which TH genny?

[FunnyCamper]

we are getting a TH and the service called and said the Onan 5500 EVAP is not available. (the one that runs on propane AND gas)
--EPA regs got it out of production.

our option is Onan with gas OR Onan that runs on propane.

Hmmm....I told hubby I think gas would be better. after all I have a gas tank on board the TH.

thoughts please. is one better than the other? THANKS

[FunnyCamper]

That is good to know. I will contact Onan and find the closest supplier of this for me.

[RickSo]

There seems to be a lot of people advertising this genset. I would call Onan direct and ask where the dealers are in your area that would bring this in for you. I have contacted Onan directly over the last few years and have been great to deal with. 🙂

[FunnyCamper]

Thank you very much Rick. that helps me.

I bookmarked your link. Now I know what I am going after. apparently the supplier to our dealer does not have this but I am not going to settle.

I will work out getting this one into my TH. I appreciate the help alot!!

[RickSo]

FunnyCamper wrote:
the service guy is saying he can get a gas Onan 5500 but not EFI

hmmm. said the supplier doesn't have EFI.


hubby said we are just slowing down on what to do.

here is a link on what I think we want. what do you guys think? Is this what I should be getting?

http://www.coloradostandby.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/1950


we only need it for more rare occasions since most of our parks we frequent does have electric. I don't need to go overboard but I want something that is decent of course.

I think if going with gas this is the new EFI model

and and this for propane

Rick

[FunnyCamper]

the service guy is saying he can get a gas Onan 5500 but not EFI

hmmm. said the supplier doesn't have EFI.


hubby said we are just slowing down on what to do.

here is a link on what I think we want. what do you guys think? Is this what I should be getting?

http://www.coloradostandby.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/1950


we only need it for more rare occasions since most of our parks we frequent does have electric. I don't need to go overboard but I want something that is decent of course.

[RickSo]

fly-boy wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
Rick runs a 7.5KW diesel compared the the 5.5KW gasoline model. The diesels max out at 12.5KW while the biggest gasoline is only 7KW.

Yup! My Onan 5.5 is fine for two 15k a/c's but it won't run a third! The 7.5 will no problem.

If I could have ordered a diesel I would have- throw a transfer flow or other in-bed fuel unit in the truck and you have plenty of diesel for extended dry camping in complete comfort!

The QD is rated at 1/2 gallon per/hour @ half load so that's about 60hrs with a full tank of diesel. I don't use the refill station that much and if I was boondocking a lot I would use it for refilling the diesel tank. 🙂

[RickSo]

allcool wrote:

RickSo wrote:
I switched out our propane genset for a diesel genset. I would do it again in a heartbeat until Onan offer's a propane or gas genset with inverter technology like the QD series diesel. Had nothing but problems with the crappy power destroying electronics in my unit with the propane modified sine wave genset. No problem since installing the inverter style pure sine wave diesel genset. 🙂

Hmmm, never had your "destroying electronics in my unit" problems with my Onan 5.5 HGJAB...

Been running 32"led tv, dvd, lap tops, microwave, stereo/amp, gamebox, small inverters, meters, relays, tools compressors, electric pressure washers, etc... All work perfect for me with my Onan carb'd 5500. No electronics ever destroyed in my TH.
Have had problems with the carb, like many of us here. Carb is the weak point of the non fuel injected Onan 5500. If carb has problems holding correct rpm, that will cause problems in voltage/hz.

No doubt, the QD genset are very nice, but big and heavy and real expensive.

To get 2, 30 amp breakers like the Onan gas 5500, you need the 6000w QD model. It weighs in at a heavy, 430 lbs. Compared to a Onan 5500 efi gas at 275lbs. Plus its considerably taller, and wider. Its also louder.

For a motor home thats better constructed/insulated, with a larger genset compartment, and already has a diesel fuel tank/diesel fuel filters, water separators, its a very nice setup.

IMO, for the average toy hauler, I say stick with the 5.5 HGJAA QG 5500 EFI gas genset.

jmo

Well, I'm glad yours is working great for you. I spent the first year or more battling this problem and wouldn't wish it on anyone buying any new unit. It is a long story of chasing wiring...testing,testing, testing and in the end the electrician that suggested from the beginning to put in a inverter style PSW genset would have saved everyone a lot of time and money. The moment the new QD was started and all the meters were out checking it it was obvious he was right. I wonder why all the high end Class A's with all their electronics only use Inverter style gensets.

You are right heavy and expensive......worth every penny to me and weight isn't a problem for me and wasn't worried about the extra 150lbs up front. The fuel tank behind the rear axles (240lbs full) helps balance it out anyway. I have 3 7K axles with 17.5 J rated (4850lbs ea)tires.

