Generation Ideas

[RonSchon]

So I'm comfortably ensconced in my 'new to me'1995 Hawk. Slept in her last night on the first night of my 3 days of work week.

I will need (well, I would like) power for a few things, and primary among them is a nuclear - er wrong forum - a microwave. For that I will need a genny.

I, For all the common reasons, like the Honda eu2000.

What I don't have is room.

Has anybody fabricated some sort of external, secure,ventillated gen compartment that they've attached to the backside?

Perhaps even a hitch box would serve the need. It could probably be designed as a pass-through so you could still tow with it.

Once I get back to a real computer I'll google down that road, but if anybody feels like chiming in I'd love to hear it.

Ron

 

[Scootr74]

Don't know what you want to spend...

Or what rig you have but a buddy of mine put on some Aluminess bumpers with a giant storage box. Worked well for his EU2000i. But pricey - you might be able to have someone fab one out of steel for a bit less...

http://www.aluminess.com/trucks.htm

 

[Sam]

What about keeping your tailgate on & using that to hold the generator? Also do you need the power of the eu2000 the eu1000 is quite small and I think would run a microwave?

 

[craig333]

Do you really need a generator? We have a few members who run a microwave using an inverter. Thats an option I'm about to do. Picked up an inverter on ebay pretty cheap. Figure power consumption won't be an issue since I don't figure I"ll run it more than five minutes a shot. Btw I do have an eu2000i but I havent bothered to use it yet. Wondering if its really worth hauling around.

 

[Puffins]

Hey Ron here's the link for that tri-fuel company. Depending on shipping I may just order a complete unit from them.

In my experience the size difference is minor between the 1000 and 2000 with a major capability gain.

http://www.generatorsales.com/honda-generators.asp

BTW I will send you those pics. I promise!

Craig, any interest in selling you unused generator?

 

[RonSchon]

Or what rig you have but a buddy of mine put on some Aluminess bumpers with a giant storage box. Worked well for his EU2000i. But pricey - you might be able to have someone fab one out of steel for a bit less...

http://www.aluminess.com/trucks.htm

This is precisely what I'd like to have... But $3000 out the door is a different neighborhood than which I reside.

The survivalist in me says having the generator would be the way to go - although an inverter would probably suffice. I've been stuck dead before and a generator with inverter saved me from a costly call.

I hadn't really thought about just putting the tailgate back on creating something that way. That is a good idea worth some thought. I could bolt a secure box right onto the tailgate.

Mike, no big deal on the pictures, whenever is fine - I just want my wife to be jealous.

 

[Northern Explorer]

I decided to go the route of an inverter and a second AGM battery. It just seemed a lot less complicated (and quieter) then a generator. I don't have a microwave but the hair dryer I bought for the wife uses 1250 watts. 3.5 minutes of use left a lot of juice in the batteries and they were recharged soon after starting the truck (battery separator).

See my write-up here (post #40)

 

[leadsled9]

Generators

Where are you going to mount a microwave in your Hawk. I have a Hawk and was racking my brain to figure out a place to mount one.

I have both the Honda 1000 EU and 2000 EU generators.

I only bring the 2000 when I am running my air conditioner.

If you remove the small piece of wood over your porta potti (just held on by a few brackets), the 2000 EU generator will slide in there just fine.

I considered buying one of these storage boxes (http://www.hayesequipment.com/hayes_products.htm) but the price was prohibitive. I was going to mount it to the back some how...but the noise and vibration would be too noticable.

FWC installed the dinette conversion, which includes making the storage boxes (both side and front) 3 inches higher. The Honda 2000 EU fits in the corner (see picture) where my porta potti now sits.

Here is a link to a company that sells an inverter/microwave combination real cheap. http://www.roadtrucker.com/feature-12-volt-microwave.htm

 

[chnlisle]

http://www.wanderthewest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1670&highlight=microwave

 

[leadsled9]

microwave

chnlisle,

I love that microwave mount in the Granby. Sure wished I had that room in the Hawk.

 

[RonSchon]

I considered buying one of these storage boxes (http://www.hayesequipment.com/hayes_products.htm) but the price was prohibitive. I was going to mount it to the back some how...but the noise and vibration would be too noticable.
http://www.roadtrucker.com/feature-12-volt-microwave.htm

Holy Wow.... I wasn't sure what your idea of prohibitive was... I think $900 for a tin box is TOTALLY fair...

They must deal in government contracts and think that occasionally some lost soul will need to be seperated from his lotto winnings?

That makes the $3k Luminess package seem like a bargain.

I would think you could print out those pictures, take them to a sheet metal fabrication shop and get something custom made for about $300, but perhaps I'm niave as well as poor.

I hate it when I have these 'concepts' of precisely what I need only to find that EXACT thing is out there and available - for multiple mortgage payments.

 

[leadsled9]

microwave

RonShon,

Where were you planning to mount a microwave in your Hawk?

 

[RonSchon]

I have not come up with a mount plan yet... On the floor in transit, above the fridge when parked is about as far as I've gotten...

 

[robojeeper]

2k is the way

2k generator is minimum for microwave and if you have a friend on the trip with the same 2k generator( like Honda eu both need to be same ) you can even plug them together with adapter unit and even run larger demand units etc.

 

[fish more]

Taller Cabinet

When I ordered my camper from FWC, I had them make the storage under the couch taller, made the storage compartment tall enough to fit my EU1000 under the seat. Have only used the Honda to charge my battery, although the AGM batteries I purchased from Cabelas work great, I mounted the second battery today. The single battery lasted a total of five days camping, even running the heater at times. I removed the stock battery box, turned both batteries on their end, made a bracket to hold and space both batteries from each other, it is tight, but both group 24 AGM fit where the stock battery box was. The twin batteries will make for alot of reserve power for longer days on the trail. The reserve power of the Cabelas batteries are a great more than Optima batteries, will see how they last.