dbbls
Missouri
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Joined: 09/29/2005
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Good Sam RV Club
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I chose propane because of the problem with gasoline gumming up. Don't have that problem with propane, and have never regretted the decision.
1999 F250 Superduty, V10 with Banks Power Pack
2004 Colorado 29RL 5th wheel with 3600 watt Onan
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Luke Porter
Not on the road :(
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Joined: 10/03/2000
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Finding somewhere to buy gas is way easier than propane.
Yep, actually drove to all of these places---in the last eight years. Missed Rhode Island and New Jersey.
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rcharles
Huntsville, AL
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Joined: 11/03/2009
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I have both a pair of Honda 2000s and a Onan 5500. The Honda 2000s are left from our old fifth wheel. My new to me just happened to come with a Propane Onan 5500. I like them both but I like the fact that I can just fire up the Onan when I need it instead of having to hook it up and fill it up. The propane does like to drink the gas.
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hoytauler
Southwest
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Joined: 10/25/2009
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I decided on Onan 5500 diesel.
Truck is same.
Built and installed 30 gal tank and fuel transfer from truck to trailer
190 gal of fuel on hand when truck is full.
I like not having to look for a campground when I am ready to pull over for the day. Food and drink in a hurry ya know.
Complete independence from any campground if I choose.
You will love having a Gen. as long as your not worrying about fuel usage and supply on hand.
Also on a hot day you can fire the Gen and AC and have the interior cooled down by the time you pull over for the day.
A Gen. is worth every dollar you spend if done right.
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mynetdude
Grants Pass, OR
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Joined: 10/04/2009
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hoytauler wrote:I decided on Onan 5500 diesel.
Truck is same.
Built and installed 30 gal tank and fuel transfer from truck to trailer
190 gal of fuel on hand when truck is full.
I like not having to look for a campground when I am ready to pull over for the day. Food and drink in a hurry ya know.
Complete independence from any campground if I choose.
You will love having a Gen. as long as your not worrying about fuel usage and supply on hand.
Also on a hot day you can fire the Gen and AC and have the interior cooled down by the time you pull over for the day.
A Gen. is worth every dollar you spend if done right.
How efficient are diesel Onan 5500 vs a gasoline Onan 5500? I would imagine the price tag is even higher for the diesel type.
'01 F350SD 7.3L PSD
'03 35' Dutchmen Victory Lane TH
'07 50cc Sym JetEuro moped/scooter
Isabel- My crazy dog
My Blog: Mynetdude's Thoughts - The Life Adventures of The Internet Dude
Only been RVing in OR/WA, drove to Tijuana & BC and flew everywhere else.
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hoytauler
Southwest
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Joined: 10/25/2009
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Hey mynetdude,
I think you will pay 2k more for the diesel
Fuel usage is .6 to .8 on half load. The same if not less than gas.
They weight in @ 400 lbs.
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laknox
Arizona
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Joined: 01/06/2008
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harley hitchiker wrote:If you had an option with new 5th wheel with generator would you select propane or gasoline as a fuel and why?
Get one that's fueled the same as your TV, though diesels are more expensive. Also, consider your electric load and see if you can find an inverter instead of a generator. MUCH easier on fuel, whether diesel or gas. I know that when I'm able to take the plunge, I'll seriously be considering going to two smaller inverters with a parallel connection rather than a traditional genpak. Since most of our camping is in the summer, when we're trying to get away from the Phoenix heat, we tend to go to places where AC isn't needed, so a smaller unit would fit the bill, but if we want more capacity, we could add the 2nd unit and be able to handle the AC. I'm thinking 2 x 2000eui Hondas with the parallel cables. I'd rotate using them to keep the hours the same unless I were running both. At about 50 lbs each, even my back can still lift 'em. Add an extended run tank and you've got nearly 20 hours of run-time on one unit.
Lyle
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax Crew Cab 4x4
Banks Bullet Tuner and Monster Exhaust
B&W Turnover Ball with 5th Wheel Companion
2004 Komfort 25FSG Fifth Wheel
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 50 Year Member
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mynetdude
Grants Pass, OR
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Joined: 10/04/2009
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laknox wrote:harley hitchiker wrote:If you had an option with new 5th wheel with generator would you select propane or gasoline as a fuel and why?
Get one that's fueled the same as your TV, though diesels are more expensive. Also, consider your electric load and see if you can find an inverter instead of a generator. MUCH easier on fuel, whether diesel or gas. I know that when I'm able to take the plunge, I'll seriously be considering going to two smaller inverters with a parallel connection rather than a traditional genpak. Since most of our camping is in the summer, when we're trying to get away from the Phoenix heat, we tend to go to places where AC isn't needed, so a smaller unit would fit the bill, but if we want more capacity, we could add the 2nd unit and be able to handle the AC. I'm thinking 2 x 2000eui Hondas with the parallel cables. I'd rotate using them to keep the hours the same unless I were running both. At about 50 lbs each, even my back can still lift 'em. Add an extended run tank and you've got nearly 20 hours of run-time on one unit.
