Generator for JAYCO 5th Wheel RV - trailer?

[pierguidi]

Generator for JAYCO 5th Wheel RV - trailer? [I'm new at this forum thing ... Forgive me if topic has been covered elsewhere... could not find info/recommendations I am looking for.] I'm planning on buying a new 2017 light Jayco 5th wheel this spring for my new Ford f-150 optioned to tow up to 10,700 lbs, etc. I have NOT seen any info on a standard propane generator option or special factory build from Jayco & would like to do my homework before facing a salesperson. Any thoughts? [BTW, I own a small and quiet Honda 2000 (1600 watts running) which uses gasoline. About 7-8 hours running time on a gallon fill-up. Don't know if its enough to run the A/C and some lights, for example. In any case, it needs gasoline and I would have carry around a container of sorts. Prefer working off the propane tanks]. THANKS! for your thoughts.

PierGuidi
CURRENTLY 2007 Winnebago/Mercedes Diesel VIEW. NJ

[oldmanAZ]

Before you find your trailer and talk to salesmen, you also need to do some homework related to the PAYLOAD for your F-150 (towing capacity is not the same as payload). The payload is the amount loaded onto your truck bed, the hitch, the 5th wheel loaded pin weight, and everything in the cab of your truck (people, pets, etc.). You should find a sticker on the driver's door of your truck that shows the payload. For the trailer, I believe the figure to use for pin weight is 25% of the trailer's Gross Weight.

Your generator, by itself, is not large enough to run the A/C (you'd need 2 small Hondas like yours connected in parallel), but your Honda could power some lights, run the microwave, and charge the trailer's 12v battery.

I haven't seen where that Honda could be modified to use propane, but there are lots of folks on this site that know a lot about Honda generators.

Welcome to the forum and happy trailer shopping.

[Mopar_Earl]

The full Eagle 5th wheel has a gen prep. They call it dry camping package. It accepts the Onan 5500 propane. Package includes compartment, auto transfer switch, prewired and remote start switch and hour meter. Also 40 lb lp tanks verses 30 lb tanks. I don't know if this option is on the HT light Eagles.


Earl

[Tim&paula]

It is much more work and harder to find to fill propane. Gas is a better option. It will burn propane quickly depending on the load.

[norty1]

I use a 2000i and even though it will not run my ac, it is adequate for our needs unless it is extra hot. Winter camping and balmy weather allows many camping opportunities.

Weight is also a big factor. A factory generator adds almost every lb. of its weight to the pin weight and that will be the limiting factor towing with a F150.

[Mopar_Earl]

Originally Posted by Tim&paula

It is much more work and harder to find to fill propane. Gas is a better option. It will burn propane quickly depending on the load.

With the Onan 5500, the LP version only burns slightly more fuel than a gasoline engine. This can be found in the Onan specs.

There is no gasoline gen prep. You can put a gasoline genset in, but you'd have to install a fuel tank somewhere.


Earl

[Mopar_Earl]

Onan fuel consumption specs for current 5500 units. Taken from Onan spec sheet.

No load
.3 gal/hr gasoline
.4 gal/hr LP

Half load
.6 gal/hr gasoline
.8 gal/hr LP

Full load
.9 gal/hr gasoline
1.1 gal/hr LP

As you can see, the LP version doesn't burn much more gal/hr of fuel.

Earl

[oldmanAZ]

About 20% to 25% more propane than gasoline due to the lower energy in propane.

EDIT: Removed my error.

[Mopar_Earl]

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

Your last number should be 0.11 not 1.1

About 20% to 25% more propane than gasoline due to the lower energy in propane.

I corrected my numbers. I added zeros when shouldn't of lol long 12 hour day at work today.

Full load
.9 gal/hr gasoline
1.1 gal/hr LP


Earl

[pierguidi]

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

Before you find your trailer and talk to salesmen, you also need to do some homework related to the PAYLOAD for your F-150 (towing capacity is not the same as payload). The payload is the amount loaded onto your truck bed, the hitch, the 5th wheel loaded pin weight, and everything in the cab of your truck (people, pets, etc.) ....

Thanks OldManAZ. The payload of the 2017 Ford F150 Lariat I am getting is about 2150 lbs. Enough for the Jayco Eagle HTs I'm interested in.

[Atlee]

But propane generators do not generate the same amount of electricity. For an example. The smallest Onan on board generator that's used for Class B RV's is rated for a max of 2800 watts when using gas. But when using propane, the exact same generator is rated at 2500 watts max.

Originally Posted by Mopar_Earl

Onan fuel consumption specs for current 5500 units. Taken from Onan spec sheet.

No load
.3 gal/hr gasoline
.4 gal/hr LP

Half load
.6 gal/hr gasoline
.8 gal/hr LP

Full load
.9 gal/hr gasoline
1.1 gal/hr LP

As you can see, the LP version doesn't burn much more gal/hr of fuel.

Earl

[etex211]

I chose the Honda EU6500is as the generator to use with my Jayco fifth wheel. I am able to run both of my air conditioners and anything else I want to run with no worries of ever overloading the generator.

[norty1]

Originally Posted by etex211

I chose the Honda EU6500is as the generator to use with my Jayco fifth wheel. I am able to run both of my air conditioners and anything else I want to run with no worries of ever overloading the generator.

I like the idea of a separate generator. That is what I have also but I am limited in moving it due to my decrepit body.

[Mopar_Earl]

Yes some gensets are rated different between gasoline and LP and natural. The Onan 5500 is rated at 5500 continuous watts on either fuel.


Earl

[norty1]

Originally Posted by pierguidi

Thanks OldManAZ. The payload of the 2017 Ford F150 Lariat I am getting is about 2150 lbs. Enough for the Jayco Eagle HTs I'm interested in.

I would not get a warm fuzzy feeling about that. The dry tongue weight of the HT line run from 1285 for the smallest to 1795 for the biggest. That is what is sitting on the bed of your truck. Add the additional weight of what you have loaded in the front compartment and the fifth wheel hitch plus what ever is in the bed and you are going to very close to the payload of that truck.

Just saying.

[etex211]

Originally Posted by norty1

I like the idea of a separate generator. That is what I have also but I am limited in moving it due to my decrepit body.

I let the winch do the work for me....

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3...tor-18993.html

[norty1]

Originally Posted by etex211

I let the winch do the work for me....

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3...tor-18993.html

But she has a decrepit body also?

[etex211]

Originally Posted by norty1

But she has a decrepit body also?

Heh...

I injured my back about 6 years ago loading one of those 3500 Watt Champion generators in the back of my truck by myself. It took me several months to get over it. It's flared up a couple of times since. When the issue comes back, I can't even get up out of bed....but I've never missed a day of work because of it.

I'm always very cautious nowadays to use every tool at my disposal to do the heavy lifting and keep the loads off my body.

[norty1]

Originally Posted by norty1

But she has a decrepit body also?

I was referring to my wench. LOL

Neither of can lift what we used to years back. Back aches are the reminder that we are not as young as we once were.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by etex211

I let the winch do the work for me....

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3...tor-18993.html

I was just thinking of this post, as I came across it.

If you already have a Honda 2000, a companion gen does not cost too much, and each by themself are not to hard to handle. I have seen a Honda carb replacement to run LP. I thought I saw a gen recently on amazon that is a dual fuel.