Where to store a generator

Phil charters · Member

Where to store a generator

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Home in the shed is the best place.
Why do you need a generator when you travel?

Cheers,
Peter

villatranquilla · Guru

ours goes into the back of the ute - just remember to close the air vent - we've had no issues with fumes. Our generator has been used when we free camped and the weather was foul to prevent batteries running down too far especially when we were running the sat TV. It was also handy when we had a flat battery in the car and there was not another vehicle around for a jump start.

villatranquilla · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Home in the shed is the best place.
Why do you need a generator when you travel?

Cheers,
Peter

if you have nothing nice or helpful to say, say nothing

Delta18 · Guru

Ours sits in the tub of the dual cab. It rarely gets used so it is as far forward as I can get it. That keeps it's weight in front of the axle too.

The only time it is used is for battery top-up when there have been days of cloudy, wet weather & the solar had a rest.

ps: I agree Barry/Jen, nothing to add? Shut the $#^@ up!

-- Edited by Delta18 on Wednesday 14th of January 2015 10:51:15 AM

Phil charters · Member

Thanks for the reply's. As with others, sometimes solar and batteries just ain't enough and considered use of a generator is needed.

Brownie2 · Senior Member

Hi Phil, Ditto to the comments of the others about the first comments.
Due to necessity we had to carry our Honda generator on the back of our station wagon. Far from ideal, but we never had an issue with fuel smells in the car. We now have a BT50 Dual Cab and it will sit now on top of the drawers in the back, and like Neil & Lyn, it will be right up front. I have a double width slide out on the drawers so it will still be reasonably easy to get at if we have to use it. It has probably only been fired up for about 4 hours in the last two big trips we have done. Nice to have it sitting there though. Cheers, and happy travels. Bob

Phil charters · Member

Thanks Bob, I have a pathfinder and it seems that the Genny will have to travel in the back, or maybe in the caran, just not sure that one.

JackoFJR · Senior Member

I only have a 1KVA Honda , it fits nicely in a space case with room for a 5lt container of petrol , it goes in the back of the Ute , helps with petrol smell , not so much of a problem with a Ute .
Takes up more space .

You would need a bigger case if you can find one to fit , room could be a issue

Peter is probably one of those grumpy old farts that only has to see a generator , even if it's not running and it spoils his whole day .

Phil charters · Member

Yes, it seems most people have utes these days. They are a great all round vehicle and make things a little easier. I am a bush walker and know how some bush walkers get when a caravan or a tent with a family of kids turn up in our quiet spot, no genny at all. The world is for everybody to enjoy in their own way, as long as respect is given to others, unfortunately, some people think the world exists for them only.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I have a Honda 2Kva. I bought it six years ago when I first headed off. I carry it in the rear of the Discovery 3 tied down with a ratchet strap through the tie-downs in the back. I carried it with fuel in the tank and the 'breather valve' closed. I have never had any fuel smell inside the car. I have travelled through outback QLD, NSW, SA and WA in temperatures up to 39degC ambient - not a skerrick of odour from the fuel tank. I used it every couple of days to re-charge the house battery.

I had solar panels installed on the roof of the van three years ago. The generator lives in the back of the Discovery and hasn't been used since the solar was installed. I do start it every six months or so to make sure it runs etc - it always starts first pop - and for that reason it rarely has any fuel in the tank these days.

Cheers - John

SnowT · Guru

Actually I'm of Anti Generator club as well.. But then I have a Power Station.....

If you have to carry a generator do so at your leisure and please be considerate of other if you have to use them....

Also Before you decide to buy one make sure it does the job it needs to do Before you buy it.. ie Tale the van there and give it a test... to many people seem to get caught buying undersized unit's...

Juergen

Plendo · Guru

Phil, welcome to the forum.

Most of the people here are friendly and will offer good advice based on experience.

Although not very well explained, there are a number of people who have a real aversion to generators, and feel it is there duty to bully others into the same view. Most people on the forum would prefer not to use a generator, but many carry a gennie, just for the security, if the weather goes against them, or something is inadvertently left on an drains the battery to far.

While like SnowT I have a veritable power station on board, I still carry a generator, a horrible noisy two stroke that will be noisy if i every have to start it, but it only weighs 8kg. I store it in a box that is vented to the outside, but sealed off from the rest of the van on one side of the front boot. Sitting in this location its weight is almost all sitting on the tow ball.

Again welcome, and please keep asking questions.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I carry a Honda 2KVA in the back of the Tug and bring it out if needed due to poor weather conditions and the Solar Panels aren't doing their thing fully. It is a back up for the batteries. I also use it for the Aircon if really needed when free/alternative camping with no access to 240v. Very handy to have. It never pays to let your batteries run down too far.

Radar · Guru

Hi All.

Mine lives on the top shelve of garage but like to have it with me when I head out over the east coast mountain range for the time I might need the batteries charged.

6 nights in a row free camping up above Townsville convinced me I don't want to carry the genie as the noise from those quite generators was enough pretty blue or red ones. The salesman said they were quite.

14 or 15 kilograms either end of caravan might throw your balance out a bit, I have thought about placing it between the gas bottles where the weight would be less noticeable and out of the road.

Enjoy what ever you do. Ralph

intouch · Veteran Member

Why would any one need a generator, for many reasons.

I store mine in a custom built box on the rear of my motor home, the box is just large enough to house the generator, a ten litre fuel can, a five kg gas bottle and a few small tool.

I have met a few on the road who ask the same question, why carry one, when all your batteries fail, and they will, then ask your self the question.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

villatranquilla wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Home in the shed is the best place.
Why do you need a generator when you travel?

