generator recommendation

[Stan Irvin]

What do you travelers recommend for a generator to use on a 2020 Pinnacle? Propane or diesel?

[Jeffur]

Originally Posted by Stan Irvin

What do you travelers recommend for a generator to use on a 2020 Pinnacle? Propane or diesel?

Gas

[Mopar_Earl]

Propane


Earl

[Marine71-76]

Our 2016 came with gas.

[Jagiven]

What fuel does your truck use? If diesel, I might consider going that way, especially you have a 3rd tank. If not, I would go propane, should have lower maintenance costs.

[topline89]

Our 2020 Pinnacle came prepped for an Onan propane generator with 3 40lb tanks
saving up the $$ to buy a 5500.…. they are not cheap that's for sure

[Joan617]

Originally Posted by topline89

Our 2020 Pinnacle came prepped for an Onan propane generator with 3 40lb tanks
saving up the $$ to buy a 5500.…. they are not cheap that's for sure

Same here for our 2019 Pinnacle, prepped for the Onan Genset. We use propane only for morning coffee, stir-fry and an occasional Pasta boil. We are full time and have topped off the 3 tanks only once in a year. Plenty left for a genset if we ever get one

[Jeffur]

5.5 Onan gas unit, built in

[Edutron]

Originally Posted by topline89

Our 2020 Pinnacle came prepped for an Onan propane generator with 3 40lb tanks
saving up the $$ to buy a 5500.…. they are not cheap that's for sure

Just ordered an Onan 5.5 HGJAB-6755 Gas gen Norwall.com $4006 minus
$200 additional discount being offered minus another 2 % about $76 for paying by E-Check Total was $3870 rounded. Tax was $140 rounded in my case.
Only way to get it lower is either used or a smaller gen. LP gens suck way too much LP and they are finicky at various altitudes as far as performance. Love to have fuel injected, but won't work in an RV fifth wheel.

[Mopar_Earl]

Originally Posted by Edutron

Just ordered an Onan 5.5 HGJAB-6755 Gas gen Norwall.com $4006 minus
$200 additional discount being offered minus another 2 % about $76 for paying by E-Check Total was $3870 rounded. Tax was $140 rounded in my case.
Only way to get it lower is either used or a smaller gen. LP gens suck way too much LP and they are finicky at various altitudes as far as performance. Love to have fuel injected, but won't work in an RV fifth wheel.

FYI, a LP 5500 only uses slightly more GPH than the the gasoline 5500. So no, they do not suck way too much LP. Read the spec sheets!

Why do you say the fuel injection 5500 wouldn't work in a 5th wheel?


Earl

[Edutron]

I go by reality and not written averages. I also run a generator for longer periods of time for comfort and gas costs less. LP is OK for short spurts and deep pockets for LP gas. To ones own! Enjoy.

[Mopar_Earl]

Originally Posted by Edutron

I go by reality and not written averages. I also run a generator for longer periods of time for comfort and gas costs less. LP is OK for short spurts and deep pockets for LP gas. To ones own! Enjoy.

Sounds like you never actually owned and used a LP 5500. I found the spec sheets to be accurate. I use my LP unit for prime power at times running 16 or more hours a day. I find LP to cost about the same as gasoline or even cheaper. Tractor supply always seems to be the cheapest are popping up like Dollar General stores.

You never did say why a fuel injection unit can't be installed in a 5th wheel. FYI, they can be. They can be installed in any type of RV. They can be used in service trucks or anywhere else one chooses to.

I use to be a Generator tech. Worked on many of RV gasoline, propane, diesel gensets. Even did it as a side business as well. I try to educate ppl on LP units. So many false statements and myths out there. The biggest one is the 5500 LP uses a lot of LP, just isn't true at all. It's not true by the spec sheets nor real world. The 5500 LP burns slightly more GPH vs the gasoline unit.

You must also weigh in the benefits of LP. Less toxic exhaust fumes. No carb to gum up. No fuel treatments to prevent carb gumming. LP has unlimited shelf life, gasoline has almost no shelf life. Trailer already has LP on board and at all times. LP burns so clean you do not build carbon up on the heads and spark plugs last way longer. Oil stays cleaner on LP units. No smelly leaky fuel cans in the truck bed. Gasoline cans are more likely to be stolen vs LP tanks. LP exhaust is less unpleasant than carb gasoline fumes.

Ultimately it's each person's choice. I'm here to say the LP 5500 shouldn't be overlooked due to false statements and/or myths. The Onan 5500 is an excellent unit whether it's gasoline or LP. My recommendations are LP followed by the fuel injection unit. I never recommend the carb version, especially for people that seldom use them.

Another note, most if not all 5th wheel manufacturers have moved over to LP gen prep now, including Jayco. So if you want a gasoline unit, you will need to add a fuel tank somewhere.


Earl

[Duke4857]

Do they make a duel fuel type of generator? Gas/propane would be the way to go.

[Fire_Instructor]

Generator size and fuel all depend on what you want to do with it.... Need more info to properly answer the question.

[Edutron]

Will the fuel return on a fuel injected onan run uphill back to the fuel tank on a 5th wheel trailer?

[Mopar_Earl]

Originally Posted by Edutron

Will the fuel return on a fuel injected onan run uphill back to the fuel tank on a 5th wheel trailer?

Yep


Earl

[Joan617]

Originally Posted by Duke4857

Do they make a duel fuel type of generator? Gas/propane would be the way to go.

Sure. Duromax and Champion come to mind and are seen in the bog box stores and other venues. These are more ad-hoc rigs often dragged around in the back of the TV as opposed to a permanent install and tend to be noisier but that is not a rule. Dunno if Onan/ Cummins makes a dual fuel for permanent install. Earl?

[mopar]

I just bought a jayco eagle fw my heartland big horn burn up and I had a Honda eu 7000 gen it work great but everyone said why so big I have two 15000 ac I like to keep it cold for my bernese mnt dogs cuda and hemi can I use a 5500 onan also jayco told me if I put one in my warranty is no good also if I up grade the hot water from 6gal to 12gal or a truma that it no good any more also it was not gen ready how hard is it to do it write

[Edutron]

I was under the impression fuel return from the regulator was essentially zero pressure and needed to gravity feed back to the tank and that is why all toyhaulers have carb gens instead.

[Edutron]

If I could get a diesel to fit, I would put one in and just run a fuel line from my auxiliary tank from the truck bed. No can do with the gen prep and with four batteries.