Here are a couple more simple things added. Nothing big but I have added the microwave and coffee pot with the power supply and 12 volt fan for keeping the inside air circulating. Cleanup kit, pee bottle, water in jug on the floor.
Picked up my Runaway camper trailer today
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Almost There
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Stevesway said:
Starting to look like you're getting there!
What mounting brackets did you use to secure the microwave to the shelf?
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With my tote, I put it on the ground, put the generator in it and lifted the tote up to put it in the van or trailer. The handles actually made it easier because I used both arms instead of just one, it was better for my back. Lifting by the handle on the gen makes you twist.
I was actually thinking you would take the measurements to Walmart/Target/Home Depot and look around for one to fit it. They make a wider and longer one with wheels that I'm sure would fit. My guess is it would fit in the rack, but I don't know. Sterilite makes a 25 quart that should fit it: http://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-16877404-25-Gallon-Ultra-Tote/dp/B006WW8RHS/ Amazon only sells them in a 4 pack, but I'm sure you could find one locally.
I had a friend build a wood box with a front and side opening walls that he mounted on the 4x4 bumper of his Class C to hold his 2000 genny. With enough carpentry skills you could build a box like that which would work.
Honda makes a cover for it's 2000 which would probably fit yours, that's the minimum you want to cover it with.
Can you just carry it in the tow vehicle? Then all you'd have to do is lift it in and out. Safe, secure, kept clean, no risk of CO poisoning.
Bob
I was actually thinking you would take the measurements to Walmart/Target/Home Depot and look around for one to fit it. They make a wider and longer one with wheels that I'm sure would fit. My guess is it would fit in the rack, but I don't know. Sterilite makes a 25 quart that should fit it: http://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-16877404-25-Gallon-Ultra-Tote/dp/B006WW8RHS/ Amazon only sells them in a 4 pack, but I'm sure you could find one locally.
I had a friend build a wood box with a front and side opening walls that he mounted on the 4x4 bumper of his Class C to hold his 2000 genny. With enough carpentry skills you could build a box like that which would work.
Honda makes a cover for it's 2000 which would probably fit yours, that's the minimum you want to cover it with.
Can you just carry it in the tow vehicle? Then all you'd have to do is lift it in and out. Safe, secure, kept clean, no risk of CO poisoning.
Bob
I haven't mounted the microwave yet. I am thinking on using some L brackets on the sides attached with sheet metal screws through the brackets into he bottom base of the microwave and small wood screws into the shelf that it is sitting on. Being careful of course not to screw into any wires or things on the inside of it. There are already screws on both sides at the bottom of the microwave that connect the sides to the bottom frame of it. I will probably remove those and just use the holes where they are, to attach the L brackets to. This is all subject to change, as has been the case for a few things I have been wanting to do on this project. Sometimes I picture in my mind how I am going to do something, then when it's hands on, something sometimes prevents me from implementing that particular idea. Then......it's back to the drawing board and of course this site, to pick everybody's brains to work around the problem. Thanks to everyone for your help and ideas. Even if I don't use them directly they stimulate my thinking to get to a solution.
Bob, I never thought of sitting the generator in the box first. and you are right, carrying it and lifting with the handles would make it easier. The handle is big enough on mine that I grab it with both hands and keep my back straight while keeping it in front of me. But of course it is kind of bouncing on my legs a little. But I am not going to be carrying it very far, maybe 10 to 15 feet to the front of the tow vehicle to cable lock it to the front wheels when I would need to run it for an extended time away from the trailer. And I keep my back straight and am not twisting, like you mentioned, which is very important.
The thing about the putting it in the box and lifting it up to the cargo rack is that if I want to start it up for a few minutes to nuke a dinner, make some coffee, or heat some water in the microwave to take a sponge bath or get ready in the morning, I would have to lift the generator in the box off the rack, take the generator out of the box, put it back on the rack, strap it back down, etc, etc to run it. I want it to be where I can just go out and more or less just start it up without having to do too much work, or move it.
As far as storing it in the tow vehicle is concerned. I had thought of doing that but I have noticed that this generator has a little bit of a gas smell right after running it. And a little also after it has been sitting. It is not bad, but I don't want to take a chance on fumes in the tow vehicle. Besides, that is prime real estate allocated for more important things, like the Wynter freezer refrigerator, maybe another set of Sterllite drawers, and a few other things.
But, to come around full circle, I have solved the generator problem. I am going to post what I have come up with. And it is a formula that has some ingredients I got from you and others on here. I will try to post it tonight. Its simplicity surprised me.
The thing about the putting it in the box and lifting it up to the cargo rack is that if I want to start it up for a few minutes to nuke a dinner, make some coffee, or heat some water in the microwave to take a sponge bath or get ready in the morning, I would have to lift the generator in the box off the rack, take the generator out of the box, put it back on the rack, strap it back down, etc, etc to run it. I want it to be where I can just go out and more or less just start it up without having to do too much work, or move it.
As far as storing it in the tow vehicle is concerned. I had thought of doing that but I have noticed that this generator has a little bit of a gas smell right after running it. And a little also after it has been sitting. It is not bad, but I don't want to take a chance on fumes in the tow vehicle. Besides, that is prime real estate allocated for more important things, like the Wynter freezer refrigerator, maybe another set of Sterllite drawers, and a few other things.
But, to come around full circle, I have solved the generator problem. I am going to post what I have come up with. And it is a formula that has some ingredients I got from you and others on here. I will try to post it tonight. Its simplicity surprised me.
