For us non RV owners what makes the generator so likely to create fumes inside other than improper or faulty ventilation? Please share more on this topic—anyone!
I wouldn’t know specifically, but there was a couple that died this way several years back at the local Vietnam Veteran reunion here.
I would have to go with the ventillation though. Old camper furnaces could rust out, mouse nests in vents....
It really depends on the RV and the generator. I bought a used Class A this last spring. The generator on it is right under the master bed. The exhaust exits under the body, but is only 3 feet from the window - straight up. When we run the generator, we can smell the fumes, as the RV is hardly air-tight, so we usually only run it long enough to either re-charge the 12-volt batteries, or a coffee maker or toaster, if we aren't plugged into electrical. We leave the windows on the generator side closed, and open windows on the opposite side.
We do run it going down the road if it's hot - to run the air-conditioning in the cabin. But we are running down the road, so the exhaust is pulled away from the vehicle.
My guess is that they were trying to stay cool, and were running the generator to run the A/C.
Most RVs should have a working CO alarm in them for exactly this purpose.
Faulty ventilation is always the cause of CO deaths, other than intentional ones. In an RV you’re basically sleeping in a box that’s right over the top of a running engine that produces carbon monoxide. Proper ventilation is more important when the RV windows are closed.
It apparently was not a generator that was factory mounted. Trailers seldom have a generator mounted. Motor homes usually have a generator mounted, you are cautioned to keep the windows closed to keep exhaust out.
If it was a separate generator it must have been upwind of the trailer. If it had a window open, that would allow exhaust to enter.
An external generator needs to be away from the trailer, and be so the breeze will carry exhaust away.