Portable generator on truck??

Honda EU2000i it the most expensive but most reliable fuel efficient most quiet one out there

 

No, I agree with you, I'm just saying it is outrageous to have to spend $10000 dollars for that stuff when it doesn't need to cost that much.

 

Cowpie has put it best, all of his reasoning and observations are right on. I have been running a Honda 3000 in between the frame,webasto/6000 btu ac in the side box for 5 years. Webastos I have been using for 20. And if either doesn't cut it a $50 motel does.
Saved a minimum of $6k over a typical setup, and far cheaper maintenance

 

what does politically correct, or the ooh aah factor, have to do with it? I chose to go with a apu for convienence sake. I just liked the idea of plumbing in to the diesel tank and not having to get gas. I have in fact done it both ways, after having ran generators on the truck and jobsites and having the apu for over 3 years now . I don't think the maintenance costs are actually a deciding factor. they run for me almost exactly the same. of course I do all my maintenance , and as for downtime only 3 times in the entire time I have had it.

the initial install of the apu seems to be the main factor, get a bad install and ya get bad service out of the unit. my unit was 8500 installed with shore power option. my fuel mileage went one mile to the gallon after installing the unit. it has easily paid for itself the first year.

an apu will easily pay for itself, just as Honda generators , webasto heaters etc. will pay for themselves. I simply opted for the apu with a 6500 watt generator, alternator and separate dometic heat/cool unit. its wired into the block heater and has wired in 110 volt outlets . it has done well for me. I didn't do it for the ooh aah or anything of that nature.

it cuts on and off by the thermostat so it doesn't run constantly, and since I also added a inverter, it doesn't even run when I am just watching tv or charging things.

it doesn't matter how save idle time as long as you do something you will save money. its a personal choice.

 

Well my EU2000 runs at 3/4 power for 6 hours on one gallon either with my GE tower 8000 BTU a/c or will run my block heater , 25 amp battery charger and a 900 watts heater with the 12 volt heather blanket and with the extended fuel tank I will sleep a full night . With gas prices so low at the moment I really have almost home like comfort . 12 hrs for less than $ 6.00

 

yeah, I just did a 10 break in Belleville, MI last night. The Yamaha EF2000is kept the batteries charged via the Xantrex inverter charger unit and the electricity from the generator was passed thru the inverter to meet all the hotel needs, the engine oil stayed nice and warm, the Webasto did it's job for the sleeper and cab, and it cost me about 1 gallon of gas... $2.87. And, of course, the little bit of diesel for the Webasto.

Yeah, there is a downside in that I have to get out and pull the vents to the box and pull a cord to get things going. Had to get out of the truck anyway to check things and make sure there were no surprises awaiting me after the break. No big deal. There are a number of ways to get the job done. I just couldn't justify the APU version. Those that can, God bless ya and keep on doing what you are doing. At least we have a myriad of choices available so that each person can decided what works best for them. We can spit ball around ideas and show different ways of doing things and everyone benefits from sharing these ideas.

 

that's the ticket, I figure my apu after adding the pulley kit which enables to lower the engine rpm while still keeping the generator at same rpm, and only running 15 minutes at most out of every hour, I probably use 1 gal to 1 and 1/2 gallons of diesel per night .

I just chose a different way, but the costs of maintenance and upkeep isn't anymore for me than when I had a gas generator setup .

 

EU3000is, home made brackets etc, wireless remote start, runs 12hrs on 2 gallons of gas with the AC on full. Holds over 3 gallons in the tank.
Quietest thing out there in my experience, and never gives me a lick of trouble. Had them on the last two trucks, along with a Dometic rooftop AC unit.
Money saved is outrageous....
Yeah, I kept meaning to make a front cover for the generator, but the weather just doesn't bother it, and I always forget when I go home!


I also run a Xantrex inverter/charger, so the batteries are always topped up

Martin

 

is the xantrex inverter/charger plugged into the honda generator then wired to the batteries? Is there any other benefit of having the xantrex inverter other than charging the battries?

 

It's plugged into the generator indirectly, and wired to the batteries.
It does the inverter/charger deal all on it's own, as well as being an actual very good inverter.

Martin