I agree for the average TH I would stick with a P/G 5.5 and would not gone through the hassle if I didn't have to.

I also can't say enough about Peterson Industries (Excel) sticking with me through this whole process and when I order an new TH it will have a QD in it knowing what I know now.

[fly-boy]

Bedlam wrote:
Rick runs a 7.5KW diesel compared the the 5.5KW gasoline model. The diesels max out at 12.5KW while the biggest gasoline is only 7KW.

Yup! My Onan 5.5 is fine for two 15k a/c's but it won't run a third! The 7.5 will no problem.

If I could have ordered a diesel I would have- throw a transfer flow or other in-bed fuel unit in the truck and you have plenty of diesel for extended dry camping in complete comfort!

[RickSo]

SpencerRB wrote:

RickSo wrote:
I switched out our propane genset for a diesel genset. I would do it again in a heartbeat until Onan offer's a propane or gas genset with inverter technology like the QD series diesel. Had nothing but problems with the crappy power destroying electronics in my unit with the propane modified sine wave genset. No problem since installing the inverter style pure sine wave diesel genset. 🙂

Rick,

Love the conversion. After being in some class A's with Onan QD gens, I've been baffled why they seem absent in the 5er/TH segment. Other than being slightly heavier, they seem to be a superior gen.

Couple questions,

- Which generator did this QD replace?
- How's the noise level compared to the LPG unit?
- What are you doing for a fuel tank?

I replaced a 5.5KW propane Onan ordered with the unit. We had two electrician's with very high end meters and test equipment test the one that was removed and a (brand new replacement). The results were the same the sine wave was very erratic and the hz would some times triple up to 180hz instead of staying a 60 hz. I looked at many options and even considered try to build in a 6.5KW Honda because whatever was going in the unit was going to be PSW not MSW. In the end the factory helped with the Genset change over to the Quiet Diesel.

The noise level is much quieter than the propane unit because in order for the propane/gas genset's to run at 60hz cycle they need to run at a constant higher RPM. The diesel with inverter technology only revs up based on load and is very quiet with the AC turned on. I always get comments from friends and RVer's about how quiet it is.

We added a separate 30 fuel tank next to the refueling station tank behind the rear axles with a Onan auxiliary electric pump by the tank.

[Bedlam]

Rick runs a 7.5KW diesel compared the the 5.5KW gasoline model. The diesels max out at 12.5KW while the biggest gasoline is only 7KW.

[steiny93]

The average toy hauler isn't getting the QD's because they are heavier and more money which both hurt the toyhauler space where they are trying to stay under weight and beat the competition on cost. Would be nice if they were an option tho.

Inlaws have a onan QD in their diesel pusher and my toyhauler has the onan 5500 gaser non efi. Running side by side I think the QD is a bit less noisy. Between the two I'm not sure how they stack up on fuel consumption but oh my are you screwed over when you get the oil changed on them. The QD is nearly 3x the bill.

Not following the above post regarding running more items because its diesel; the wattage is still your limiting factor.

[fly-boy]

Love the idea of a diesel option! You could run three A/C's off a diesel!

[allcool]

RickSo wrote:
I switched out our propane genset for a diesel genset. I would do it again in a heartbeat until Onan offer's a propane or gas genset with inverter technology like the QD series diesel. Had nothing but problems with the crappy power destroying electronics in my unit with the propane modified sine wave genset. No problem since installing the inverter style pure sine wave diesel genset. 🙂

Hmmm, never had your "destroying electronics in my unit" problems with my Onan 5.5 HGJAB...

Been running 32"led tv, dvd, lap tops, microwave, stereo/amp, gamebox, small inverters, meters, relays, tools compressors, electric pressure washers, etc... All work perfect for me with my Onan carb'd 5500. No electronics ever destroyed in my TH.
Have had problems with the carb, like many of us here. Carb is the weak point of the non fuel injected Onan 5500. If carb has problems holding correct rpm, that will cause problems in voltage/hz.

No doubt, the QD genset are very nice, but big and heavy and real expensive.

To get 2, 30 amp breakers like the Onan gas 5500, you need the 6000w QD model. It weighs in at a heavy, 430 lbs. Compared to a Onan 5500 efi gas at 275lbs. Plus its considerably taller, and wider. Its also louder.

For a motor home thats better constructed/insulated, with a larger genset compartment, and already has a diesel fuel tank/diesel fuel filters, water separators, its a very nice setup.

IMO, for the average toy hauler, I say stick with the 5.5 HGJAA QG 5500 EFI gas genset.

jmo

[Steve_O_Reno]

I would also go with diesel if I had the choice. The issue is separate toy and gennie tanks. My raptor has 1 I still may kill the storage are next to the gennie and ad a fuel tank just for diesel.