Why no built in generators?

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by mgm

am still considering getting a generator, and the built in one suits me better the external.
Do you have any photos?...

scan/read some of the longer or older genset threads,

lots of good info from those actually using these things.

an early important decision is how BIG, which should be based on how MUCH stuff u wanna power.

IF you wanna run the ac on genny juice this is important.

not a lot of interior space on a 25,

so u need to decide what space is worth giving away for only a few hours use.

a built in, to be safely done takes much effort.

look at how/where mohos put the gensets

and how much effort goes into the space, wiring, fuel, safety and so on...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f448...ator-2191.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f448...ream-4935.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f448...ics-60164.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f448...tor-54172.html

this is one of those regular/recurring questions

that gets asked primarily by inexperienced streamers or those just day dreaming.

who then abandon the idea after realizing the costs/issue/effort needed to do it properly.

there are many threads with photos of diy genset box inside/under beds...

you can find them, imo almost NONE of those efforts are safe or should be considered.
________

vehicle mounting has some nice advantages...

like a readily available fuel suppy, or open space

or the ability to use the genset when NOT near the stream...

i carry (in da truck) and use one as much or more, away from the trailer.

tongue mounting is a nice compromise (outside but on trailer)...

and some develop elaborate boxes on the tow vehicle.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f448...ion-30513.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f37/...ors-45284.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f448...uck-67192.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f448...ell-48498.html

again start by deciding WHY and how the genset will be used,

then sort out size/fuel preferences and consider all the carry/mount locations.

another nice feature 2 starting with a easy to carry eu2000i or yam'

is resale/upgrade without tearing UP the stream again.

cheers
2air'

[GetOutDoors]

Then you just might be interested in buying this one (you can see pictures of where the generator is located by clicking the pictures link) .... 1966 Custom 22 foot Trailer - Airstream Trailer Classifieds - Airstreams Trailers For Sale

Originally Posted by Dave Park

My "forever" Airstream will have a generator installed, with 12v for charging and 110v with enough current to run a 15k btu A/C and a couple of smaller devices.

I decided to place it just forward of the wheel well on the passenger side, fully enclosed and insulated, air in from below ...

[Dave Park]

I'll also add that my genset decision was a tough one - it makes little conventional logic or economic sense.

I mainly would use this AS in National Parks that often do not have hookups, and mainly during the hottest part of the year. I anticipate that if I did NOT have it, I would find that limiting my options. Since I can buy and install the genset during the rebuild for under $1,000, it is worth the extra flexibility it buys me.

[slowmover]

Noise, vibration and lack of electronic ignition. ONAN -- with those KOHLER engines -- were and are great, but hea-vy! What I recall from servicing generators from the 1970's were the usual problems caused by intermittent use and bad points, tired batteries, carb adjustments, altitude, etc. A bulletproof motor, though.

I, too, want a TT with a generator, and am torn by the number of compromises in wanting to run A/C. Trucks with PTO generators limit flexibility, etc.

There is an early '90's SILVER STREAK I have seen sold twice in the past few years that was customized by the factory for a disabled owner that has an onboard generator . . I keep hoping it will show up for some photo's and info (same with detailed photo's of a CAN AM installation).

[GetOutDoors]

Things are not what they were: the system I installed, an Onan Microlight genset (6000 hour life vs. 1000 -1200 hours from a Yamaha or Honda) weighs 113 lbs. And with the duramax sound-proofing applied to the 20 gauge fire box the genset sits in I can easily carry on a conversation without raising our voice (and I wear hearing aids).

It runs off the front propane tanks, so the carbon footprint is minimal (way less then it takes to create an extra Aux. battery). Additionally, I don't have to worry about filling up an addition fuel tank, or worry about the carb. gumming up.

