I have two of these units ($599 each from Costco, on sale). Also picked up the parallel kit in order to run both simultaneously to provide 50 amps. Can run two ACs on one generator with soft starts. Love the Firman generators.
The problem with solar is you have to park your RV in the sun.....not fun on 90 or more degree days when there are trees and shade available to park under. The shade also allows you to enjoy camping outside next to the RV. The perfect setup for me is a generator(s) and a hefty lithium battery bank. Run the genie for two hours a day to recharge the house batteries and only run the genie when running the AC hard. This works in the shade, when overcast, in rain and snow. Can't do that with solar.
I have this exact generator. We use it in our fifth wheel for boondocks. I have found that anything above 4000 feet of elevation. It absolutely will not run multiple large appliances, even running gasoline. One AC unit and a microwave is a no go. Below 1000 feet of elevation we can run two AC’s but we do have soft starts. Also, sometimes when running in Eco mode when one AC unit was cycling off and on the motor would not catch up to the load and it would get stalled out. We normally just ran hours in the regular mode which was fine. We were only getting 4 hours or so on a tank at full capacity. But like you said it’s rare to have to run it at a high capacity for extended periods. For a $599 inverter generator we’ve been happy with it overall.
Our favorite campgrounds are really shaded, and also don't have electrical hookups, and don't allow generators. We upgraded to LiPO4 batteries (560 amp hours) and just the one factory 190 watt panel on the roof. We can go 4-5 days without sun and still run the 12 volt fridge, water pump, and lights.
Hey JD another great product knowledge video also one of your subscribers said $599 at Costco and you can buy a parallel kit to join 2 together to get 50 amps
I boondock with two Ecoflow 1300s and a 4000W gas generator with no solar panels. I installed a soft start on my 13,500BTU A/C unit and the generator has no problem running my A/C. The two Ecoflows will power everything but the A/C and take about an hour to recharge with the gas generator.
I absolutely agree that a generator offers the most bang for the buck. It is essential even if you have a solar system and should be the first thing you buy. One thing I don't like about that Firman is the propane hose length. Another couple of feet would allow you to connect to the propane tank storage area on the rv.
I have one that I used for power outages in Houston. Added plug connection to the house and powered 3 refrigerators the lights ( all led) and a 12,000 btu ac
Between you and Mike's Weather Page, Firman is the choice. I am a flood insurance adjuster who travels to disasters, and often, there is no power for the first week and sometimes longer. My wife and I are buying a trailer for our Ram 3500 to stay in at storm sites. The issue I have been trying to figure out is how to cool the interior during the day while we inspect buildings so that when we return, the interior is not sweltering hot. The bed and furniture will be too hot to sleep in, regardless of the air being turned on upon our return. I need a week of run time for the AC, 24 hours a day for a week. That would be 14 propane tanks, or lord knows how much fuel. Any suggestions on what to use or any combination of products would be very helpful in our purchase. Obviously, a toy hauler would be a good choice, but the floor plans suck for what will be full-time living while on site. Love your reviews and information and have used many of your suggested products. Thanks.
Price out how much all that propane will cost you per week and compare to investing in solar. Victron has an inverter/charger (multi plus) that load shares. You could use a smaller generator to handle gaps in solar output. Lots videos about how to set up.
Price out how much all that propane will cost you per week and compare to investing in solar. Victron has an inverter/charger (multi plus) that load shares. You could use a smaller generator to handle gaps in solar output. Lots videos about how to set up.
JD, if someone is paying $10k for most solar systems on an RV then I'd say more than likely they are being ripped off. I have 1600W solar panels, 3k inverter and all the other necessary equipment and I only paid $3600.00 for it all. I can run all my major appliances straight off my solar panels during the day. At night I can still run most everything I have due to my battery storage capabilities but just don't run them down past 50%. When I get to 50% I simply plug up my generator for however long I need it for till the sun comes back up the next day.
