ctilsie242 wrote:
If I get a truck camper, here is how I'd solve that problem. I looked at a number solutions for this:
Moving the spare to the front, installing an Onan where the spare was, teeing it from the vehicle's fuel tank. Problem is... nobody anywhere has done anything like this.
Putting a rack for a generator on the TC. Doable with a 2000 watt Honda, but not a 3000 watt Yamaha.
Adding a second alternator, or going whole hog with a MEPS system. Cool idea, but I don't want to add wear and tear to my vehicle's engine.
Having a custom front hitch receiver/bumper fabricated with a special rack for the generator.
If I go the truck/TC route, I am going to go for a front hitch receiver and a cargo carrier, then plop my 3000 watt Yamaha on that, securing it. This way, I have a generator available at all times, and it is in a secured location.
My truck is a diesel, and diesel generators are stupid expensive. Plus I already have dual fuel tanks, so I'm slightly more restricted on where I can install equipment.
Adding a 2nd alternator doesn't solve the "oops..I ran the radios too long and now my starting battery is dead" problem :D Although, assuming I don't become a colossal dunce out there and drain all the batteries, in theory I should be able to jump the truck from the house batteries. Which, now that I think about it, just making a heavy gauge charging cable setup from the truck to the camper may not be such a bad idea after all.
I also just thought about the solar option, which may well be a much better plan for me than the generator, though it may too become stupid expensive as well once the radio gear becomes involved.
