Has any one herd of a DuroStar generator? There is on on the e place that is a 6000w diesel http://cgi.ebay.com/DuroStar-6000-W-Enclosed-Diesel-Electric-Generator_W0QQitemZ120516818087QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c0f5cb4a7 (http://cgi.ebay.com/DuroStar-6000-W-Enclosed-Diesel-Electric-Generator_W0QQitemZ120516818087QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c0f5cb4a7) The way we travel I can't see running a generator more than 30-40 hrs a year. So my question is would this work in the bus? or not, I like the price and free shipping but if it wouldn't work it's not worth it. Thanks in advance Jason.
It's AIR COOLED and noisy @70db ( Probably a LOT noisier than that! )
You probably couldn't use it in a bay without burning it up for lack of air flow.
Campgrounds would make you shut it off due to noise.
Just a thought...
A good friend of mine has been a diesel and generator mechanic for 30 plus years and he always advised me to stay away from the any Chinese made generators. He stated they leak oil alot and he always had problems getting parts. A good Honda gas would be better, the RV 4 or 6,000 watt one. Self contained, liquid cooled, very quiet etc. Cheap may sound good until you go to get it repaied and they tell you to just junk it because it is shot. There are alot of foreign made generators out there but which ones are really holding up to a work load. Look at the Honda, more money but a lot better.
A generator is not the place to be cheap with (and Chinese gensets are cheap). I bought a Powertech 10kw Diesel genset in 1994. Granted it only has about 1,500 hours on it (like 60,000 miles), but have had zero problems with also. It is a 1800rpm unit and will last the lifetime of the bus. It has a Kubota engine and Seimans alternator end-both of which are easily obtainable for parts. It is big (about 36x24x24 and 500lbs), but you get what you paid for. I'm going with the similar genset for my truck conversion, but a 13kw from Wrico International, since Dick Wright has done a few favors for me, and he makes a quality unit. Good Luck, TomC
I know a few contractors that have bought that set and are very happy with it.
I have to agree with Jason if I did not have a generator I would give it a try they can be made to be quite most of the truck units are 3600 rpm engines units 1000 buck vs 10,000 why not. I don't disagree that the Honda rv is not a great generator I just question the life span on the rv Honda because I have never saw one last 2000 hrs.
Fwiw that China made set has a Robin/Subaru engine it has been around for years
good luck
From what I can tell all generators start out loud, what happens after that are the result of the work that either the individual or the factory did, I've got a onan gasser in my 1978 revcon that came with it, starts with a touch of the button, has never failed me, is built on a slide out and is actually quieter than my little honda, the quiet part is the result of work I did, gassers arn't supposed to run forever but this one seems to have forgotten the rule. One thing that scares me about the chinese generators, an rv dealer up here sells them, he's also got several that have been waiting for parts for a long time, not sure how hard he is working to find parts but I've always kinda thought you get what you pay for with few exceptions.
Cody, would a Cummins made in China scare you ? there is a bunch out there in RV's don't get me wrong I don't like Chinese stuff.
I been around a few of those generators and for the buck not a bad deal and use less than a quart of fuel a hour and contractors are knowed to abuse their equipment don't ask how I know that LOL.
good luck
I really don't know much about the chinese generators and nothing about the diesel units they might make but the rv dealer up here has 6 of the kipors that he sold back in for repairs and can't seem to get them fixed, those are gassers and in direct competition from what I can see with hondas, the dealers up here only sell a handful of generators a year so seeing that many lined up along the wall with tags and dates on them seemed strange to me. It may be that particular brand, I don't know we don't get much to choose from up here.