Honda 2000 in generator compartment with exhaust?

[dakonthemountai]

Hi all,

Well, I'm going to be putting solar on and a generator in my camper this spring. I believe I'll purchase the Honda EU2000, but want to keep it AND run it in the built in generator compartment of the camper. Obviously it will need an exhaust system and I found this on Ebay that I could perhaps make work if I directed away far enough away or up from the camper:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EU2000i-EU20i-Exhaust-System-for-Honda-Generator-/251704939275?pt=LH_Default...

I know the ad says not for use in an RV and I would have to modify it..

2 questions.

First, does anyone run their Honda in the built in generator compartment of their camper? (not in custom boxes, etc.)and if so what exhaust set up do you have?

Second question: what about heat build up in the compartment? Would the Honda run hotter than a built in one does? In my view, a built in generator would get hot also, and my compartment is made for one (wiring and propane connection)so?....

Thanks for any help you can give! 🙂
Dak

[trailgranny50]

Since we have no generator compartment, battery either for that matter, our Honda 2000 is mounted to a rear cargo rack, locked in receiver hitch, it is in turn locked onto the rack with Lockdown Pro trays. It runs from there with the exhaust side pointed away from camper door on driver's side. Keep a vent cracked above cab over bed. Room left for 5 gal. extended run tank, 6 gal. fresh water tank and our steps which are welded offset to match the door opening. Have had to address an unwanted minor sag to the gen side but worked fine on last trip of 4,000 miles.

[okan-star]

If your gen compartment is tall enough to put a Honda in , you might want to get a pair o heavy duty drawer slides , and slide it out to run in to store . You can find slides online , I bought 100lb `ers for about 35.00
My trucks a flat bed so its different but this is what I did

, the gen box is attached to the camper , the side boxes are attached to the truck , the shore cord is in the gen box
If you want remote start look at the powerhouse they make a 2700 one too

[Dave_Mac]

I have a Lance 992 with the built-in factory generator. I usually carry my Honda eu2000 because the built-in is very, very loud. It seems ridiculous that they didn't use a better muffler system. Maybe it's just because it's the bottom of the line Onan. I had a different RV with a similar sized Onan and it was very quiet. Much like the Honda.

Here's a link that helps with he CO questions;

CO Information

[bobndot]

I cant say if its a good or bad idea. Obviously it has worked but will every alteration always work ?
I can understand someone being cautious about doing something like this.
***Just keep in mind ....anytime we alter something like this the liability shifts to the tailor. I guess it won't matter as much if the fatality is the tailor, but if it isn't , someone is going to get a good deal on a used camper because the tailor is not going to have the time to use it.
The 30 ft rule that Honda writes out , I would think relieves them of being liable .

[mkirsch]

bighatnohorse wrote:
I feel uneasy about it.
The manual with the Honda states that it should be kept 30-feet from doors and windows.

With that caution, our living space when mounted on the truck is pretty high up in the air.

Does carbon monoxide sink? Heavier than air?
Lots of questions. . .

Yet, the built-in Onan generators exhaust within a few inches of the camper, and I sincerely doubt that the Onan exhaust is any less noxious or toxic than the Honda.

[dave17352]

bighatnohorse wrote:
I feel uneasy about it.
The manual with the Honda states that it should be kept 30-feet from doors and windows.

With that caution, our living space when mounted on the truck is pretty high up in the air.

Does carbon monoxide sink? Heavier than air?
Lots of questions. . .

I don't think so. It kind of mixes right in everywhere the way I understand it.

[bighatnohorse]

I feel uneasy about it.
The manual with the Honda states that it should be kept 30-feet from doors and windows.

With that caution, our living space when mounted on the truck is pretty high up in the air.

Does carbon monoxide sink? Heavier than air?
Lots of questions. . .

[dakonthemountai]

msiminoff wrote:

Honda 2000 in OEM compartment install

Yup, that's my install from 7 years ago... it's still going strong, same generator, same camper.
I have done a few upgrades since that original post, including re-engineeing the anti-vibration mounting system and adding a Tri-Fuel Kit..
Yeah sure I have to go outside to pull-start the Honda, but it's super-quiet, ultra-reliable, and easy to service. I'd never ever go back to that noisy piece-o'-junk Onan :R
Cheers,
-Mark

Mark,
I completely forgot about your install, but now that I see it again I remember! (Thanks for the reminder Bobndot....) My main problem that I ALSO forgot and Buzzcut just reminded me of is that the Honda won't fit in the original generator compartment of my Lance 1055! I'm going to have to do some thinking about how to do this. I'll have to do some measuring to see if I can rework the area to make the Honda fit. Yes, after sleeping on it I've completely decided AGAINST the original Onan genny and will go with the Honda and solar.
I'll also buy the tri-fuel kit Mark has on his. Mark, get ready for private messages and questions in the spring! 🙂

I'll keep ya'all posted on this when it happens next spring!

