carburetor varnishing as in gasoline generators.

Cons of propane generators:
Use more fuel than diesel or gasoline (lower BTU per gallon)
Hours run per fill-up may be low-- depends on tank capacity


Now, my opinion: If you use your generator occasionally, propane is a fine choice. If you run your generator 24/7, a poor choice.

We are on our second coach with propane generator and it fits our needs just fine.

Propane is very easy on the engine and I would stick with with what it has, the cost of replacement would off set any savings in fuel price for a very long time!

LP gas burns really clean.

Diesle fuel has 135,000 Btu's per gallon, so will run the most time with a gallon of fuel.

Gas has around 115,000 Btu's and should give you about a gallon per hour with a moderate load on it.

Propane is 95,000 Btu's per gallon, and should consume about 20% more than gasoline, because there is less fuel content per gallon, compared to Gasoline. Yet it also is a cleaner burning fuel.

I would rather have a really quiet Honda water cooled RV generator than either of the above. THey make the EV 4020 and EV 6020 - rated at 4,000 and 6,000 watts for RV use on gasoline. Because it is not air cooled, there is generally much less noise.

Diesels also have the advantage of being water cooled for the most part. Yet a diesel is typically noisier than a gas engine.

Fred.

If the coach had removable propane tanks to take them somewhere to get them filled it wouldn't be too much of a problem. But if you're set up someplace out boondocking and don't want to move the coach, you may not have any choice unless you put in a modification for an external tank and then haul it around with you also. Hauling gas or diesel to the coach is the most fun thing to do, but it's easier than breaking camp.

Bill