Contemplating a Generator

[mlh]

Originally Posted by Clyde n Deb

We're from the pro Onan 5500 minority. Had ours installed in our 2005 2955RL when we bought it new. Very pleased with it and never had a problem with it now on our 16th season. Maybe a little thirsty true, but as we don't use it extensively the onboard setup sure outweighs the negatives of the alternatives.

You have had your Onan for a while. Horse many hours do you have on it?
Lynwood

[Pugtracker]

You run your A/C with one Honda 2000?

[Pugtracker]

Originally Posted by Rondo

The first question I would ask myself is just how much am I going to be using this generator. If it is only a few times when I go with friends and not much more I would go with a Honda 2000 or maybe two of them paired up with a separate fuel tank. One thing you have to consider is that Onan is a propane hog. It will go through a 30# tank in no time at all. If you are going to be in hot weather camping and using both A/Cs, it might be worth checking into adding Smart Starts to each of your A/C. An A/C with a Smart Start can run off a Honda 2000 with no problem. The 2000 is light enough to handle with no problem and two work ideal for us IF and when we boondock.

You can run your A/C on one Honda 2000 with a smart start??

[Clyde n Deb]

Jeez, I'd have to look and the coach is on a storage lot about 10 miles from home. Been meaning to look anyway to see if it is due for an oil change........don't think I used it last year with Covid as our camping was very limited.

[Dan50]

Originally Posted by steiny93

I've owned the onan 5500 built-in and a pair of honda 2k's. With infrequent use they will both have an issue with starting and idling.

The onan is nice because you hit a button and that's it, no refueling, unloading, loading, etc. But the onan is noisy and pretty much single use (the rv). The honda's are slick but kind of a pain in regards to keeping them fueled and secured (they need to sit someplace).

No perfect answer

If the Onan 5500 is LP there are no problems starting it after infrequent use or no use at all for months. LP does not go bad or gum and varnish up the carb.

[Dan50]

Originally Posted by Pugtracker

You can run your A/C on one Honda 2000 with a smart start??

If you use the McroAir Easy Start then yes.

[mlh]

What size air conditioner are you running on a 2000 watt generator?
I have a 2000 watt generator on my camper and the 4000 Onan it came with but would like to use the generator. It’s so much quieter and doesn’t vibrate the camper like the 4000 watt generator.
Lynwood

[mhs4771]

While it's true the LP doesn't go bad, but you still need to run a Propane generator once in a while to keep the armature clean, just no where near as much as a Gas genny.

[Creeker]

Originally Posted by mlh

What size air conditioner are you running on a 2000 watt generator?
I have a 2000 watt generator on my camper and the 4000 Onan it came with but would like to use the generator. It’s so much quieter and doesn’t vibrate the camper like the 4000 watt generator.
Lynwood

I watched a 2000 watt Honda start and run a 15K BTU A/C all week last June. Guy had installed a Micro Air Easy Start. It was the deciding factor for me also purchasing the Easy Start.

[chandy]

I have the same generator, It is quiet and does not use excess diesel. It is really nice to just hit the switch and it starts with out having to unload a portable unit and connect it to the 5vr. If you boondock you will regret not having one. Mine is in the front storage locker with a fire shroud built around it.
CHANDY 2017 3160 MONTANA

[mlh]

Originally Posted by Creeker

I watched a 2000 watt Honda start and run a 15K BTU A/C all week last June. Guy had installed a Micro Air Easy Start. It was the deciding factor for me also purchasing the Easy Start.

Thanks
Lynwood

[Dusters]

The Onan 5500 LP was installed in 2016. The cost to buy and have installed brought it to $6700. If you ever plan on selling your rig, that amount is not recognized for recovery value, however it strengthens asking a higher value. With that said, I have not used it in the 5 years for any length of time, so maybe 20 hours of monthly maintenance use and storage lot power.
A couple of significant factors are the additional pin weight over the rear axle and loss of one of the major large storage compartments for my style rig. My Pin overweight for rear axle is about 500 lbs on a 2500 HD. They are nice to have, but not worth additional weight and cost for non full timing activities.

[Rod Spohn]

My way of dealing with gas gumming up carburetors on my generator, chainsaw, etc is to run them dry before putting away for any length of time. After one costly carburetor rebuild I started doing this and haven’t had any issues like that since.

[mlh]

Originally Posted by Rod Spohn

My way of dealing with gas gumming up carburetors on my generator, chainsaw, etc is to run them dry before putting away for any length of time. After one costly carburetor rebuild I started doing this and haven’t had any issues like that since.

This is what I do. My Honda 3000 is at least 10 years old. I gave less than a thousand dollars for it new. It’s has never failed to start and I have replaced the battery only once.
Lynwood

[h2ojocky]

I treat all the fuel I put in my generators and I never have a problem. Sometimes they set for six months or longer.

[Dan50]

Originally Posted by mlh

What size air conditioner are you running on a 2000 watt generator?
I have a 2000 watt generator on my camper and the 4000 Onan it came with but would like to use the generator. It’s so much quieter and doesn’t vibrate the camper like the 4000 watt generator.
Lynwood

https://www.microair.net/collections...nt=30176048267

[meagle]

I had an Onan 5.5KW in my Landmark fifth wheel and now on my new Montana. It is nice having everything tucked out of the way, not hauling gas cans, or a portable generator clogging up storage space. It is nice being able to remote start it from inside the coach and not having to set up a portable generator. My wife and will stop for lunch, start the generator, use the microwave, or even the AC. It is fast and convenient. I tried the portable route many years ago and it was always a hassle to get it out at a rest stop, plug it in, put away a hot device, and then get back on the road. My set up now works much better for us.

[mlh]

For my HC I have a receptacle in the front of the camper and a short extension cord to the generator in the front of the bed of my truck. I walk by hit the generator start button and we are ready with electrify.
Lynwood

[Camp CA]

I missed the window to purchase the Onan 5500 LP generator........now they are 16-20+ weeks out with some dealers taking orders for Jan 2022 delivery. So I requested to dealer to install a second 265 watt solar panel and 2 more batteries (4 total). That should give us some additional capacity for boondocking we hope

[hemiallen]

Camp

You really need to switch to LiPo4 batteries. I know they are $1k each, but if you run your rig for the next 5-10 years it will pay off, as I assume you dry camp is why you want the expensive built in generator? It will reduce your propane consumption if you are using it to top off the batteries, as the Li charge much faster and last longer ( 2x) between the need to recharge, maintenance free, less weight, etc. I will start with 300Ah, just learned if I got the 270Ah Battleborn they discourage adding another 100Ah due to differences in the BMS. I had planned to start with the 270Ah single battery until yesterday when I emailed them to get a price on a package with the Victron 712 to monitor and learn how to make them last longer ( ie what draws the most, and make a chart to use the battery power the best).

I have dry camped most of my 35 years of having trailers, and every 3 months I top off, with a turkey baster and distilled water, the wet batteries ( 4x 6v golfcarts) and use a calender reminder for it and to run my generator during non camping times.

I haven't run the Li yet, just got word our Montana arrived and will switch to Li in a week or so, but done tons of research hear and the net, and it baffles me folks using wet cells.

But, I mostly dry camp, and plan, god willing, to use my rig at least the full 10-12 years Li's seem to last.

Allen