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07-12-2012, 09:40 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 442
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When the temps get really hot, I always run the generator. I also have gotten used to running it for the fridge as well. I have never had a problem except for time I decided to wait to re-fuel until I got almost to my destination. Fuel dropped to low and pickup tube could no longer do its job. Never did that again. You should not have any problems running your generator when traveling down the road. As a matter of fact it is good to run it and give it some exercise besides the normal monthly start ups. Hours do not hurt the generator nearly as much as not using it.
__________________
John- 2011 Fleetwood Southwind 32V
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07-12-2012, 10:08 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner Carolina Campers
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Murphy, NC, USA
Posts: 1,117
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Hi,
You can run the generator while going down the road to operate the AC if the dash unit doesn't cool enough, however remember that the generator takes 1 gallon of gas an hour.
I normally run my fridge on auto and when going down the road it switches to propane and all is good. I don't run Gennie unless it is extremely hot and I want to cool it off so that it is cool when I stop. I also run the gennie when I stop for lunch.
One other point I would like to make and that is when camping whether in state park or wal-mart(not camping but overnighting) I only run the generator during the hours of 8AM til 10PM(not constantly) and never let it run to disturb neighbors.
Lastly if you run the gennie while dricing for 8 hours that is 8 gallons of fuel at $3.50 a gallon, you can figure it.
Enjoy!
__________________
2014 Winnebago Adventurer 35P,Ford F-53, V-10
2011 Ford Escape,2000 Roadmaster Tow Dolly
"Have a Great Day, Enjoy RVing."
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07-12-2012, 10:28 AM
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#17
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Junior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 4
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Our dash a/c didn't work when we bought the Bounder 2 years ago so we just run the generator with some fans when we travel. Works great for us but you do have to watch the gas level.
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07-14-2012, 06:50 PM
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#18
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,496
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I run my "gennie" all the time on the road. It keeps the roof AC running if it's hot and with it under load it is good for the brushes on the generator.You can't run it too much
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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07-14-2012, 07:27 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Spring Valley AZ
Posts: 1,226
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Quote:
Originally Posted by camperone
Our dash a/c didn't work when we bought the Bounder 2 years ago so we just run the generator with some fans when we travel. Works great for us but you do have to watch the gas level.
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I run a big Vornado fan facing the front and it really makes it nice.
__________________
Don, Mary and Spooky
'00 Bluebird Skoolie Conversion
Geo Tracker/Dodge Neon/Aprilia Scooter towed
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07-14-2012, 07:43 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 713
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My DW uses oxygen 24/7, so when when were on the road the gen set is running. Minimal fuel useage, but like said, keep an eye on the filter.
Don
You can't fix stupid but you can vote them out!
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07-15-2012, 10:20 AM
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#21
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2010
Location: San Felipe, Baja,MX
Posts: 280
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I had just never thought that running the generator was practical while driving until I read this ! Maybe I have been suffering for nothing? Sheesh, I've got to give this some more thought I mean just a gallon an hour for some serious comfort and I could be cooking dinner in the crock-pot at the same time makes for an enticing scenario that I might be able to live with
Especially crossing the desert like from Yuma to Tucson or Phoenix AZ in the summer (YIKES).
__________________
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness"
-- Mark Twain
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07-15-2012, 03:31 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club Mid Atlantic Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Salem, NJ
Posts: 337
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Generators are designed to be run. It doesn't know whether the coach is moving or not. Apart from the fuel use (1/2 to 1 gallon per hour, depending on gennie model) there is almost no good reason not to run the gennie when you want 120v power. They work much better when running. 10,000 hours is not an uncommon life time for a decent RV generator. Yes, check the AIR filter when running in dusty areas, and keep the oil at the correct level, and run it whenever you want. Noise is the only other issue, just be aware of it. Some primitive CGs don't allow gennies to be run at all. But on the road? Sure. Not a problem. That's what they're made for.
__________________
Always remember, you're a unique individual - just like the other 7 billion people on the planet...
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07-17-2012, 01:04 AM
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#23
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 30
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run generator + tv and WII = very quiet 9 year old
never have to answer --- are we there yet??
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08-05-2012, 07:07 PM
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#24
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Central Delaware
Posts: 19
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Anyone have any idea why my Generac would be turning off after about a 1/2 hr into the drive? Sitting still it'll run as long as there's fuel....I don't get it.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated....I haven't called the dealer or manufacturer, yet.
__________________
Jim and Lori with Bella(Terrier) and Bristel(Sheltie)
2014 Tiffin Phaeton 40AH
2001 Honda CR-v
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08-05-2012, 08:27 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Heaven's Scene
Posts: 803
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JGo1-n-Co
Anyone have any idea why my Generac would be turning off after about a 1/2 hr into the drive? Sitting still it'll run as long as there's fuel....I don't get it.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated....I haven't called the dealer or manufacturer, yet.
