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mcbbcn Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2017 Posts: 73 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 6:19 pm Post subject: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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Hi Everyone,
I was wondering if anyone has found an effective way to transport a small portable generator in a pop-up camper van?
I thought about a sealed box or perhaps on top of the roof, although I'm concerned about the weight.
Inside the cabin, I'm concerned about sleeping and fumes.
Any thoughts or ideas?
Best,
Miquel |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7756 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 6:23 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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Back bumper hitch basket...or leave it at home...
(Not a fan of camping generators...sorry...)
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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hitch carrier,
but I hve transported mine inside. a quality unit shouldn't be fumy/leaky.
a econo no name brand I dunno.
I also don't like generators while camping. but I took ours onour Eclipse trip to Charleston this august.. as it was a life saving thing to run the portable AC for my babied Bernard mix in the southern sun.. _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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ThankYouJerry Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2012 Posts: 2271 Location: Shakedown Street
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Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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Another option would be in a lockable steel box mounted to a swing away arm on a steel bumper (ala GoWesty, Rocky Mountain Westy, etc). _________________ 1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD |
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mcbbcn Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2017 Posts: 73 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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Hi,
Thanks everyone. Just to give more context. It’s not really for a camping trip. I have a portable telescope observatory with computers, robotized telescope mount and bunch of electronics. I usually go into the middle nowhere, away from everyone (and every light) and I spent about 3 nights with no electrical outlet around.
I already measure watts draw, etc and the coach battery would not have a chance and I don’t want to creat a battery bench with 3 additional batteries. It feels overkill. Also, I do these trips in Winter, it gets very cold, and I would like to keep coach battery for heat.
Thanks everyone for your input. The swing away box option sounded interesting, I’ll look into it, although I also carry a swing away in the back for my bicycle, the fun never ends.
Best,
Miquel |
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pinetreeporsche Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2009 Posts: 752 Location: Falls Church, VA
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Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 8:48 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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Why not in the luggage rack over the driver? You might put a sheet of plywood- cut to size- under it to spread the load, but seems unlikely it could do any damage up there. Isn't that the kind of thing the rack area was made for? |
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shagginwagon83 Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 3795 Location: VA/TN
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Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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pinetreeporsche wrote: |
Why not in the luggage rack over the driver? You might put a sheet of plywood- cut to size- under it to spread the load, but seems unlikely it could do any damage up there. Isn't that the kind of thing the rack area was made for? |
That is what I was thinking. Sounds like OP doesn't need that much power - but his generator may be too large up there.
When refurbishing my luggage rack I reinforced the back side of the tie downs with aluminum brackets. _________________ Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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ThankYouJerry Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2012 Posts: 2271 Location: Shakedown Street
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Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 9:15 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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mcbbcn wrote: |
The swing away box option sounded interesting, I’ll look into it, although I also carry a swing away in the back for my bicycle, the fun never ends. |
You can have a swing away on both sides of the bumper. 1 side for bikes, the other for your gen box. Technically you could even have a third swing away off of a trailer hitch. Lots of options. Don't forget, if you have a generator you're also gonna need to carry fuel.
http://www.gowesty.com/search-results.php?search_phrase=swing+away
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2017741
https://www.stowaway2.com _________________ 1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD |
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SSWesty Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2008 Posts: 732 Location: Bellevue
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Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:50 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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I'll vote for something off the back. I have both a hitch tray and swing out tray off the bumper. I would feel comfortable with a generator like a light Honda 2000 or 1000 on either of those. If you don't have a bumper with swing outs or a hitch you could do a Gary Lee rack off the hatch like this one http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/rack.htm as another option. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22641 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 2:24 am Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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If you drain gas for transport and wrap it in a large garbage bag you won't smell anything from a good one. Now, of course, you have a gas storage problem.
I put my Honda in the cabin when I go up to the hills to fire lasers at the moon. _________________ .ssS! |
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Waldi Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014 Posts: 1752 Location: Germany
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 2:38 am Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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If you wnt to camp in winter times and use some electronics, there is no way than a generator. Not nuff sun for sollar power.
I am instaling atm a generator system in my van, couse i changed my gas heater to a Planar heater, and i like to use my home pc.
There is no problem to transport it inside. For sleeping it is outside with the fuel secured with a chain to the car, if needed.
2 bord bats, 100w solar on the top and now,
9kg sinus gernarator
https://www.denqbar.com/650-w-digitaler-inverter-s...dimensions
Sinus inverter with charger
https://www.autobatterienbilliger.de/Reiner-Sinus-...r-Inverter |
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Timwhy Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 4002 Location: Maine
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6829 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:34 am Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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Timwhy wrote: |
I put this together to carry mine. Harbor Freight step with plywood platform attached.
