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Old 09-22-2022, 10:02 PM   #1
LWTDR
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Newbies looking for guidance

Hey all!
My wife and I just bought a 2006 3400RL .
Will be working as a full time stock trader and traveling the country with our daughter for a year or two and looking where to settle down.
I would love input on the best generator situation we need (two AC units). I keep researching and looking to go with the predator 3500 inverter, or if I need to go bigger
. Also toying with the idea of the back up ecoflow system but my father in law days to go with 6 lythium ions.
Anyways, any help with power needs, tips on anything full time RV living g would help tremendously. Thank you!!!
 
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Old 09-23-2022, 05:12 AM   #2
RMcNeal
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Lithium batteries are not powerful enough to run the AC's.
The predator is a good generator, but doesn't have the running watts necessary for both AC's. A generator with 3600 running watts (not starting or peak) will supply 30 amp service. That's barely enough for both AC's with soft starts installed, and no room for anything else. Realistically, you need a generator in the 5 to 6 KW range, depending upon your other needs like water heater, residential fridge, washer/dryer, etc.
You could run 2 gens in parallel to get enough power for the whole rig. The only benefit I have seen to this is that a smaller generator could run 1 AC and save fuel (and noise) when both are not needed.
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Old 09-23-2022, 05:40 AM   #3
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Ya...that was my fear. My wife and inkeep going back and fourth. I know we factually need more. Just worried about noise if we do an RV park or campground. Which 50to60DPS at 5 feet seems to be the standard which seems impossible anyway so.....I was thinking of going with something bigger. Or like you said, I could do 2...
With a 50 amp plug and 30amp receptacle though I can draw as much either even with an adapter. Predator has a 6500 7500 I think....inverter dual fuel.
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Old 09-23-2022, 05:44 AM   #4
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I've been looking at the dual fuel generators as well so I can run AC while travelling. Keep the coach cool for our bulldogs, so I don't have to idle the truck so long once we get set up. Keep in mind that you will get less power on propane than on gas, so running watts on gas might be 3000 watts, but on propane something like 2650 watts or even less.
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Old 09-23-2022, 05:48 AM   #5
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I have found with soft starts on both AC's, I can run the coach on 30 amp service, including the converter and residential fridge, but the water heater would need to be on propane. I have to turn off one AC to run the microwave. We don't have washer/dryer yet and even if we did, I would likely not even attempt on 30 amp.
We don't boondock, so running generator while camping is not necessary for us, unless a power outage occurs.
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Old 09-23-2022, 06:33 AM   #6
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We have 2 Cummins Onan P4500i Inverter Generators that have worked absolutely flawless for us for over 3 years now. I run them in parallel for full 50 amp service. They are not the cheapest, but I've not had a single issue with either of them. Look them up.

Some forum members swear up and down that the Westinghouse 4500 is the same identical unit as the Onan and cheaper. I cannot qualify that claim, all I can qualify is the fact that mine have worked well, no issues, still run very quiet, and have done everything I needed them for. When running in parallel, there is absolutely no difference operating anything in the Montana than when I'm plugged into 50 amp shore power service.

I also use them for running power tools when I'm not near power company supplied electricity. Of course, they get used the most at home when we have power outages. We don't boom dock. And yes, when traveling, I now travel with them inside the camper. I have 2 ramps I use to wheel them in and out the camper door so I do not need help lifting them. In the winter (when we are home), they are stored inside the house. We have NEVER had gasoline smell.

