C/V and Sprinter APU's
- Thread starter stonewolf
- Start date
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
I think LDB like Guido has a Onan under body generator....with 140 views, and only these 2 replies, i am think no one knows of a self contained APU for a Sprinter / CV....
Only one I know of that would be compatable for a Sprinter (runs off of diesel): PTRV-3SV2 « PowerTech Generators
The Onan gas burner is here: http://www.cumminsonan.com/www/pdf/specsheets/a-1400.pdf and here: http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/onan-generators/onan-generator-microlite.htm
Under floor mounting kit for the Onan: http://www.americanrvcompany.com/Cu...t-for-MicroLite-Camper-Trailer-RV_p_4577.html
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stonewolf
Seasoned Expediter
lol i had given up on this thread lol ... thanks for the help guys im deffinatley lookin in to one i got a gps laptop tv and dvd player goin in my van and im tryin to sort out the supply for the lil time i would be useing them with out killin my van batt i have looked at gens then theres always the problem of storeing it and getting ready for operation that and the 1.5 gal and hour issue for one with the work load i require ... i was thinking bout nouching my body line and installing a full size under where my bunk is (dont worry know wat it takes and how to do it) but im tryin to save the work and extra money ... i have seen some roof mounted apus but i cant find them ne where
I have an Onan Microlite 2800 in the spare tire well. I have an UGLY spare tire mounted on the back door now. I had trouble with the spare carrier damaging the rear door. They put enough diamond plate as well as bracing inside the door to presumably solve that problem now.
The gen runs about 3 hours per gallon at full load. That's half or a little less than half as much as idling. I have a full hotel setup with aux battery, isolators, splitters and all sorts of stuff the conversion people put in so I can use my pc etc without running the gen 24/7. I do have to run the gen to run the roof a/c or any 110v application. I use 150w inverter in one of the "hotel" 12v outlets for my computer and plug my 12v fridge directly into the other. I have a 1500w 110v heater and have to run the gen for that also. One of these decades it's going to work out to get an Espar heater which will significantly reduce heating costs.
The generator itself is air/oil cooled. It holds only 1 quart of oil. The change interval is every 150 hours of run time. It is an expensive option but I am not set up to wrestle a 60-70 pound portable generator and go through the issues of chaining it to the van in who knows what weather, getting out in the middle of the night in who knows what weather to put fuel in it, carrying jugs of fuel, stowing the gen etc etc etc.
The gen runs about 3 hours per gallon at full load. That's half or a little less than half as much as idling. I have a full hotel setup with aux battery, isolators, splitters and all sorts of stuff the conversion people put in so I can use my pc etc without running the gen 24/7. I do have to run the gen to run the roof a/c or any 110v application. I use 150w inverter in one of the "hotel" 12v outlets for my computer and plug my 12v fridge directly into the other. I have a 1500w 110v heater and have to run the gen for that also. One of these decades it's going to work out to get an Espar heater which will significantly reduce heating costs.
The generator itself is air/oil cooled. It holds only 1 quart of oil. The change interval is every 150 hours of run time. It is an expensive option but I am not set up to wrestle a 60-70 pound portable generator and go through the issues of chaining it to the van in who knows what weather, getting out in the middle of the night in who knows what weather to put fuel in it, carrying jugs of fuel, stowing the gen etc etc etc.
How do vanners use their stand alone generators? I mean how do they work it when they are parked and how do you keep someone from ripping it?
Can you let it run outside the van to provide power for heater etc?
Any suggestions on which one to buy and the best way to utilize it?
Hey...I said I was new! LOL
Can you let it run outside the van to provide power for heater etc?
Any suggestions on which one to buy and the best way to utilize it?
Hey...I said I was new! LOL
Many vanners who have been at it very long will either build or have built a custom mount on the front of the van for their generator. Solves the storage issue as well as the theft issue.
If you have room for it inside than just go to home depot and get a cable lock to bolt it to your bumper at night. Ours runs all night, often up to 12 hours on a tank of fuel. We run a 1500 watt heater, 2 cpap machines, and our tv and game system from it. We have occasionally helped out another van or truck by latting them plug in a space heater, but it cant be over 1000 watts and we dont run the tv and games.
We also have a second, deep cycle, battery under the truck for our 1500 watt inverter. It easily runs the cpaps 8 hours when we cant run the generator, without the truck running. Of course running, it never runs out of juice!
Oh... our generator came from Northern Hydraulics. But the one from tractor supply is basicaly identical.
Hondas are great but small tank requires refilling at night and they cost 3x as much. Ours has been going strong for about 6 months now without a hitch. Just check your oil regulary and run it in level ground, point the muffler away as best you can and the noise is ok too!
Hope this helps, feel free to pm with any questions!!
If you have room for it inside than just go to home depot and get a cable lock to bolt it to your bumper at night. Ours runs all night, often up to 12 hours on a tank of fuel. We run a 1500 watt heater, 2 cpap machines, and our tv and game system from it. We have occasionally helped out another van or truck by latting them plug in a space heater, but it cant be over 1000 watts and we dont run the tv and games.
