Removing the generator - asking for suggestions/opinions. - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Anna + 1 Yorkie · RV-Dreams Community Member

Removing the generator - asking for suggestions/opinions.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

I guess that's ones preference........But always nice to have an onboard generator for emergencies.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've seen a guy that had mount a small generator on the back bumper of his trailer. I suppose you could do the same. Have a small one for emergencies. Then you could use the old generator space for batteries. However something to keep in mind is any decent sized battery bank is going to be HEAVY.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sounds like you'll be doing some boondocking, and while fortifying your solar and battery capacity is probably a good thing, a genny is very useful for the average user. Can you find another place to mount a battery bank? As Trailerking said, maybe you could get a small portable like a Honda EU2000i (or even a EU1000i), you'd still need to put it somewhere secure. I think (not sure) some gennies can be converted to run on propane, would that be a possibility? I have seen some "creative" ways to add batteries in RVs with limited space available. Try YouTube for some examples.

The reason to have the genny is two-fold... the weather will most certainly not co-operate with your plans and RV park electricity can be unreliable at times. So you should not rely on solar only. Some people do, but they are, relatively, very diligent with power consumption... if you are too, then knock your socks off! smile

When we finally hit the road, we will have both solar and a genny but we will also have room for both extra batteries and the genny in any RV we select.

-- Edited by biggaRView on Friday 10th of April 2015 05:37:27 AM

A-S Travelers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Anna + 1 Yorkie wrote:
I am thinking of having the generator removed from my RV and possibly changing that area to where a battery bank could reside for my solar.
Has anyone done this?
Anyone have any opinions?

The reason I want to remove the generator is it uses gas from the gas tank which is needed to drive the vehicle. I have (1) 40 gallon tank and would rather not use the generator when I could use solar.

Unless you will be running the generator for hours on end, 10-30 hours, it won't deplete your gas tank enough to worry about. Even running the generator to power the air conditioner will consume less than 1/2 gallon of gas per hour. Running the genny to charge batteries will use more like 1/4 to 1/3 gallon per hour.

If you just want to get rid of the genny, no problem there. I'm just talking about gas usage. Also you won't find an easier more efficient way to power the generator, than from the gas tank on your MH. Converting to propane will use more propane per hour of usage, and getting the propane tank filled is more of a hassle than gas in the gas tank.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Also remember that an on-board generator will not drain your gas tank, since the fuel intake is up the tank wall leaving 1/4 to 1/3 of your fuel for the engine.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

There may even be a location to mount the batteries underside the RV. You'd however want something totally maint. free so not having to keep checking and topping up water. That way can likely tuck some batteries up along the frame even.