@@BTBRVReviews -- Goodness ... I bought my system 3 years ago. I got lucky and bought my panels on sale around $225 each. The inverter was about $800 I think. Controller was about $500 give or take. Batteries were $1000 maybe a little more and all the accessories and installation costs the rest. I got a good deal on my panels or they would have cost me a little bit more than double what I paid for them. Folks need to shop around for what they need or want and get their equipment when it is on sale. I easily saved $1500 bucks maybe a little bit more. My system runs great, and I love it
@jamesbass9797 I have installed solar on RVs /Boats and camper vans the vans solely dependent on a system that was charged either off of solar panels or a high output alternator for backup. The heart of a solar system is the controller inverter and batteries the install also matters a lot using high-quality cables and connectors that are rated for the system. solar panels have come way down in price. I've learned one thing if you buy inexpensive equipment it will break sooner or later wish you the best of luck
@@robertjohnson4784 -- lol .... smdh Like I said people need to shop around and buy their equipment when it can be found on sale. I was in no hurry to purchase what I got and that give me the time and luxury to be selective with who and where I bought the equipment. By doing it that way I saved a fair amount of money.
You don't need to spend $10k on solar to run a residential fridge and microwave. Here's some tips to save on solar: Don't buy overpriced batteries (i.e. Battleborn). You can get good Lithium batteries for about the same price as a good lead acid these days. And they'll last 10 years instead of 3. Utilize 60 cell solar modules (residential size) instead of RV specific ones. They're less than 1/4 the price. I have a very large dual inverter system and spent less than 10k. That being said, I still carry a small 2500W generator. It only gets used like once a year (mainly due to short winter days or long periods of clouds), but it's still a necessity. But at 2500W it's only 45# and I can easily move it around with 1 hand.
For those at higher altitudes, Firman will send you new carb jets for free to make it more efficient at higher altitudes. You must register it first. I used their chat feature on the website to get the jets. Installation is your responsibility.
Quiet unit. I’ve never owned an RV (yet, I appreciate your channel for my research); I have a Coleman 6250 generator. Would that be sufficient for boon-docking purposes, and if so, how big of camper can I run with it? You had mentioned the solar and how most is just a battery tender. I want to be able to have off grid capability should SHTF and you need to bug out.
JD, I am surprised that you are recommending a product that you have not used extensively yourself, correct me if I am wrong. The generator was given to you right? If I am out of line, I apologize, Happy New Year, also enjoy your content, been watching you for several years.
Hello, I've been using these Generators for nearly 5 years. This is just a slightly more powerful version of what I've been using. At the 4:15 mark I show it. ua-cam.com/video/BrfRlADS798/v-deo.htmlsi=VjxrK-JAwOlffGNI
Everything I have seen on dual-fuel generators say that the propane bypasses the carburetor entirely. You can see the propane hose and the fuel doesn’t flow into the carburetor. Because either is a gas, it flows differently than a liquid fuel.
That’s the problem with the current products being sold now. Low quality and under powered, who wants to listen to a generator for hour while camping, out solar system fail within months. I replaced the panels because of a thunderstorm with small hail damage the flexible solar panels. No safety switches to shut power off to service the system. Wiring was too small for the inverter. I guess the little problems helped me find the huge issue of potential fire with system. Switch to a DC to DC solar controller. So the system is charging while driving. Nothing worse than getting to you destination with only 40% charge. Switch to lithium batteries after the AGM batteries died in 3.6 years. I did the work myself at 25% of what the service department wanted and I got better components. I could go on. Do your due diligence before buying anything. It will save you money if your handy with repairs. Don’t buy extended warranty. I’ve never heard of so reasons why my warranty wouldn’t cover this or that..
Wait, what, the salesman told me I can run everything including the AC for at least a week with the factory solar and battery 😉
I have two of these units ($599 each from Costco, on sale). Also picked up the parallel kit in order to run both simultaneously to provide 50 amps. Can run two ACs on one generator with soft starts. Love the Firman generators.
The problem with solar is you have to park your RV in the sun.....not fun on 90 or more degree days when there are trees and shade available to park under. The shade also allows you to enjoy camping outside next to the RV. The perfect setup for me is a generator(s) and a hefty lithium battery bank. Run the genie for two hours a day to recharge the house batteries and only run the genie when running the AC hard. This works in the shade, when overcast, in rain and snow. Can't do that with solar.
