Why not run portable generator off vehicle's fuel tank?

Most portables don't have fuel pumps.

Most gas tanks don't have a quick-connect fitting. Is this a joke?

Most people don't have a back-up fuel tank when you run the vehicle tank out of fuel. By accident of course.

The Honda has a fuel pump so you could stick a hose in the fuel tank if your truck is gas, but a lot of trucks are diesel now.

corvettekent wrote:
The Honda has a fuel pump so you could stick a hose in the fuel tank if your truck is gas, but a lot of trucks are diesel now.

It may be easier to get a hose in than get it out.

My 2KW generator has run off my truck on two occasions That I know of haha... One of my PLAN Bs include what is known as an OKLAHOPMA CREDIT CARD from back in my Texas days...

The one I have is alot difference from the 60s version where mine has a hand squeeze pump... The original method leaves a bad taste in your mouth.


Google image

I have filled my 2KW Generator gasoline tank from my truck gasoline tank on two occasions that I can remember..

Roy Ken

OK, specifically asking about small Honda generators and the available extended run tanks. These portable Honda's seem superior (for my purposes) to built in generators, yet the built-in models are plumbed to the vehicle's gas tank. So just wondering why portable cannot run off the vehicle's fuel tank if a built-in Onan is able to do so.
Not a joke, just clueless and asking for info.

you can do it
provided you want to cut into the fuel system someplace
BUT remember the built in honda pump is low pressure

how many feet of external fuse hose will be involved ?
will it be exposed to campground foot traffic ?
how many feet below or above the vehicle fuel tank will it be
will the honda fuel pump be overwhelmed and flood, from gravity feed pressure
does the vehicle have an existing generator fuel line you can tap into
will you be using the main engine fuel line
it likely has an 'in the gas tank' fuel pump, which will not be running, will the honda low pressure pump suck gas thru the existing pump

there are lots of things to consider,
if this were a simple yes its easy, lots of people would probably doing it already

Modifying your vehicle fuel system to provide a quick connect likely is illegal, I can't see USDOT or the NTSB approving anything like that.

How hard is it to carry a little gas can? If the answer too hard, get a propane conversion for your unit.

One thing to note is that the built in generators typically use a dedicated pickup port, not the vehicle engine fuel line. The generator pickup is cut short of the tank bottom, usually leaving at least a quarter tank of unreachable fuel so the vehicle engine always has fuel to get to a gas station. Any mods for an external generator fuel line should be installed with the same protection included.