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Elite Veteran
Posts: 863
  
| I'm looking at used trailers, and I have only used my honda generator with my current trailer, as it's not built in. I'm asking, what are the better brand generators out there? Just Onan? One trailer I inquired on has a Guardian brand? I have no idea what's the longest lasting...and what's considered low hours? Thanks much in advance! |
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Location: Not Where I Want to Be | Onan is the only manf. that still produces an onboard gen set.
Generac(guardian) was a solid choice for years but they discontinued their onboard gen sets about 2-3 years ago.
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Go to a rodeo in the summer during the 4th and you'll see lots on honda's sitting on the ground. They work when the others get hot and quit, the honda invertor gens are running smooth.
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| We have a heavy off brand one. It works and I'm strong enough to man handle it into the rear tack. When it dies we really want to invest in a Honda.
I've heard good things about the onan built ins, but if they do need to be worked on you lose the whole trailer until they're done, that's a huge negative for us.
We also like having a generator available at home for power outages and other work where electricity isn't available. |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | What I love about spending the money for a "quiet" generator, when you go somewhere, park, get set up and in the middle of the night several rigs surround you with their NOISE generating machines. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 747
| Our onboard generator is a big ole Onan Microquiet, but it is still pretty loud. The one thing I recommend is not getting one that's built into the tackroom. That's where ours is and it is a pain to get things off bridle hooks and the top 2 saddle racks (and there are only 3 in it). We can't even use the bottom saddle rack because it is only has about a foot of clearance under it (there is a false floor built above our generator). And, as one of the above posters mentioned, if it has to be worked on, you're out a trailer for however long it takes to fix it. We were having troubles with ours and had a hard time getting it in anywhere to get if fixed. When they called and said if we wanted it fixed, we needed to have it down there in a half hour, so we hooked up and rushed it down there. But, someone forgot that our saddles were still loaded in there, and the trailer place wouldn't let us back in to get our stuff out when we realized that afternoon it was still loaded up. When they fixed the generator, they had to take out the saddle rack and false floor to get to it, so all of our stuff ended up piled on the cement floor and thrown back in by the mechanics. So we went without saddles, bits, and a trailer for almost a week. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | We have an Onan Genset on top of our trailer. It has has had a number of issues over the years and is a big PIA when it has to be worked on. I would NOT do it again. |
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Veteran
Posts: 276
| Stick with your Honda--I don't know a single person with an onboard generator that didn't quit them at some point (and most just bought a Honda instead of replacing the onboard).
We plumbed our Honda to our trailer and it is mounted on the Hay Rack. All I have to do is climb up there to start it and shut it off. I do not mind that at all. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
Location: on the fine line between insanity and geniusness | I loved our onan, BUT will only have one mounted on the roof. That's the only place I've had them that they don't overheat. I don't like them under the saddles because here in east exas where it's 5000 degrees in the summer we had to leave our back tack open to keep it from over heating- I don't trust people that much SORRY. I don't like them in the back manger because you lose that manger space and they leak fumes into the trailer. On top is the way to go! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 863
| thanks everyone this really makes me step aside and rethink my choices! I have a quiet honda 3000, I just can't load and unload it myself and I haul alot alone. But most are saying put on top this is good to know...wish there was a way I could have the honda installed on a trailer I buy where i could push a button to start LOL |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Wild1 - 2017-01-09 7:51 PM thanks everyone this really makes me step aside and rethink my choices! I have a quiet honda 3000, I just can't load and unload it myself and I haul alot alone. But most are saying put on top this is good to know...wish there was a way I could have the honda installed on a trailer I buy where i could push a button to start LOL
There's a remote start you can add! You should keep your generator. I can't tell you how many gens I've gone thru.
I want a tray that can slide out of the next trailer I have so that when I'm parked all I have to do is open the door and pull it out then close the door back. |
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Expert
Posts: 2678
Location: Mi | The honda has a remote start you can buy for like $200, its just like a remote start for your car, we have one and it works well! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 863
| Ahmac - 2017-01-10 11:33 AM
The honda has a remote start you can buy for like $200, its just like a remote start for your car, we have one and it works well!
Never knew this, dumb question, but who installs it? I bought mine 3yrs ago from a hardware store, it's been the best investment I made but stinks going out in the rain or not ideal weather to start! |
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Expert
Posts: 2678
Location: Mi | My husband installed mine. I would think an RV dealer or some place that sells them could install them. I know we bought ours from am ATV store, I would think they'd have someone there that would know how. Im not sure if a hardwear store would or not. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
Location: Roping pen | The Honda can be remote started but.....it has an onboard key and manual choke. The key has to be left on (don't think that is a problem), but if the motor has not been ran recently, you will need to manually choke it a tiny bit to get started. IF you just shut it off, and within a few hours, restart, you typically don't have to choke it. That can't be done remotely unless you put in a electric choke...We had one I permanently mounted in the rear tack. Put a 12v ceiling fan in for a vent. Worked great except for first start of the day, than you had to choke. I used an Onan remote kit to wire ours up.
The one's mounted on the hay racks, be sure you have a 2nd fuel pump mounted in the line about 1/2 between the tank and the genset. The lift to the on board genset fuel pump will burn out the factory one. Not a big deal.
As far as being without a trailer while an on board gets worked on, the Onan's are easy to take out. Just fairly heavy. Just a few bolts, an electric plug, and the battery cable is all that needs removed, than they slide right out. I have had too much experience getting ours out....saves a few $ if you take it to get serviced out of the trailer.
IMO, there is not a good RV generator on the market. Just the best one and that is a Honda but it is a trade off due to convenience with an Onan.
As far as getting someone to put in a remote start--must be RV certified as not that easy. Tank (gas), electricity (both 12v and 110v),. and carbon monoxide is not a good mixture. They need to take apart a LQ wall, run electric lines, put in an inverter, put in fuel lines, fuel fill tubes, a fuel tank, exhaust, and vents. Not an easy job.
Edited by Spin Doctor 2017-01-10 5:00 PM
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