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Old 11-29-2019, 12:49 PM   #1
packnrat
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Post noise levels.

well i have never had a built in gen, looking to buy a new rv, with a built in power unit. how is the sound vibes inside the coach?
looking at a front bed rear living. 331RL. so this would put the gen under the bed room.

at camp would at time's run the unit while still in bed. (can be cold, or back says stay in bed longer) but mostly while in the rear half of the coach. cooking, cleaning, relaxing, etc.
 
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Old 11-30-2019, 08:39 AM   #2
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Most OEM Generators are Propane, unless you're getting a ToyHauler. So if it will be propane make sure you order it with the bigger 40 Pound tanks. The typical size OEM in a 5er is 5500 Watts, that running full bore will burn through a 40# tank is approx 10 hours give or take. They will run everything in the unit, but at the cost of propane.
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Old 11-30-2019, 01:03 PM   #3
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We asked about having a generator added to our rig when we bought it. The salesman suggested getting one bolted into the bed of the truck so we weren’t having that extra weight on the hitch and it wouldn’t need to be propane. We ended up getting two 2,000 watt Honda’s.
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Old 11-30-2019, 01:54 PM   #4
packnrat
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i own a honda eu 3000, so it would need to hang off the rear of the rv.
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Old 11-30-2019, 10:41 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mhs4771 View Post
Most OEM Generators are Propane, unless you're getting a ToyHauler. So if it will be propane make sure you order it with the bigger 40 Pound tanks. The typical size OEM in a 5er is 5500 Watts, that running full bore will burn through a 40# tank is approx 10 hours give or take. They will run everything in the unit, but at the cost of propane.
WOW, I always wondered what the run time would be. for me I guess im glad I saved the money. 2 3500 watt inverter/generators run everything for me. Not as convenient as on board but at a huge savings for equipment and fuel !
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Old 12-01-2019, 06:43 AM   #6
packnrat
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so none here can say good or bad about noise levels?
at this time i do not care about fuel needs.
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Old 12-01-2019, 07:04 AM   #7
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When we had a SOB, many of the other owners used two parallel gas Honda 2000 or 3000 watt units mounted in the truck bed. Little noise and no vibration inside. They had to wire in a separate plugs at the front of the rig or use a long extension. We have a 3500W inverter genset though seldom carry it. I can use a 30 amp wire with a proper dogbone and it works just fine to include pne a/c
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Old 12-01-2019, 08:20 AM   #8
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Sorry, forgot about you question on Noise. We have never tried running overnite while sleeping. Our Onan is louder than a small Honda, but no where near as loud as the Contractor Open Frame style.
Could we sleep with it running, I guess we could if we had too. We have run ours for a few hours with the ACs running to cool the unit off so we could open the windows before bed. That has worked for us.
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Old 12-01-2019, 01:03 PM   #9
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i should not need to run over night, ( crossing fingers).
but at times just might need a nap and be some place where having the ac on, or just being inside with the gen running. charging up batt, relaxing, etc.
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Old 12-01-2019, 03:20 PM   #10
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Boondocking or truck stops no issue, but be aware many campgrounds require you to turn off your generator from 10PM - 6 AM. Just guessing, a generator right under your bed will be somewhat noticeable.
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Old 12-01-2019, 04:33 PM   #11
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if everything works right. batteries will be full charged, long before needing to turn off a gen.
but then i do boon dock. almost excusvely. only been in one (yes1) paid camp site. sure if i camped in a camp ground, i would try to work with in there rules.

