Remove Generator your Opinoin?

[k1hog]

I have a 2004 200P Roadtrek, with a non working generator. I have a carburetor coming, if the carburetor does not fix the problem, would you remove the no working generator?

Non working generator removal would reduce weight, and is useless????


Thanks

[booster]

Originally Posted by k1hog

I have a 2004 200P Roadtrek, with a non working generator. I have a carburetor coming, if the carburetor does not fix the problem, would you remove the no working generator?

Non working generator removal would reduce weight, and is useless????


Thanks

Yes, and yes. Quite a few of us have removed working generators because we found we didn't need the unreliable noisy things.

[avanti]

Originally Posted by booster

Yes, and yes. Quite a few of us have removed working generators because we found we didn't need the unreliable noisy things.

Yep. I can't bring myself to get rid of ours, because it still works fine. But, I should.

[mkguitar]

I got mine working ( have posted the in situ carb cleaner and seafoam rehab) and it works fine


WE HAVE NEVER used it while camping


and I think about removing it, but "what if"


It could also power the fridge in the house should we have a prolonged power outage


( monsoon season coming and we do have problems due to power company paying execs huge bonuses and not maintaining their lines)


Mike

[JohnnyFry]

Looking at these replies it is apparent that our own individual life styles bear on this issue. We like to boondock but, we don't do it 100 % of the time...maybe not even 25% but we do love to do it. We do use the gennie when we do: in the morning to cook breakfast on the induction plate, make coffee and use the toaster. That said, we can do the coffee and the toast on the inverter but I like the induction to cook the eggs. Dinnertime we use it again because we also like to use the induction plate and maybe the convection microwave. During the time it is running it also recharges the coach batteries. So, in the end it is different strokes for different folks (sorry, I don't remember who used that phrase first...probably sometime back in the '60s). We don't use it for running A/C (who likes a massage trying to sleep). Anyway, that is my two cents and I would be happy to hear what others do.
Best,
John

[booster]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFry

Looking at these replies it is apparent that our own individual life styles bear on this issue. We like to boondock but, we don't do it 100 % of the time...maybe not even 25% but we do love to do it. We do use the gennie when we do: in the morning to cook breakfast on the induction plate, make coffee and use the toaster. That said, we can do the coffee and the toast on the inverter but I like the induction to cook the eggs. Dinnertime we use it again because we also like to use the induction plate and maybe the convection microwave. During the time it is running it also recharges the coach batteries. So, in the end it is different strokes for different folks (sorry, I don't remember who used that phrase first...probably sometime back in the '60s). We don't use it for running A/C (who likes a massage trying to sleep). Anyway, that is my two cents and I would be happy to hear what others do.
Best,
John

We can stay off grid essentially indefinitely without a generator, using the microwave and other stuff electric as we want, all of batteries. We use gas to cook as it is much more energy dense and we are outside anyway, with gas grille and/or Fold-N-Go stove run off the Roadtrek propane tank. 300 watts of solar will keep us full almost all the time unless the solar conditions are very poor. If needed we can quick charge at 180 amps off the alternators and get a days charge in 20 minutes, so a trip to the dump station will do it. We have 440ah of AGMs hung underneath the van where the generator was.


It all depends on how you want to do it, and the generator just didn't fit in with how we wanted to camp.

[rowiebowie]

I've been where you are and am hoping for success in getting your generator running correctly.

My opinion of my generator recently changed due to mine finally running correctly after 2-1/2 years of ownership. The more I "exercised" it recently, the better it has performed.

Previously, I was dissatisfied to the point of doing my own modest 200Ah lithium upgrade to be able to run the microwave due to the stalling/stumbling problems of my Onan. But the fact my generator is now dependable has completely changed my opinion of it to positive. If I had posted my opinion only a few months ago, I assure you it would have been different.

Good luck.

[Bud]

"Keep Your Generator - The minor cost of repairing it will weight in your favor."

You're now a soothsayer?


"Even though my lithium system can go weeks offline, I still would not own a RV without a generator."

Given it's an onan, maybe a Honda backup might be nice with the onan.


"Here's a link on this forum on making your generator even more quiet"

Mike, the fellow does not have a class C rv like you.

Bud

[IdleUp]

Bud,

Thanks for the reply, however any Class B or B+ that has a generator can be insulated to reduce sound to include bottom frame mount generators. I've insulated dozens of generators in vans though the years to include both my Midwest and Transit Van shown in the images below.

I think you might have me confused with someone else, I don't own a type C motorhome only the B & B+ models shown below. I went ahead and took the liberty to put up some great comparison images for you to see how they compare. These images are my Sprinter and Transit "Van's". As you can see, they are near the same length and height, except the B+ Wonder model offers the conveniences of a larger RV without the hassles and handling problems. I also included a chassis shot for you as well.

