Thor Forums

[Chance]

Originally Posted by dstankov

Interesting concept, however, how many people limit driving their coaches to "level roads" 85 - 90 percent of my annual camping is in the mountains so any drain to Horse Power is significant.

Even when travelling to Florida I am travelling along rolling terrain.

Sorry, until the option is available for between 2,000 - 3,000-dollars, to include solar array, I can not see any type of economic benefit to it's implementation.

Has any one seen any type of reliability or "Total Cost of Ownership" to support that type of option? I do know a lot of folks that have the all electric coaches have all kinds of problem with the electronic control systems and components.

I used 100 HP on level road as an example to put your estimate into proper context. Yeah, in hills and mountains that big V10 can also make 300 HP, right? So what, it doesn't change the fact that as a percent of engine power an alternator is a very small load. And beyond that it can be cut off when engine is nearing it's capacity so it would have no effect at all on hill climbing. That technology is already in use and becoming common.

If value is based strictly on cost, then an Onan is probably the only right solution. For me cost is not the only factor. At the North Rim recently I wanted to make coffee and use the microwave during periods the generator wasn't allowed. I would have happily paid a premium for a system with capabilities like the E-Trek's.

Based on opinions expressed above on how generators end up getting used, plus my own too, I think a similar system to the E-Trek in lieu of a traditional generator would be something I would buy in a new RV if offered as a reasonably-priced option.