Difficulty installing a onan gen in a 2012 Redwood 38 BR. The unit is prepped for one. Want to add a LP model.
We are in the Billings Mt. area. Or cost to have installed by qualified dealer between here to AZ? Appreciate
anyone's input. Bruce

Expect about $5-6K to have one installed. Get the 6500 model so that you some output left. ESPECIALLY if you are running 3 A/C units. The unit weighs about 290 lbs. Every thing should be installed in your RV except the genny.

I've called and discussed a Diesel unit with Redwood. The weight of the 8000W unit is about 400 lbs. Redwood states that they have never tried this before but if I elect to try this, they recommend a little more structural support.

The reason for diesel? I will also have a 109 Gallon diesel tank in the back of the truck. That will give me extra fuel for crossing the country with the TV and locating cheaper diesel. It will also give me a lot of run time without having to worry about fuel. I'll be using an auxiliary line with quick connects and a fuel pump. With propane, as already pointed out, the unit will drain a tank pretty quick. Propane is not cheap (maybe a little lower in the summer). Let it be winter, run the furnace and watch it run out even faster. I'm afraid I would have to call the propane company and have them deliver a 250 gallon tank if I stay anywhere for a longer period.

The diesel unit is also more expensive. They run about $8-9K uninstalled. There is a 6000W diesel unit. There is no difference in weight. It runs about $7-8k uninstalled.

Another consideration is altitude. The higher you climb, the less wattage you will get out of your generator. Be sure to read the Onan spec book. True...the higher you climb, the less likely you are to NEED A/C...

Just an option...

I found the best deal for my 6.5 LP online from norwalls. Free shipping and dropped it at the door.5000.00. You need to buy the tail pipe propane hose and wire for the battery plus connectors which run another 200.00. I did the install myself with a buddy's assistance. I talked to a couple rv techs that would have done the install for around 400.00. Way cheaper than a dealership

Just a thought for you. I have a 5500 Onan in my unit. I installed it myself. It works great but as mentioned it uses LP very quickly. My previous Fiver had 7500 Onan which I also installed myself and it was a gas unit. I love the gas much better. However you have to exercise the gas units very often or today's gas will gum it up. And new EPA rules will not allow most Onan repair centers to over haul the carbs. So the LP is better for that reason. Now for my thought. You have a hitch on the back of your RW. Not sure if you are towing anything or using the hitch or not. But in the future my next RV I am gong to use the hitch for a fold down Carriage rack. I will purchase a 7500 Honda and fix it to draw off of a larger tank. When I do not expect to use it or need it I will store it. Friend of mine is doing this and it works great. Now I know that is a little redneck. But it works. And a lot less money. B)

Mark, the problem I see with that method, is that the first time I left the Genny behind, something would come up and need it and wouldn't have it.
We'll stick with our on-board, always there when we need it.

Another couple of comments.

Make sure that you "need" a genny, not just "want" it. I thought that we would need one when we retired and started serious RVing 10 years ago. We've hardly used it other than exercising it every month and using it twice this year during power outages (nice to have but we could have done without it, used it just to exercise the unit and make Keurig coffee.)

The unit is a Honda 3000 that sits anchored in the front of the truck bed, 23 amps, enough to run 1 A/C unit. It would work well with a genny prep package. I have used it to power electric tools and an air compressor during an emergency tire change though, easier on me than undoing the lug nuts manually.