| Author |
Message |
Johnny (63.159.189.61)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 01, 2002 - 2:39 pm: | |
I have realized that my old sidevalve Tecumsah generator, while strong (8500 watts) & durable (hour meter dead at 990, now shows ~100 on new meter), is totally unsuited to RV use--it's big, heavy, loud (sounds like a Gatling gun unloaded), air-cooled, & pull-start only.
I can't afford $4000 for a generator. It has to be gas-powered. It has to run 2 13,500BTU A/C's & a 2-way fridge on 120V at the same time. I plan to feed it from the bus's gas tank. If anyone makes a quiet, air-cooled genset, I'd liek that. Ideas? |
Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (170.215.36.168)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 01, 2002 - 2:45 pm: | |
Johnny,
a 6.5kw Onan from an older motorhome with two roof A/Cs should cover your needs. That is what is on my Apollo and it powers the two 13,500btu A/Cs and a microwave all at once, plus the on board converter/charger.
They are fairly plentiful and can be found quite cheap. Sometimes it can be a freebie with an old motorhome that does no longer run.
Peter. |
joe shelton (Littlewind) (67.241.230.61)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 5:33 am: | |
i have put together an Excel spread sheed of about 15-20 units including supplier, output, price, shipping... after adding the start-up draw of my 2 ACs, i think a 5.5 will do what i want. i may have to be carful that they aren't on when i fire up the gen but that's pretty standard.
if you want a copy of the spread sheet i'll e-mail it to you.
oh yea, and thhe one i'm going to get: Generac Quiet-pac 5.5 $2000 or 6.5 $2400 rfom rvcatalog (http://www.rvcatalog.com). alot of folks will say Generac are no good but they have made vast improvements on thier rv units and carry a 3-yr wrnty.
joe |
FAST FRED (65.58.188.179)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 5:50 am: | |
You have FAR more courage than I do!!
Expecting a KNOWN FALURE to be "better" is a great leap of faith , for over $2000.
The RVHonda units are in the same price range , with loads less heart ache risk.
IMO
FAST FRED |
Earl-8-Ky (209.42.186.211)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 5:51 am: | |
You'll be sorry |
Rodger Manecke (216.170.203.187)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 6:24 am: | |
John,
My bus came with a liquid cooled Honda ES6500 contractor's genset. It was a dandy unit, dependable, reasonably quiet and, with a little power management, it was capable of powering everything we needed at one time in an all electric coach with two roof A/C's.
BUT
The dinky integral fuel tank was good for only about 5 hours and I hated the hassle and hazards of hauling gasoline for it in cans. If a safe, reliable and cost effective way could be found to supply fuel from a remote tank to an ES6500, it would make a very nice gas RV unit.
I sold it for $1500 and put the money into a $5000 7KW RV diesel, which I love.
As for Generac, I've talked to a couple of outfits that refuse to even work on them. They claimed that Generac's poor technical support and difficulty in getting parts led to poor customer relations. Were it me, I'd be looking for a good used Honda, Onan or Kohler.
Good luck,
Rodger |
Quest (198.29.191.148)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 6:24 am: | |
Better check with some users that have the recent Generac about how well or how difficult it is to get GENERAC to Warrentte their units, last word was they would not warrentee. Also check about the provisions of warrentee, one of those provisions is the genset MUST BE EXCERCISED monthly, even if the RV is in storage. If you fail to do this, parts of the generac will freeze up and generac consider this a breech of warrentee. Good luck anyway, q |
Neil (198.81.26.174)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 6:44 am: | |
I \have a 5KW GENRAC propane in my bus. We have had been impresed with the service. We had a valve guide slip down and hold the valve open and even though it was our of warrenty they took care of it. No charge.
If I was to do it over I would go to the 5.5 KW as mine is border line when we run both AC's.
But then what am I doing in that kind of weather anyway? Neil |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (66.190.119.82)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 12:19 pm: | |
Of all the dozens and dozens of posts regarding gensets over the months, I believe Neil's is the first positive report on a Generac.
Richard |
Don KS/TX (63.15.244.77)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 12:25 pm: | |
I recently purchased and installed a new 6.5kw Onan LP fuel genset ($4000) for a food concession trailer I own. It is the quietest, smoothest genset I have ever seen. If I had known what I know now, I would never have put the diesel Kubota powered liquid cooled 9kw in the bus, there would be an Onan LP unit in there. They come with a 3 year guarantee nationwide also. I have both, my advice is to not go diesel watercooled. |
FAST FRED (65.59.75.147)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 1:25 am: | |
Hi Don ,
Did you take a look at the Foodwaggon on E baY?
(web address listed on the Flea Market here )
I have seen it for a couple of years and it really hauls in the cash!
Tell your competitors with scrungy units , if you dare!
JOKE
FAST FRED |
Don KS/TX (63.15.244.142)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 3:28 am: | |
I looked, heck of a deal for somebody who wants to support their bus travels and yet only work a few days a year! |
Norm Edlebeck (66.60.196.247)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 9:52 pm: | |
Just my 2 cents worth - I have a 85 gal. propane tank in my MC-7, cause I have a propane Gen Set, 2 propane furnaces, and a 4 burner propane stove. I don't know if everyone knows this or not, but you don't have to pay all the road taxes on propane for using it for these things, only for powering the vehicle down the road. I buy propane NOW for 85 cents per gallon - a lot different than paying $1.50 for diesel or gas. Might be something to consider when buying new. |
Keith harbuck (65.138.90.251)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 10:42 pm: | |
Johnny I have a 7.5 kw water cooled generator for sale. It is a kohler unit I am changing to a diesel. unit works great runs two ac's easy. Only reason I am changing is I want to run off of the bus fuel tank. I am asking 1800.00 plus shipping. I live in central Ga. |
Dale Fleener (64.66.217.148)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 06, 2002 - 12:29 am: | |
Keith, if Johnny isn't interested, I am. What fuel does it use now? Let me know one way or the other. I'm in central CA so it'll have to be shipped.
Dale Fleener |