jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Joined: 07/03/2005
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I have a Honda EU1000i in a sound deadening box I built that I use to charge batteries (4-6v). The only time we run the noisy 6500 Onan is to power the microwave. Otherwise we power everything with a 1800w Trippe-Lite inverter.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 210 uprated to 275
275 RV injectors
Trippe-Lite 1800w inverter 4-6v GC batteries
3- Kyocera 130w solar panels
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
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CrazyTed
Hoollieville #214
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Joined: 04/17/2005
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Sorry, missed typing one of the "0"'s when I sent the original message.
CrazyTed
www.CrazyTed.us
Va Bch, VA
2006 KTM 450 XC
1997 Triumph Tiger 900
2005 Chevy 2500HD 4X4
2008 CrossRoads CrossTerrain TF36DS
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Trvlngnrs
St. George, UT
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Joined: 10/26/2004
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I have an Onan 5500 watt in the trailer with about 400 hours on it. I usually use the Yamaha 2400 watt generator which is very quiet and doesn't use as much gas. My stock convertor was 30 amp, so I put in a larger convertor (60 amp Progressive Dynamics) to cut in half the time to charge my batteries. I use an invertor most of the time, so I usually just run the genny to charge up the batteries.
If it's HOT, I'll camp somewhere with electricity, or go somewhere cooler.
Steve
St. George, UT
'06 WW FB2200
'07 Outlander Max XT
'04 Chevy Duramax
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mikelab
Escondido, CA
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Joined: 02/20/2005
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seems to me that buying a second generator with smaller wattage output to run instead of the rig's genny wouldn't cover the cost of buying and running the smaller genny. the only benefit would be the quieter sound of the small genny. i think i can put up with the noise and save my money!
Mike and Trina
2 Kids
'04 Chevy 3500 dually diesel
'06 Weekend Warrior SL 30' 5th Wheel
Reese 16K Signature Series Hitch
Honda CRF 450X
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Ocotillo Wells, Class of 1968
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JimG
Phoenix, AZ
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Joined: 11/24/2001
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In the winter, when we head to the dunes, I run a Honda EU2000i on a regular basis. I purchased the Honda maybe 5 years ago when we had a travel trailer with no generator. I thought about selling it when I got my first toy hauler, but the Honda is much more quite and uses a lot less gas. My Rampage has an Onan 5500. It probably burns 2/3-3/4 gallon of gas per hour. My Honda will run for @ 6 hours on a gallon. With my kids playing video games or my wife watching TV, I have seen days when the Honda was running for close to 8 hours. Also, the Honda will run everything in my toy hauler with the exception of the AC. I’ll bet my Honda gets 50-60 hours per year on it and my Onan gets maybe 10 hours.
Jim
2003 Dodge Ram 2500, 4x4, Quad Cab, Cummins HO, 48RE trans, 3.73 ratio
2006 Rampage 327 Toy Hauler
Tekonsha Prodigy
Phoenix, Arizona
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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A 1000 will power about 45 amps max of charging. If your converter charges faster you probably need 2000 watts of generator.
2001 F150 SuperCrew 5.4 Lariat Offroad 4x4 Tow Package 4.10 Truetrac
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
12K SuperGlide, KGE3000Ti 2.3kw rated 2.6kw max
Frank's voltage booster, Prosine 1800 powered by 4 GC2 batteries
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Decay
Allentown, Pa.
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Joined: 01/10/2007
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I also have a Honda EU2000i in addition to my Onan 5500 on the rig.
We use the Honda most of the time with a 6 gal. boat gas tank to feed it. We mostly boondock and I installed a 13,500 high eff. a/c in the bedroom, and it will run it. Most of the time it just purrs along to run the the other essentials. I've had the Honda for about 5 yrs. and I can't say enough good about it.
07 Dodge Quad Dually Diesel 4wd
05 3319 Raptor
08 Polaris RZR
04 Polaris 330 & 500 HO (both utility)
02 HD FLHT Standard
05 KLR 650
1 Wife
2 Hounds
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kwlincoln
The Woodlands, TX
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Joined: 03/25/2006
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I use the same philosophy with my car. To keep the miles down, I just have it towed everywhere I go. Sounds crazy? It is! Use your generator. The hours used on it will have little impact on your resale. Most of us don't buy campers with concern about resale. The depreciation will take it's toll no matter what. If it wears out, have it rebuilt. It will outlast the motorhome anyway.
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SageCrispin
Tully, NY
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Joined: 05/21/2008
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I did a quick search for the 1000w Honda and came up with just under $850 with shipping. At $4.50 for (future) gas, that's 189 gals. I guess everyone figures somewhat under a gallon per hour on a Onan, or say 1.25 hrs/gal. So 189 gals is good for 236 hours of generator use. That's quite a while before the smaller gen will pay (almost 10 days of 24 hr use).
So, that leaves the noise. I saw how people quiet down their doghouse in the class A's with sound deadening material in the engine compartment. Could that be used with the built in gensets? Anyone do this?
I can only be in just so many places at one time.
Damon Challenger.
Chevy Tracker toad.
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OlderThanSand
Tollhouse, Ca
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Joined: 12/09/2007
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kwlincoln wrote:I use the same philosophy with my car. To keep the miles down, I just have it towed everywhere I go. Sounds crazy? It is! Use your generator. The hours used on it will have little impact on your resale. Most of us don't buy campers with concern about resale. The depreciation will take it's toll no matter what. If it wears out, have it rebuilt. It will outlast the motorhome anyway.
I don't agree with that. Although it's not a very accurate gauge, generator hours will give you some indication of how much a TH has been used. Now you may say that wouldn't change the price much and you may be right .. but it would steer me away from that unit if it was relatively new and had tons of gen hours. I bought a used TH and I looked at this very thing.
As for a second gen .. I bought a Honda 2000 when I had my TT. When I got my TH it had an onboard gen and I was going to sell the Honda. I procrastinated and didn't and I'm glad! I use the onboard noisy gen in the morning when I have the microwave, coffee pot and waffle iron all going and that's about it. I use the Honda for everything else including a seperate battery charger. I've seen lots of THs doing the same thing.
So here is my opinion on a second gen ..although it's great to have and can be useful around the house too, it's not worth the $1K to buy one. But I'm really glad I have my Honda.
2002 4x4 Super Duty PSD
2006 22' Carson Titan
2006 Polaris Ranger
2007 Suzuki LTZ 400
2007 Honda TRX 250EX
1995 model dune crazed granddaughter
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