Caterpillar understands the importance of the RV market. The company has been providing motive power to RV manufacturers for years, including Cat’s 3126B and C9 engines.

Now, Caterpillar is working with Power Technology Southeast, Inc. of Leesburg, Florida to provide the market with a drop-in genset, as well.

“We’ve had a strong and growing presence on the drivetrain end of the RV market for some time,” said Roger Watson-Smyth, a regional sales manager for Caterpillar’s Industrial Power Systems. “But our presence in the genset end of the business has been light. Now, with the company’s initiative to be a stronger player in the small engine segment, we have ideal products for the RV market.”

To complement the enhanced engine line up, Watson-Smyth said, Cat then needed a partner with whom to go to market. “We know the demand is high for single-source solutions, demand from not only builders, but also from dealers and owners, so we decided to meet that demand by partnering with another proven performer.”

That proven performer is Power Tech. The company will offer four of its Ultimate series gensets with Caterpillar engines. The Cat 3011C, rated at 15.8bhp @ 1800rpm gross, will be available on a 7 kW and an 8 kW model. The 3013, rated at 21.7bhp @ 1800rpm gross, will power 10 kW and 12 kW models. Both engines are EPA and CARB certified. For Power Tech it’s a perfect match. While some RV gensets are designed for standby use, Power Tech’s units are built as prime power units.

“If you get an 8 kilowatt Power Tech generator, it produces 8 kilowatts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” said Christopher O’Keefe, director of sales for Power Technology. “We size the generator and the engine to provide that kind of performance. Caterpillar’s 3011C and 3013C engines are up to the task, with power to spare.” Creating that margin is important, as peak loads are becoming more common. “Whether it’s some sort of promotional marketing coach showing up at a kids’ program or a retired couple traveling year around to visit family, RVs are away from shore power much of the time,” said O’Keefe. “Air conditioning, inverters and other systems are taxing that genset regularly, and standby power just isn’t enough to get the job done.”

“The Cat engines are really smooth running and they have a low decibel level from the start,” said O’Keefe. “That makes our engineering process much easier and more effective.”

While end users appreciate the low levels of sound and vibration, manufacturers love the convenience of mounting Power Tech's Ultimate generators. “There’s not much to do after you bolt the unit in place,” said O’Keefe. “There are connections for the fuel and the battery, you connect the exhaust elbow and tailpipe, the alternating current output, and you’re done. The muffler and everything else is built right into the box. We do the exhaust fittings, the oil fills, and relocation of the dipsticks to fit the configuration of the coach.”

Power Tech has used other engines in the past, and O’Keefe said the company gave a lot of thought to the prospect of changing, even with a brand with Caterpillar’s reputation. “Service after the sale is key for us,” said O’Keefe “We want Power Tech to be the customer’s choice in generators for future coach purchases, too. The Cat dealer network is bulletproof. Customers know that if they have a problem anywhere in North America, they can get it taken care of without difficulty.”