Kubota Lowboy II

[DWG05]

Anybody tried one of these in a bus/rv application?  I like the size (and the price)  They are 3600 rpm but show to be pretty queit.  Just wondering if anyone has one and what do you think?

[Dave5Cs]

Do you have a bus if so you might put it in your profile and a first name so we know who we are talking too and maybe there is someone close to you in case you need help in the future.

[eagle19952]

No, but I found a picture of one.

[oltrunt]

Interesting.  generator.kubota.jp/gl/.  Jack

[TomC]

Sort of tough to work on when it is both in an enclosure and in the bus bay. Most use 1800 open (no enclosure) with slide outs to facilitate maintenance.

[muldoonman]

Sort of tough to work on when it is both in an enclosure and in the bus bay. Most use 1800 open (no enclosure) with slide outs to facilitate maintenance.

Mount in on a rolling slide out.

[richard5933]

Aside from the fast operating speed, the only problem I see is the adaption that will be necessary for it to pull fuel from the main bus fuel tank and hooking the exhaust up.

Otherwise, it doesn't seem that different from the Onan.

Any idea who makes the actual generator they used? That might be a good thing to find out.

Richard
1974 GMC P8M4108A-125 (Current bus)
1964 GM PD4106-2412 (totalled Sept 2017)
Located in beautiful Wisconsin
KD9GRB

[brmax]

I like my kubota engine and others in some small tractors, but they have a much lower rpm  range.
So this hi rpm type is all new to me and always interesting.

Good day
Floyd

[TomC]

I had a trucking friend that when he sold his big rig, the 8,000 Powertech generator had 23,000 hours on it and still running well. Was an 1800rpm unit, so a 3600rpm unit should go at least 10,000 hours before overhaul. I do not like the enclosed units-just too hard to work on. Good Luck, TomC

[chessie4905]

Here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Generator-Kubota-Lowboy-GL-6500-diesel/253220912953?hash=item3af5247f39:g:-8QAAOSwO7hZ7Jr5

Depends on what you are considering it for. Coach, school bus, food truck. In a baggage compartment, one without enclosure is going to work better. Sound insulate compartment or part generator is in, plumb exhaust down and to side, easier to do electrical, easier servicing, esp. with a slide out for it. Those shields are just going to get in the way. Now if you are going to use it in something other than a compartment, it may make more sense. Power tech have nice units for compartment use. My coach has a 10kw Power Tech with Kubota engine.

[Geoff]

They have been selling those high-speed enclosed two pole generators for years.  As it turns out, they were not reliable and you don't see them advertised so much.  This Kubota unit claims improvements, but I doubt they are better than the older enclosed units.

--Geoff

[DWG05]

Thanks for all the input.  I have a 1990 MCI 102C3.  This unit would fit in the A/C compartment on the driver side just  under an behind the driver seat.  I would like to put my generator there so I wouldn't sacrifice bay space.  I have a 10K champion there now, but it is LOUD!

[bobofthenorth]

I had one. 

Run away.  Run away.

[chessie4905]

I have a 10 k Power Tech in the compartment behind ac compartment. It sits parallel to coach right inside compartment door. It is mounted on a slide out. The exhaust is connected with ss flex. pipe to allow sliding out. Radiator fan blows through shroud sealed through hole in bottom of baggage compartment. Entire enclosure is lined with foil covered acoustic foam. Fuel was plumbed into coach tank. I'm changing that to an auxiallry shortened spare coach fuel tank with transfer option to/from main tank.

[paul102a3]

I have the gl 7000 version which I use as an emergency backup for our home refrigerator and well pump. My version use a 2 cylinder engine and the Gl 11000 uses a 3 cylinder so there will be some differences in vibration levels.

The exhaust note is very quite however the overall sound from the unit is very annoying. The 3600 RPM sets up a high frequency sound that is very irritating over time. There is a huge sigh of relief when when the power comes back not only for the obvious reasons but because we don't have to listen to the sound anymore.

There is also a fair amount of vibration from the sound enclosure which added to the high frequency sounds. I resorted to adding rubber strips around the door and a few other places to minimize this problem.

Keep in mind, these were marketed as contractor generators and for that purpose, they are fine.

On a positive note, it always starts and generates electricity.