Posted 2006-03-10 7:41 AM (#38574) Subject: Generator Question
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301 Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland
If we purchase a generator for our lq trlr and have an RV place install it, would anyone have a clue as to roughly how much they would charge to install it. Do they "bulk" at people like us. DHMCO wants $5500 for the whole enchilada. Do we have to have an RV dealer install this? What other options are there? PLEASE don't say "diy".......My husband is a teacher not a teacher/electrician/rv repairman.
Posted 2006-03-10 7:59 AM (#38576 - in reply to #38574) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Why not ask an RV place for a quote? If the Balk at you having a Horse Trailer, go down the road to the next place. Check with some of the local Horse Trailer dealers, see what they charge. If they are a business in the business of SELLING not SERVICING then yes they will not encourage your business. But any company that has a service center and makes it a profit center, should be glad to have your business.
But make sure you understand what is included in the price. Is it just a generator and a hour of labor to bolt it in the tack rooom, Yes you can get that done cheaper. But if it's a generator, some sheet metal fabracation to make space for the generator and door out the side of the trailer to access it, Circuit breaker panel and all wiring, with remote start. Then that's not a bad price.
Just make sure you compare apples to apples and decide what features you do or don't really need.
Posted 2006-03-10 8:21 AM (#38580 - in reply to #38576) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301 Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland
As I read some of the older posts the more I learn. I just might buy one that is super quiet and put it in the back of our pickup. I work for a fabricating sheet metal company too, and can get anything made for free! I like free......
Posted 2006-03-10 8:30 AM (#38583 - in reply to #38576) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Regular
Posts: 53 Location: Belle, MO
Blech. I have tried to write this post a few different times and it comes out sounding wrong every time!
One reasone they might balk at you buying the generator and them installing it, is because they are familiar with using certain parts and brands. If you bring in a different remote harness than they are used to using, it will take time for them to figure out any differences. Depending on where you want your generator installed, there is prep work that will have to be done. Then there's all the parts involved, gas tank, fuel gauge, wiring harness, remote start, transfer switch, yada, yada, yada.
The dealer will be used to working with a particular brand and know it's quirks. They can look at your setup and see any potential problems and really save you a lot of headache.
Although it seems like a company would be making a ton of money at $5500, they really aren't.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, onboard generators are expensive and I don't think there's any good way to get around it. (Unless you are really confident in your DIY abilities)
Painted Horse has good advice, make sure your all talking about the same thing.
So I hope that came out right. I didn't intend for it to be snarky in any way!
ETA - there are many advantages to having a portable generator. Not as convenient by any means, but nice in other ways.
Posted 2006-03-10 9:18 AM (#38589 - in reply to #38574) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301 Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland
Thanks to you both.
However, Diamond J, you have opened pandora's box! In your opinion and anyone else's, what are the advantages to haveing a portable generator? It wouldn't take much to convince me to go portable by the way. I like saving money.
Posted 2006-03-10 9:38 AM (#38592 - in reply to #38589) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by windwalker2 on 2006-03-10 8:18 AMIn your opinion and anyone else's, what are the advantages to haveing a portable generator? It wouldn't take much to convince me to go portable by the way. I like saving money.
Other uses! Like running tools in the back corner of the furthest pasture. Then again, when the power goes out during a storm. It's important to run the well and a few lights. You give up ease of use going portable, but you get flexibility and cost in return.
Posted 2006-03-10 9:44 AM (#38593 - in reply to #38574) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Regular
Posts: 53 Location: Belle, MO
***I need to preface this post with the fact that I am incredibly spoiled and my DH does all the starting, filling and moving of any generators, so of course they seem pretty darn convenient to me! :-)
Well, cost is a big advantage.
You can also use the generator for other things. (I hear welder being mentioned a lot) You can lend a portable one to a friend in need I'm sure there's more.. anyone? anyone?
If you're going a lot, I can see where a portable might be a PITB and an onboard might be a better choice.
All depends on your individual situation.
How's that for stradling a fence? Maybe there's a future in politics for me!
Posted 2006-03-10 10:13 AM (#38595 - in reply to #38574) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Expert
Posts: 1283 Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
If you go the portable route make sure you still buy the RV generator, RV gen sets(as they are called) run at 1800 rpm's, just a little more than idle. Generators from Home Depot run at 3600 rpm's, let's all say YOU AIN"T CAMPING NEXT TO ME WITH THAT THING!!!! loud. I go to NASCAR races with my LQ Trailer and I get comments like "Man, you can barley hear that thang runnin' " You go to a horse camp with a Home Depot generator and you will hear "Lady shut that *^**# thing off"
Posted 2006-03-10 2:52 PM (#38617 - in reply to #38574) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Michigan
Go with the super quiet Yamaha 3000 or 3500 extra boost....runs all the stuff I need with air. I love it. Prices out delivered around $1900. Very handy and easy to operate.
Posted 2006-03-11 10:33 AM (#38650 - in reply to #38574) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Veteran
Posts: 274 Location: MO in woods
Have 3000 Honda Gen. barely used to sell for $1600. an NO SALES TAX.Have all book an paperwork.We used 2 times last fall.Will get pics toady for emailing.It very very quite an runs air conditiong easily.
