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Generator question

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livinonlove&horses
Reg. Sep 2012
Posted 2014-08-18 11:48 AM (#160442)
Subject: Generator question


Member


Posts: 11

Location: MO
Hi folks! My husband and I are in the process of ordering a LQ trailer. We want a generator with it. We are putting the generator on the roof(Trail Boss is our lq). We have never had one before and my husband is worried about the carburetor on the generator getting gunked up. He says the gas will get skunky. We aren't on the road all the time but we do go to more places without hookups. We thought about a diesel generator but they are quite a bit more expensive. We are looking at Onan generators. Would love any advice!!
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kooner
Reg. Jun 2011
Posted 2014-08-18 12:51 PM (#160444 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 350
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Location: Penrose, Colorado
if your not using it on a regular basis put Stabil in the fuel tank and that will cure the gunking problem, as far as brands Onan is a wise choice for a roof mount.
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livinonlove&horses
Reg. Sep 2012
Posted 2014-08-18 1:46 PM (#160446 - in reply to #160444)
Subject: RE: Generator question


Member


Posts: 11

Location: MO
Originally written by kooner on 2014-08-18 12:51 PM

if your not using it on a regular basis put Stabil in the fuel tank and that will cure the gunking problem, as far as brands Onan is a wise choice for a roof mount.
Yes he said we could do that but he's not thrilled about it. My husband says if there is gas left in the carburetor when shut off it will gunk up there. Trail boss says we should fire it up and let it run atleast once a month as it is. Do many of you all have trouble with yours? I don't want a propane generator
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retento
Reg. Aug 2004
Posted 2014-08-18 2:02 PM (#160447 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Location: Rocky Mount N.C.

Shut the gasoline off at the tank, let the engine run until the carb is empty and dry....  Turn fuel valve on before next use. Best to keep fuel off when on the road, bumps in the road shake the float letting a bit of gas by and it sometime migrates into the crankcase diluting the engine oil.

 

 

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kooner
Reg. Jun 2011
Posted 2014-08-18 2:33 PM (#160450 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 350
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Location: Penrose, Colorado
as long as you run it at least once a month and keep fresh fuel and or stabil in it you should not have any problems but you should also not keep the same gas in it over a year at a time, if you have an overly large fuel tank I would not keep it full, we have a 30 gallon tank on ours and during the winter if we are not using it much I do not add gas to it until I really need to.
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Rostrenga
Reg. Mar 2004
Posted 2014-08-18 5:04 PM (#160454 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 211
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Location: El Paso, Texas
Just curious, why don't you want a propane generator?
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akinstrailers
Reg. Apr 2009
Posted 2014-08-18 7:16 PM (#160456 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 146
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Location: Harrisburg, OR
Trail Boss is probably aware of this but we just got notice any Onan generators installed after 10/31/14 will need to be installed below 5' or it will void the warranty. 
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hornet
Reg. Mar 2010
Posted 2014-08-18 8:32 PM (#160457 - in reply to #160456)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Location: Missouri
Originally written by akinstrailers on 2014-08-18 7:16 PM

Trail Boss is probably aware of this but we just got notice any Onan generators installed after 10/31/14 will need to be installed below 5' or it will void the warranty. 


That seems stupid, wonder what Onan's reasoning is.
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rockyrider
Reg. Jun 2004
Posted 2014-08-19 3:24 AM (#160461 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Is there a Solar Powered  Generator available with enough power to run our trailers? Probably need about 5000w for A/C, Microwave, heat systems?
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hornet
Reg. Mar 2010
Posted 2014-08-19 6:10 AM (#160462 - in reply to #160461)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 379
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Location: Missouri
There is no such thing as a solar powered generator, but there are solar panels you could install. That would be a lot of panels to equal up to 5000w plus the inverter to convert the solar panel voltage to 120v AC.
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livinonlove&horses
Reg. Sep 2012
Posted 2014-08-19 10:06 AM (#160465 - in reply to #160462)
Subject: RE: Generator question


Member


Posts: 11

Location: MO
Thanks everyone! I don't want a propane because I don't want to have to refill or exchange bottles. Gas is more accessible. I guess if it voids my warranty so be it. I'm not having that sucker in my manger or back tack. So next question. Thinking the 5.5 would be better than the 4.0? We will have a 16000 but furnace.
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kooner
Reg. Jun 2011
Posted 2014-08-19 10:23 AM (#160466 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Location: Penrose, Colorado
the furnace will not take much to run, the air conditioner and microwave pull the most power, we have a 4.0 and have not had problems but we do turn the air off while microwaving ,we may not have to but just always done it that way. What is the cost difference between the 2?
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livinonlove&horses
Reg. Sep 2012
Posted 2014-08-19 10:48 AM (#160467 - in reply to #160466)
Subject: RE: Generator question


