Cummins / Onan 2800 Microlite change

Thanks for the replies, I am about 3/4 qtrs finished with mods I needed to install the new unit. I will post how it all went, and also any differences I find in how they run in comparrison to each other. If I had realized in advance that the Microlite 2800 was no longer being made, I might not have placed the order. Cummins did not mention it, and when I ordered, I did ask if the unit coming would be exact replacement for all of my hookups, and they said yes. The people on the phone obviously are not up to speed on the products they are selling. All of this got started because after having to put $1300.00 in repairs to my unit in February while snow birding in Florida, and within weeks of that I still had the same issue arise again. After getting home in the spring where I could do my own work I pulled it out and took it to Cummins, saving all of the labor. Pulling this out of a B and reinstalling is labor intensive, and that was most of the cost in Florida. Well, as it turned out they wanted another $1700.00 for parts and diagnostics to repair my unit. I decided I did not want to have $3,000.00 in a 9 year old unit, so I ordered the new one for $2152.00. Then when it arrived, my choices were to modify my stuff to make it work, or end up with 3 grand in an older unit. Time will tell if I made a good or bad choice. If the new unit lasts for how ever many years we have our Roadtrek I will be happy.

Arizona Kid wrote:
I doubt the redesign was done to save money. The Onan 2800 hasn't been changed in at least 15 to 20 years. In this case they had to do a redesign, for EPA, and I guess other things had to be moved around. Onan has been pretty good about not messing with the size, and I doubt their doing it to force owners of older 2800's to have to purchase a new one.
I understand the new one is Ethanol 10 approved.

Jim, I'm with you, it would be nice to see a nice quiet, compact Onan come out, and hopefully they are working on one.
Maybe the small permanently mounted gen-set is just not cost effective to build, especially with new battery tech, and engine generators getting better all the time.

although a small quiet onan would be nice but as a manufacturer said about the Onan in comparing a honda to an onan-try dumping a bucket of water on the honda and see what happens-the onan not only has to generate power-it has to survive in the elements. try subjecting an honda inverter to the same abuse the onan gets under the van and see how long the honda lasts. an inverter generator may be far more sensitive

I doubt the redesign was done to save money. The Onan 2800 hasn't been changed in at least 15 to 20 years. In this case they had to do a redesign, for EPA, and I guess other things had to be moved around. Onan has been pretty good about not messing with the size, and I doubt their doing it to force owners of older 2800's to have to purchase a new one.
I understand the new one is Ethanol 10 approved.

Jim, I'm with you, it would be nice to see a nice quiet, compact Onan come out, and hopefully they are working on one.
Maybe the small permanently mounted gen-set is just not cost effective to build, especially with new battery tech, and engine generators getting better all the time.

Don't you know, it's all about saving a few bucks on each new unit. Who cares if it aggregates old customers? Or if it costs the customer more in other ways. It's a profit deal!

Arizona Kid wrote:
To meet the new emissions standards from what I understand.

But that alone can't explain making them so d@*#'d far from being bolt-in compatible, or nearly so, as replacements for the old one. I might could understand it if they'd done it as an inverter-type, and/or made it a lot quieter.

Gotta say, if I understand the OP correctly, that this amounts to a slap in the face with a muddy glove for every previously-loyal Microlite owner.

Jim, "What do you call 25 Onan 'engineers' buried up to theior necks in cement? Not enough cement!"

To meet the new emissions standards from what I understand.

wincrasher65 wrote:
Ha! I can't IMAGINE it being any louder. Mine makes an appalling amount of noise. They have alot nerve calling it "MicroQuiet".

wincrasher-Roadtrek underhood generator-quiet

I'd love to know _why_ they changed the whole layout. Seems quite idiotic. This appears to make it very nearly, if not at all, non-useable as a replacement for the old gas & LP Microlites, of which there must be 1000's slowly wearing out.

Guess I'll be going the 2kW Honda route when my Onan expires. Mount it on the rear bumper, jury-rig an extension on the rip-start to place it inside under the rear window, and extend the start-stop wiring. Should be do-able & a little quieter, and with my small 9K A/C, probably adequate. Only real headache will be carrying extra fuel. At least I'll gain an outside storage compartment.

Jim, "What do you call a cluster of skydiving Onan 'engineers'? Skeet!"

Ha! I can't IMAGINE it being any louder. Mine makes an appalling amount of noise. They have alot nerve calling it "MicroQuiet".

I think about a year and half ago. Found this thread in a search.
New Onan thread