Boondocking and using a Generator while sleeping ???

[dotcommer]

We purchased a 2016 Class A Thor Challenger and I was going through the manual and it says to never run the generator while sleeping.

We have carbon monoxide detectors inside the RV, front and back and we will be boondocking on a few of the nights at Flying Jay's truck stops as we drive back to Arizona this week from the east coast.

We had the generator running while driving from Florida to Connecticut as it was hot during the day, and there seem to be no issues with the Generator and already boondocked one night and had the generator running all night. (this was before reading the manual)

Should I be scared to have the generator running while we sleep? As it will be hot in the evening during our trip?

Thanks

[Big_Katuna]

RVER wrote:
THEY (THOR) probably knows that they did not vent the generator well and do not want you to use while sleeping since it can enter your rig and you would not know it. I would not do it and why would you? A/C at night? NO just open the windows and put wet face cloths on if need be but running the gen while sleeping is a bad idea for anyone and many places require you to shut them down at 10 pm anyway since they will keep up the whole area.

???

[RVER]

THEY (THOR) probably knows that they did not vent the generator well and do not want you to use while sleeping since it can enter your rig and you would not know it. I would not do it and why would you? A/C at night? NO just open the windows and put wet face cloths on if need be but running the gen while sleeping is a bad idea for anyone and many places require you to shut them down at 10 pm anyway since they will keep up the whole area.

[wa8yxm]

First consider adding a Gen-Turi (Camco product) to your RV.

On my RV. Driving never an issue
Parked (or driving very slow) the generator would set off the CO alarm in about 2 hours.

With the Gen-Turi installed. 25 hours and no alarm..
NOTE: even if I do not attach the "Stack" just the added little bit of pipe seems to be enough to quiet the alarm. but.. I still put the Gen-Turi stack on when I'm going to generate parked.. Much safer that way.

Back when I got it there were all kinds of folks trying to convince me it was a bad thing.. They lie.

[Dutch_12078]

FormerBoater wrote:
Unless I missed it, no one has opined on a gas powered genny vs. diesel.

In the boating world, there are unfortunate deaths from gasoline generators in vessels that are moored in calm coves with little wind in the summertime.

Deaths from diesel generators are virtually non-existent.

The reason is that diesel exhaust CO content is very low.Gasoline exhaust not so much.

That's why no one is dying in the truck stops with all of the semi's idling through the night.

OP does not list his rig, so it is tough for me to give advice except that I never am concerned running our Onan QD7500....CO monitor always reads 0.

Most of the OTR trucks in the truck stops are running stacks, not weed burners. These days, most OTR trucks are also running APU's instead of the main engine while parked for extended periods. The various state idle laws have cut way down on extended period engine idling. Usually, the noisiest engines from parked vehicles are the refrigeration units on cold vans.

[FormerBoater]

Unless I missed it, no one has opined on a gas powered genny vs. diesel.

In the boating world, there are unfortunate deaths from gasoline generators in vessels that are moored in calm coves with little wind in the summertime.

Deaths from diesel generators are virtually non-existent.

The reason is that diesel exhaust CO content is very low.Gasoline exhaust not so much.

That's why no one is dying in the truck stops with all of the semi's idling through the night.

OP does not list his rig, so it is tough for me to give advice except that I never am concerned running our Onan QD7500....CO monitor always reads 0.

[dotcommer]

Rick Jay wrote:
dotcommer,

properly.

One suggestion I might make is about an hour or so BEFORE you pull over for the night, turn your generator on and run your A/C (two, if you got 'em) on HIGH at a fairly COLD setting. What we find in our rig is when you pull over, there is A LOT of heat underneath the vehicle in the engine, exhaust pipes, muffler, tires, etc. and that heat rises into the coach. Yes, our rig generally is pretty well insulated, but you can still feel that heat coming up into the coach. By keeping the entire rig cool BEFORE we stop, that excess heat is comfortably absorbed by the cool RV interior. In some cases, depending upon the outside temperature & humidity, you might be able to be comfortable with just a window or two open.

