I have an 04' DP with a 7.5KW Onan with 1,475 hrs on it. I have almost the same number of hours on my Cummins. I use the gen everyday for 5-8 hrs when I'm driving from May through October. The gen needs to be used often and with a load - lasts longer. There is no negative to using it.
Steve,Kathy,Josh & Morpheus the Basenji
2004 40' TSDP Country Coach Inspire DaVinci
350 Cummins, 3000 Allison
2008 Wrangler X Rubicon/Blue OX Tow Bar/Ready Brake
They are designed to run while driving. If you have been dry camping and have low house batteries it takes some of the charge load off the chassis engine alternator and can keep it from overheating.
Richard and Babs and a Bob Tail Cat
97 Beaver Patriot 40 Kitchen Slide
330 HP Member FMCA, BAC, Good Sam, CAT RV Club
Toad 2012 Dodge Durango RT AWD Hemi
On a really hot summer day the roof top A/c units really help to cool the coach and the micro wave helps for lunch and snacks while on the road. We have been doing this for years. With out any problems.
I was told by a Onan Tech it is not a good idea to run it while it is raining because it will suck up water into the belt area? "just what he told me",I do run mine while driving.
We too run as needed - ours is located behind the drivers side rear wheels and I find I need to check the gen's air cleaner filter more often if I run while driving too much.
1987 36' Beaver Marquis High Tech Wide body
3208T CAT, MT643 Allison in a Gillig MHA
Koni's & Toyo all around
FMCA, Good Sam
Yes you can run the generator while driving down the road. We do it in the hot summer days when climbing long grades and we turn of the dash air conditioner. Same with the furnace in the winter when it is very cold.
2002 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser
330 HP Caterpillar
3000 Allison Transmission
Neway Freightliner chassis
2013 Honda CR-V EX
Aventa II
FMCA member
BudParrish wrote: My generator goes on before the drive engine and is the last to turn off. It has more hours than the drive engine.
Bud
I can see using it to run A/C or maybe other special needs can't understand ALL THE TIME. I make sure mine run a minimum of 2 hours a moth under load, otherwise just when I need it. Pleas explain.
RV Jim
Houston has two seasons: Hot and Damn Hot. Usually, we begin to have high 80's weather starting March to December. We break out the heavy coats when it drops all the way down to 65, and Eskimo clothing below that.
We use the Heat Pumps (which require generator running) if it is cool enough, and AC the rest of the time. While the Microwave can work off the engine generator, it is not recommended in the manual. My grandchild watches TV almost the entire trip - and I'm all for whatever makes her happy. We may very well choose to run the washer/dryer during a trip between stops - and have many times for baby vomit or diarrhea sodden clothing.
I ran the generator over 8 straight days, 24 hours a day, during Hurricane Ike when the mid-day temps were >100 and the nighttime temps were >90, and the humidity was near 100%
.
I guess I'm saying that I bought the coach for comfort, not economy. I do whatever it takes to make us happy, and conserve nothing.
Everybody is different, and you have to do what makes you happy. I bought my coach to use every feature as often as we want. If the generator gets used up, I'll fix or replace it. I don't drive <65 because I want to save fuel; I drive <65 because that's where I feel I have the most control.
We don't full-time in our coach, and never will. It is our hurricane evacuation plan. It is our travel vehicle and our way to stay out of crowded airports. We really enjoy our coach and take good care of it, but it is a tool that gets us from here to there comfortably.
Bud
Bud
I noticed that the people who run it all the time all live in the warmer US. That is a good reason.
RV Jim
Jim & Joyce
Central Oregon Coast
No RV at this time but looking!
Treat the earth well, It was not given to you by your parents,“It was loaned to you by your children”
Indian proverb
BudParrish wrote: My generator goes on before the drive engine and is the last to turn off. It has more hours than the drive engine.
Bud
I can see using it to run A/C or maybe other special needs can't understand ALL THE TIME. I make sure mine run a minimum of 2 hours a moth under load, otherwise just when I need it. Pleas explain.
RV Jim
Houston has two seasons: Hot and Damn Hot. Usually, we begin to have high 80's weather starting March to December. We break out the heavy coats when it drops all the way down to 65, and Eskimo clothing below that.
We use the Heat Pumps (which require generator running) if it is cool enough, and AC the rest of the time. While the Microwave can work off the engine generator, it is not recommended in the manual. My grandchild watches TV almost the entire trip - and I'm all for whatever makes her happy. We may very well choose to run the washer/dryer during a trip between stops - and have many times for baby vomit or diarrhea sodden clothing.
I ran the generator over 8 straight days, 24 hours a day, during Hurricane Ike when the mid-day temps were >100 and the nighttime temps were >90, and the humidity was near 100%
.
I guess I'm saying that I bought the coach for comfort, not economy. I do whatever it takes to make us happy, and conserve nothing.
Everybody is different, and you have to do what makes you happy. I bought my coach to use every feature as often as we want. If the generator gets used up, I'll fix or replace it. I don't drive <65 because I want to save fuel; I drive <65 because that's where I feel I have the most control.
We don't full-time in our coach, and never will. It is our hurricane evacuation plan. It is our travel vehicle and our way to stay out of crowded airports. We really enjoy our coach and take good care of it, but it is a tool that gets us from here to there comfortably.
Offline
-1172597238.jpeg)
