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Old 06-16-2014, 08:26 PM   #1
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Voltage Generator Run Time

Hi, we are going up to Canada later this week Thurs - Sunday. I wanted to ask any dry campers out there if they can advise how long a tank of gas will run the generator on a Voltage (3905), Also I am traveling from PA it's about 500 miles, Just wanted to know if I should fill up both gas tanks or wait till I get closer. Id rather not buy any gas or Diesel in Canada

The Dog Show we are going to only has 15amps of service, some water and a dump station. So it wont be really dry, but we are used to full service hook up, so thought better to ask ahead of time.

Thanks as always, Mike
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Old 06-16-2014, 10:04 PM   #2
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I would fuel in the US before you go into Canada. Run time others have posted with both A/C running was 1/2 gallon per hour. My guess is it wouldn't be that hot to need both A/C's running in Canada. 15 amp service will run your lights & keep your battery charged. Leave your frig & hot water heater on gas.
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Old 06-16-2014, 10:09 PM   #3
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Dry camping

I have not done this yet in my 3905 yet but if I do I would wait until the last min to fill the tanks up with fuel. The weight difference alone would make it worth it. As far as how long you can run I can't help you there. Well have a safe trip
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Old 06-16-2014, 10:41 PM   #4
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I'm pushing 500 hrs on my Onan and have kept up with the fuel consumption along the way.

In spring time temps with 85 to 95 degree days, running two AC's, I'm averaging the 1/2 gallon per hour rate quoted. I've had one weekend at the lake in the high 90's were I zoned all three AC's and my burn rate was almost 7/10 a gallon per hour. I'm expecting to get closer to a gallon an hour in the heat of the summer when the daytime temps are well over 100 degrees.

That's in West Texas with low humidity... From what little I know about HVAC, I think 90 degrees with high humidity puts more stress on an AC unit than 100 degrees with low humidity???
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Old 06-17-2014, 03:06 AM   #5
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I have ran our generator on our 2012 voltage 3905 for 20 hours with no a/c and didn't use 1/3 of a tank of fuel and I use 87 octane here in Alberta which is in Canada. Just remember 4 liters is about the same as 1 us gallon have a nice trip here in Canada.
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Old 06-17-2014, 01:24 PM   #6
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Thanks everyone for the information. Since I will be hauling our dogs up to the show, my wife is concerned they will get hot in the garage, Is there a problem running the generator while driving? My thought is to run the AC in the garage (Zone 3) This would keep them cooler while driving.

Another question if anyone has any input on this. The bunk beds in the garage says something along the lines of beds must be in the up position when traveling? Is there a reason for this, I mean the top bunk is almost against the AC unit in the garage and thought it may work better if the bunks were in the normal sleeping positions.

Again thanks for all the advice, Mike
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Old 06-17-2014, 01:40 PM   #7
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I can answer part of your question. I've run my A/C while going down the road with no problem. Just check on what you have stored in the front Generator area as it will get hot in there. I don't have a 3rd A/C in the garage so haven't traveled with those beds down..
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Old 06-17-2014, 03:20 PM   #8
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I can answer part of your question. I've run my A/C while going down the road with no problem. Just check on what you have stored in the front Generator area as it will get hot in there. I don't have a 3rd A/C in the garage so haven't traveled with those beds down..
Thanks brother, that is half the problem. I don't store anything in the very front compartment with the generator, and only a battery on the left side (Facing) and some hydraulic fluid and a bunch of wires. Most of everything else is in the compartment(basement) behind.

I'm just wondering if the movement of the rig can cause the beds and or tracks the beds move in problems is why they need to be in the up position.

I'm also curious how this thing is going to handle with the two rear gas tanks filled up, and about 500lbs of dogs and dog stuff in the rear. I hope the front is still a lot heavier than the rear. I guess it should be. Not much is changing this trip except the gas weight and now I found out I need to haul water with me,
which I never liked doing. If my guess is correct with water and gas weight I'm going about 2000lbs over most any other trip I make. using 8 lbs. per gallon. Most likely a high guess. At least the trip back will be better as I can dump everything at the show, (except any extra gas lol )

Thank You, Mike
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Old 06-17-2014, 03:42 PM   #9
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Remember that your unit holds 160 gallons of water. That's 1280 lbs of water. If it were just my wife and I we wouldn't need half of that. You might just fill the tank half full, and that will save you some weight. Also, I have read that it doesn't matter how much weight you put in the garage, it takes only a small fraction of that weight off the hitch. With full gas tanks, and 500 lbs of weight in the garage, you will probably see less than 100lbs difference on the hitch. If you carry the water, it will put weight on the hitch, as the tank is located up in the front of the trailer frame.