We purchased one for our neighbor for power outages. She's widowed and lives with her (now) 10 year old daughter alone. She also stores hers inside the house (actually in the space between the kitchen and the living room) and been doing that for over a year now. She also has absolutely no gasoline smell. She does do boomdocking with a horse trailer with living quarters. She has 2 horses. She takes the Onan with her and told me it works wonderful when camping. She has thanked me a dozen times for that gift! (The daughter does horse riding competitions).
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Old 09-23-2022, 08:46 AM   #7
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If you're going to boondock you won't be running your ac units much. Before I upgraded to my Montana with the solar 400 package, which I love! I ran my Onan 3600 LPG (built in) about 4 to 5 hours a day using two deep cycle batteries. With solar I only run it about 1 hour. If I had a bank of lithium the run time would be much less. I would only run my AC to cool the trailer down after setup. Typically no boondocking in a hot environment. I'm not a fan of dragging a portable generator around. (not a full timer) If you're going to travel and full time I'd go big. 50 amp gen, 3 to 4K inverter, lithium and portable solar. Oh and I'd stick with an LPG gen. They run so much cleaner then gas and last forever! Welcome and have fun on your adventure.
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Old 09-23-2022, 08:52 AM   #8
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Congrats on the new/used trailer and traveling the country. I have a Westingtonhouse 4500 dual fuel inverter generator and love it. It has the remote start and is quiet. Looks like Amazon has them for $899.00.
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Old 09-24-2022, 02:28 PM   #9
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Thank-you very much for your help. Any idea of battery system ? I don't have endless funds but would like a reliable battery system that I could run everything on? And affordable with solar?
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Old 09-28-2022, 07:50 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RMcNeal View Post
I've been looking at the dual fuel generators as well so I can run AC while travelling. Keep the coach cool for our bulldogs, so I don't have to idle the truck so long once we get set up. Keep in mind that you will get less power on propane than on gas, so running watts on gas might be 3000 watts, but on propane something like 2650 watts or even less.
Please don't leave your pets in the RV while traveling, unless it's a coach that you'll be riding in as well. Very scary and rough experience for them. We travel with two macaws and transport them in the truck with us. Interesting at times.
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Old 09-29-2022, 03:18 AM   #11
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Never my intention. Just trying to keep it cool upon arrival.
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Old 09-29-2022, 08:58 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RMcNeal View Post
I've been looking at the dual fuel generators as well so I can run AC while travelling. Keep the coach cool for our bulldogs, so I don't have to idle the truck so long once we get set up.
That's an interesting idea. I might try that. It's tough to cool the trailer upon arrival with opening and closing the doors so much.
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Old 09-29-2022, 09:17 AM   #13
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Anyone have a great battery system they use for when not in shore power or generator?
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Old 09-29-2022, 10:04 AM   #14
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A question which you haven't mentioned - Why all the boondocking? If you are a stock trader, you need good wifi. That is hard to come by in the sticks. Unless you have the new StarLink system. What are you using?
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Old 09-29-2022, 01:44 PM   #15
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Anyone have a great battery system they use for when not in shore power or generator?
I use 3 Interstate SRM24 Deep Cycle batteries for the house bank, have a 3600 watt WEN generator and a Starlink RV satellite system for internet. I've installed a 750 watt inverter to supple power to my Starlink WIFI system as well as supple my ROKU TV when boondocking.
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Old 09-29-2022, 03:12 PM   #16
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Welcome to the forum!!

Generator...........consider many watts you plan to consume (a 13,500 BTU AC's draws 1000 -1300 watts), hours per day, whether you will use a soft start to minimize starting AC watts, fuel consumption and fuel storage requirements. A Predetor 3500 inverter generator https://generatorswift.com/predator-...ter-generator/ would be good size if you have a soft start AC.

Back up ecoflow system..........looks like a interesting option.

Lithium-ion batteries..........great option for boondocking, albeit pricy. https://rvlifestyle.com/best-rv-batt...r-boondocking/

Do you really plan to boondock? By the time you invest in all of these you could purchase a camping club membership and stay for free with hook-ups and amenities (pool, spa, laundry, gated, wifi, cable tv, children play area, activities, etc.)
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Old 09-30-2022, 06:29 AM   #17
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You can parallel a pair of Champion generators to get 50A output.
Here's an online generator parallel assistant at Champion

https://www.championpowerequipment.c...-kit-selector/
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Old 02-19-2023, 02:58 PM   #18
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Hydralic jacks

Last year my 3610RL 5th wheel leaned to the right. This occurred in the winter while stored at our site in in Northern Arizona. After investigating online I syphatoned 2 quarts of hydralic fluid and replaced it with 2 quarts on Catapiller hydralic fluid. Ran the system up and down to mix new fluid and it seamed to correct the leaning. However it leaned to the other side this winter. I checked all jacks Lines, tank and system lines and no leaks. Being an former aircraft mechanic several years ago, l'm still stumped. Anyone out there with an easy cheap fix?
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