Thanks again for all your replies and comments.

Dak

[airspro]

dave17352 wrote:


I have this saved and throw it in as my two cents on TC generator solutions.

Here are some pictures of my generator setup with my Honda eu3000.

I bought a cargo rack from I think TSC which was plenty heavy duty, I think rated for 500 pounds. Then I bought a front receiver hitch from curt for $115.00 delivered to my front door. You will notice in the picture I had a welder weld metal plates into the base of the generator. Slid underneath, nothing is welded to the generator but the cargo rack and generator are one. Then I lock the cargo rack in with the highest quality locking pin I could find. I use this rig on the back of my 5th wheel setup and on the front of my truck camper setup. When not in the receiver hitch everything is accessible for working on the generator. I have been using this, this way for 9 years and many many thousands of miles with no problems. A couple other points I like is the extra storage in the outside compartment of my TC. Setup this way it takes about 100 pounds off the rear tires. I also put a blue tote on either side of the generator on long trips to haul drinking water and other gear. Also the honda runs smooth and quietly, I can barely hear or feel the vibration when running. I keep 2 Co detectors in my TC and with this location I feel comfortable sleeping with the generator running.

Really liked your idea , have bought the same for our TC .
Thanks

[msiminoff]

Honda 2000 in OEM compartment install

Yup, that's my install from 7 years ago... it's still going strong, same generator, same camper.
I have done a few upgrades since that original post, including re-engineeing the anti-vibration mounting system and adding a Tri-Fuel Kit..
Yeah sure I have to go outside to pull-start the Honda, but it's super-quiet, ultra-reliable, and easy to service. I'd never ever go back to that noisy piece-o'-junk Onan :R
Cheers,
-Mark

[bobndot]

Honda 2000 in OEM compartment install

[kohldad]

I did something similar to a Yamaha 2800i by installing it in my fifth wheel. First problem with it was I had to make the generator compartment by lining with sheetmetal and sealing it. Then I ran the exhaust out the bottom and over to the side. For the exhaust, I just used a piece of 1" pipe over the 3/4" nipple and sealed with exhaust tape. While it wasn't a 100% seal, the majority of the exhaust was captured.

Since the generator also moved air across the unit to provide additional cooling, I installed three 100 cfm fans to create a strong draft through the compartment. Fans were wired to the generator so they would automatically come on when the generator was started. This also captured any of the fumes which leaked. After a couple short test runs, found the top of the compartment was getting warmer than I like so added a fourth fan which drew air from the top and out. Unit was tested well on a 90 degree day at our Jeep show when we ran it for 8 hours straight. The compartment never exceeded 100 degrees which I felt was well within the limits of the generator.

So if you do, make sure you take care of the exhaust and air flow through the compartment.

[bka0721]

big whitey wrote:

dakonthemountain wrote:
Thanks Dave17352, I actually just read your post when I did a search on this site! Very cool solution for you. I'm sort of rethinking this though and may just end up purchasing an original generator meant for my camper (Onan Camp power 2800) That way I'll just push a button in the camper since it's all prewired and plumbed for the propane.

Thanks again!
Dak

i

Pushing a button is nice but does it outweigh the quiet,reliability and efficiency of the H 2000? Not to mention the cost difference between the two. I think not.

At my age, needing to go out and starting my generator is good exercise, except when it is raining.

I have written a few threads on my OEM Onan and my opinion, in hindsight, is that I wish I had never ordered it with my Lance camper. (be sure to order/purchase your Onan Generator from a Cummins Service Center as they have the best price) The first one had a factory defect (over 2000 generators were impacted by this machining error) resulting in my first generator being rebuilt 4 times before Cummins replaced it (all under warranty). The replacement worked for 6 months before the voltage regulator went bad and had to be replaced (again under warranty). After that, I purchased a Honda is3000 for use as my primary. My Onan is still there and relegated to back up use, when the Honda quits working (first time when a known problem of a bolt came loose in the manifold and fell down shearing off the starter flywheel while under warranty and the second issue was when the carburetor failed and needed to be reworked) but still works well for the minimal amount of time that I use it.

b

[Buzzcut1]

Roy, Dak has a 1055 as do I. The 2000 will not fit through the existing genny compartment door. It does fit nicely in the compartment just above it. I store the honda there and the Gas in the old genny compartment