[withidl]

Originally Posted by mgm

Kind of interested in the Genset, i just recently took my Airstream back to the factory and had the Solar Panels installed, but am still considering getting a generator, and the built in one suits me better the external. Do you have any photos? and do you mind sharing what the price of your setup went for?

mgm, because the genset was a “turnkey” with the AS purchase from Can-AM RV, London, Ontario, Canada in June of 2001 I can’t give you an exact $$$ amount, but it was about $3,500 to $4,000. This included the genset, 30 gallon aluminum fuel tank (25 gallons accessible), installation and wiring. The genset weighs about 175 lbs., I’d guess the ¾” enclosure weighs about 20 lbs. and the empty aluminum tank and lines weighs about 35 lbs. for a total of approximately 230 lbs. With the fuel tank and fuel in the front spare tire holder and the genset in the rear the total package is balanced weight wise.

The Onan Microquiet 4000 (120 volt, 33 amp, 4,000 watt) powers the following combinations simultaneously: Air conditioner (16 amps), microwave (14 amps), refrigerator, converter, satellite receiver & laptop computer’s AC power supply (used as TV). If I want to use the electrical side of the hot water heater (15 amps) I have to make sure I don’t use the microwave (14 amps) or the genset breaker will trip; but realistically using genset gasoline and wear & tear to heat water doesn’t make sense when the water can be heated with LP gas.

Speaking of LP gas, Onan makes a Microquiet 4000 which runs on LP gas. The plus side is that it’s less maintenance intensive; the negative side is that LP fuel capacity is limited. My 25 gallons of accessible gasoline will run the genset for more than 50 continuous hours.

Per your request for photos I just took the following (photo of curbside storage door access blocked by “tight slip”. I included some of my “tight slip” photos to also show how maneuverable the Hensley hitch and short wheel base X5 are):

[withidl]

Originally Posted by mgm

Kind of interested in the Genset, i just recently took my Airstream back to the factory and had the Solar Panels installed, but am still considering getting a generator, and the built in one suits me better the external. Do you have any photos? and do you mind sharing what the price of your setup went for?

Continuing with photos as site limits me to 10 each per messsage.

[withidl]

Originally Posted by mgm

Kind of interested in the Genset, i just recently took my Airstream back to the factory and had the Solar Panels installed, but am still considering getting a generator, and the built in one suits me better the external. Do you have any photos? and do you mind sharing what the price of your setup went for?

Continuing with still more photos as site limits me to 10 each per messsage.

[wasagachris]

for those of you that were talking about the ONAN propane fired 12VDC battery charger generators. This is what they looked like. The Airstream factory price installed in 1973 was $400.00

[2airishuman]

lots of nice pix...

the old stuff, the diy stuff and newer stuff...

with' u really need 2 start a thread JUST on your unit...

folks would love to see all the tweaks, n mods and customizations.

your genset install is pretty much like a/s dealers starting doing it in the 70s...

with a few evolutionary updates.

4000$ 10 years ago, wow.

while u seem fine with it, 25 gallons of gasoline under the tongue would NOT b my choice..

again all nifty tweaks.

cheers
2air'

[withidl]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

lots of nice pix...

the old stuff, the diy stuff and newer stuff...

with' u really need 2 start a thread JUST on your unit...

folks would love to see all the tweaks, n mods and customizations.

your genset install is pretty much like a/s dealers starting doing it in the 70s...

with a few evolutionary updates.

4000$ 10 years ago, wow.

while u seem fine with it, 25 gallons of gasoline under the tongue would NOT b my choice..

again all nifty tweaks.

cheers
2air'

"lots of nice pix...

the old stuff, the diy stuff and newer stuff...

with' u really need 2 start a thread JUST on your unit...

folks would love to see all the tweaks, n mods and customizations".

Thanks (pix), but no thanks on starting a thread.

"4000$ 10 years ago, wow".

I pulled from memory $3,500 to $4,000, turnkey install. A new Onan 4000 today prices at about $2,700; add an aluminum fuel tank, plumbing, wiring, exhaust and the labor to install and it would probably cost over $5,000 today, so I think it was probably reasonable.

