Average generator time on 25 gallons of gas

[1jeep]

This weekend I will be dry camping at an ATV event in New Hampshire, so I plan to run my generator for heat at night. I have the onan 5500 and a 30 gallon fuel tank, how long could I expect it to run on that fuel? Just looking for an average I do realize it might consume more or less depending on the load.

Side note my trailer has 3 batteries but I don't suspect the would run the furnace all night.

[chuckster57]

Furnace should run fine on 3 batteries as long as they are charged. I used to run my furnace in freezing temps all night on battery only with two batteries.

I don't see a need to run the gen all night long.

[notanlines]

What Chuckster said. If the furnace runs solid for 10 hours maybe not, but an average trailer furnace will roast the occupants in a short period. Two-three batteries should not be a problem.

[1jeep]

thanks, I guess I will run and find out, I could always connect to the truck to recharge the batteries if they die over night, I assume there is no hidden battery for the generator.

This will be our first time dry camping, just don't want any frozen little people as I will have my grandson with me.

[fourfourto]

I have 1 150APH optima battery never had problem running heater at 2/3 charge ,make sure it's charged . There should be no problem with 3 batteries

[Desert185]

thanks, I guess I will run and find out, I could always connect to the truck to recharge the batteries if they die over night, I assume there is no hidden battery for the generator.

This will be our first time dry camping, just don't want any frozen little people as I will have my grandson with me.

Connecting the truck to the trailer in order to charge the trailer batteries is a pretty ineffective process. The trailer should remain 10 degrees warmer inside than outside ambient. Carry sleeping bags as an insurance measure, run the furnace as required overnight on the batteries, and recharge in the morning and evening as required with the generator. You should have no problems, but be prepared for the worse. It IS camping. "bouncey:

[1jeep]

My truck has a 110volt outlet, if I had to I could connect the trailer to it to get the generator started, that's what I meant. Aside from that doesn't the trailer receive 12 volts from the truck via the trailer cord when the truck is running, everything I had read about my truck gave me the impression it did as long as it was running.

And yes, I have already told everyone it wont be like sleeping in the house.

[JRTJH]

My truck has a 110volt outlet, if I had to I could connect the trailer to it to get the generator started, that's what I meant. Aside from that doesn't the trailer receive 12 volts from the truck via the trailer cord when the truck is running, everything I had read about my truck gave me the impression it did as long as it was running.

And yes, I have already told everyone it wont be like sleeping in the house.

Your truck's 110 volt outlet (if you are talking about the one in the dash) is rated at 400 watts (surge) and will not power any "suitable battery charger".... You'd be better off using jumper cables connected to your trailer battery bank and your truck's battery (while the truck is running).

Ideally, just jump start the generator and let the onboard battery charger take care of your "RV battery bank".....

ADDED: I "thought" that in 2016 Ford increased the size of the inverter from 150 watts to 400 watts. Apparently that did not happen and the maximum rating for the "in dash" inverter is 150 watts, making it even less capable of powering an automotive battery charger. The "maximum" amperage output (surge) of the "Ford installed inverter" is 150 watts, at 115 VAC, that's a maximum surge amperage of 1.3 Amps. As an example, my Craftsman 2/10/50 Amp charger input rating is 120 VAC, 2.0 amps at 10 amp setting and 120 VAC, 9.4 amps at 50 amp setting. Far more input power requirement than the Ford inverter is capable of producing.

If you mean to "somehow" plug the trailer's electrical shore power cord into that 110 dash outlet, the input power requirement of the trailer's converter alone (without any other trailer equipment involved) is going to be at least 10 amps (with a depleted RV battery bank), that's 1150 watts. No way your little "in dash inverter" would ever be able to cope with that kind of load.

[Desert185]

What John said.

The truck's trailer connection is like a trickle charge that would take an impractical amount of time to recharge the trailer batteries to an acceptable level they need to be. Run the generator twice a day instead, and keep the batteries charged rather than running them flat. They'll last a lot longer keeping them charged above the 50% level.

One thing I carry that helps in an emergency situation is a micro jump starter, which would work well for starting your generator if it's battery is flat. Costco carries them for $50-$60, and of course, they are all over Amazon.

Edit: My trailer plug is hot all the time. The truck doesn't need to be running or the ignition switch on to provide 12V power to the trailer. I always disconnect it if spending a night while hitched, although, with two, good truck batteries they won't go flat overnight. Something to confirm, as not all systems are the same.

