When you travel in your RV, do you have a generator with you? If so, is it a built-in or portable generator?
Most RVs come with built-in generators, which provide power to your RV. These built-in ones usually do the job since they’re set to work with the appliances in your RV already. But, perhaps you need more power and an additional generator, or maybe your RV did not come with a built-in generator.
Will you respond in the poll below and tell us which one, if either, you have with you? Thanks!
Contrary to your opening line, most RVs do NOT come with a generator. Many do, many come with space for a built in, and many do NOT.
Well, you really need to define “rv”….as that term encompasses everything from a tent trailer to a $2M Prevost luxury motorhome. I would venture to guess that the majority of “trailers” do not come with a built in generator along with the smaller Class B and some Class C motorhomes. However, and on the other hand, probably an overwhelming majority of Class A motorhomes do indeed come with built in generators.
Agree with Ron L, but Class A motorhomes are in the minority of RVs.
I didn’t know we could debate directly with commenting members. This is great! Bring it on Ron L.
Built-in, expensive Onan to fix. Onan carb = $300, Chinese copy (Amazon) = less than $100.
Exact copy, appears to be from same factory as Onan model. Onan model is sealed and non-repairable. You pays your money and takes your chances.
Thanks for the tip about Amazon and carburetor. I need one for my Emerald 4k. And putting it off because of cost.
I’ve owned three of those foul, noisy, over priced green boat anchors, and each time said this is the last one. But….. Our current motor home came with another one, which I planned to replace with a nice, reliable quiet Honda. I just couldnt figure out a good place to put it. Anyway, I bit the bullet and had the carburetor and starter replaced at a local Onan service center. Now it works like a champ. A new Honda wouldnt have been that much more money. Just no handy place to mount it. I even considered a less expensive Predator from Harbor Freight, but same issue, no place to mount it.
We are running a Class A that comes with a residential refrigerator. Our Onan generator is a must if we want to boondock for more than a day or two. The solar helps keep the batteries charged but can not keep up on warm cloudy days when the fridge uses more power and the solar doesn’t get the sun it needs.
We have a Honda E2000i. Shortly after buying our ’01 CrossRoads travel trailer from the original and only owners, Richard called and asked if we needed a generator. I asked “How much?”, and he replied, “No, do you need a generator? “. I drove back out to their house and he said, “Here it is, put it in your truck and take it home”.
Gen 3750 takes care of all. A little noisy but I have the power I need.
3 Honda eu2000s.
We have a built in gen in our class A rig. Also a residential fridge. We also carry a small and quiet 2300 portable gen to run all the small stuff when needed while boondocking.
We ordered out Class A DP with a larger capacity Onan Generator. But we also had AGM sealed batteries installed on the House side. The AGM batteries charge faster with our Magnum Inverter and hold their charge longer than standard wet cell batteries. That means less use of our generator when attending week long drag racing and other dry camping events. No checking for cell fluid levels, no trying to top off wet cells. Stay safe, Stay well.
I said “yes” to carrying a portable generator, but we only take one when we’re boondocking in hot weather and want to run our air conditioner during the hottest part of the day. I used to use it to recharge the two extra 12V batteries we carry when boondocking, but since we only do that for 3-4 days at a time, I realized I didn’t need it for that.
You are in the minority. I have boondocked for years, and have seen very few RVers running air with a portable generator, probably because they don’t have enough power. The most use I see is for charging batteries and, of all things, watching TV.
Our RV Onan/Cummins generator is built-in and accessed via a slide on the front of the RV. It is fueled via an intake pulling diesel from the fuel tank. The exhaust is several inches above the ground and on the road/driver side of the RV. We regularly run it for several hours per day when tailgating at college football games and use a Gen-Turi exhaust system with extensions to channel the exhaust well away from the ground and other tailgaters. Theoretically we can run all appliances in our RV while running the generator.
Said no, because the generator died. Since I prefer the silence of my solar, I plan to drop the generator to save weight.
For me it’s the Golden Rule…I would not want to TORTURE anyone by the sound of a running generator, in a peaceful camping spot, as much as I do not like being TORTURED by that gawd-awful sound. NOTHING is more offensive to me, so I won’t do it to others. Children running amok, loud music, quads running up and down the road, I always tell myself “at least they’re not running a generator”.