"while u seem fine with it, 25 gallons of gasoline under the tongue would NOT b my choice".

I only carry about 3 to 4 gallons while traveling and fill with estimated need prior to camping. What would be your choice?

"again all nifty tweaks".

Thanks!

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by withidl

...I only carry about 3 to 4 gallons while traveling and fill with estimated need prior to camping. What would be your choice?...]

my choice is carrying the genset IN the truck bed.

there is no 1 correct choice

but i've seen enough streams come OFF the ball (in wrecks) to not want gasoline under the trailer.

much depends on WHY one wants gen power or HOW one will use a genset...

boondocking is not about using the air conditioner (for me) i'd rather shift to a more pleasant climate.

using 75-100$ worth of gasoline over a weekend makes full hookups relatively IN expensive...

and so on.

check any/most of the genset vs solar threads and they are full of compromises or customized setups.

i sorta doubt mgm will be attracted to 5,000$ for a genset arrangement

and doubt the o.p. is even READing at that price point...

that you like your setup is clear and cool.

cheers
2air'

[withidl]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

my choice is carrying the genset IN the truck bed.

there is no 1 correct choice

but i've seen enough streams come OFF the ball (in wrecks) to not want gasoline under the trailer.

much depends on WHY one wants gen power or HOW one will use a genset...

boondocking is not about using the air conditioner (for me) i'd rather shift to a more pleasant climate.

using 75-100$ worth of gasoline over a weekend makes full hookups relatively IN expensive...

and so on.

check any/most of the genset vs solar threads and they are full of compromises or customized setups.

i sorta doubt mgm will be attracted to 5,000$ for a genset arrangement

and doubt the o.p. is even READing at that price point...

that you like your setup is clear and cool.

cheers
2air'

Regarding "coming off the ball", I agree that a ruptured fuel tank would be problematic ......... but then so are those two 7.5 gallon each LPG bombs we all carry essentially exposed on the tongue. One must always be very consertive when towing and never get complacement.

As to usage, I do like the convenience of using the AC and microwave while stopped enroute, especially when fleeing hurricanes. And at home the genset makes for a good back-up power source. It's kept my refrigators powered during outages from tropical storms and hurricanes (I live in Houston).

[NevadaGeo]

I love this place! It's so vast some folks have fair weather and have no use for an A/C, others need A/C 5 months a year. Some folks have high humidity and a swamp cooler won't work for them, my weather station frequently stops recording humidity at below 10% and a swamp cooler will usually do what I need, and my hydrocarbon intense silicon based solar panels should be able to charge that. Some dihydrogenoxide spewing carbon units want to overpower and limit the hydrocarbon productive use energy units that people may need to use for work. Love this place!

[slowmover]

Thanks, WITHIDL, for the photos!!!!!

Yes, a thread of it's own would be great.

As to explosions, have seen what happens to an aluminum trailer after the propane system goes when the trailer rolls over. Nothing but frame and scraps.

I like that 50-hours is possible with that setup. Living on the Gulf Coast is reason enough to want an RV with a generator so as to:

1] Choose where to live afterwards (long term temporary)
2] Live onsite (ruined home; during re-construction)
3] Have options when the power goes out under normal circumstances.
4] Being able to run A/C constantly under any circumstances.

(A/C use down here is at least nine months -- not five).

Thanks again for responding to the request for photos . . and that is some parking spot!
.

[withidl]

Originally Posted by REDNAX

Thanks, WITHIDL, for the photos!!!!!

Yes, a thread of it's own would be great.

As to explosions, have seen what happens to an aluminum trailer after the propane system goes when the trailer rolls over. Nothing but frame and scraps.

I like that 50-hours is possible with that setup. Living on the Gulf Coast is reason enough to want an RV with a generator so as to:

1] Choose where to live afterwards (long term temporary)
2] Live onsite (ruined home; during re-construction)
3] Have options when the power goes out under normal circumstances.
4] Being able to run A/C constantly under any circumstances.

