Considering a Generator

[Midnight Rider]

T

Hey @CornCrib — brilliant idea. We are tentatively getting a Paradigm 310. Will that slide out tray fit just about any trailer? The Harbor Freight Predator we have is as follows:
20 in high
17.3 in wide
22.75 in long
Weight is 102 lb.

3500 Watt SUPER QUIET Inverter Generator with CO SECURE Technology

Amazing deals on this 3500W Super Quiet Inverter Generator at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I’m not 100% sure on this but after I downloaded and read the owners manual for Paradigm I realized that unlike our Class A 5500 Onan behemoth coffee pot and microwave killer there’s no Generator Start switch in the trailer. In our Class A there are two inside, one in the control panel midship and one on the dash. That dash one has been a godsend since the Chevy factory air is not nearly close to being able to cool the whole coach. We can turn it on and off while driving. My hubby used the ‘dog-o-meter’ LOL. If the dog got hot and started panting in his bed on the couch we’d turn on the AC. Keeping the coach at a decent temp in 100° weather (I-5 transitting Redding in August) also kept the gas electric Norcold fridge temp at about 45. We never got it lower than that in ten years. So I said that conversationally but looks like factory installed generator still needs a person to go outside and start it. There’s no real advantage to that as I see it. Just costs way more.

I also notice that you got the game changer instead of two separate batteries. That’s a real space saver! Did you keep any of the renogy electronics?

Husband want to know with the single Solar panel what gauge wire did they use? I don’t want to pay for that huge super Solar which I believe is 4 total panels.

All these questions are one we want sorted before we dump $100K or more…

The Paradigm has a generator ON/OFF switch inside the kitchen cabinet. You just don’t get a switch unless you have a generator installed by Alliance at the factory.

 

[Midnight Rider]

Our 295MK came prepped for a generator with all the wiring and piping to the propane tanks as well as a remote start/hour meter in a cabinet on the inside of the trailer.
I'm just not sure whether we should get the 5500 or the smaller 4000/3600. I like the fact that the smaller one is lighter and uses less propane but I'm not sure it would have all the power we would need.

I have a 2024 295MK and got the 5500 on an installed at the factory. I love it!
-Quit
-Propane efficient
-great for boon doc, staying over night at a rest stop, or cooling trailer going down the road an hour before arrival
-Also great when electricity goes out in rv park.
-Runs two Ac’s and a coffee pot or microwave at the same time.
-Easy to change oil and air filter

Onan makes a great product. It will run forever!

MR

 

[Midnight Rider]

T

I just re-read that section in the manual. It doesn’t say there’s a start switch inside - it doesn’t say there isn’t, either. Sheesh. It does specifically say the Control Panel is on the inside of the generator. But I’m sure glad you pointed that out! On the bright side it looks like we can install any generator we want that uses propane. Since we already bought one…

Where can I find info in various generator options - was that furnished after you bought the trailer or did your dealer tell you there were options?

There is a on off switch inside the kitchen cabinet.

 

[Midnight Rider]

I agree with you except I didn't want a genny using the available fuel that is also used for heating, cooking, washing clothes, and bathing. We originally wanted a toy hauler to solve this issue but never could find a TH floorplan we could live with. We did order our 370FB prepped but intend to use portable for awhile and see how that works out.

I just got back from a two week trip used the 5500 generator, propane hot water heater, stove and oven and the heater every night and propane tank Was still half full on my return home.
I would not worry to much about that?

 

[Bozo]

I had propane generator in my previous rv…loved it. I wish I had lp, instead of gas, in my valor.

 

[mboudoin]

About to get a 2025 310RL with gen prep and was looking at possible doing a Lithium power station around 7200 Kwh at least for overnight stays. It should have the auto transfer switch since the gen prep says it does. Looking at my options that are not solar or propane based. Anyone running like a Jackery or Ecoflow?