Member


Posts: 11

Location: MO
Originally written by kooner on 2014-08-19 10:23 AM

the furnace will not take much to run, the air conditioner and microwave pull the most power, we have a 4.0 and have not had problems but we do turn the air off while microwaving ,we may not have to but just always done it that way. What is the cost difference between the 2?
$1000 is all
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akinstrailers
Reg. Apr 2009
Posted 2014-08-19 5:20 PM (#160473 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 146
10025
Location: Harrisburg, OR

Hornet, following is an excerpt from the letter:

Customers with large horse trailers and generators mounted onthe roof aft of the trailer axles have experienced two types of failures.  Forces applied to the genset have causedcarburetor models to stall due to fuel slosh / flooding as the vehicle is driven.  Installations that do not meet the hot airrecirculation requirements have a higher frequency of this failure mode.  These same forces have been shown to damage thegenset mounting & isolation systems. Broken limit bolts and subsequent damage to the exhaust, housing cover,fan shroud, fuel lines & wiring have been seen.

Testing to understand the magnitude ofacceleration on the isolation system was completed in September of 2012.  At frequencies above 20Hz, Horse Trailerinstallations significantly exceed design parameters of the generator.  Forces in excess of 30 g’s were recorded on aregular basis during testing.  Theseforce inputs FAR exceed the design limits of the generator. 
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hornet
Reg. Mar 2010
Posted 2014-08-19 7:46 PM (#160474 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 379
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Location: Missouri
Well anything mounted aft the axles is going to be subjected the same forces whether it's in the tack room or on the roof. Also seems to me there would be better cooling on the roof then crammed into compartment down below. But good info to know. Thanks!
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rockyrider
Reg. Jun 2004
Posted 2014-08-20 5:08 AM (#160478 - in reply to #160462)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 304
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For someone who works for Boeing, I would have thought you would surely be aware of modern technology. Here is just one of many solar generators available.   http://www.earthtechproducts.com/solar-e-power-cube-1500-plus.html 

 Costco in St. Peters has one just like this for around $5oo.  I was looking for one big enough to power trailer for a week or two at a time, but haven't found one that's affordable or portable enough yet. Hoping to tap into the knowledge of this board to assist in the search.  

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hosspuller
Reg. Oct 2003
Posted 2014-08-20 9:00 AM (#160479 - in reply to #160478)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Originally written by rockyrider on 2014-08-20 2:08 AM

For someone who works for Boeing, I would have thought you would surely be aware of modern technology. Here is just one of many solar generators available.   http://www.earthtechproducts.com/solar-e-power-cube-1500-plus.html 

 Costco in St. Peters has one just like this for around $5oo.  I was looking for one big enough to power trailer for a week or two at a time, but haven't found one that's affordable or portable enough yet. Hoping to tap into the knowledge of this board to assist in the search.  

Rockyrider ... That's a bit harsh.  Hornet's post is correct.  The "Power Cube" is nothing more than solar panels packaged in a box.    Unless the Power Cube has provision for tying their outputs together, it still will not power the usual RV A/C unit. 

Simple physics dictate the size of the solar panel needed to run, much less start a RV A/C without storage.   The power density of the sun's radiation on the surface of the earth is approximately 1.4 kW/m2    

Solar panels are much less than 100% effective in their conversion.

 

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ChopRod
Reg. Oct 2013
Posted 2014-08-20 5:05 PM (#160485 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 30
25
Location: Big Prairie, Ohio
AS a newbie to LQ horse trailers, we are happy with the generator that was on our trailer as we purchased it used not new. Onan 3600 running on propane. Mounted in front under the goose. Easy to check oil and service. Plus propane runs so much cleaner. Operates 8-10 hrs on one tank before switching over. TSC stores have propane stations and are everywhere here in Ohio. Our trailer is 7'6" from the floor and have no interest in climbing on top let alone carrying gas cans up. Generator noise is more apparent in the bed over the gooseneck but with the AC on not so noticeable. If there was a place available in back at ground level, that would be ideal imo. But only with propane fuel. Have had a good sized Honda generator as a back-up for my home and am tired of all the issues dealing with gasoline whether you run it dry or not after shutting of the fuel. Will be converting it over to run on propane or natural gas. Just my 2 cents.
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Spin Doctor
Reg. Nov 2008
Posted 2014-08-20 7:47 PM (#160491 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 402
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Location: Valentine, NE
I heard a few months ago, from my LQ converison friend, that Bloomer is trying solar panels on top of the trailer to power everything. No idea if true or not, and wondered if that is even possible. He heard it from his driver when he brought up a Bloomer.....hummmm......
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livinonlove&horses
Reg. Sep 2012
Posted 2014-08-21 8:35 AM (#160499 - in reply to #160485)
Subject: RE: Generator question