We also have a second, deep cycle, battery under the truck for our 1500 watt inverter. It easily runs the cpaps 8 hours when we cant run the generator, without the truck running. Of course running, it never runs out of juice!
Oh... our generator came from Northern Hydraulics. But the one from tractor supply is basicaly identical.
Hondas are great but small tank requires refilling at night and they cost 3x as much. Ours has been going strong for about 6 months now without a hitch. Just check your oil regulary and run it in level ground, point the muffler away as best you can and the noise is ok too!
Hope this helps, feel free to pm with any questions!!
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
The reason for no responces with soo many hits is that you stated APU's for vans...Nothing that has been mentioned above are APUs, they Generators or generator/inverters...nothing close to a APU....
I have 2200 watt honeywell Generator / inverter...i totally py-passed the gas tank inside the unit and it draws dirextly from a 6 gallon extended run gas tank, that allows me to run the generator and powering a 8000 btu AC unit for up to 24 hrs...That is all the generator is for, just to run the ac unit...power for the TV/DVD , micro wave, refrigerator, laptop, roof fan comes from 2 Trojan Floor Scrubber 6 volt batteries and a 2500 watt inverter....
As for storaging the Generator, it sits and is strapped on a wheelwell in the freight area out of the way and is not an issue. the gas tank is stored in a area on the opposite side near the back door...When in use, it sits on the ground and i use a braided steel cable and big lock to secure it the the van...been doing this for almost 5 yrs, no problems with theft.
I have 2200 watt honeywell Generator / inverter...i totally py-passed the gas tank inside the unit and it draws dirextly from a 6 gallon extended run gas tank, that allows me to run the generator and powering a 8000 btu AC unit for up to 24 hrs...That is all the generator is for, just to run the ac unit...power for the TV/DVD , micro wave, refrigerator, laptop, roof fan comes from 2 Trojan Floor Scrubber 6 volt batteries and a 2500 watt inverter....
As for storaging the Generator, it sits and is strapped on a wheelwell in the freight area out of the way and is not an issue. the gas tank is stored in a area on the opposite side near the back door...When in use, it sits on the ground and i use a braided steel cable and big lock to secure it the the van...been doing this for almost 5 yrs, no problems with theft.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
The generator is never out in the snow as its only purpose is to power the 8000 btu air conditioner...As for water from rain and "sprinklers" (yea it gets hit by sprinklers from time to time), i carry a small tarp and loosely cover it with that if i know it is going to rain, or if i get woke up by the rain..the air intake is in the buttom so it doesn't get covered and i leave the exhaust end uncovered...its never been a issue or a problem....
greg334
Veteran Expediter
That's a few hundred watts so any small (really small) generator would work. BUT I would buy a couple batteries for that load and charge them as needed.
If this is all you want to use it for than I would definitely go with a second deep cycle battery and inverter as stated earlier. But it never hurts to have emergency heat ability of a generator just in case!!
guido4475
Not a Member
I have a Onan Cummins 3200 watt inverter generator, similar to a Honda eu3000.It is bolted to a aluminum hitch basket, which is mounted to a front trailer hitch on the van, which bolts to the frame.There is a heavy power wire running from it to the inside of the van, wired to a 4 outlet box.Eventually the roof top a/c unit will be powered by this generator also.I found this generator on Craigslist with 15 hours on the digital hourmeter for $1,200.00,which looks and runs like new.Theyre out there for decent money used.Had one in Texas, a Honda eu3000,for 1,200, but a load came up, so I couldnt go get it.
The Espar B-4 (the larger,B-4- 14,000 btu, at only close to $125.00 more than a 7,500 btu unit) gas fired espar
is powered by an Oddysey deep cycle battery suggested by Ray at Espar.It is not cheap, at $350.00 for a battery.It is grounded to the frame rail.The power wire is run to a Moroso battery switch, which cuts off the power to the front battery, so I dont have to worry about killing the front battery while the espar is running with the van and generator turned off.So far, it all works perfect.Dont skimp on power or heat and air conditioning.Too much is better than too little, working the HVAC to death.It is more expensive in the beginning, but the payoff is far greater.
I use a Honda 2000i...I have made a case/ box that's permanently mounted to the read drivers door....hard wired into the van...with an extra 5 gal. Tank....I don't even monkey with batterys ...inverters...I just let the gen run all the time..it uses approx. 1/10 gal. Per hr. I run my 5000 btu a/c ..lights...laptop...flatscreen tv..dvd..etc....I could sit for around 60 hrs between fuel ups..
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stonewolf
Seasoned Expediter
that sound exactly like what iam looking for ... would u mind lettin me know how much it was and where u got it ... aprocimation is fine
I made the box and did all the installing myself...the gen,tank,box...all was around $1500....money well spent..here are a couple of pics I have posted them before but hope this helps you..
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