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TNW's avatar
TNW
Explorer
Feb 12, 2017

New to fifth wheel

I have always had a MH but I am now considering a 5th wheel if my wife passes away. She has terminal lung cancer. I just bought a 2016 F 250 with an 8 ft bed. I was considering a 26 to 30 ft but my big question is generator. I have always dry camped a lot because my MH had everything. What is your opinions?
  • So sorry for your cancer issue.
    we are dealing with 2 other types of cancer.
    2 operations later doctor says he give up.
    we are booked Monday with UC San Francisco
    and Friday with Cancer Center of America in Phoenix.
    We love our older 30 ft 5er
    I myself have wondered if I would move back to TT if something happens, but I too
    like the room.
    will be praying for you both
  • When I switched to a FW I seen a few models that could be optioned with the Onan 5500 generator. I know for sure the Keystone Montana and High Country lines could be had with a built in generator. Pretty much any of the toy haulers have generators built in as well. If you don't get a FW with one built in then you would most likely go with the portable Honda or Yamaha 2k generators. This is what I used to do and worked perfectly fine. Do yourself a favor though and go for the portable Honda or Yamaha inverter generators instead of a cheap contractor version. The portable ones are obviously more portable but they are also quieter and easier on electronics.
  • Our '07 came 'gen prepped' but I opted to have 4KW Gen in separate enclosure in bed of truck
  • THat may have changed since we were looking, several years have gone by.
  • agesilaus wrote:
    Generators installed into a fifth wheel seem to be rather unusual. I looked around when we were looking at fivers and never saw one. So people generally get by with a Honda or Yamaha generator. The 2K units are the most popular but will not run a a/c unit. Solar is another option. I don't have it but it seems to mean adopting a very power aware lifestyle. But that would just be part of the boondocking experience, you have to be very aware of your water use after all.


    Not sure about this statement.... i see a ton with the Onan built in, in fact, the generator prep kit is sold on a lot of fivers.. We have the Onan 6500 on board and love it.. BUT it is thirsty for LP. If dry camping for any prolonged period you would need a lot of LP..
  • Generators installed into a fifth wheel seem to be rather unusual. I looked around when we were looking at fivers and never saw one. So people generally get by with a Honda or Yamaha generator. The 2K units are the most popular but will not run a a/c unit. Solar is another option. I don't have it but it seems to mean adopting a very power aware lifestyle. But that would just be part of the boondocking experience, you have to be very aware of your water use after all.
  • I guess it depends on your power needs. You might be able to get away with a bunch of solar panels and a pure sine wave inverter... If I had to have a generator I'd want one of the Honda EU units because they are very quiet; they can also be paralleled if you need more than what just one can put out.