Lyle
I actually have two EU2000s as well, I have looked for fueling solutions so that they could actually run on 20hrs of fuel but could not find any, all that has changed for me now. I bought a TH which has an Onan 4000w MicroLite genset and I have a huge inverter, no clue what the wattage is on it and I ahve two 6v batteries.
I would only use the inverter when I don't need to use A/C or any major appliances (other than the microwave, but not sure the batteries have enough juice to run the micro off the inverter).
for now most of my time will be spent hooked up to A/C, when I go visit my sister for one night I will get to try the inverter and possibly the genset.
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mynetdude
Grants Pass, OR
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Joined: 10/04/2009
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mynetdude wrote:laknox wrote:harley hitchiker wrote:If you had an option with new 5th wheel with generator would you select propane or gasoline as a fuel and why?
Get one that's fueled the same as your TV, though diesels are more expensive. Also, consider your electric load and see if you can find an inverter instead of a generator. MUCH easier on fuel, whether diesel or gas. I know that when I'm able to take the plunge, I'll seriously be considering going to two smaller inverters with a parallel connection rather than a traditional genpak. Since most of our camping is in the summer, when we're trying to get away from the Phoenix heat, we tend to go to places where AC isn't needed, so a smaller unit would fit the bill, but if we want more capacity, we could add the 2nd unit and be able to handle the AC. I'm thinking 2 x 2000eui Hondas with the parallel cables. I'd rotate using them to keep the hours the same unless I were running both. At about 50 lbs each, even my back can still lift 'em. Add an extended run tank and you've got nearly 20 hours of run-time on one unit.
Lyle
I actually have two EU2000s with the parallel kit (never used, and never used one of the two generators and will be selling one EU2000 and the parallel kit) as well, I have looked for fueling solutions so that they could actually run on 20hrs of fuel but could not find any, all that has changed for me now. I bought a TH which has an Onan 4000w MicroLite genset and I have a huge inverter, no clue what the wattage is on it and I ahve two 6v batteries.
I would only use the inverter when I don't need to use A/C or any major appliances (other than the microwave, but not sure the batteries have enough juice to run the micro off the inverter).
for now most of my time will be spent hooked up to A/C, when I go visit my sister for one night I will get to try the inverter and possibly the genset.
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laknox
Arizona
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Joined: 01/06/2008
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mynetdude wrote:laknox wrote:harley hitchiker wrote:If you had an option with new 5th wheel with generator would you select propane or gasoline as a fuel and why?
Get one that's fueled the same as your TV, though diesels are more expensive. Also, consider your electric load and see if you can find an inverter instead of a generator. MUCH easier on fuel, whether diesel or gas. I know that when I'm able to take the plunge, I'll seriously be considering going to two smaller inverters with a parallel connection rather than a traditional genpak. Since most of our camping is in the summer, when we're trying to get away from the Phoenix heat, we tend to go to places where AC isn't needed, so a smaller unit would fit the bill, but if we want more capacity, we could add the 2nd unit and be able to handle the AC. I'm thinking 2 x 2000eui Hondas with the parallel cables. I'd rotate using them to keep the hours the same unless I were running both. At about 50 lbs each, even my back can still lift 'em. Add an extended run tank and you've got nearly 20 hours of run-time on one unit.
Lyle
I actually have two EU2000s as well, I have looked for fueling solutions so that they could actually run on 20hrs of fuel but could not find any, all that has changed for me now. I bought a TH which has an Onan 4000w MicroLite genset and I have a huge inverter, no clue what the wattage is on it and I ahve two 6v batteries.
I would only use the inverter when I don't need to use A/C or any major appliances (other than the microwave, but not sure the batteries have enough juice to run the micro off the inverter).
for now most of my time will be spent hooked up to A/C, when I go visit my sister for one night I will get to try the inverter and possibly the genset.
There are any number of people selling extended run kits for the Hondas; many of them on evil-Bay. What they boil down to is getting a new fuel cap; drilling a hole in it and putting a 90 degree ell with a quick-tach fitting, just like you'd use on an outboard motor. (I =think= some people use a down-pipe into the fuel tank on the generator.) Get an, can you guess?, outboard motor fuel can with the hose, female quick-tach fitting and priming bulb and hook it up. You have to fill the fuel tank on the generator pretty full for it to pull enough vacuum to suck the fuel from the external tank, but it will do it. Have 2 generators? Add a tee in the line and feed both from one tank. I've seen these for sale from $150 (ridiculous) on down to about $75 with a tank; less for only the caps and hose.
Lyle
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