Cummins Onan Generator

After reading the Forum threads on Generator Install, I went looking around to see what Generators would be best for my 37RE3. The literature from Carriage suggests a 5500 Onan model. I was a bit concerned with 2 a/c units that model might not be enough juice to run our Cameo. So, I looked at a 6500 model for the extra power it offered . Looks like about 3000 spare output even while running both a/c units. We have a local Cummins dealer in town so I called up the shop for a price installed … About $8,000 all included. Camping world was about $1K more. Is that reasonable? I don’t usually stay places with out power, but we are huge Rocky Mtn National Park enthusiasts and now we have to camp outside the park as we don’t have self contained power, and I am trying to weigh the advantages against the cost. Any views?

Thanks, Dan

Why not use propane I mean $8,000 gen run your a/c. Propane runs your refrig. hot water heater your furnace. the battery will run the water pump and if you are concern about amp hour get a golf cart battery and stay awhile it should be cool in the evening with out a/c.

I would look into a Honda inverter generator like the EU6500iS. Very steady and safe power. You can take it when you need it plus you can use it for other non RV related power needs. I have a 3000iS and it will run one A/C. Super quiet, super efficient and very reliable and at half the price.

Chip

http://powerequipment.honda.com/generat … s/eu6500is

We had the Onan 5500 installed, and frankly wish we’d have saved those dollars and done like Chip suggested. Woulldn’t think you’d need two A/C’s often in RMNP if that’s you’re main location.

Plus it’d be in the truck and we’d have more storage space in front basement. That’s our vote!

Having said that, ours does handle both A/C’s just fine, but we’ve not tested that out in weather above about 90! Does go thru the propane, though. One dealer had one and added a gasoline tank on his rig and used that version.

Here is a company that makes a propane conversion for all the Honda inverters.
Chip
http://www.generatorsales.com/order/Hon … i_Fuel_Kit

I asked a question about this if gas was better than propane for rv generators!
A friend pointed out it was easier to carry a 5 gallon can of gas, gas which can be found on any corner.
Where propane is a 30 gallon tank(what does that weight full 50/55lbs) and some time propane is harder to find.
With a propane gen on board I’d be toting 30 gallon bottle more than I do now.
Of course he then stated the older I get the heavier the 30 gallon tank gets, right!
So 5 gallons of gas 4.4l a lb = 22.05+-
propane 50/55lbs+-
I’M probably way off but there’s a huge weight difference I know that by toting them.
I’d rather carry the gas can and have a diesel gen..

gens go through propane pretty fast. I had a 5500 Onan in my Cyclone toy hauler and it ran everything very well. On my current Cameo I installed a Champion 4500 in the frt bay and it runs one AC and other stuff quite well. Good little gen and the price is right. They aren’t as good as a Honda or Yamaha but a lot less money for the occasional use I give it.

Hope it’s okay to revive this or high jack this thread.
I found a Onan 4000 lp for $1500 bought in 2011.
The web shows 4000 is a gasoline model but a conversion
wouldn’t be much. My rv is generator prep so IM good there.
I know it’s not enough to run 2 ac’s, but if electricity’s
out, at least one ac’s not bad.
What do you think of the price. IM trying to get the
person to send me serial number to check it out.
I still thinking a portable.

I bought a Onan 4000 out of a junked 1985 motorhome for $500.00. It starts and runs great. It is gas and I installed a boat gas tank. If I’m running the AC I put the fridge and hot water heater on gas and we have plenty of power for everything else.

We have an Onan 5500, (and 2 A/Cs) it will run everything in your RV.

I too use a Honda 3000is which I have installed (bolted down) on a slide in the front basement. To use it I just slide it out, plug in the cord and let it go. In the truck I carry a gas can AND a 20lb propane bottle for use with my grill and campstove etc (I like cooking outdoors). If I had a propane conversion I would use that bottle and when empty I could exchange it at any Wally World or convienence store along the way. So I could go either way, but with a conversion, I would not need to carry a gas can and would get rid of that danger. On the flip side, I would also loose some of the portability plusses that come with a gasoline unit. Heck, the gen runs 12 hr on one tank (3.5 gal) of gas. I will sometimes unbolt my gen and take it on my hunting trips to plug in the lights at the cabin or just to run a saw when doing some repairs around the place.

Can you post a picture of the front compartment roll out? It sounds like a great solution.

Sounds like you camp out without electricity quite a bit and need a gen. I had a 5500 Onan in my previous toy hauler trl but really didn’t use it a lot so the extra bunch of money involved was hardly worth it. It did however handle both ACs and a little more without a problem. On my Cameo that did not have one installed, I decided to have something that didn’t cost so much that I couldn’t justify it. I installed a 3500/4000 Champion into the front basement. I carry an extra five gallons of gas in the back of the pickup. The installation involved cutting a hole in the off door side of the bsmt, bolting the gen down, running an exhaust pipe through this hole and over to the door side. I fashioned a manifold to the exhaust pipe from the gen. I also ran a choke cable from the rear of the gen out to the frt dash of the gen. Total cost of the install was slightly over $400 which includes the gen and a day and half of my cheap time. The Champion has been very dependable, starts easily and I can justify the low cost for the occasional use.

Here are some pics of my install. Hope this works. Don’t post a lot of them.

Image no longer available. Deleted by ImageShack – Please Repost Image if possible with new method

I am really giving some serious consideration to adding the propane/natural gas option to my Honda. Thanks for the link Chip. If I can run my unit on gasoline or propane it would be very versatile. I just had a 20 lb tank filled and it was $13. If that is 4 to 5 gal then it is less than gasoline. Of course I know there is less energy in propane and I would need to monitor my usage a little closer, especially if my AC is running, but I love the fact that I am not carrying the plastic bomb (gas tank) around in the back of my truck.

It won’t run on both gas and propane. Its either/or, one or the other. Gas is more available and will last longer.

According to the web site, it is a tri-fuel carb. Accordingly, it says just to choose the fuel.

I’m not trying to hijack the thread but I was wondering if anyone has changed the oil on their Onan generator. It’s time for mine to be changed and was wondering if I should have it done or do myself. My only reservation is it looked kind of tight to add the oil, the fill nozzle is close to the top of the generator compartment.