We always have one for an emergency but have never used ours. We have great solar. We are trying to get away from the world and have some peace and listen to nature. If you need electricity, that’s what rv parks or camp with hookups are for. I understand things happen. I believe that microwaves contribute to a lot of generator use. I will never understand turning a generator on to make a margarita, a pod of coffee, or microwave a meal. I enjoy the simpler life of camping.
Us, too, Mary.
Agree
yes we have a generator we carry with us when we go to rustic. i must have my comforts, fan on muggy days, husband has to have microwave. we also have a bank of 4 lithium batteries and generally use the generator to charge the batteries.
A built in Onan 3000watt generator. We have found times that it just won’t start and always at the most inconvenient times. So, I picked up the CarGenerator for emergency use. Now, no matter what the weather conditions, we have that emergency power until I can get the doggone generator working again. (I have story after story of different times the generator has been trouble.) Now, I don’t have to carry much of anything, just plug into my engine or my tow engine, and we are set!
A lot of engine wear and tear because you don’t exercise your genny to keep it ready to run isn’t it?
I answered “NO,” but the real answer is “occasionally.” On a longer trip in the winter, the solar won’t keep up with the furnace blower demands for more than two nights, so in that case we carry a portable Yamaha. The rest of the year (or for one or two winter nights), heck, no!
We carry a Honda 3000 but since installing 300 watts of solar, two 100 watt lithium batteries, and a 2000 watt inverter, I’m considering eliminating it. After installing solar panels it seems the only time I run the generator is to exercise it. We use (and prefer) a gas refer and try to go where AC isn’t needed. I identify with the group that doesn’t want to listen to a generator. It is reassuring to have the generator along to fall back on if things go wrong, but so far that hasn’t happened.
The questions was do you have a generator with you on RV travels. It didn’t ask if it came with your rig, aka class A’s, some C’s, fewer 5’ers, I would guess most that don’t have a built-in, or, live and do most of their camping out West were the sun is abundant for solar, would carry a genny in the back of the tow vehicle.
Since I live in the East and have a residential fridge, I couldn’t be without my diesel genset to re-charge the four golf cart batteries in my rigs house section.
We have the 4K Onan and I like the idea of having it if/when we need it. That said, it only gets used when we need to use the microwave while grabbing a quick roadside meal so it might get run for 5 minutes or less. Only once did we use it to run the AC and that was in a highway rest stop on a 90 plus day when I really needed a rest/nap.
About the generator: we carry a 2KW suitcase inverter generator _only_ when the wx forecast calls for rain/cloudy days during the short-day winter season. Otherwise 200W of solar panels keep our deep-cycle battery recharged.
I have an on-board generator in my Class C and bought an 1800 watt solar generator with portable solar panels to use when boondocking. Unless I need to have A/C or furnace running, I will only need the solar power. I also use the solar generator in my home when there’s any power outages to run the fridge. I keep it fully charged for such occasions.
I have a farily quiet 2000 watt inverter portable I use only when the temp falls towards the freezing mark and I’m using my furnace when travelling. I seldom boondock so carry just the one main battery. In a cold night the battery gives out about 5 AM if I don’t use my generator and it gets cold inside. One night I stopped at a WalMart, parked all alone at the edge of the parking lot, started my generator more to advise others if they came by that it was running and went into the store for supplies. When I came out another RV was parked right beside and the guy snarkly said “You gonna run that all night?” I said yes and if he didn’t like it there was a lot of room elsewhere in the parking lot to park. I don’t think I was out of line.
You said the right thing what an Arrogant Jerk to park next to you with a whole parking lot maybe he should have got a Kick in the A**!
Checked no. Will probably buy one soon for our 5th whl. I figure we’ll need one when we eventually head out west.
Yeah it is built in. I never use it. As far as I’m concerned it’s just dead weight. I should get rid of it.
Hi Ron!
Use gen to run rooftop a/c when u are on the road. We do this in motorhome or trailer.
Both. we carry a small portable inverter generator for battery charging and the large built-in for when more power is needed.