As far as the beds go, I think they must be up because the top bunk is essentially "loose" in the tracks, and is free to bounce around. With them positioned at the op of the track, it prevents the top bunk from moving and bouncing, putting some extra torque on the chains. One possible solution I can think of would be to pull the mattress off of the top bunk, and that would leave some room for the air to circulate from the A/C unit. Just a thought.
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Old 06-17-2014, 04:03 PM   #10
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Remember that your unit holds 160 gallons of water. That's 1280 lbs of water. If it were just my wife and I we wouldn't need half of that. You might just fill the tank half full, and that will save you some weight. Also, I have read that it doesn't matter how much weight you put in the garage, it takes only a small fraction of that weight off the hitch. With full glass tanks, and 500 lbs of weight in the garage, you will probably see less than 100lbs difference on the hitch. If you carry the water, it will put weight on the hitch, as the tank is located up in the front of the trailer frame.
Well that is some good advice, Half tank of water... I suppose that may work thinking about it again. Yeah it's only me and my wife and 4 dogs. In my old trailer I only had a 30 gallon black tank and 30 gallon gray, I only ever had to empty the gray tank 2 times on a couple of trips and that was with my daughter who filled the tub with water to take a bath We were still on site water but thinking about the new rig even being on site water the gray and black have never been close to being full so that means we never were even close to using 160 gallons of water. So filling half full should be plenty of water...

Thanks for the input, Mike
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Old 06-17-2014, 08:02 PM   #11
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The bad part about trying to cool the garage with the bunks up is the cold air discharge will bounce off the bunk and be sucked up into the return air vent. Essentially you'll be circulating air within a few inches and not a few cubic feet as intended.

I made a ghetto looking cold air distribution box to force the cold air to the front of the rig where the bedroom is. Mind you, this is the A/C that cools the bedroom that was discharging cold air towards the foot of the bed. Now the air reaches the head of the bed where most of me sleeps.
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Old 06-17-2014, 08:09 PM   #12
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The bad part about trying to cool the garage with the bunks up is the cold air discharge will bounce off the bunk and be sucked up into the return air vent. Essentially you'll be circulating air within a few inches and not a few cubic feet as intended.

I made a ghetto looking cold air distribution box to force the cold air to the front of the rig where the bedroom is. Mind you, this is the A/C that cools the bedroom that was discharging cold air towards the foot of the bed. Now the air reaches the head of the bed where most of me sleeps.
Yes that is one of the problems with the bunks up. I never thought to make a device to re direct the air. I may be able to come up with something tonight, we are leaving tomorrow morning for the trip. I tested yesterday for about an hour running just the back AC and it did cool down the room nicely.

Thanks for the tip,
Mike
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Old 06-17-2014, 08:13 PM   #13
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Another option for a bit more clearance would be to drop both bunks below the first retaining holes, place the pins in all four holes then re-raise the bunks up to the pins. That should give you a few more inches of clearance to run the AC.

I haven't actually tried this just came to mind to help with the chain stress.
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Old 06-17-2014, 08:14 PM   #14
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http://www.dutchmenowners.org/forums...html#post14115

I've reworked it some so it looks less ghetto. I'll remove the contraption once the cold weather comes.
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Old 06-17-2014, 09:25 PM   #15
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Hey thanks for the idea, again I would not have thought of that type of mod. Not sure the wife will give me enough time tonight to do the mod. lol , Seems she has a honey do list before we take off in the AM LOL

Thanks again, Mike
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Old 06-17-2014, 09:26 PM   #16
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Another option for a bit more clearance would be to drop both bunks below the first retaining holes, place the pins in all four holes then re-raise the bunks up to the pins. That should give you a few more inches of clearance to run the AC.

I haven't actually tried this just came to mind to help with the chain stress.
Thanks, This may be a quick fix for the trip. Running out of time

Mike
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Old 06-17-2014, 09:47 PM   #17
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niceguy...

I've driven with my bunks down without any ill effects... now this was in my old TH that didn't have that sticker, but they were the same Happi jacs.

I think Grimtas idea is a great compromise, drops them down for airflow & keeps them pinned up at the same time.

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!!!
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Old 06-18-2014, 03:51 PM   #18
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Just for info as we know H2o weights 8 lb per gallon, gasoline 6 lb per gallon & diesel, 7 lb per gallon & propane 4.2 lb per gallon. Not right on perfect but close enough to figure total extra weight.
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Old 06-23-2014, 07:27 PM   #19
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Hey Everyone, Trip was great, Dogs were very cool in the garage. Turns out that no AC was needed at night, just opened the windows and turned on the super fan. Only needed the AC for about 4 hours in afternoon. Only used 2/3 of the one tank, most of that was traveling up and back home. Turns out they had water after all, Got 9 mpg total for the trip.

Oddest thing started happen though, the bottom bunk kept coming down by itself and I had a heck of a time trying to get to go up all the way, seems when I finally got it half way up it would click and start coming back down again. PITA... When I got home it had come down again so it must not hurt at all to travel with them down. The top one was still hooked up via the pins.

Anyway thanks to everyone who had some words of wisdom.
Much appreciated ...,Mike
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Old 06-23-2014, 07:35 PM   #20
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I believe that the electric motor for the beds is supposed to have a brake to prevent that from happening. Might want to investigate that.
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