New Class B owner with a few questions

[CodyClassB]

Hi everyone,

After more than 6 months hunting, I finally brought a used class B (Great West vans RAM 3500 conversion that has 28K miles) similar to this one http://images.traderonline.com/img/3/plcnad/8206612/110986595_1thumb_770x574.jpg .

I have 3 kids and hoping to do a few camping trips with them every years for the next 10 years. The van is great and the title is clean . Since I am new to RVing and my van is more than 10 years old, I am concerned about satefy. I have a few questions that I hope someone could answer:

1. I was told that the van does not have a built-in generator (the previous owner probably removed it), how do I check to see if the gasoline line (that supplies gas to the built-in generator that was removed) is properly closed/sealed) ?

2. Are there any safety issues that I need to check ? What are your safety concerns about used class B RVs ?

3. The dealer offers to sell me the Onan 2800 generator for 1500 (including installation fee) . Is this a good deal ?

4. What are your thoughts about the Great West van (RAM 3500) ? Is it reliable ?

[CodyClassB]

Thanks everyone for answering my questions. This is a great community . Hope to see you on the road soon

[Fastpaddler]

Not clear to me who sold you the RV? If it was a dealer and not a private sale you should insist on a complete mechanical checkup with all the essentials ticked off on a list. If an RV dealer, they should have checked the stove,fridge,furnace,lights etc and noted any problems. Buying a vehicle of unknown condition is very risky IMHO. I had a full listing of the entire vehicle done professionally and it was serviced and had new brakes installed all round. Maybe the price was good so you might have to pay for brakes and tires but at least the seller should let you know about it's condition and not just that it is a good vehicle. Sorry if this is boring but I have owned several RVs and am leery of tricky salespeople. The generator may indeed have been removed by the last owner--why I dont understand!!
Best wishes for a good purchase. Other ideas above are good too.
Al

[georgelesley]

The fuel line from the gas tank for the genny is usually hooked to a pipe from the top that only extends part way down. Often 1/2 0r 3/4. That way running the genny cannot completely deplete the motor fuel supply. That might be the most challenging part of the installation.

[Neverhappy]

I had a 2000 Great West van on the Ram 3500
Best b imho, mine had no generator but was pre wired with remote switch . (It was built without genny )
very reliable & well built rv, I miss it...
It had 2 large solar panels producing more than enough power. However I would go for the 1500$ deal 🙂 or at least buy the genny

[Handbasket]

Ref the generator installation: $900 is 'way too much for putting a 2800 into a previously 'generator ready' or 'generator equipped' van. One man can do the job in a driveway with minimal tools in 2-3 hours, easy. IIRC, it's five bolts, one hose clamp, and 4 wire nuts. The hardest part is lifting the Onan into place and starting a couple of bolts; a floor jack makes that pretty simple.

BUT! If the van wasn't equipped for a generator, it's a much more involved process. Onan charges a pretty penny for things like mounting plates and tailpipes. The inside start button is maybe the most 'fiddly' part of the operation, requiring running wiring behind interior panels. There's also the fuel line, and the 12V & 120V hookups. So $900, while high, wouldn't be too far out of line.

The $500 price for the generator is a super deal tho', if it's as presented.

Jim, "Resistance is not futile. It's voltage divided by current."

[BillJ999]

I wouldn't worry about the fuel consumption of the Onan. According to the specs, it uses .28 Gal/hour at half load (1400 watts). This is about the same as the Honda specs. True, this number might be optimistic, but still.
You mention your safety concerns - how safe do you feel carrying a gas can with you to feed the portable generator? Where would you put it?
I have an Onan and wouldn't change it for the world. At $600 if it's actually an opened box - so essentially new - it's a steal.
If I were you, I would have the vehicle checked over by a good independant mechanic before leaving on my first trip. That is great peace of mind.

[CodyClassB]

thanks for answering all my newbie questions. the dealer where I bought the van has a contractor who rent a shop in the back of the dealer (it is a small used rv dealer) . He, not the dealer, charges $900 for installation (the dealer charges $600 for the opened box generator as promised when they sold the van) . I could just buy the generator for $600 and have it installed elsewhere . Do you think $900 for installation is reasonable ? Since it is a conversion van, they would need to tab in the van's gas tank to supply gas to the generator . Is this safe to do so ?

[stan909]

Go gen.

[Handbasket]

If it was my money, I'd get the Onan. $1500 is no doubt the price for a used one, so insist on a warranty (3 month?). The convenience far outweighs the negatives. You won't have to worry about its security, or where to carry it & the gas cans. You won't have to go outside in the rain to start it, stop it, or refuel it. You'll have the use of the AC appliances like microwave & A/C at the push of a button, like making lunch at a rest area. Run time is limited only by the size of the van's fuel tank (3/4's of that, actually). After ~11 years with one, I wouldn't have an RV without a built-in. It'll also improve your resale value by probably $1k, and appeal to a wider market. The only drawback is that it is a bit noisy; the aftermarket resonator will quiet that some.

Jim, "Never trust an atom. They make up everything."

On edit: Just ran upstairs and checked the manual. The Onan 2800 uses .43 gallons an hour at full load. Less, of course, at lower load levels.

[My_Roadtrek]

If you want to run the AC you will probably need a Honda 3000. Depends on the size of your AC. A good rule of thumb for sizing the gen-set to the AC is to double the BTU's .
So if you have a 12,500 BTU AC you will need a 2,500 watts to start it. If your AC is smaller, like 900 BTU's a Honda 2000 should work.
With the Onan onboard generator, you don't have to go out in the rain to start it, which is a nice feature to many.

[path1]

CodyClassB wrote:
thanks mlts22 and path1 . I was told that the generator did not come with the van and I do not know if the dealer yanks out the generator (is there a way to check) ? is it better to get a Honda portable generator (for $1000) instead of the built-in Onan for $1500 ?

-Don't know if their is really a way to find out I gen came out of rv other than asking old owner. I suppose you could tell somewhat if wires match up exactly or other "tells" But that would be after the fact of getting it installed.

-Your question...better to go with Honda or built in owan?

[mlts22]

I also second Islandman. If the installation is done to Onan and factory specs, it will help things immensely, especially being able to run the A/C while on the road in warm climates.

Plus, since the genset runs off the gas tank, you can have some decent run times.

Finally, the inboard genset is highly unlikely (though not saying it is 100% impossible) to disappear, while portable generators have a tendency to dissapear, even with a steel cable on them.

Were it me, I'd pay the extra cash, assuming everything is on the up and up, have the generator put in.

[Islandman]

I'd stick with the Onan 2800 model if the price includes installation per factory specs, all the bells and whistles, etc. They are built for RV installation and will fit in the space provided by the unit manufacturer. Is the RV prepped for a generator (wired) from the factory or not? The suggestions about having the RV checked througly for mechanical issues, tire condition, handling on the road, etc is very important. Hope you were able to get the RV checked out real good before purchasing, I'm like others in trying to figure out why the generator was taken out though.

[CodyClassB]

thanks mlts22 and path1 . I was told that the generator did not come with the van and I do not know if the dealer yanks out the generator (is there a way to check) ? is it better to get a Honda portable generator (for $1000) instead of the built-in Onan for $1500 ?