Here's what I came up with on the generator thing. I had this Rubbermaid trash can that was around here that was made obsolete when the changed the way they pick up the trash cans. Anyway....I looked at it, then looked at the generator and a light went on in my head. So I got out the measuring stick and started comparing the dimensions. So as yo can see in the pics. it was a perfect fit. After cutting the bottom off to the right height.
Now, this way, I can just go out, unhook the bungee cord, very easily lift off the lid, then the bottom, plug in the cord, and start it up. The generator is strapped on like before and cable locked to the the cargo carrier. The trash can cover fits very easily over the whole thing because it flexes and forms around the generator, straps, and locking cable. So simple, I am amazed at how simple this was.
Like I said earlier, all your suggestions and ideas stimulated my thinking to notice the way to accomplish this. Thanks everyone.
Here is a link to my Onedrive cloud that has more in detail pics.
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...44&authkey=!AIHnB87ijePjnoY&ithint=folder,jpg
Now, this way, I can just go out, unhook the bungee cord, very easily lift off the lid, then the bottom, plug in the cord, and start it up. The generator is strapped on like before and cable locked to the the cargo carrier. The trash can cover fits very easily over the whole thing because it flexes and forms around the generator, straps, and locking cable. So simple, I am amazed at how simple this was.
Like I said earlier, all your suggestions and ideas stimulated my thinking to notice the way to accomplish this. Thanks everyone.
Here is a link to my Onedrive cloud that has more in detail pics.
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...44&authkey=!AIHnB87ijePjnoY&ithint=folder,jpg
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masterplumber
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Very awesome simple and clean solution. And your were able to use something you already have - a win /win!
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Genius!!
Bob
Bob
LeeRevell
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I find the Tractor Supply Store has the best plastic garbage cans, heavier duty than those at the box stores.
I have a 62 quart Whynter freezer refrigerator that I will be carrying in my tow vehicle. While I am driving it will run off the 12 volt receptacle in the vehicle. I don't want to leave it running off the vehicles battery for extended times when not driving. I have a Schumacher 6 in 1 power pack http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-Electric-6-in-1-Jump-Starter/25955544 that works very well for most all my needs. But I will be using the fridge a lot and for some long extended times while not being powered by the vehicle while running. I was thinking of just using my 6 in 1 to keep the fridge running during these times and maybe getting a solar panel to rig it up to keep the power supply charged
My question is.....should I use the 6 in one or something a little more designed for this kind of heavy use, like something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Brand-N...ec0cdbd&pid=100033&rk=1&rkt=4&sd=391048404582
I was kinda thinking that the overuse of the 6 in 1 Schumacher might damage it or prematurely shorten its life span drastically.
My question is.....should I use the 6 in one or something a little more designed for this kind of heavy use, like something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Brand-N...ec0cdbd&pid=100033&rk=1&rkt=4&sd=391048404582
I was kinda thinking that the overuse of the 6 in 1 Schumacher might damage it or prematurely shorten its life span drastically.
highdesertranger
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I would go with a full size battery(100ah or more) and a 100 watt solar panel. it will give you some reserve for cloudy periods. highdesertranger
highdesertranger said:
These refrigerators don't run the whole time. The come on and run for short periods to keep things according to the temp settings. I am guessing out of 4 hours they may run a total of an hour. Just guessing on that. So the ah rating would be less that running all the time. Would that make a difference?
The more I research on this the more I am having to agree with you, highdesertranger, it will take 100 ah to keep this running any decent time without the vehicle running. So, now I am shopping for the battery. thanks for your suggestion.highdesertranger said:
highdesertranger
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yeah steve I know they don't use much power, I have 2 engels. that batt you linked to is only 35ah, so 50% of that is 17.5ah. not to much reserve in that. I was just saying that for a few cloudy days in a row a little reserve is a good thing. highdesertranger
Well, I finally decided to order the 35 ah batteries. I also ordered a 30 watt solar kit with controller. I kind of think that it will be sufficient for what I have. The batteries came in a set of 2 so if one gets low I will have a reserve to fall back on. I am very limited on space and am trying to keep things small but efficient at this point. I am trying to keep the weight down also. These batteries only weight 22 lbs each, so that will be about 44 lbs total. Which is still less than a regular deep cycle. Plus they will be easy to move around and will be somewhat portable.
I think I may have started out in too much of a hurry and ordered the bigger fridge and generator when smaller would have for me. I don't know. But now I am trying to make the best of what I have and work things in to keep them.
Here is the small solar battery charging kit I have ordered. I am not planning on doing much more that just keeping the batteries for the fridge charged. I think it will work.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plug-n-Powe...901?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2590310245
I think I may have started out in too much of a hurry and ordered the bigger fridge and generator when smaller would have for me. I don't know. But now I am trying to make the best of what I have and work things in to keep them.
Here is the small solar battery charging kit I have ordered. I am not planning on doing much more that just keeping the batteries for the fridge charged. I think it will work.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plug-n-Powe...901?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2590310245
Almost There
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What batteries did you end up with?
At 22 lbs even I can lift them...the problem I've been trying to solve all along with batteries - they all weigh more than I can handle!!
At 22 lbs even I can lift them...the problem I've been trying to solve all along with batteries - they all weigh more than I can handle!!
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offroad said:
It's not the 'carrying' them around so much, it's the lifting them in and out of their spot that's a killer.
There were a pair of 12 year old dead batteries in the van when I bought it. I shoved them around a few times before I got them to a disposal place!! Lift them, I don't think so!!
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