Posted 2006-03-11 10:55 AM (#38651 - in reply to #38574) Subject: RE: Generator Question
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Trempealeau Wi
You have all of the info you need on how big of generator you need. below is the math associated with those numbers. so the ac take max of 18?? so I would recommend you purchase a generator with 2x the ac requirements that way by the time you add lights, inverter etc you will be well within your electric draw needs
VOLTAGE (X) AMPS = WATTS 12 VOLTS X 250DC AMPS 3000 WATTS OR 120 VOLTS X 25 AMPS 3,000 WATTS
Example #2 WATTS
=AMPS
VOLTAGE
INVERTER - 250DC amps required to generate 3,000 watts
Posted 2006-03-19 12:40 AM (#39046 - in reply to #38574) Subject: RE: Generator Question
New User
Posts: 3
Location: CALIFORNIA
HERE'S AN IDEA THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO. GET HONDA'S OR YAMAHA'S(QUIETER), FIND OUT HOW MUCH GENERATOR YOU NEED, THEN GET TWO THAT ADD UP TO THAT REQUIREMENT, HOOK THEM UP IN SERIES TO SUPPLY THAT POWER. THE ADVANAGE IS YOU HAVE UNITS YOU CAN PICK UP AND MOVE UNLIKE ONE BIG HEAVY ONE YOU CAN'T. PLUS IF A BIG UNIT STOPS WORKING YOU HAVE NO POWER, BUT WITH THE TWO SMALLER UNITS IF ONE STOPS YOU CAN STILL USE THE OTHER UNIT FOR YOUR BASIC POWER NEEDS.
Posted 2006-03-19 6:31 AM (#39047 - in reply to #38574) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Expert
Posts: 2689
"Installation" requires:
Proper venting, proper positioning for adequate cooling air flow, proper "permanent" wiring.
How much of that is simple bolt in depends on how well the trailer manufacturer has made it (by design).
Portable Pros:
Well, "PORTABLE" {Duhh}. It can be used around the farm, home, wherever.
It can be moved out of the trailer itself, no vibration through the trailer's sheet metal. Cheaper - I like cheep.
Cons: It has to be lugged to/from the truck or trailer for every trip, not good for folk with bad backs, etc. You'd probably need a decent length hook-up cable (25 ft. ?, maybe 50ft for a light sleeper like me).
Possible theft issue - at camp, at home, at work if you leave it in the truck all week. This should be minor, you can save enough to buy a decent lock and cable for it.
Posted 2006-03-19 7:22 AM (#39048 - in reply to #39046) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by FLETCH on 2006-03-19 1:40 AM
HERE'S AN IDEA THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO. GET HONDA'S OR YAMAHA'S(QUIETER), FIND OUT HOW MUCH GENERATOR YOU NEED, THEN GET TWO THAT ADD UP TO THAT REQUIREMENT, HOOK THEM UP IN SERIES TO SUPPLY THAT POWER. THE ADVANAGE IS YOU HAVE UNITS YOU CAN PICK UP AND MOVE UNLIKE ONE BIG HEAVY ONE YOU CAN'T. PLUS IF A BIG UNIT STOPS WORKING YOU HAVE NO POWER, BUT WITH THE TWO SMALLER UNITS IF ONE STOPS YOU CAN STILL USE THE OTHER UNIT FOR YOUR BASIC POWER NEEDS.
NO !!!
Hooking them in series would give you 240 where you want 120 - and 480 where you want 240.
Try hooking them up in "Parallel" !!!
B'sides, that plan is WAY more expen$ive, the reliability is high enough that you don't need a redundant system - and the application isn't critical.
Posted 2006-03-19 10:32 AM (#39057 - in reply to #38574) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Regular
Posts: 90 Location: louisiana
I read alot about the noise of generators and going with a quieter model but even if you have a noisy one or buy a much cheaper but noisier model you can put a muffler on it (around $50) and it will make a dramatic difference. I know because down here in Louisiana with the hurricaines we have a generator that we use for power outages. Started using it when we needed trailer power and added a muffler. Works for me with very minimal cost because we already had the generator!!!!!!
Posted 2006-03-19 10:52 AM (#39059 - in reply to #39047) Subject: RE: Generator Question
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
Originally written by Reg on 2006-03-19 4:31 AM
"Installation" requires: Proper venting, proper positioning for adequate cooling air flow, proper "permanent" wiring. How much of that is simple bolt in depends on how well the trailer manufacturer has made it (by design). Portable Pros: Well, "PORTABLE" {Duhh}. It can be used around the farm, home, wherever. It can be moved out of the trailer itself, no vibration through the trailer's sheet metal. Cheaper - I like cheep. Cons: It has to be lugged to/from the truck or trailer for every trip, not good for folk with bad backs, etc. You'd probably need a decent length hook-up cable (25 ft. ?, maybe 50ft for a light sleeper like me). Possible theft issue - at camp, at home, at work if you leave it in the truck all week. This should be minor, you can save enough to buy a decent lock and cable for it.
One more portable pro.........If it quits working you don't have to take the whole trailer in to get it fixed!
Generator Question
your right, sorry for my mistake on the hook up, but they are a whole lot lighter to pick up and move around.