By the way, should there be any new guys thinking of a van, I also included a review I authored on my Midwest Conversion below.

https://www.classbforum.com/forums/f...-mas-9161.html

Enjoy - Mike

[Bud]

IdleUp, you've shown up Again with such _____, imho. e.g. your last post with pictures of a Class C rv. Leisure Travel is a little more honest, and now being Only a Class C manufacturer (nice C's) call their Motorhomes a Class C. How do I know this? From the Manufacturer, Leisure Travel, right on their home page, And Wonder Page, and elsewhere.

"A game-changer from the chassis up, the all-new Wonder Class C RV by Leisure Travel Vans is ................." They call their C's C, fact, just like the RVIA and Winnebago.

Your C is a C. It is also noticeably wider than a B, and with mirrors (near the legal limit) more often take out bicycle riders with the mirrors like a Class A or Class C rv's. How do I know that. Dinner with a medical doctor, Cooke City, Montana. He was talking specifically about Yellowstone National Park. Narrow highways where a B is a little more pleasant to drive, less concentration required, less work. Well, that is what folks have told me that have owned both. There are plenty of applications for C rv's, many more that B's.

Why not show up and provide a specific solution for quieting an onan in a Class B on a B forum rather than a C?

Some are not responding to your posts anymore, but I'll try to be here for you.

Bud

[InterBlog]

Oh no. Not again.

Anyway, ignoring the undesirable sidebar, let me respond...

OP, I did not use my generator for the first 5 years my husband and I owned our Class B. It came with the rig which we bought used, and it had low hours and worked fine. We dutifully changed the oil but never used it. Several times we thought seriously about removing it but we never did.

Since the onset of the pandemic, I've been using it more and more because I turned our Class B into my daily driver, essentially. It allows me to both work and do chores without having to worry about entering crowded spaces, such as other organizations' bathrooms for instance (there is some anecdotal suggestion and a few limited studies that say coronavirus concentrations are higher in restrooms).

It also allows me to keep my dog in our Class B with the roof a/c running now the summer months are upon us (I live in Texas where summer = inferno). Today I ran it during a 90-minute business meeting, and again during a 30-minute vendor meeting, where I was out of the van.

I'm really glad we didn't remove it years ago.

[gerrym51]

Idleup owns a class c

[Davydd]

I seldom used a generator with a one lead acid battery and put more hours and maintaining and exercising it than using it. With an 800 ah lithium battery bank and second alternator I dispensed having a generator as well as propane. My next Class B will dispense solar panels. I could say the same with air conditioning but haven’t got that far yet. AC is good to dry out humidity In the van that fans can’t do but I seldom use it and never more than 3 hours which the batteries can handle.

I can last nearly a week without driving and idling with my set up but I need but four days at most rarely so am considering reducing my battery bank amp hours down a bit on my next Class B.

[IdleUp]

Bud LOL I don't own a class C motorhome!

I think your somewhat confused in recognizing the difference between a B+ motorhome and a typical Type C cab over sleeper RV. I posted a number of images below to help you better identify a Class B - B+, or C motorhome. By the way, most B+, C and Super C are equipped with generators. Unlike a B+ built on a light-weight van chassis, a Type C is built on a much heaver chassis like a Ford E 350-450 or even heavy duty pickup chassis, such as the F250-350-450. Unlike a van chassis, a Class C motor home is much heavier and built on heavy duty large GVW chassis with a 8 foot track.

Regretfully confining yourself to only "forum chatter" deprives users of needed information concerning the advancements in RV’s, as well as the way lithium has changed the RV industry. I suggest you attend some shows and spend time as I have, discussing the different RV’s with key engineering staff who attend. Don’t limit yourself to just RV’s, spend time talking to the vendors who manufacture the needed components.

This is the reason I have dedicated decades to writing informative articles, such as the ones published on this and many other forums to otherwise help users like yourself and others to more thoroughly understand their RV’s better.
My video on “Upgrading an RV to lithium” has received national acclaim for my innovative lithium design. My coaches offers the most efficient lithium design of any lithium RV offered today.

Getting back to classifications during my last conversation with the folks at RVIA at a recent show, while there is no official classification of a B+, or even a “Super C” model, these designs exist and are recognized the world over and sold and advertised as such since their design easily dictates a separate class.

Please look through the images below to help explain the differences between a “typical” Class C and a B+ that you may better understand their differences. I even included a no-name Super C as well! As you compare the first and second images, its clear to see these two RV's are nothing alike and totally different animals!

As you look at the 4th image of my Midwest and my Wonder you can see these are both B type RV's and contrary to your thoughts even have the same stock mirrors and generators! LOL

Enjoy- Mike

[Bud]

"Bud LOL I don't own a class C motorhome!"