But my only question here is how does the noise levels work inside the coach the gen is bolted into. not how others feel about it.

i am just working out if i should buy with a built in, or just hang a honda off the rear bumper.
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Old 12-08-2019, 02:01 PM   #12
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We had a 5500 Onan built in our last 5er that we traded about 3 years ago. I don't remember having any complaints about noise or vibration. It was mounted in the front compartment. We didn't opt for a built-in gen this time since they are just about always propane and use a tank a day. Built-in gens are nice to have though.
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Old 12-08-2019, 03:32 PM   #13
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Waste of 5000 , buy a portable inverter generator. I Had an onan/ Cummins 4kw .after it went bad a service guy told me they use a Subaru engine and there not real good , and unless I planned on living in a wall mart parking lot 2700 watti nvertor gen
Would handle the big ac. For 3 times a year I use it. I saved 4500.oo enough for 100 nights in a koa. And with remote gen on trailer hitch. No co concerns. I allways worried a little about that.
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Old 12-08-2019, 03:41 PM   #14
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Noise of gen

I accidently putmy gen on a schedule and was working inside with it running outside. Didntnotice it running until i went outside. Other than essy to useits nice to put on suto and it will start when batteries need charged. I carry a extra 30 lbs tank. Im good for 24 hours.
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Old 12-08-2019, 03:48 PM   #15
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well i own a eu3K now.
but just working out my choices.
thank you for the workable answers.
been leaning toward the honda. if for no other reason the if it fails, far easer to fix/replace.
theft issues can be handled a bit.
but looks funky hanging off the rear.
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Old 12-08-2019, 04:08 PM   #16
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I have a Onan MicroQuiet 4000 in my Motor Home I think the name is right. It is at least close. It is under the bedroom. It might be small but it is anything but quite. It vibrates the camper and there is no way you could sleep with it running. I wish it would break again like it did after 36 hours so I could throw it away and mount a Inverter on the hitch.
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Old 12-08-2019, 06:14 PM   #17
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We have a propane 5500 watt onan and do not find the noise to be a problem. I did have to buy an exhaust extension pipe as the exhaust would trip the CO2 detector. We boon dock a lot and need the power. With that said, I also have 2 2000 watt Hondas with parallel kit that I love but can't see leaving them in the truck bed while running. The heat from the exhaust melted a spot in my bed liner not to mention requiring me to be parked close by and going out to start them whenever I wanted short term power.
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Old 12-09-2019, 06:27 AM   #18
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Originally Posted by packnrat View Post
i should not need to run over night, ( crossing fingers).
but at times just might need a nap and be some place where having the ac on, or just being inside with the gen running. charging up batt, relaxing, etc.
Our's is right under the bed on a tt.
I think the a/c is louder than the generator.
Our's is a toy hauler, so the gen runs off the gas. Ran it a lot one time boonedocking, did not use that much gas.

So convenient not having to worry about fuel refills with a portable generator and gas cans to go with that.
Still, cost a lot more than the portable ones. My rig did not come with the generator, but did have the generator prep package installed, so I paid to have the generator installed.
No regrets, just one happy camper here.
Yes, mostly ran it to charge the batteries, but since it was running, ran the a/c too. and the convection oven. Really nice.
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Old 12-09-2019, 06:34 AM   #19
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First off we don't boondock except once in a while in a truck stop, rest area or along side the road for a few hours. Last RV we had a 3500 in the bed of the truck, noisy, had to carry extra fuel, wiring and a pain to take out. We ordered a 2020 3561 with a generator and are very happy. The sound is very quiet, have sleep above it with no issue. For us propane is not an issue because we never go anywhere we need to kick off the furnace (heat pump works fine) and we don't use the oven or stove mush. I will go to 40Lb tanks just because more is better and I can pick and choose when I need more. All in all a good choice for us.
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Old 12-10-2019, 06:39 PM   #20
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We have a 3,600/4,500 Black Max from Sams on an aluminum cargo carrier on the rear of the Montana. It runs 1 A/C & everything else electric that we need when we are on the road from it's 30 Amp RV outlet on it to a 50 Amp pigtail. Can't even hardly hear it. I carry an extra 5 gal gas can at the rear of the truck bed by the tailgate.
The total cost was about $300.00.

It runs 12 hours on a full tank even with A/C on full time, & is bolted down sitting on a rubber mat to the cargo carrier. It weight about 100 pounds fueled up.

We are happy with this inexpensive, fuel efficient gasoline answer to power.

We do have 3 CO detectors inside,front, middle, & rear & have never had an alarm. Probably overkill, but what the heck?
I see no reason to spend big money when this is our Occam's Razor solution.
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