I have this exact generator. We use it in our fifth wheel for boondocks. I have found that anything above 4000 feet of elevation. It absolutely will not run multiple large appliances, even running gasoline. One AC unit and a microwave is a no go. Below 1000 feet of elevation we can run two AC’s but we do have soft starts. Also, sometimes when running in Eco mode when one AC unit was cycling off and on the motor would not catch up to the load and it would get stalled out. We normally just ran hours in the regular mode which was fine. We were only getting 4 hours or so on a tank at full capacity. But like you said it’s rare to have to run it at a high capacity for extended periods. For a $599 inverter generator we’ve been happy with it overall.
Been using Firman generator for years now. Wonderful stuff! Highly recommend them.
Our favorite campgrounds are really shaded, and also don't have electrical hookups, and don't allow generators. We upgraded to LiPO4 batteries (560 amp hours) and just the one factory 190 watt panel on the roof. We can go 4-5 days without sun and still run the 12 volt fridge, water pump, and lights.
Hey JD another great product knowledge video also one of your subscribers said $599 at Costco and you can buy a parallel kit to join 2 together to get 50 amps
I boondock with two Ecoflow 1300s and a 4000W gas generator with no solar panels. I installed a soft start on my 13,500BTU A/C unit and the generator has no problem running my A/C. The two Ecoflows will power everything but the A/C and take about an hour to recharge with the gas generator.
Looks just like the champion 4500 dual fuel I have in my construction trailer. Awesome little generator.
Good stuff, thanks for sharing JD!
I absolutely agree that a generator offers the most bang for the buck. It is essential even if you have a solar system and should be the first thing you buy. One thing I don't like about that Firman is the propane hose length. Another couple of feet would allow you to connect to the propane tank storage area on the rv.
I have one that I used for power outages in Houston. Added plug connection to the house and powered 3 refrigerators the lights ( all led) and a 12,000 btu ac
Pretty nice. I like the GenMax 4600 EFI.
Between you and Mike's Weather Page, Firman is the choice. I am a flood insurance adjuster who travels to disasters, and often, there is no power for the first week and sometimes longer. My wife and I are buying a trailer for our Ram 3500 to stay in at storm sites. The issue I have been trying to figure out is how to cool the interior during the day while we inspect buildings so that when we return, the interior is not sweltering hot. The bed and furniture will be too hot to sleep in, regardless of the air being turned on upon our return. I need a week of run time for the AC, 24 hours a day for a week. That would be 14 propane tanks, or lord knows how much fuel. Any suggestions on what to use or any combination of products would be very helpful in our purchase. Obviously, a toy hauler would be a good choice, but the floor plans suck for what will be full-time living while on site. Love your reviews and information and have used many of your suggested products. Thanks.
Price out how much all that propane will cost you per week and compare to investing in solar. Victron has an inverter/charger (multi plus) that load shares. You could use a smaller generator to handle gaps in solar output. Lots videos about how to set up.
Price out how much all that propane will cost you per week and compare to investing in solar. Victron has an inverter/charger (multi plus) that load shares. You could use a smaller generator to handle gaps in solar output. Lots videos about how to set up.
JD, if someone is paying $10k for most solar systems on an RV then I'd say more than likely they are being ripped off. I have 1600W solar panels, 3k inverter and all the other necessary equipment and I only paid $3600.00 for it all. I can run all my major appliances straight off my solar panels during the day. At night I can still run most everything I have due to my battery storage capabilities but just don't run them down past 50%. When I get to 50% I simply plug up my generator for however long I need it for till the sun comes back up the next day.
That's awesome, can you please break down the components and prices? I'd love to share with my viewers.