Cheers,
Peter
if you have nothing nice or helpful to say, say nothing

Maybe you should follow your own advise?

Knowing why the OP needs a generator is important in order to offer constructive alternatives that may suit better.

Cheers,

Peter

philldeb · Member

Peter and Marag I own a genarator but have spent a lot on solar I don't use the genarator much and I also have a sleep apnea machine 99% of the.time the solar will cope running our power needs

If I need to use the genarator I do so at a reasonable time of the day mid afternoon I find is best OP was asking a reasonable question and you came up with a stupid answer like home in the shed. The world would be a lot better of if you stay at home in the shed all so

JackoFJR · Senior Member

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

Maybe you should follow your own advise?

Knowing why the OP needs a generator is important in order to offer constructive alternatives that may suit better.

Cheers,

Peter

Peter the OP said he had already purchased a Gen , not should he buy one , you were just being a smart arse .

Phillipn · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Home in the shed is the best place.
Why do you need a generator when you travel?

Cheers,
Peter.

Parked next to a fellow like you in north Qld a few years ago. He complained about generators, but when he needed to charge his batteries he started the motor on his motor home. The diesel fumes were 10 times worse than noise from any generator.

Our generator and fuel are in a locked box on the A frame of the van.

-- Edited by Phillipn on Thursday 15th of January 2015 06:54:13 AM

-- Edited by Phillipn on Thursday 15th of January 2015 07:14:45 AM

-- Edited by Phillipn on Thursday 15th of January 2015 10:16:30 PM

peterblack · Senior Member

hi all. I would have though we all are entitled to our opinion.
if u don't like the advice then don't use it
just my thoughts
enjoy life

sandsmere · Guru

Back on the topic.

Ours travels in the back of the Land Cruiser.

I made a slide for it . Just open the back door, slide it out and start it. No lifting .

And don't worry about the snipers Phil.There's a few on here. Just ignore them.

Phil charters · Member

This was never meant to be an argument about whether to use a generator or not, just how people manage to transport them. Thanks Peter for getting the thread going, it has been interesting and helpful reading. You probably would not like to share a camp area with my wife and I as we also travel with two dogs' My wife shows the dogs and we can sometimes stay in our caravan onsite where most use generators: all that generator noise and barking dogs, pure hell. We also travel and camp, and always respect other peoples sensitivities, but they also must respect our need to keep our battery charged, and maybe run the AC for short bursts at appropriate times.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Phillipn wrote:
, but when he needed to charge his batteries he started the motor on his motor home. The diesel fumes were 10 times worse than noise from any generator.

A modern diesel (or petrol) motor vehicle engine will actually cause considerably less pollution than a small generator which have no anti pollution controls whatsoever.

Some may also be surprised to learn that the fuel consumption won't be much different either.

A modern diesel car motor uses in the order of 1/2 a litre of fuel per hour at idle (most less) plus an extra quarter of a litre per kW of power required.

That is equivalent to about 1 litre per hour when producing 2kW of power via the alternator or 3/4 litre per hour when producing 1kw.

So a DC-DC charger or an inverter is often a legitimate alternative to carrying a generator. They weigh almost nothing, costs a lot less and do not require special fuel which also makes them a lot safer. The question of how to carry a generator safely disappears.

Cheers,

Peter

Crockie · Veteran Member

Welcome Phil

We have a Honda 2KVA genny just in case. With solar on the roof of the van and 2 big batteries we I have never had to crank the beast, still new. There may come a day when we will need it.

Sorry about some of the responses you have received, we have a few "experts" over here who think that everything that comes out of their mouths is gold plated. Annoys the crap out of me.

If I have to run my genny it will be on the ground at the end of a 10 meter 15 amp lead. It travels in the back of my ute with the breather closed.

Mostly this is a friendly and good forum with great information and friendships.

Welcome again and safe travels.

Phil charters · Member

Hi Phil,
I am not put off by negative comments, we all live our lives differently and have varying opinions on how this should be done. I only have one battery and a 150 watt solar panel, not sure how long this will last, I just need backup, just in case.
The inverter comment from Peter is good one, but still uses battery power and a good rate, I believe.

Looks like I should just stick to bushwalking, much easier, although carrying 20kg on your back is a real bitch, but less troublesome. LOL

Phil

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Phil charters wrote:
The inverter comment from Peter is good one, but still uses battery power and a good rate, I believe.

Phil, if the inverter is run from the crank battery while the engine is running at a fast idle, it will have no effect on the battery as all the power will come from the alternator.

There are usually more than one answer as to how to do things as in the case here. Problems occur when people assume there is only one solution and then choose to slag off anyone offering an alternative. I am sure Phil is capable of choosing the alternative that suits him, as will others who have similar questions, but don't post them.

Cheers,

Peter

Phil charters · Member

Hi Peter, so you use your vehicle to generate power? Am I correct? If so, then you are using your car as a generator, no need to carry extra weight, space problem solved.

Phil

JackoFJR · Senior Member

The OP has already purchased the Generator , it's not going to be much use home in the shed .

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Phil charters wrote:
Hi Peter, so you use your vehicle to generate power? Am I correct? If so, then you are using your car as a generator, no need to carry extra weight, space problem solved.

Yes we do Phil, but only rarely because we have enough solar to supply our requirements almost all the time.

We have a direct connection via heavy cable between the crank and the house batteries for this purpose and can get 70A of charge from an 80A alternator when the batteries are low. This is not a viable option (because of the cable length and size) for a caravan and you would need to use a DC-DC charger or an inverter in that case.

Cheers,

Peter