Things I learned on this Trip

[TimHolt]

Things I learned on this vacation loop through southern AZ, up the CA coast, down through central valley, across northern AZ and south back home:

1. 122 degree heat and anything in your black tank don't mix. No matter what you do, empty totally before making a trip across the desert. Cooked poop smells terrible and stays with you.
2. Don't expect to find any kind of truck stop in Southern CA or along the coast.
3. I hope you are good at maneuvering your rig through 7-11's for gas.
4. Gas is about $1.50 per gallon more on the coast of CA than it is inland.
5. I-40 is a bear.
6. Summer heat produces random sharp wind shears along your route.
7. Always carry duct tape.
8. Disneyland is very welcoming of RVs.
9. Anything underneath your rig is fair game for the road munching gods
10. Generators don't like to run 9 hours in 122 degree heat.

[RAurand]

What would happen if someone tried plugging a fan into the generator to blow cooler air on the generator as it was running (AIR CIRCULATION)? Would it lower the temps enough to prevent it from getting hot?

[oldmanAZ]

Generators are usually shrouded and have a built-in cooling fan. So, IMO, unless the generator was in a location where air circulation was a problem (pickup bed, a box, etc.), blowing air on the generator probably would not help.

FYI...
I found this on the Champion site. I'm sure others would have something similar:
Your Champion Power Equipment product is designed and rated for continuous operation at ambient temperatures up to
40°C (104°F). When your product is needed your product may be operated at temperatures ranging from -15°C (5°F) to
50°C (122°F) for short periods. If the product is exposed to temperatures outside this range during storage, it should be
brought back within this range before operation.

[Dustdevil]

Yeah, standard operating temps for motors and generators is 40C, and likely is for the gen set engine also. I ran mine in 110 F heat a few months back, and it appeared to do well. Can't speak for all of them, though.

[wags999]

Real lesson is you don't travel to most of Az in the summer But it's fantastic in the fall spring months, before and after the snow birds are in town.

[TimHolt]

More things I learned:

NEVER buy gas in Needles California. It is about $1.50 less 50 miles on either side of that city.

[pconroy]

A few years ago, in our old coach and our first trip to Yosemite, we planned poorly. Ended up near empty at one of the few stations right outside of the park.

I think it was $5 a gallon or more.
When it was $3 and change back home.

That stung...

[JmsNMar]

I've been going to the river in Needles for over 20 years and whole heartedly agree with you regarding gas prices in Needles, California. I've always described it to people this way- the gas station attendants at the Needles' gas stations might as well wear ski masks and hold their hand under their shirts with their finger pointed at you when they take your money! I ALWAYS gas up at the gas stations at the Lake Havasu, Arizona off-ramp!