Due to the size of our family, we usually travel with at least one A/C running anyway le.

Safe travels,

~Rick

Thank you for the response

[AllegroD]

A Good Cigar wrote:
You said that your RV has two detectors. When running the generator overnight for A/C , just before going to bed simply test each detector individually, and get a good night's rest:)

Yes.

[Rick_Jay]

dotcommer,

Not sure why many are bringing campgrounds into the discussion, you mentioned Flying J's specifically. Although, in my opinion, I find Walmarts to be more accommodating and generally more plentiful. But that, too, is another discussion.

Yes, you can run your generator through the night. As has been pointed out, make sure your detectors are all working properly.

One suggestion I might make is about an hour or so BEFORE you pull over for the night, turn your generator on and run your A/C (two, if you got 'em) on HIGH at a fairly COLD setting. What we find in our rig is when you pull over, there is A LOT of heat underneath the vehicle in the engine, exhaust pipes, muffler, tires, etc. and that heat rises into the coach. Yes, our rig generally is pretty well insulated, but you can still feel that heat coming up into the coach. By keeping the entire rig cool BEFORE we stop, that excess heat is comfortably absorbed by the cool RV interior. In some cases, depending upon the outside temperature & humidity, you might be able to be comfortable with just a window or two open.

Due to the size of our family, we usually travel with at least one A/C running anyway while on the road, but if travelling in the heat and knowing we'll be pulling over within a few hours, we'll crank up the bedroom A/C as well to make sure it's nice and cool when we finally pull over to sleep. Many times, I'm able to shut the generator down within an hour after we stop.

Lots of variables, but in my opinion as long as your equipment is properly functioning, no problem with being comfortable.

Safe travels,

~Rick

[MrWizard]

i don't think this discussion has much to do with electric 'HEAT'
its about needing the A/C, blankets don't cut for cooling down
you can strip down to the birthday suit, and lay on top of the sheets with the windows open and still be too HOT to sleep 😞

Tom N wrote:
I never run my onboard Onan generator while sleeping. We just pile on the blankets. We have stayed down to 10°F.

-Tom, W3TLN

[Farmboy666]

Pangaea Ron wrote:
Please don't camp next to us while running your generator all night. We've been exposed to generator exhaust and noise upwind from us which is very unpleasant with our windows open. Many CG's or RV parks do not allow it. What's wrong with ceiling or room fans and open windows.

If you have electric in a campground why would a generator be running? If your somewhere else and your getting fumes and noise close your windows and turn your generator and AC on.

[dougrainer]

10forty2 wrote:
CO Poisoning

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

5 minute Google search......

whoopeeeeeee. IF you read it, BOTH were caused by faulty systems, Don't maintain your RV and bad things can happen. But, The main premise it is SAFE to use the genset. Doug

[dotcommer]

Mortimer Brewster wrote:

Branson N Tucson wrote:
...dig in the pocket and stay in a RV park and enjoy your night.

I agree. Stay in RV parks and support small businesses.

It’s not an issue of money or not supporting the parks. We found that most parks don’t like you arriving later in the evening. And we don’t want to disrupt others in the park upon a late arrival. We will definitely be staying at some parks along the way.
I’m a night person and traffic is much better in the evening, we usually drive until Midnight, then look for a place when are we are not planning on stopping at an RV Park.

[Mortimer_Brewst]

Branson N Tucson wrote:
...dig in the pocket and stay in a RV park and enjoy your night.

I agree. Stay in RV parks and support small businesses.

[Tom_N]

I never run my onboard Onan generator while sleeping. We just pile on the blankets. We have stayed down to 10°F.

-Tom, W3TLN

[Big_Katuna]

Go to any major university on a football weekend, down south at least, and you will find hundreds of motorhomes running their genset from Friday to Sunday..

They all have Genturis as required.

I have almost 4000 hours on my genset and we were inside for most of them.