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What's your fuel level? If you are low 1/4 tank, you could be sucking in some air. The other thing that I have seen is overheating. I had one that would run about an hour on the road and shut down. I took off the outer cowling and it was full of mice nests. Cleaning them out fixed it.
Good luck!
__________________
2010 Damon Daybreak 3204 Sport, bunkhouse with Jeep Wrangler toad.
Improvise, adapt and overcome... "Semper Fi"
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08-05-2012, 08:31 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,886
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JGo1-n-Co
Anyone have any idea why my Generac would be turning off after about a 1/2 hr into the drive? Sitting still it'll run as long as there's fuel....I don't get it.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated....I haven't called the dealer or manufacturer, yet.
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Probably the same reason that my Onan 5500 Marquis and several other people's are doing the same thing: They're overheating or vapor locking.
If it's 100 degrees out, the temperature just above the pavement is probably 120 degrees or hotter.. Maybe worse, if you've got a Class-A with a motor in the front (like mine). We were getting about 1-3 hours from cold out of our generator depending on how many AC units we had on.
Park the thing in the dirt or park it and open the door to the basement and it'd run all night.
I *suspect* that mine was getting vapor locked. We'd have it rpm up/down before it shut down. Once it shut down, it would heat sink and wouldn't even try to start for another half hour or so. It got so bad, that on a trip down through Missouri a few weeks ago (106 degrees) that I stopped at sears and rigged up a generator on the tow hitch, which got us home...
Now that we're home, I can't reproduce the issue. However, as I suspect vapor lock, I'm going to replace the fuel pump and insulate it. I've already replaced the fuel line and over that line (as much as possible) I've run heater hose for more insulation.
To confirm vapor lock, once it shuts down, pull the fuel line (expect fuel to come out) - either prime the genset if you have that button, or hit the starter. No fuel then you know what the issue is.
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08-06-2012, 04:28 PM
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#27
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Central Delaware
Posts: 19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TAZ
What's your fuel level? If you are low 1/4 tank, you could be sucking in some air. The other thing that I have seen is overheating. I had one that would run about an hour on the road and shut down. I took off the outer cowling and it was full of mice nests. Cleaning them out fixed it.
Good luck!
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Thanks, Taz.
I was advised by the dealer, when purchasing the RV, the generator needs at least 1/4 tank of fuel to run....so I've never let the tank get that low.
I thought it might be overheating buy not getting enough air into the air intake as the RV travels down the road.
No mice, as I just changed the oil and got a good look at everything in and around the generator.
But good troubleshooting ideas.
Thanks again.
__________________
Jim and Lori with Bella(Terrier) and Bristel(Sheltie)
2014 Tiffin Phaeton 40AH
2001 Honda CR-v
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08-06-2012, 05:02 PM
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#28
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Central Delaware
Posts: 19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cb1000rider
Probably the same reason that my Onan 5500 Marquis and several other people's are doing the same thing: They're overheating or vapor locking.
If it's 100 degrees out, the temperature just above the pavement is probably 120 degrees or hotter.. Maybe worse, if you've got a Class-A with a motor in the front (like mine). We were getting about 1-3 hours from cold out of our generator depending on how many AC units we had on.
Park the thing in the dirt or park it and open the door to the basement and it'd run all night.
I *suspect* that mine was getting vapor locked. We'd have it rpm up/down before it shut down. Once it shut down, it would heat sink and wouldn't even try to start for another half hour or so. It got so bad, that on a trip down through Missouri a few weeks ago (106 degrees) that I stopped at sears and rigged up a generator on the tow hitch, which got us home...
Now that we're home, I can't reproduce the issue. However, as I suspect vapor lock, I'm going to replace the fuel pump and insulate it. I've already replaced the fuel line and over that line (as much as possible) I've run heater hose for more insulation.
To confirm vapor lock, once it shuts down, pull the fuel line (expect fuel to come out) - either prime the genset if you have that button, or hit the starter. No fuel then you know what the issue is.
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More good information, as well. I will check this out,too.
I was wondering, tho'....my intake is at the top of the generator, facing the door, then there's a side panel that directs the intake from the underside of the RV to the top. Cool air is sucked in from the bottom...what if the air is not going into the intake and just rushing by as the RV travels?
Anyone have a deflector at the intake opening to force air into the generator? I've thought about fabricating something to try and force the air in. Maybe like a three sided hood scoop, per say.
__________________
Jim and Lori with Bella(Terrier) and Bristel(Sheltie)
2014 Tiffin Phaeton 40AH
2001 Honda CR-v
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