(A/C use down here is at least nine months -- not five).

Thanks again for responding to the request for photos . . and that is some parking spot!
.

Your more than welcome! If you need other photos just let me know and I'll try to provide them.

[Snedwid]

I'm a thinkin' that the key to all this is how you use the unit and your expectations. I'm currently on an extended trip, and am working on evaluating my set up. I have 2 Honda 2k's hooked up to a 6? gal extended gasoline tank, semipermently mounted in the truck bed. I can run them under the cover of the bed lid if'n its raining, and they are leashed with heavy cable and locks. Out habit is to overnite in the usual walmarts, truck stops, rest areas, or other spots to park. They will run both the ac and microwave, and are not much more trouble than hooking up shore power. Upon arrival at a destination, we'll get into a trailer/rv park and do hook ups, drop the AS and go around acting like tourest. So far, so good but, I'm planning a new truck, and will modify a little. The new truck will have a utility body, so I can mount the gen sets in the body panel lockers a little more permament, and I'll tap into the truck fuel sys for the gas, or do a large dedicated propane tank. The biggest draw back so far is that I have to put on my pants to go out and shut them off, but I'll try to get a remote shutdown on the new truck.

[dljosephson]

We use solar for almost everything. I considered making a mount for our 2 kW Honda for the cloudy weekends but decided to keep hauling it as a portable -- running it 100 feet away in the woods rather than having it vibrating the trailer was entirely worth the bother.

[triplenet]

withidl,

Do you tow the 31' with an X5?
We are considering the new Cayenne. Our GX470 does OK, but could use more power. The GX has 150K on it, which means we can easily get another 50K. Problem is it is so nicely finished inside, other SUV's look really tacky. I looked at a "Platinum" Seqouia this week. It was too big and looked cheap.
We don't want a humongous truck for the occasional AS trip.

Your backing up must be an issue with the pool in the driveway!

Bob

[withidl]

Originally Posted by triplenet

withidl,

Do you tow the 31' with an X5?
We are considering the new Cayenne. Our GX470 does OK, but could use more power. The GX has 150K on it, which means we can easily get another 50K. Problem is it is so nicely finished inside, other SUV's look really tacky. I looked at a "Platinum" Seqouia this week. It was too big and looked cheap.
We don't want a humongous truck for the occasional AS trip.

Your backing up must be an issue with the pool in the driveway!

Bob

See the following link for a detailed and very spirited discussion on my 2001 X5 4.4i (with Sport Package & Dinan engine/transmission upgrades), Hensley hitch and 31 foot 2002 ASCL (8,300# GVWR) assembly which I have pulled over 32,000 miles.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463/tow-vehicle-consultant-68904-3.html

The Porsche Cayenne has been used by Airstream to do testing, pulling I believe, a 25 foot trailer. It is just as powerful and stable (get “Sport Pkg.”) as the X5 so it should, with a Hensley or equivalent hitch, handle any length Airstream with ease. If I were to purchase another X5 today I would get the diesel which was not available in 2001. As to the interior, the X5 is first class, but having looked a the Cayenne its interior didn’t appeal to me.

As to my maneuvering into the back yard by the pool, it takes about 1 ½ hours to back it in. Backing from the center of the street I “break” the AS to the street side over the curb and up hill about 15 feet to “thread” it through the 13 foot wide gate in the corner of the yard, trying to keep the street side of the AS from “just missing” the tall pine tree on it’s street side which positions the trailer to “break” a second time to the street side to thread it into my 10 foot wide “tight slip” between wings of the house. The AS wheels on the curb side do pass over the pool decking (but do not touch the coping/edge). Pulling out is much easier as it does not require any maneuvering, just a hard left turn from the “slip” followed by another hard left turn into the street.

I might note that without the X5’s all wheel drive I wouldn’t be able to back it into the yard as a two wheel drive vehicle does not have enough traction on the grass, especially when it is wet.