@@BTBRVReviews -- Goodness ... I bought my system 3 years ago. I got lucky and bought my panels on sale around $225 each. The inverter was about $800 I think. Controller was about $500 give or take. Batteries were $1000 maybe a little more and all the accessories and installation costs the rest. I got a good deal on my panels or they would have cost me a little bit more than double what I paid for them. Folks need to shop around for what they need or want and get their equipment when it is on sale. I easily saved $1500 bucks maybe a little bit more. My system runs great, and I love it
@jamesbass9797 I have installed solar on RVs /Boats and camper vans the vans solely dependent on a system that was charged either off of solar panels or a high output alternator for backup. The heart of a solar system is the controller inverter and batteries the install also matters a lot using high-quality cables and connectors that are rated for the system. solar panels have come way down in price. I've learned one thing if you buy inexpensive equipment it will break sooner or later wish you the best of luck
@@robertjohnson4784 -- lol .... smdh Like I said people need to shop around and buy their equipment when it can be found on sale. I was in no hurry to purchase what I got and that give me the time and luxury to be selective with who and where I bought the equipment. By doing it that way I saved a fair amount of money.
You don't need to spend $10k on solar to run a residential fridge and microwave. Here's some tips to save on solar: Don't buy overpriced batteries (i.e. Battleborn). You can get good Lithium batteries for about the same price as a good lead acid these days. And they'll last 10 years instead of 3. Utilize 60 cell solar modules (residential size) instead of RV specific ones. They're less than 1/4 the price.
I have a very large dual inverter system and spent less than 10k. That being said, I still carry a small 2500W generator. It only gets used like once a year (mainly due to short winter days or long periods of clouds), but it's still a necessity. But at 2500W it's only 45# and I can easily move it around with 1 hand.
For those at higher altitudes, Firman will send you new carb jets for free to make it more efficient at higher altitudes. You must register it first. I used their chat feature on the website to get the jets. Installation is your responsibility.
I wish people still made portable diesel generators
www.absolutegenerators.com/fuel/diesel-powered-generators/fuel-type/diesel?srsltid=AfmBOooSh_YDACZbsRbgJlGcjkvlnrgDiprE62x73tD_z3C7DsZmXZ72
Quiet unit. I’ve never owned an RV (yet, I appreciate your channel for my research); I have a Coleman 6250 generator. Would that be sufficient for boon-docking purposes, and if so, how big of camper can I run with it? You had mentioned the solar and how most is just a battery tender. I want to be able to have off grid capability should SHTF and you need to bug out.
JD, I am surprised that you are recommending a product that you have not used extensively yourself, correct me if I am wrong. The generator was given to you right? If I am out of line, I apologize, Happy New Year, also enjoy your content, been watching you for several years.
Hello, I've been using these Generators for nearly 5 years. This is just a slightly more powerful version of what I've been using. At the 4:15 mark I show it. ua-cam.com/video/BrfRlADS798/v-deo.htmlsi=VjxrK-JAwOlffGNI
I do believe that propane uses the same carburetor as gasoline no? So if it was gummed up it still wouldn't start with propane.
Right so if you use gas first then propane it also kinda pushes any gasoline remnants out of the carb.
Everything I have seen on dual-fuel generators say that the propane bypasses the carburetor entirely. You can see the propane hose and the fuel doesn’t flow into the carburetor. Because either is a gas, it flows differently than a liquid fuel.
That’s the problem with the current products being sold now. Low quality and under powered, who wants to listen to a generator for hour while camping, out solar system fail within months. I replaced the panels because of a thunderstorm with small hail damage the flexible solar panels. No safety switches to shut power off to service the system. Wiring was too small for the inverter. I guess the little problems helped me find the huge issue of potential fire with system. Switch to a DC to DC solar controller. So the system is charging while driving. Nothing worse than getting to you destination with only 40% charge. Switch to lithium batteries after the AGM batteries died in 3.6 years. I did the work myself at 25% of what the service department wanted and I got better components. I could go on.
Do your due diligence before buying anything. It will save you money if your handy with repairs. Don’t buy extended warranty. I’ve never heard of so reasons why my warranty wouldn’t cover this or that..
That's a little over the top with 10 grand for a system? Maybe, if you're buying a complete system from Victron buying a lot of stuff you dont need.
First