[1jeep]

And I have now learned something, thanks for the info. now I get the feeling the only good that 110 outlet is good for would be to charge a cell phone

[JRTJH]

You're pretty much "right on track" with that limited use. But, even then, don't forget and leave it plugged in when you turn off the ignition. Even though it won't discharge your vehicle battery completely, on a gas engine superduty (only one battery) you'll likely have problems on a freezing morning if your truck is sitting outside.

As an FYI, the 150 watt inverter in my 2015 SuperDuty won't even run the AC power for my Toshiba laptop. So don't count on yours for much either.

[notanlines]

The 2016 Fords I've seen DO have 400 watt inverters. It may be that you have to pay even more for the 400 over the 150.

[JRTJH]

The 2016 Fords I've seen DO have 400 watt inverters. It may be that you have to pay even more for the 400 over the 150.

That was my understanding as well. 150 watts up to 2015 and 400 watts, starting in 2016. But the 2016 owner's manual still lists the inverter as 150 watts. ???? I don't have access to "walking out to the garage to check" a 2016, but I can say that my 2015 has a door on the inverter plug that says, "AC 110V 150W"

At any rate, even with a 400 watt inverter you're not going to power a battery charger that requires 9 amps to operate, nor will it power a shore power line from an RV (as the OP was hoping to do).....

[Desert185]

That was my understanding as well. 150 watts up to 2015 and 400 watts, starting in 2016. But the 2016 owner's manual still lists the inverter as 150 watts. ???? I don't have access to "walking out to the garage to check" a 2016, but I can say that my 2015 has a door on the inverter plug that says, "AC 110V 150W"

At any rate, even with a 400 watt inverter you're not going to power a battery charger that requires 9 amps to operate, nor will it power a shore power line from an RV (as the OP was hoping to do).....

It all comes down to the need for a generator of some sort. Solar, for me, doesn't always satisfy...like when you need to power the diesel's block heater on those cold mornings.

[1jeep]

ok, did a little research and first off my 2016 ford is diesel with dual alternators and dual batteries with a 400 watt inverter.

Now for the trailer, I have 3 batteries, all fully charged, temp dropped to 30 Saturday night. I ran the generator from about 6 until 9pm, showers, dinner, grandson watched a video before bed. Set the thermostat to 60 at night and it did run without an issue, in the morning the battery level was still at 75%, kicked the genney back on and in an hour batteries were fully charged.
So my first dry camping trip in the rv was great and everything performed without an issue.

thanks for all the input.

[Desert185]

Excellent!

Having at least two batteries for the trailer, LED bulbs and a generator is a great combination for boondocking.

[JRTJH]

We have two 6 volt batteries, "free standing" generator, LED lighting and a 32" LED TV. We boondock in northern Michigan during the spring without problems. The temps drop into the high 30's most evenings, occasionally lower with most days in the 40's and 50's. That means the furnace kicks on every night, sometimes during the day. We "dry camp" for a week at a time using lights as we need them (not skimping but not turning everything on all night) watch TV for the 6 and 11 PM news. We usually run the generator for a couple hours every day between fishing trips and never have "battery problems". Our "limiting factor" is holding tank size and after a week, DW insists on a "real shower" and someone else's cooking, so I learned to "dry camp for a week, head to a full service campground for a night with Red Lobster, etc as a dinner diversion, then DW will "allow me" to fish for a few more days before we go home to clean the trailer, wash clothes and get the mail.

With 3 batteries and a small generator, you'll be set, enjoy camping with your grandson. Those memories will last a lifetime !!!

[roadglide]

This weekend I will be dry camping at an ATV event in New Hampshire, so I plan to run my generator for heat at night. I have the onan 5500 and a 30 gallon fuel tank, how long could I expect it to run on that fuel? Just looking for an average I do realize it might consume more or less depending on the load.

Side note my trailer has 3 batteries but I don't suspect the would run the furnace all night.

I installed the wave 6 heater this year in Oregon it worked flawlessly in the damp cool evening set on medium the wave uses no ele and very little propane. The monster forced air heater ran my 2 batteries dead the first winter at Quartsite.

[fjrandy]

Have a 4000 ran from Friday night to Sunday morning. 40 at night and 80 during the day so ran heat and air. Shut off for the football game and used 11 gallons.