Resource for learning about power options?
Hello, First time poster here. I'm trying to get a head start on getting into a lot more RV'ing in 6 months or so. I've got a lot of experience towing commercially (big rigs, 350/3500 pickups and...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
There is a section on tow vehicles, fifth wheels, travel trailers, and other sections.
Most travel trailers and fifth wheels do not include a generator or prep location for one, unless they are a toy hauler, where it has a rear garage, and access to load motorcycles or small ATV's. In Toy haulers, it is more common to see a generator, built in, along with a gas tank, and perhaps a optional fueling station to refill the toys. It is a gas pump, putting out about 4 gallons per minute from the onboard 18 - 36 gallon fuel supply, that also feeds the built in generator.
Most people use gas generators, they are lightweight, and use fuel that is easy to get. Also there is about 115,000 Btu's per gallon of fuel. Propane is about 95,000 Btu's per gallon, and would take more fuel per hour, in addition to being in a smaller tank, and can use it up fairly quickly on a 3 day weekend in the desert while dry camping.
In Diesel pusher motorhomes, the most common generator is a diesel generator in the 5 KW - 10 KW size, that can power 2-3 A/C units and lots of other things. Because diesel is 135,000 Btu's per gallon, they are the most fuel efficient, and draw from the upper 3/4 of the main 100 gallon fuel tank, so it seems like nothing it used to run the generator a few days while out camping.
I mention "Dry Camping" or Boondocking (further out in the woods) are without hookups, no water, electric, or sewer connections. Full hookups are just that, sewer, water and 30 to 50 amp electrical service.
Options to power a air conditioner include mating two of the Honda 2000 watt inverter generators (actual rating is only 1,600 watts, but it can put out 2,000 watts for 30 minutes at a time) for a total of about 3,200 - 4,000 watt surge. They sell a kit that includes a 30 amp RV plug in it, and also lets the two generators talk to each other, and decide what voltage regulator and frequency to work from (so one does not try to run faster than the other).
Have fun camping!
Fred.
There is a section on tow vehicles, fifth wheels, travel trailers, and other sections.
Most travel trailers and fifth wheels do not include a generator or prep location for one, unless they are a toy hauler, where it has a rear garage, and access to load motorcycles or small ATV's. In Toy haulers, it is more common to see a generator, built in, along with a gas tank, and perhaps a optional fueling station to refill the toys. It is a gas pump, putting out about 4 gallons per minute from the onboard 18 - 36 gallon fuel supply, that also feeds the built in generator.
Most people use gas generators, they are lightweight, and use fuel that is easy to get. Also there is about 115,000 Btu's per gallon of fuel. Propane is about 95,000 Btu's per gallon, and would take more fuel per hour, in addition to being in a smaller tank, and can use it up fairly quickly on a 3 day weekend in the desert while dry camping.
In Diesel pusher motorhomes, the most common generator is a diesel generator in the 5 KW - 10 KW size, that can power 2-3 A/C units and lots of other things. Because diesel is 135,000 Btu's per gallon, they are the most fuel efficient, and draw from the upper 3/4 of the main 100 gallon fuel tank, so it seems like nothing it used to run the generator a few days while out camping.
I mention "Dry Camping" or Boondocking (further out in the woods) are without hookups, no water, electric, or sewer connections. Full hookups are just that, sewer, water and 30 to 50 amp electrical service.
Options to power a air conditioner include mating two of the Honda 2000 watt inverter generators (actual rating is only 1,600 watts, but it can put out 2,000 watts for 30 minutes at a time) for a total of about 3,200 - 4,000 watt surge. They sell a kit that includes a 30 amp RV plug in it, and also lets the two generators talk to each other, and decide what voltage regulator and frequency to work from (so one does not try to run faster than the other).
Have fun camping!
Fred.