Leisure Travel phone number is: 204-325-4361

Please take it up with Leisure Travel or your Mental Health Provider.

Thank you.

Bud

[booster]

Originally Posted by IdleUp

Bud LOL I don't own a class C motorhome!

I think your somewhat confused in recognizing the difference between a B+ motorhome and a typical Type C cab over sleeper RV. I posted a number of images below to help you better identify a Class B - B+, or C motorhome. By the way, most B+, C and Super C are equipped with generators. Unlike a B+ built on a light-weight van chassis, a Type C is built on a much heaver chassis like a Ford E 350-450 or even heavy duty pickup chassis, such as the F250-350-450. Unlike a van chassis, a Class C motor home is much heavier and built on heavy duty large GVW chassis with a 8 foot track.

Sure you do own a Class C as it is built on a cutaway chassis. You just want to call it a B.



By the way, and E350 is a one ton chassis, as is the MB chassis that the Wonder is built on as far as I can tell.


No need to throw any more insults around as we have already heard them all, along with self congratulating. Save yourself the effort.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by booster

Sure you do own a Class C as it is built on a cutaway chassis. You just want to call it a B.



By the way, and E350 is a one ton chassis, as is the MB chassis that the Wonder is built on as far as I can tell.


No need to throw any more insults around as we have already heard them all, along with self congratulating. Save yourself the effort.

Interesting booster as Mike keeps returning with his triple fact checked stuff, forgetting that this is a quadruple fact checking B forum.

[themexicandoctor]

[QUOTE=k1hog;109550]I have a 2004 200P Roadtrek, with a non working generator. I have a carburetor coming, if the carburetor does not fix the problem, would you remove the no working generator?

I considered this recently - I have a 2005 Roadtrek 190 Versatile.

2 years ago invested $800 having it "whatever" with an Onan Generator ONLY Guru (Oliphant in Los Angeles/Larry - 818 - 7597081), it ran great & then two months ago during a time I needed it, the Regulator blew & my Magnum was reading High AC.

Couldn't get hold of Larry but another RV Guy who won't work on Generators referred me to a Lawnmower shop who after I paid $50 for a salvaged Regulator part & had it installed it for $230 versus the $800 the RV guy said after all, Generators are a sub specialist biz, they are very close to a Lawnmower & to work on them the RV Guy has to go to.the trouble of taking it down, testing it on a bench for an hour & then installing it - the work is heavy, boring & not very profitable, even to a Lawnmower guy.

When it went down, I really needed it - I was camping for days in the mountains & the trees were so dense they wouldn't give me enough sunlight to charge - having to run the motor made me an unhappy camper.

Its personal choice but I love having the Generator running when I might need it, especially during the Winter even here in California.

[IdleUp]

This is my my exact sentiments!

Just as the "Real Life" situation with the Mexican Doctor above - When all else fails, and AGM and lithium batteries are totally depleted, nothing but a RV generator can provide the needed power to recharge and power the coach to continue your vacation. Even solar can be worthless unless you sitting in middle of a field with the sun baking the coach at 125 degrees and who sits in the sun when camping LOL

Having an RV without a generator is a major mistake. Manufactures are deleting generators on lithium installation and pocketing the money with no credit to the owner. Making matters worse, they Hoax the owner into thinking they no longer a generator because they use their 6 cylinder engine using more fuel than a generator which cooks coach and engine preventing the DPF geom regen which clogs the DPF and engine with carbon.

If anyone would like further information - On this subject, I authored an In-Depth article on this same forum on Generators verses Lithium Batteries.

Just click the link below for some good reading:

https://www.classbforum.com/forums/f...-mas-9034.html

[booster]

Originally Posted by IdleUp

Just as the "Real Life" situation with the Mexican Doctor above - When all else fails, and AGM and lithium batteries are totally depleted, nothing but a RV generator can provide the needed power to recharge and power the coach to continue your vacation. Even solar can be worthless unless you sitting in middle of a field with the sun baking the coach at 125 degrees and who sits in the sun when camping LOL

Having an RV without a generator is a major mistake. Manufactures are deleting generators on lithium installation and pocketing the money with no credit to the owner. Making matters worse, they Hoax the owner into thinking they no longer a generator because they use their 6 cylinder engine using more fuel than a generator which cooks coach and engine preventing the DPF geom regen which clogs the DPF and engine with carbon.

What? We can recharge our batteries at double the rate of 100 amp shore charger could, with a generator running it, by using our van twin alternators.


A generator is far from the only, and even further from being the only and best, way to charge depleted batteries.


In the case of totally depleted coach batteries, you may not even be able to charge the coach batteries at all with the generator as the shore charger it is running likely will be one of the many that will not run without a battery reference in the system of sufficient voltage and capacity.