I think you’ll find the built in genny will supply all you need including battery charging, when manufacturers equip a unit with a genny it is sized to supply max current draw.
35ft Class A with a built-in Generac 5kW gas genset – and boy do I wish it were an Onan or something that didn’t sound like a unmuffled NASCAR engine running on the backstretch at Talladega!
Have a 3K, gas/propane genny. Only carry it for use on long trips when I’m not sure if we’ll have electric available. Usually go to state/federal CG’s. Did a 6K mile trip in ’19 and needed it a few times…
2014 Roadtrek Ranger came with an Onan. Has more exercise hours than actual use hours.
The first generator Was a champion ; it was so loud you could hear it a block away, I own a much quieter one now, but I still find people complain I do stop using it after 10!
Our toy hauler came with the Onan 5500 unleaded. We can refill the geni tank with fuel from the toy tank. That gives us 50-60 hrs using on-board fuel. Campgrounds have lost power twice; once in 115 degrees, once in 36 degrees. That’s when having a geni is terrific!
In addition to our build-in Onan, as a backup we have a portable 2K Honda generator. We can also run our Sprinter and get up to 2KW from the pure-sine inverter. Then there’s the solar and inverter… Yeah, at this point we know there’s no help for us!
I never had a generator until I bought my first class A, now that we are out of the 700 mile + trips to avoid the cold when we get a small travel trailer for short trips where we won’t be needing overnight comfort on long trips we will go back to no genny.
I carry a Honda 2000 portable generator. It keeps my small a/c running in hot weather (I have heat induced asthma) I have a 17 ft molded fiberglass trailer, the fridge is 12v and I always pack the electric kettle and ask dh to use it instead of the microwave. When he insists on the microwave I have to turn off the a/c.
We travel with Champion portable generator. We gave 2 of them, so far we have only taken and used 1. The purpose of the 2nd one is to run parallel in summer months when the air conditioning is needed. My issue is lifting the unit into the bed of our truck, weight is around 100 lbs.
It has proven handy in other applications as well, electrical or low battery problems.
California should start a generator ban in State Park campgrounds. Spaces are to close for noise and exhaust.
For off grid camping in areas like Glamas all the noise is shared.
Manufacturers should be banned in using 110ac only refrigerators. Refrigerators should be 3 way power.
******* Meddeling! Here I am totally Disabled person who lives in Southern California. We never know if there will be power? As we seem to be like Mexico another, Third Word Nation, where getting power is Questionable. I have a Medical Condition was told too have a method for Back Up Power for Medical Equipment that So Cal Edison does not supply? Since you never know for sure if we will have power one day too the next. So I invest in an expensive Switch Box on my home buy a large Generator, and now this Comes down the Pipe Hole from the Governor News***. I am so sick if this State and their Agenda I might just move the **** out while the Price of the Houses are Obscene!
Where can I buy a Diesel Generator I was thinking Earth friendly when I Bought my Dual Fuel I only run Propane. However since diesel is allowed I will buy one the size of the Bed of my truck and charge people to plug in? No cash either I want only Credit Cards! How’s that for being a __k?
Try Norwall.com. They have just about any type of generator you could want. Join their I just bought a Champion 14.5Kw residual backup generator for our house. Their price was $1200 lower than the same generator on Amazon and if you join their club you will get an extra $50 off.
With as many businesses and wealthy people leaving the state of California none of this is going to matter in a few years anyway. There will be nothing worth visiting whether you are in an RV or just a car. If any of you own property in California that are reading this you should try to find someone stupid enough to sell it to as soon as you can. (bleeped)
What about potable generators that run on propane as well as gas
Our fifth wheel came with a residential refrigerator so we can’t be without 110V power for more than 2-3 days. We bought a Onan 6,5kw generator from a motorhome that was being parted 3 years ago. With only 450 hours on it’s clock it will last longer than I will. Converted it to propane and tied it into the onboard propane system. On Amazon I found a 100 pound cylinder that has a 2 wheel dolly welded onto the tank (makes for easier refills) and can be operated vertically or horizontally.
Also built a 4000 watt solar generator from plans I found on a YouTube video. It’s a better setup than you can buy and if any of the parts fail they’re replaceable.