So our NL has a generator compartment that will accomodate a Honda 2000. Thats the good news. Bad news is I am told the Honda will not run the A.C. Wondering what those of you that have had propane generators flet about yours and if you were to get a different TC, would you want the propane gene or not?

My propane generator is convenient. It's louder than a Honda.

Mine can, and I have a 13.5kBTU. A lot of newer ACs have 'soft start'. Extra capacitors on the compressor motor that help the start up surge for that very reason. I would recommend you borrow a friend's 2000 and try it before you write it off.That being said, I have had several RVs over the years, and all of them have had one thing in common - an Onan generator that was a royal PITA. Every single one of them was unreliable in some way, form, or fashion. My latest RV has no built in gen, a 3kw inverter, a bunch of batteries charging off solar, backed up by either a honda 1000 or 2000, whichever one (or both) I decide to pack along.

No, I wouldn't want a built in gen because I'd get sick and tired of listening to it and feeling the vibrations.

My LPG generator is heavier and louder than a Honda or Yamaha, but the conveniences are more than worth the negatives. I do not have to carry additional gasoline, secure the generator somewhere, worry about ethanol based fuel breaking down, or going outside to start or stop the generator.

I've had a couple of the Onan 2.5 microlites over the years and would NOT get one! Loud, sucks propane like a monster, unreliable to the point of just refusing to work at all. Service on them is expensive and I've had problems getting simple things like air filters (which they seem to eat!) and other little parts. I could go on and on but you get my pointp.s. the used camper I just bought has one in it, anyone want a deal??

So would you go with a built in propane generator today?

W5CI
Explorer
Oct 28, 2015
I have a Honda 3000 Handi and it will not run the AC when set to ECO, it trips out, however running at full speed it works fine,but runs out of gas in 4 hours. no way would I try to run a Honda 2000 for anything except to charge the battery
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 28, 2015
arto_wa wrote:
mkirsch wrote:
A good friend of mine has had two class C's with Onan generators over the past 15 years.

The current one is brand new, and you have to crank it for over a minute to get it to fire at all, then you have to restart it 2-3 times to get it to stay running. Dealer can't find anything wrong, gave up and says it's normal. Previous one was about 50/50 whether it would run at all.

Maybe you should explain to your good friend that these need fuel to start!

If the RV's propane system has sat unused for awhile it helps lot if the propane line is purged for example by letting "gas" flow out of the stove burner until it is combustible.

Just pushing the starter button, complaining and blaming Onan is another way of purging the line

:h

The gasoline versions have a prime function built in to the start switch. You hold the stop/shutdown switch to prime the fuel line and fill the float bowl prior to starting the generator. Some of the RV manufacturers failed to follow Onan's recommended fuel line length and rise limits - This results in the OEM fuel pump mounted on the generator having to pull fuel too far (it does better at pushing fuel). The solution is to add a second pump close to the fuel tank and possibly eliminate the OEM pump.
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 28, 2015
LPG holds less energy than gasoline, so you should expect greater consumption or less equivalent power output per gallon. Dry camping for three days this past weekend in the mountains with the heat left running and generator getting run two hours each day emptied about half of a 30 lb LPG cylinder (my Arctic Fox has two 30 lb tanks).

There are plenty of places that refill LPG and even smartphone apps that will help you locate the best prices. If you cannot find a refill location, there are plenty of locations that sell or exchange prefilled 20 lb cylinders (yes, 20 lb cylinders fit in my 30 lb location).

On long boon dock trips where we don't plan to head back into town, I usually have my enclosed trailer in tow that carries an additional 100 lbs of LPG. We use these tanks for fire pits and outdoor stoves, but also have the reserve capacity if we need more than 60 lbs of LPG in the TC.
arto_wa
Explorer
Oct 28, 2015
mkirsch wrote:
A good friend of mine has had two class C's with Onan generators over the past 15 years.

The current one is brand new, and you have to crank it for over a minute to get it to fire at all, then you have to restart it 2-3 times to get it to stay running. Dealer can't find anything wrong, gave up and says it's normal. Previous one was about 50/50 whether it would run at all.

Maybe you should explain to your good friend that these need fuel to start!

If the RV's propane system has sat unused for awhile it helps lot if the propane line is purged for example by letting "gas" flow out of the stove burner until it is combustible.

Just pushing the starter button, complaining and blaming Onan is another way of purging the line, but it may take bit longer time!

:h
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Oct 28, 2015
Wind and rain - inside a cozy camper.
The push button convenience of a generator start beats a Honda any day.

I like POWER and the ability to tap it when needed, instantly.
For me, that's why my camper's will have a built-in propane generator.
Wardster
Explorer
Oct 28, 2015
I keep my Honda 2000 locked up in the rear compartment of my NL and it handles the AC just fine whenever we decide to use it. Fuel consumption is low and I can get gasoline a lot easier than propane.
bgum
Explorer
Oct 28, 2015
Propane gen will suck a lot of fuel and produce less elect for fuel consumed. Try a Yamaha 2400. It should start and run your AC .
hbski
Explorer
Oct 28, 2015
there is one way to solve the additional fuel issue:

http://www.centralmainediesel.com/triple-fuel-generators.asp

http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/

I would not get a built in again, as mine is extremely loud.......even more so inside the camper.
Bedlam
Moderator
Oct 28, 2015
After 3.5 years, I have 215 hrs on my LPG Onan with no issues. Our previous gasoline Marquis had about 500 hours after 7 years with no issues, but I treated the fuel. Both get run twice a month, so I'm thinking the people that have problems may use them less often.

I would probably look for an alternative if I had a RV without a built in generator. But if ordering new, I will always choose the convenience of the built in.
mkasner
Explorer
Oct 28, 2015
We were traveling from Utah to Ohio this past summer, and pulled into a Wal-Mart for a night stay. Outside temp was about 87 however the humidity must have been 90%! Guy with a bigfoot rolls in right after us. While we were inside our 845 sweeting bullets looking at our AC think man it would be nice to have a generator, the bigfoot fired up his generator and it was then that I realized the convience factor on hot muggy days makes it completely worth it.