When is an upgrade not an upgrade? - Georgetown GT7

[QC2018]

We have been looking at some Georgetown GT7 units. All of these are 2024 model year according to the dealer. Some have the standard 6000kw Yamaha Generator. The others have the 7000kw Onan optional upgrade generator.

But strangely about half of the units do not show this 7000kw generator upgrade on the 'window sticker' for the unit. And some do show the 7000kw generator as an $1192 option. And the Base Price listed for both types of units is the same. The dealers (who had only a single example each of the GT7s) were slightly surprised when I pointed this out and had no explanation.

Just curious as to why we might be seeing this.

Thanks

Martin

[Oaklevel]

Just a total guess.....

Maybe the Yamaha was not available at build time for the unit and the Onan was substituted.

[kenandterry]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

Just a total guess.....

Maybe the Yamaha was not available at build time for the unit and the Onan was substituted.

I’ll agree with Oaklevel. RV units are assembled using countless parts from various other suppliers. Forest River, just like all the other brands, does NOT make all its own parts. If the Yamaha delivery truck didn’t make it in time for assembly, then the Onan part can and will be used. You can sometimes see so called identical GT7 units with slight differences in components, and if you never go inside another, you’ll never know these differences exist.

Therefore, remember, all RVs are not like your RV.

[bikendan]

Moved thread from the Dollars and Cents sub-forum to the Georgetown sub-forum since the OP's post is specific to Georgetown models.

[David-NJ]

Originally Posted by QC2018

We have been looking at some Georgetown GT7 units. All of these are 2024 model year according to the dealer. Some have the standard 6000kw Yamaha Generator. The others have the 7000kw Onan optional upgrade generator.

But strangely about half of the units do not show this 7000kw generator upgrade on the 'window sticker' for the unit. And some do show the 7000kw generator as an $1192 option. And the Base Price listed for both types of units is the same. The dealers (who had only a single example each of the GT7s) were slightly surprised when I pointed this out and had no explanation.

Just curious as to why we might be seeing this.

Thanks

Martin

Martin,

All I can say is do your research and then do it again.

There's a lot of good information on this site.

Here's one example:

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...st-275470.html

and another:

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...es-265858.html

If you set on the GT7 make sure you spend a good amount of time on your PDI and don't take possession until everything has been addressed. If it's your first RV, look into hiring a RV inspector. May be worth the investment.

The Georgetown GT series are mounted on a Ford F-53 chassis. Call your local Ford dealers in your area and see if they will do any warranty work on your RV if you were to buy.

I'm starting to look for a diesel pusher or Super C built before COVID. Haven't decided which manufacturer or model yet. Something with a King bed and 1-1/2 baths at the minimum.

Don't get me wrong I like my GT5, a nice entry level to RVing. Just would've liked to see better care to detail.

[NXR]

Can't answer that but since the 5,500 watt Onan we have will run everything I never understood why people would select the 7,000 watt Onan. It spins faster and thus eats more fuel and thus is noisier.

The 5,500 watt NPS generator with a Yamaha gas engine also would run everything. The later ones will throttle up and down with load to produce less noise. It's also a hundred pounds lighter than the Onan 5500 plus it has a pull start if you need it, unlike an Onan.

The difference between a 6,000 watt generator and a 7,000 watt generator is minuscule. Why did FR decide to go with a 6,000 watt? Who knows? They eliminated propane-electric RV fridges completely in 2024 in all models in favor of all residential fridges. Maybe they are planning further propane reductions like going with an induction cooktop or similar. Or maybe it was just a better deal for them because NPS may drop the 5500 watt version so they wanted to be ready.

Ray

[realshelby]

My 2023 GT7 ( 36D7) came standard with the 7000 Onan generator. Listed on all paperwork as standard. I don't know about the 2024, but do NOT assume Forest River is doing the "right thing". Sounds like they are lowering content value. It is likely that the Yamaha will run everything you need to run. But you may run into issues running both AC's, fridge is on, coach batteries need charging, and doing laundry at the same time.
I would not worry about the generator too much if in the market. I do like the reserve of the 7000 Onan. It is the most quiet generator I have ever had and seems to sip fuel at a very low rate. But maybe the Yamaha is just as good.

[NXR]

Both Onan models, the 5500 and the 7000, are pretty light on fuel usage. Obviously "half load" on the Onan 7000 produces more power than "half load" on the Onan 5500 so they are pretty close.

I found two NPS spec sheets and attached those as well.


As usual, there seems to be some "marketing" going on with the model numbers and spec sheets...

The NPS 5500 is rated to produce 41.6 amps and 120 VAC * 41.6 amps = 4,992 amps yet they claim a 5,500 watt capacity.

The Onan 5500 is rated to produce 45.8 amps and 120 VAC * 45.8 amps = 5,496 watts.

The NPS 6000 is rated to produce 45.8 amps and 120 VAC * 45.8 amps = 5,496 watts, the same as an Onan 5500, yet NPS is claiming "Max. Output 6,000 watts".

The Onan 7000 is rated to produce 58.3 amps and 120 VAC * 58.3 amps = 6,996 watts.

Generally inverter generators are rated to produce more power for shorter periods of time and the NPS is an inverter generator (meaning the gas engine produces electrical power used to run an inverter to produce the power actually being output.)


A 30-amp pedestal is rated to produce 3,600 watts when pulling 30 amps but really are sized for 80% of that continuously, or 24 amps or 2,880 watts.

A 50-amp pedestal is rated to produce 12,000 watts (two 50-amp circuits) when pulling 50 amps on each leg but really are sized for 80% of that continuously, or 40 amps per leg or 4,800 watts per leg or 9,600 watts total.

But for the actual equipment installed in a Georgetown a 50-amp pedestal is overkill. If we all had three air conditioners and really large water heaters a 50-amp pedestal would make more sense. That's why DP's often have 10,000 watt or larger generators.


Does any of those differences matter in the real world? Maybe, maybe not. Most loads are intermittent so things are not all running at the same instant (two air conditioners producing cooling, a water heater warming water, a fridge cooling down, etc.) except when the motorhome is first powered on.

In addition, the residential fridges usually pull a few hundred watts versus a Norcold 1210 at 450 watts or a Norcold 2118 at 600 watts. Add to that the far better insulation in a residential fridge and a residential fridge is not only using less electrical power, it actually needs to cool down a lot less than an RV fridge does.


If you're worrying about 1 gallon per hour of fuel burn with either of the available generators you need to go fill up a 5-gallon can with gas and dump it a few times into the motorhome tank.

My 2023 GT7 ( 36D7) came standard with the 7000 Onan generator.

Good to know and that's more marketing, probably, because higher-end products should have high-end equipment. The GT7's came with residential fridges so their electrical power needs actually are slightly less than our GT5 with an RV propane/electric fridge.

Ray