Generac Standby Generator - why not?

Tikvah · December 20, 2016, 11:33:11 AM

I'm looking at this for just $1671 + stuff.
Why isn't this a good idea?

I can't afford a fancy diesel, so I'm going to get something in either gas or LP anyway.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200665207_200665207

niles500 · December 20, 2016, 11:43:02 AM

That's a stationary unit, for a few bucks more you can get a little smaller Honda unit - FWIW

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · December 20, 2016, 11:53:19 AM

The Honda will also be a LOT quieter and lighter. You may find find the Generac to be too noisy for a campground unless it was designed for that. My uncle used to have a construction type of generator on the back of his 5th wheel and every time he started it up the neighbors in the campground would all close their doors or move further away. He was mostly deaf, so it didn't bother him but it sure bothered the neighbors. Something to think about.

B_K · December 20, 2016, 01:42:48 PM

Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on December 20, 2016, 11:53:19 AM
The Honda will also be a LOT quieter and lighter. You may find find the Generac to be too noisy for a campground unless it was designed for that. My uncle used to have a construction type of generator on the back of his 5th wheel and every time he started it up the neighbors in the campground would all close their doors or move further away. He was mostly deaf, so it didn't bother him but it sure bothered the neighbors. Something to think about.

Gary my uncle had one mounted on the front of the trailer we took to motocross and 4 wheeler races and when we'd finally shut it down for the night the whole damn pit/campground area would CHEER!

BK

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · December 20, 2016, 01:56:51 PM

Yeah I believe it. Must be nice to be loved by so many people and be able to cheer them up so easily.

buswarrior · December 20, 2016, 02:26:29 PM

Generac?

Air cooled?

back-up hardware?

3 strikes?

Either liquid cooled, remote radiator hush box installation, or a Honda/Yamaha quiet machine.

NOBODY likes a noisey generator, and once drunk, will throw things at you until YOU move???

Silence is golden?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

skihor · December 20, 2016, 04:02:45 PM

We once used a 20K Generac for powering a food concession trailer. They need a very large amount of flow. I had 4 100 LB cylinders connected to provide, and a very large regulator. For some reason it didn't recharge it's on board battery either. I had to use a small charger plugged into itself. Generac told me it is NOT designed as a primary power source, and wouldn't work for what I used it for. I did use it for 50-70 hours a week, (16 hour days) for 5 months and it held up/worked fine.

TomC · December 21, 2016, 07:12:01 AM

Generac just doesn't have a very good reliability record. What you're looking at is for standby. Not long lasting because of 3,600rpm running.
Look for a used Onan RV generator. Can't go wrong. Sometimes can find a used Diesel generator for not much more then what you're looking at. Considering a well maintained Diesel can go well over 20,000hrs before overhaul, I would buy a Diesel over gasoline.
A dedicated propane isn't bad though. Good Luck, TomC

luvrbus · December 21, 2016, 07:16:37 AM

Check around and buy you a used light tower sometimes they sell cheap

Oonrahnjay · December 21, 2016, 07:37:41 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on December 21, 2016, 07:16:37 AMCheck around and buy you a used light tower sometimes they sell cheap

Long-time friend of mine (literally 1st grade 60+ years ago - high school) runs a construction/paving/earth-moving business our little town. He got a diesel-powered light tower at a gov't auction for bulldozer work away from "the grid". It was so loud you couldn't make somebody standing next to you but 15 feet from the unit understand a word you said no matter how loud you screamed and you couldn't scream because the noise level was already at the painful level. He was demonstrating it for the fire department and nobody could stand to be nearer than 100 feet of it for more than a few seconds. It may be that there was something wrong with it (muffler tailpipe missing etc.), or maybe it was air-cooled where most of them aren't -- I dunno and I'm not saying all of them are like that one, but my experience with them doesn't make me think that the generator in one would be useful in a bus conversion or RV.

luvrbus · December 21, 2016, 07:46:14 AM

The Forest Service approved light plants are quieter than a RV set I bought some a few years back same Kubota engine

Scott & Heather · December 21, 2016, 10:53:19 AM

Just posted on BCM on Facebook:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · December 21, 2016, 11:25:02 AM

The good thing is that the battery level is at 100% too, as you can see at the very top of the post. So this one is ready to start immediately.

In all seriousness, this beats the hell out of a Generac. The Onan's are built to run for years with very low maintenance. I have had three of them over the years now.

Tikvah · December 21, 2016, 12:14:47 PM

Scott, I saw that one advertised.... but Nevada is on the wrong side of the planet for me. Now if Paul was making a drive toward Tennessee it could be a different story.
Looks like the right kind of thing.

Ya'll have successfully talked me out of the Generac. I won't go with that. But, I might still consider a Cummins Onan LP generator. Probably about 3500
Something like this...
http://www.norwall.com/products/Cummins-Onan-QG-3-6-Propane-RV-Generator-3.6KYFA-26120

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · December 21, 2016, 02:35:36 PM

Dave, Cummings (Onan) sell rebuilt units too. You may want to call your local Cummings dealer to see what they have. Also Engine Power Source also builds great gensets and they are located in Rock Hill, SC. If you are in the area, you may want to call them at 800 374 7522 and see if they have any used, returned, or rebuilt units in stock. EnginePowerSource.com. They use Kabota engines which are great. I wish they made bus engines, I would have one in my bus.