Eyebolts to ratchet strap the generator to. I also added an anti-rattle hitch bolt to keep everything in place |
Nice job. Impressed! _________________ This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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mcbbcn Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2017 Posts: 73 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 10:41 am Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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Wow! What an impressive forum!!! I really appreciate everyone's input.
Yes, I'm learning towards carrying it inside, it is one of those very small 1000 watts, and I'm learning that there are airtight bags out there. Just trying to figure out which one, and I also like the idea of leaving it outside secured if I'm going to be sleeping, why not? Right?
Thank you so much everyone for all the ideas. You all are an impressive bunch!
Kind regards to everyone!
Miquel |
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mcbbcn Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2017 Posts: 73 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 10:52 am Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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I came across this one for making a bag, airtight...I really like the simplicity of things...I'm thinking about using a tough contractor bag and cutting it to dimensions and see if I can apply this method...the plastic is more rigid, but if I find a way to screw it tough enough, it should do the trick. hehe!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWeRIFwsEpk
I love the ingenuity and simplicity of some solutions
Cheers
Miquel |
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Tobias Duncan Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013 Posts: 1390 Location: Taos NM
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 11:11 am Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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mcbbcn wrote: |
I came across this one for making a bag, airtight...I really like the simplicity of things...I'm thinking about using a tough contractor bag and cutting it to dimensions and see if I can apply this method...the plastic is more rigid, but if I find a way to screw it tough enough, it should do the trick. hehe!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWeRIFwsEpk
I love the ingenuity and simplicity of some solutions
Cheers
Miquel |
Its not just more rigid its also way thicker. That trick works because grocery bags are very very thin.
Maybe a gallon pickle jar lid?
Even then I would look to some folding type solution |
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mcbbcn Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2017 Posts: 73 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 12:13 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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Tobias Duncan wrote: |
mcbbcn wrote: |
I came across this one for making a bag, airtight...I really like the simplicity of things...I'm thinking about using a tough contractor bag and cutting it to dimensions and see if I can apply this method...the plastic is more rigid, but if I find a way to screw it tough enough, it should do the trick. hehe!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWeRIFwsEpk
I love the ingenuity and simplicity of some solutions
Cheers
Miquel |
Its not just more rigid its also way thicker. That trick works because grocery bags are very very thin.
Maybe a gallon pickle jar lid?
Even then I would look to some folding type solution |
Yeah, I've come across some folding type solutions but don't have the right size. These portable generators, as small as they are, they have these odd measurements:
L= 17.7"
W= 9.4"
H= 14.9"
I will keep digging |
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mcbbcn Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2017 Posts: 73 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 2:16 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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Here is another link and this time using harder plastic, I don't know, it's cheap enough that I think I will give it a try. There is a quick to try if it works, by filling with water and see if it escapes. I know water is more dense than air, but I can also squeeze the bag and see if the air stays inside.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cheap-easy-way-to-making-air-tight-bags/
What I like about Contractor bags is that they are tough. They easily lift 30 pounds without breaking, they are inexpensive and the material is airtight, so it's the perfect if I can make it work. |
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pinetreeporsche Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2009 Posts: 752 Location: Falls Church, VA
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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Abscate wrote: |
If you drain gas for transport and wrap it in a large garbage bag you won't smell anything from a good one. Now, of course, you have a gas storage problem. ... |
That problem wouldn't be there if you put it up in the over-cab luggage rack. Put almost anything around it while driving if it's raining. Then fire it up; don't even bother to take it down-- just have it running up there. Use a thin sheet of closed-cell rubber padding (camping store) to damp the vibration/noise. "Akuna matata"-- no worries for the rest of your days. |
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kourt Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013 Posts: 1940 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: How do you transport a small portable generators? |
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mcbbcn wrote: |
Also, I do these trips in Winter, it gets very cold, and I would like to keep coach battery for heat. |
Just in case anyone has not addressed this yet... using electricity to generate comfort heat for winter camping, whether it be DC or AC, is extremely inefficient. There is no substitute for burning hydrocarbons (propane) when it comes to heating. In the long term you may want to invest in a Propex heater (http://www.westyventures.com/propex.html). The HS2211 linked here mounts underneath the van, does all of its combustion outside the van in a separate airspace, transfers its heat through a heat exchanger, and blows the hot air into the van—a totally safe solution that ensures you will not be exposed to carbon monoxide gas.
kourt |
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