Generator use info

[RACarvalho]

Hello everybody.
I'm trying to collect some market information on RV generators and I'd like to ask the folks that have on board generators to identify from the list below, what would be the one thing that you would like to IMPROVE regarding your experience with on board generators.

List:
Lower Acquisition cost
Lower operation cost
Lower Maintenance cost
Reduce vibration
Reduce noise
Other? => Please specify.

Thank you very much for any input,

[Bodiedog]

1. Reduce Noise
2. Shift to LP. These gas generators are not tolerant to the ethanol fuel we put in our vehicles. Maybe a fuel shut-off valve would help so you can burn up all the fuel. Very maintenance intensive.

[CHICKDOE]

of course lower acquisition cost is desirable. I do not have experience with gas or diesel fueled generators. I have an onan lp gas on-board generator. there is very little to do to it. no fuel filter or pump. no priming required. do carburetor to gum up. some people say you have to down rate the generator when running on propane but I think they are referring to the dual fuel models where it loses some capacity when running on propane as opposed to gas. but the onan tech assured me that the onan lp models output the same capacities as a similarly rated gas model.


one other thing to consider is the warranty period. onan has a 2 year full warranty and a 3 year major components warranty. unfortunately I had an issue but it was completed corrected under the warranty without any cost to me.


one other thing to consider for onboard is the installation and fabrication cost and effort. if you are buying a new rv and want an onboard generator, I would strongly recommend that you have the factory install it. it is just easier for them and less costly. or at least get the generator prep option. to have an outside party do all the fabrication required to install an on board generator takes some effort. not saying that there aren't competent people that do this every day. but it does take some effort.