Member


Posts: 11

Location: MO
Originally written by ChopRod on 2014-08-20 5:05 PM

AS a newbie to LQ horse trailers, we are happy with the generator that was on our trailer as we purchased it used not new. Onan 3600 running on propane. Mounted in front under the goose. Easy to check oil and service. Plus propane runs so much cleaner. Operates 8-10 hrs on one tank before switching over. TSC stores have propane stations and are everywhere here in Ohio. Our trailer is 7'6" from the floor and have no interest in climbing on top let alone carrying gas cans up. Generator noise is more apparent in the bed over the gooseneck but with the AC on not so noticeable. If there was a place available in back at ground level, that would be ideal imo. But only with propane fuel. Have had a good sized Honda generator as a back-up for my home and am tired of all the issues dealing with gasoline whether you run it dry or not after shutting of the fuel. Will be converting it over to run on propane or natural gas. Just my 2 cents.
You don't have to haul gas up top. Fuel tank is in rear tack and you fill it up just like your car. There is a spot on the outside of the trailer. I don't like propane because it doesn't run that long off a bottle. It's more expensive.
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ChopRod
Reg. Oct 2013
Posted 2014-08-21 12:53 PM (#160501 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 30
25
Location: Big Prairie, Ohio
Sounds good. Ones I've seen didn't have that set-up. Talked with another LQ owner who had a generator in back and her horses wouldn't stand still unless it was off. On top might be teh best but from posts above it seems that manufacturers are getting away from it. Have where others mount one in the truck bed. Might be the best place away from everything else. Easier to reach for maintenance and use any model generator you want and not worry about getting one that fit the compartment etc.
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kzanetti
Reg. Aug 2013
Posted 2014-08-22 12:48 PM (#160508 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


Member


Posts: 5

Location: weatherford,tx
put a fuel injected onan 5500.
no worries about gunk up.
installed over 100 never had issues.
have someone build correct generator rack on roof have no problems,
roof mount best way to go.
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RustyScupper
Reg. Mar 2013
Posted 2014-08-22 1:05 PM (#160509 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 113
100
Location: Wi
There are pro's and con's with every solution. I have a Honda 3000, pro's: very quiet, portable and can use around farm if you remember you have it. (was building deck and power went out, I packed up all my tools then remember I had it).

Con's very heavy. If you want to go portable I would go with qty 2 honda 2000's and run the parallel cable. If you aren't using the micro or AC you can just haul one.

Neighbor has a built in Onan. It is not fuel injected and carb needs to be cleaned. He is not mechanical, so to get it fixed he has to haul his whole trailer in. He wishes he had a portable one.

I am happy with my Honda, the internal battery needs to be replaced but I can pull start with one pull.

Good Luck in your decisions.

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livinonlove&horses
Reg. Sep 2012
Posted 2014-08-23 8:54 AM (#160513 - in reply to #160508)
Subject: RE: Generator question


Member


Posts: 11

Location: MO
Originally written by kzanetti on 2014-08-22 12:48 PM

put a fuel injected onan 5500.no worries about gunk up.installed over 100 never had issues.have someone build correct generator rack on roof have no problems,roof mount best way to go.
My generator compartment will be built by 4star when they build my trailer. I will look into the fuel injected one
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longearsruletwo
Reg. Feb 2011
Posted 2014-08-23 12:51 PM (#160516 - in reply to #160442)
Subject: RE: Generator question


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Posts: 96
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Location: Grapeland, Texas
I had an Onan propane generator mounted in the back of my truck for years with 2 bottles mounted next to it. Even had it wired so I could start it from inside the trailer. I loved it. Bought a new truck and haven't mounted it in there yet, haven't been many place I have needed a generator for a while. I bought an extra bottle just in case I needed it. A whole lot easier than messing with gas. And it does run cleaner.
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