Going out on a limb here... drop spare tire, add genset?

mlts22 wrote:
Yep, I was looking at a Sprinter build (but because of other factors, especially ground clearance, I decided to look at a 4x4 pickup) One other caveat is that it is a diesel generator, so running it dry is a bad thing.

Nothing wrong with the Honda 3K. In fact, I have a Yamaha model similar. However, I'm looking to carry as few types of fuel as possible. With this setup, all I need are cans of diesel, as well as a spare propane canister or two. Plus, since it is under the vehicle, it isn't a target for thieves as a generator sitting on a rack would be.

Of course, I can always go for a gasser one ton and do the exact thing at a fraction of the price with an Onan 2800 QG (which retails for about 50% more than the cost of my Yamaha 3000 watt model.) The Onan 4000 might be a bit too long to stuff under the truck, but 2800 watts can start a modern 13.5k BTU A/C with 300 watts to spare (as per Onan's specs.)

I'm mainly wondering if this idea is something that is way out there, or if someone has done this. I like the idea of having the "out of sight, out of mind" capability, the ability to run the TC's air conditioner while on the road, and pure convenience attributes of having the extremely long run time from the truck's fuel tank.

Its pretty rare on a class b but some have done it.
The guys at sportsmobile offer this genset as an option today.

I think this one will run your AC at 1/2 load at something like .1 GPH

Propane- one guy computed a difference between 24 hours of running on propane and 80 hours off your diesel tank.

I have a sprinter 3500 set up for work with an Onan 8K in it and would not go back to a an air cooled gasoline generator for a diesel vehicle.

I have an 8K power tech in my motorhome and prefer it to the Onan 8000 in my work van.
I love my power tech product

UD

Yep, I was looking at a Sprinter build (but because of other factors, especially ground clearance, I decided to look at a 4x4 pickup) One other caveat is that it is a diesel generator, so running it dry is a bad thing.

Nothing wrong with the Honda 3K. In fact, I have a Yamaha model similar. However, I'm looking to carry as few types of fuel as possible. With this setup, all I need are cans of diesel, as well as a spare propane canister or two. Plus, since it is under the vehicle, it isn't a target for thieves as a generator sitting on a rack would be.

Of course, I can always go for a gasser one ton and do the exact thing at a fraction of the price with an Onan 2800 QG (which retails for about 50% more than the cost of my Yamaha 3000 watt model.) The Onan 4000 might be a bit too long to stuff under the truck, but 2800 watts can start a modern 13.5k BTU A/C with 300 watts to spare (as per Onan's specs.)

I'm mainly wondering if this idea is something that is way out there, or if someone has done this. I like the idea of having the "out of sight, out of mind" capability, the ability to run the TC's air conditioner while on the road, and pure convenience attributes of having the extremely long run time from the truck's fuel tank.

mlts22,

I guess this is your thread in another forum from last year on using the same generator? Some interesting comments here:

http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10953

As long as we're just armchair speculating........

I suspect a Honda 3k generator on a cargo carrier plugged into a front frame hitch (with room for several jerry cans of extra gas) may be a bunch cheaper and easier.

Did I mention a BUNCH cheaper? LOL.

Seen rigs with a SWING OUT spare tire mount across the rear. A better-than-nothing suggestion.

Yes:





More genset info here.

As far as I know, the top metal part functions as a heat shield, and it gets ventilated/exhausted downwards. I probably would add a Dynamat where it is bolted (assuming rubber vibration dampeners are used) to further reduce noise and vibration.

Might need a hear shield on top. Very interesting idea. Do you have a pic of the generator?

I looked into ventilation, the genset is a bottom breather (made to mount at the aft end of a Sprinter, so it is engineered to have built in splash protection), and is just happy to run no matter what is nearby underneath. The spare tire, I can probably mount on the truck camper's roof, or if not carrying it, can mount in the truck's bed.

For power, I'd definitely have to locate an outlet with a circuit breaker somewhere. The ideal place would be recessed in the truck bed.

Assuming the genset can be properly shock/acoustic mounted, and my my real rough calculations, it will be above the truck's axles (well out of the angle of departure), it would be almost the ideal thing to have for a boondocking setup, especially if some way of finagling access to a remote start/stop switch could be done, so the genset could be started in the TC.

Sounds feasible, although the devil is in the details.

My first thought was spare tire to the roof, but that would be much more difficult than the front hitch suggestion above.

You would probably need to fab up some splash guards and things for the genset to keep road debris off of it. Also might have to keep ventilation and cooling in mind.

The fuel tap shouldn't be that difficult. Should be lots of shops around that do things like welders in the truck bed who would be familiar with that sort of thing.