Compact pop-up with ac and generator?

Great insight, Eycom. Thanks for sharing your perspective as an LP generator user.

RoyB wrote:
This is my battery bank layout


My generator sits secured in the tailgate corner of my covered and locked truck bed. When we run the generator we can just simply pull it out onto the tail gate and run it.


Been doing this routine for several years now and we are very successful camping off the power grid for 12-14 days at a time with the only requirement being we have to run our generator for a 12 hours run time period about every 14 days or so to obtain a 100% battery bank charge state so that no harm comes to the deep cycle batteries. Since most camp grounds does not allow us to run the generator this low of a period this is usually when we head for the house. Of course none of this camping off the power grid includes the use of air conditioning or high powered microwave operations.

Roy Ken

Hi Roy, that's useful info. And it does sound like you've had enough experience to not abuse your batteries.

The pics of your battery layout shows as a broken link. Could you put a few words to the arrangement? # of cells? amp-hours?

Eycom wrote:

RoyGBivUV wrote:
A related question I had...looking into a similar arrangement myself...

I have an on-board Generac-rap LP 3600 that consumes approximately .4 gal. per hr @ 1/2 load. Carrying 2 30# tanks, it's good for short runs. If a/c is needed for 8 hours at night, find a 120v source, or dry camp next to a refill station. Camping off grid in temps from upper 30s down to mid 20s at night, using the genny to recharge the batts twice a day, I've blown through a 30# tank in 4 days. Not only are gas stations easier to find, but the regional price of gas is relatively stable. LP prices vary widely across the board in a single town. Lord help you if you roll into a small wide-spot in the road offering refills with no competition... $$$.

Thanks for that, that's exactly what I needed to know. It definitely sounds to me like the ac is best paired with a site with 120v service. But good to be able to run it in a pinch.

We use this setup and have been able to camp almost anywhere you can think of both at regular camp grounds and off the power grid camp areas...
...

Since most public camp grounds here on the East side of the US all seem to have generator run time restrictions we have beefed up our off-road popup camper to run all of the 120VAC toys we want to run from inverters and all the 12VDC toys we want to run direct connected from our battery setup. We then re-charge the battery bank each morning during the short times the use of the generator is allowed to run. Using smart mode charging we can re-charge back up to the 90% battery charge state in as little as three hours generator run time. This is my battery bank layout


My generator sits secured in the tailgate corner of my covered and locked truck bed. When we run the generator we can just simply pull it out onto the tail gate and run it.


Been doing this routine for several years now and we are very successful camping off the power grid for 12-14 days at a time with the only requirement being we have to run our generator for a 12 hours run time period about every 14 days or so to obtain a 100% battery bank charge state so that no harm comes to the deep cycle batteries. Since most camp grounds does not allow us to run the generator this low of a period this is usually when we head for the house. Of course none of this camping off the power grid includes the use of air conditioning or high powered microwave operations.

Roy Ken

RoyGBivUV wrote:
A related question I had...looking into a similar arrangement myself...

I have an on-board Generac-rap LP 3600 that consumes approximately .4 gal. per hr @ 1/2 load. Carrying 2 30# tanks, it's good for short runs. If a/c is needed for 8 hours at night, find a 120v source, or dry camp next to a refill station. Camping off grid in temps from upper 30s down to mid 20s at night, using the genny to recharge the batts twice a day, I've blown through a 30# tank in 4 days. Not only are gas stations easier to find, but the regional price of gas is relatively stable. LP prices vary widely across the board in a single town. Lord help you if you roll into a small wide-spot in the road offering refills with no competition... $$$.

A related question I had...looking into a similar arrangement myself...

Since most of these pop-ups are going to be sportin' two 20# tanks of propane, it occurred to me that it might be nice to look into propane gensets. How long does a 20# propane tank last, running a ~11k-13kBTU AC? Does anyone have any experience with either a dedicated propane genset, or a converted tri-fuel genset?

These 3000watt gensets aren't light either. Well, I figure the 3000watt genset is like 80#, but the yamaha 3500 equivalent is 150#!! So, if you're planning on moving it away from your RV while running it, expect to get a bit of a workout.

A small pop-up would be well served with a Polar Cub 9.2 and will run off a red or blue 2000, which ain't gonna be particularly quiet.

I have never seen a built-in gen either, so the existing platform and a really good way to keep it from walking is probably the only way to go. Noise? You betcha! There is nothing quiet about a Honda running an A/C unit (and there are only a few that it can). Its running full throttle, and will likely impair conversation in the PUP. If the neighbors start heading your way with sticks, its not for a campfire.

A honda 2000 wouldn't run an A/C, you need a honda 3000 to do that. I would look at a PUP that has a front platform that hauls atv's and set the generator on it, plus you'll have an area to store the gas. The viberation might be to much so I would install rubber isolation pads under the generator. I have not seen a PUP with a built-in generator. Just design it to fit your needs.