Generator - LP or Diesel?

[xtooner]

What are the pros and cons of diesel versus propane. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you, Dave

[Cummins12V98]

I wish I hade gone Diesel!!! I have a commercial Cummins 6500 240V gen and it works great but it's thirsty!

You gots the money and you gots the carrying capacity gets da Diesel.

[xtooner]

Thank you all for your input. We are looking to downsize in the future, and was looking at the small Mercedes chassis and the LP and diesel gensets are options. I was quite sure I would go with diesel and most of you have confirmed that. Thanks again, Dave

[dougrainer]

road-runner wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
As most people will note, LP Gensets on Diesel Motorhomes went away almost 16 to 17 years ago as an option.

Not so with Sprinter-based motorhomes. When I bought mine 10 years ago, a diesel genset wasn't even available. They became available about 9 years ago. Even today, most Sprinter based motorhomes have both LP and diesel gensets as options, or LP as standard and the QD3200 as an option.

I am talking Class A motorhomes. Not C body or B+ motorhomes. Doug

[road-runner]

dougrainer wrote:
As most people will note, LP Gensets on Diesel Motorhomes went away almost 16 to 17 years ago as an option.

Not so with Sprinter-based motorhomes. When I bought mine 10 years ago, a diesel genset wasn't even available. They became available about 9 years ago. Even today, most Sprinter based motorhomes have both LP and diesel gensets as options, or LP as standard and the QD3200 as an option.

[Michelle_S]

Simple: If you have a Diesel MH = Diesel Generator, Gas MH = Gas Generator
Fifthwheel = Propane Generator, because unless it's a Toy Hauler you don't have a place for a fuel tank.

[2oldman]

Op is gone.

[midnightsadie]

it all comes done to how YOU are going to use it. propane for using it not to often. diesel if you use it daily.

[dougrainer]

The question is WHY are you asking? As most people will note, LP Gensets on Diesel Motorhomes went away almost 16 to 17 years ago as an option. The reason LP was offered years ago was COST. LP gensets(modified Gas Gensets) were cheaper to install and Diesel Gensets back then cost a LOT more than today. GAS Motorhomes obviously used Gas Gensets. LP Gensets have lots of problem with the LP regulators. That is one of the reasons they started to be phased out 18 years ago. LP Gensets are NOT fuel efficient. Most Motorhomes had at most a 30 gallon MAX LP Liquid capacity. That means you would be hard pressed to get 24 hours of Genset use on your LP and most were lucky to get 18 to 22 hours on their smaller LP tanks. NOT convienient if boondocking and have no easy access to refill the LP tank. Also, Resale value, having a LP Genset on a Diesel motorhome will drop the value of the Motorhome about 5k. Most knowledgable RV'ers will not want a Diesel Motorhome with a LP Genset. Doug

[road-runner]

I think it depends on your use profile. For instance, I don't generally go places that need the air conditioner and carry a small gasoline generator for battery charging. The built-in propane generator gets fired up mainly to run the convection microwave oven. For me propane is the best choice for a few of the reasons mentioned above. On the other hand, if you're going to regularly run the air conditioner, you'll go through the propane supply pretty fast and diesel is the better choice.

[time2roll]

What are your existing fuels? How big, what do you expect to run?
The bigger you need and the more run time I would go toward diesel.
Smaller and light use I would be looking at propane.

I have a 700 watt propane generator that is perfect for what I need.

[wolfe10]

KD4UPL wrote:
If you intend to put thousands of hours on your generator a diesel should hold up better. Most people don't put enough hours on a unit to wear out either type. Diesel is much easier to find and fill than propane.
Propane will likely have a bit cleaner and better smelling exhaust.

Probably the most accurate assessment.

[Dusty_R]

One good thing about propane, if you don't use the generator very often, propane will not evaporate and gum up the carburetor.

[Ranger_Smith]

Diesel all the way. A propane generator will suck up that small propane tank fast. I have a 150 gallon diesel tank and would not want to try to run the generator till it went to the 1/4 tank mark and shut itself off being out of fuel..

[wa8yxm]

If it is installed in a motor home.. Well min MH is a gasser

I can carry 70 gallons of gas (Full tank) and use 3/4 of that for the generator (or just over 50..1 quart over about).

Propane I carry 27 gallons. Tops

Some diesels carry well over 100 gallons and can use 3/4 of it for the generator.

I try to keep tank at least 1/2 full in case I need to use generator by the way. I'll put 20 gallons in when I pull out of here and use Genny (Monthly maintenance run) on the way to the next CG)