I saw a reference on a thread here about running the generator to power the coach air conditioning and assist the engine A/C while traveling in very hot conditions. We have a smaller Class C a 22 foot Thor with an Onan RV QG 4000 generator. We have driven quite a few miles in 95 or so weather and so far the engine A/c has worked fine. Just an interesting idea that never crossed my mind. We are only into our 3rd year of RVing and I never know when something might come up and an alternative is needed.

You shouldn't have to run the house A/C unless there is someone sitting in the back. Do you have a curtain between the driver cab an the house part?

When we ordered our MH I specifically ordered it without engine air. We always ran the genny and roof air to cool. Worked fine for us. As a side benefit, less strain on the motor.

If you are driving into the sun, run the defroster to cool the windshield. The sun heats the windshield which then radiates heat back into the coach. Dusty

We do it occasionally, especially if traveling in very hot weather. Sometimes the dash air is just not enough to keep it comfortable. Also, then when we stop for the evening, the air is already running while we are getting parked and set up, until we get shore power connected.

It is easy for the dash air to cool a 22 ft MH. Different story when the MH is 31ft or longer. That's when most of us that have longer MH's use the gen to run the coach air. I have dogs in the coach are so I use the air.Just a note when you have to drive during the hotter part of the day just put van windshield sun shades under the day night shades to keep the sun out while you are driving is to slip under the shades and are easily removed when you arrive at your destination. You will be amazed how this keeps the coach are cooler.A must IMHO is putting RV vent pillows in all the roof vent openings. Keeps heat out and ac cool in. This alone will bring the temp down 20 degrees when driving in real hot weather conditions!!Put these in your roof vents and sit back and feel the difference in summer AND winter. :C

Running the gererator while driving | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

docsouce
Explorer II
Oct 31, 2017
Another useful tool in our kit. As always thanks for the advise. We're going to head west on US 80 from Macon Ga to Roswell NM before heading north/west and looping back home this coming summer (our third cross country run). The extra cooling will come in handy.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Oct 30, 2017
I do it on an "As Needed" basis

here is something else.. Do not know if it is still out there as a "item" but it is easy to make

JC Witney (Spelling?) dot com used to sell a "Curtain" that went across just behind the driver/spassanger seat (Where the "B" pillar would be in a car) seprating the front from the rear. It was a pass through curtain (Split in the middle so you coudl walk into the rear) the idea was to isolate the two parts (Cockpit and house) so the dash air/heat was more effective in the cockpit area

Would not mind that or something like it in my big A
maillemaker
Explorer
Oct 30, 2017
We discovered in our 1990 Winnebago Warrior that the house AC won't cool the driver/passenger area, and vice versa, the vehicle AC won't cool the house.

So if it gets toasty in the back we run the generator for the people in the back.

Steve
petrel
Explorer
Oct 29, 2017
We run our generator whenever the motorhome is moving. However, because it is located behind the drive axles, we try to shut it off whenever operating in extremely dusty conditions or in the pouring rain.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Oct 29, 2017
Helper fans mounted inside the door can keep temperatures cooler. Mounting electronic control boards on high temperature vibrating machinery is entirely within the category of double-digit IQ.
Happytraveler
Explorer
Oct 29, 2017
While traveling we run our generator with air on 95% of the time. If the dog is panting the air is on, LOL.
Mandalay_Parr
Explorer
Oct 29, 2017
I run mine frequently when driving if it is hot.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Oct 29, 2017
YES......on board genny is great option if needed...when needed
ksg5000
Explorer II
Oct 29, 2017
We used our dash AC system so seldom the seals dries out and we lost the freon - so we use the house generator on those few days when we find air conditioning needed. Never had a problem - doesn't use appreciably more fuel than when we used the dash air.
pnichols
Explorer II
Oct 29, 2017
We have vent covers installed over all of our roof vents.

This creates a layer of air insulation above the vent so the vent doesn't get hot and transfer heat into the interior. A vent cover also eliminates the sun's damaging of the roof vents so that they very rarely, or never, need replacing. We had to replace our vents periodically, due to sun damage, until we installed vent covers.

Vent covers of course also allow you to have the vents open for air ventilaton in high winds or when it's raining.