First let me state for full disclosure I have a 2000 watt small gasoline generator on my truck.
Last night I was on my way home from Florida bringing my fifth camper back up to upstate ny from Florida where we use it in the winter time.
I stopped for the night at the loves off I4 near Haines City
I backed in the only open spot I could find open about 9:00 pm.
There was an old broken down Columbia parked next to me with a dry van with a good size generator cobbed up under the trailer about two thirds back from the front of the trailer with an old leed cord dangling off from it.
I climbed in to the camper and went to bed about 9:30 or so.
About 10:00 I hear a guy outside fiddling with the generator and then he fires it up.
It was certainly loud with what sounded like no muffler but hey you’re in a truck stop you expect some noise no big deal.
Here’s the bad part.
About midnight I was awakened by my carbon monoxide detector going crazy inside my camper.
I can only say Thank god for the detector in my camper and unfortunately I’m pretty sure most big trucks don’t have one.
I am quite sure if that thing hadn’t gone off the driver of that truck would have driven off this morning none the wiser and I probably wouldn’t be here to write this.
If you use a generator please be aware of and extremely carful of where your exhaust is positioned and who could be unknowingly affected by your exhaust.
For those of us who use gasoline generators for an apu
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Hulld, May 7, 2020.
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88228822, austinmike, brian991219 and 17 others Thank this.
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Do you notice if that other guy had a gasoline generator? I'm just wondering because you know a gasoline generator is a really bad idea for the same reason your posted about. A diesel generator should not kill someone. That's the idea about diesel truck engines. They might smell, if older and smoke. But it won't kill anybody because they need so much air.
Last edited: May 8, 2020
NavigatorWife, Hulld and Rideandrepair Thank this. -
Many years ago, 1985 to be precise I mounted a Honda Generator right behind the cab of my IH 9670 cab over. For quite a while the fumes really didn't enter the cab. But one night the wind was just right, and just like you I almost didn't wake up the next morning.
I have been using gasoline generators on my present tractor for at least 15 years. But this time it has it's own stack that goes along side of the muffler of the truck and dumps out above the roof. Less noise, and I don't harm anyone or myself.'88K100, olddog_newtricks, NavigatorWife and 6 others Thank this. -
I can smell the exhaust, even from the Diesel APUs. I don’t know about natural gas, but I can sure smell that burning. One year ago, New yrs eve, Parked next to a NG Truck, left the vent window open.Just about made me sick to my stomach. Wife ended up in the hospital later that day, with lung embolisms. Totally unrelated, I’m sure. But I can’t help to think, it pushed her over the edge. Don’t really know, it came on so sudden, barely got her bobtailed to the hospital. By the time we got there her pain was excruciating, 2 shots of Morphine didn’t help, it was horrible. Can’t breath, sharp pains. Something to watch out for, blood clots in legs, going to lungs. It’s a real risk Driving Trucks.
scott180, NavigatorWife, Hulld and 1 other person Thank this. -
I suspect he may have had issues with carbon monoxide in his own truck and that was why he had it mounted two thirds of the way down underneath the trailer.NavigatorWife, HopeOverMope and Rideandrepair Thank this. -
I have an exhaust stack on mine. I also have a carbon monoxide detector that was going off before I put the exhaust stack on it.
Having a carbon monoxide detector in your truck is a good idea.
jsnell, Socal Xpress, staceydude and 8 others Thank this. -
Incidentally, the flex portion of that pipe is an exhaust pipe for an Espar heater. It fits perfectly over the stub of pipe coming out of the muffler (after removing the spark arrestor).
The stack is a length of 3/4" steel electrical conduit, which also fits exact. I used Permatex Ultra Copper to make sure the connections are sealed and regular hose clamps to hold everything together. -
@lilillill
Does your little condenser on the back of the truck say to his big brother on the front on the trailer:
"gee, when I grow up I wanna be just like you"D.Tibbitt, 88228822, Opendeckin and 6 others Thank this. -
D.Tibbitt, Tug Toy, Hulld and 1 other person Thank this.
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@Hulld Glad you're safe!!!!
Hulld, bzinger and Wasted Thyme Thank this.
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