Hi, we are brand new to a new 2019 Fleetwood Bounder 35P.  So new in fact, we won't take possession of it from the dealer for about 2 weeks.

We wanted to change out the Onan 5500w for a 7000w Onan but the dealer said they'd have to charge us an extra $7,000 for the generator and labor.  They'd give us the 5500w to do with as we please.  Their reason not to change out the BRAND NEW 5500w generator is that 'it's considered used'.  Doesn't really make sense to us, but oh well.

Wife thinks we should go with the 7000w, maybe not through the dealer, but somewhere else.  Husband is leaning to stay with the 5500w.  If we stay with the 5500w and it turns out not enough power, then it definitely will fit the 'used' description by the time we decide to change.

Our question is, do you think the 5500w will be sufficient?  Our coach has two a/c units, a residential refrigerator, microwave/convection oven. 4 televisions, all the goodies that come with a new 2019 coach.  Hopefully we'll never run all that at the same time.  We do boondock more than we stay at full-hookup parks.

Has anyone ever changed out their generator themselves?  Is it easy to do or best left up to having a dealer or RV tech do it?


Thanks in advance for your advice.

Yes the 5500 will be enough even for boondocking! Your coach comes with a power management system it will manage the generator power and your power draw for you to ensure you don't exceed  its capability. Save your money for a future trip!

Dan Quasnick wrote:

Yes the 5500 will be enough even for boondocking! Your coach comes with a power management system it will manage the generator power and your power draw for you to ensure you don't exceed  its capability. Save your money for a future trip!

This is the wife responding...  I just want to make sure we can use both a/c, micro, a tv, and maybe a hairdryer at the same time without something pooping out on us.   This will probably be our last RV and I'd sure like to whoop it up and not worry about using too many appliances at the same time, if that's possible.

In our last RV we had a 4000w generator and really had to watch what we were using.  We do boondock a lot, but maybe that will change when we retire? 

Maybe I should start talking to the hubby about a 8000w generator?  *LOL

Dan Quasnick wrote:

Believe me Margee, I know Bonnie is in charge in my world just as well as Doug does in yours!  And we Love it that way! That's why I want him to have some extra cash for more travel fun! So here is what I else I can share especially since you shared your experience with a 4,000 watt generator: 

• The 5500 is a completely different design much more robust than the 4,000.
• The 7000 is just a higher wattage 5500 design
• one thing to check and look for on your 5500 is to see if it says EFI ( electronically fuel injected)
• If you are not sure ask your RV dealer, look at paperwork, or have a smart RV's look.
• If it is, the good thing about that with you guys being out in mountain country, is that the generator will adjust fuel better to maintain power output better. Though if your 6,000 + feet up your generator may struggle to put out all 5500 watts. Cummins Onan Tech Center will teach you this call them.
• Last piece of advice look into this website www.microair.net  They have devices called Easystarts that you can have installed on each AC unit that reduces the amperage they require to start. This does two things reduces amp load on the generator, AND if you only have 30 amp plug in at a park and it is a HOT summer, it will let you still run both AC's!! They are not cheap, but I bought them and had them installed, because YUP, you guessed it Happy Wife!

Happy & Safe Camping!

Dan & Bonnie Quasnick

Jacksonville,FL

Thanks!  I appreciate your answer.