High Top Cargo

[Maverick]

I'm having a booger of a time adding my aux fuel tank for my genset. All sealed well at gen. Draw/fuel line easily installed through gas can cap. Vent that end by unscrewing some. I tried the "siphon" method but thy flooded my generator with gas last night. Scary.
Genset running. Generating 110 volts. Gas siphoning out of the auxiliary tank, pushing its way into the generator tank. Apparently the carb system is vented back to the tank without a check valve. Boo!
Ga shooting out the carb vent. Pooled under gen. Running out onto the ground. It killed the engine. Filled the carb. Filled the cylinder.
I thought it may BLOW!! LOL!!

So I think I need to tap into the generator gas tank near the bottom and fee the aux fuel using gravity. Kind of like dual tanks on a straight truck.
Hopefully I can tap that tank easy enough. Ugh.

Goodness man......Napoleon didn't have that much trouble with Wellington. Don't be loading any grapeshot into that contraption. Whew.....

 

[billg27]

You can buy cheap backup cameras for under $100 and backup sensors that detect objects for under $50. Like what the better new cars have mounted in the rear bumpers. Beeps quicker the closer you get to an object. I've seen people wire the backup cameras to go on with the key so they work like a mirror in the rear center. Normally they would only come on when power is applied to your clear backup lights. Lots of options to not having rear glass.

 

[highway star]

There's more to life than the posterior of a female human being!!

That's right... There's also beer!!

 

[KickStarter6]

That's right... There's also beer!!

Booty>beer
Beer is great but booty is better

 

[Maverick]

Okay you Yahoo's.......where's the best place to buy E-Trac? Looking at prices now. This start up is going to be a bit more costly than fishing, or golf. Will consider placing a few bars along the wall for anchors points, prior to outfitting interior. TerraMax had the L track running full length of van and it's pretty sweet to have. Used it many a time, not to mention hanging shirts and organizer.

Great place over in Chicago, and get my supplies there, when in the area. They'll custom make on the spot....if they have the time and manpower. Good hotel one block away, and not in a busy area at all.

Series L Track & Fitting - Cargo Equipment Corp

Decent price on etrac....it would seem.

 

[scottm4211]

Lakeshore Utility on Telegraph Rd.

 

[Maverick]

Lakeshore Utility on Telegraph Rd.

Thanks scottm. I see an office in Toledo as well. Bookmarked for Monday inquiry. That would be great for the trip back home as I go right by both places. Will need to grab it and install before heading over to orientation.

Thinking of running one down the center of floor. Waste of funds?

Perfect, and thanks again.

 

[Murraycroexp]

I have a Coleman Polar Cub 9.2 BTU. Works just fine on my Honda 2000. It will freeze me out if I let. Once the temp gets down to a comfy level I turn the controls down so it cycles on and off. Depending of exterior temps, I get 6 to 8 hours on the Honda tank. I don't use a external. I have a espar for winter. Honda runs right at 15 hours when charging house bat. and watching tv.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using EO Forums mobile app

Thanks!!!!!!

 

[Murraycroexp]

Need a match?

Right?!?! Just glad I wasn't smoking!!!!

 

[Murraycroexp]

Running a 8000BTU Soleus/KY 80/other names (around 300.00 new)...powered by the 2000 Honeywell. Built a framework around the unit (passenger seat removed) so it slides in and out of it's "sleeve" whenever I need it. Most of the time, you can just pull it straight out, and you have to, to clear enough space between the door and hose hookup vent. Custom fitting on end of hose rolls right up into the window with two fitted foam rubber pieces to fill the window gap. Hooks up in less than 5 minutes, generator and all.

There's enough hose to turn the unit 90 degrees and have it shoot right into the sleeping area. In Laredo it worked fine....but don't stray far from the direct cooling flow vent...and I didn't. Hot as pistol when down there last summer.

May work a deal where the owner takes it. I'd turn right around this Spring and grab the same air unit, but probably go with the Yamaha generator, though the Honeywell runs great and powers the unit through all cycling....on energy save.

That sounds cool! Interesting at least. Do you mind shooting me a pic on here or to [email protected]? Or twxt to my cell? I like organizational ideas A LOT!!

 

[Murraycroexp]

I'm a constant mirror checker. Having said, I'll miss the BU camera. Didn't think I'd use it much, and it's little good for night time, but it gives enough comfort to warrant consideration prior to insulating.

Ya!! I lost a LOADED CRV in my divorce. It had a backup cam. I could park that thing in a matchbox with that cam.
Officially on my wish list now!!

 

[Murraycroexp]

Goodness man......Napoleon didn't have that much trouble with Wellington. Don't be loading any grapeshot into that contraption. Whew.....

Ya!! I feel lucky.

 

[KickStarter6]

Lakeshore Utility on Telegraph Rd.

We had the Etrac put in both our vans there. Both were around $300-350 range with all the safety equipment out in. I was there like last week now that I think about it

 

[Maverick]

I'm a minimalist, on the road, so look to the "old timers" on here for the real professional ways to make your "professional camping" the most comfortable it possibly can.

BUT, if you NEED to get rolling in it ASAP and add features as possible....

BUNK. You need a bunk!! And remember that it must be comfortable. If your bunk is not comfortable you will not be rested, and that is the absolute worst way to the in this business. I built a fold down bunk on the front end driver side of my cargo area and attached it directly to the wall. My van is not insulated so that made attaching it to the wall supports easy. 2x4s, a sheet of thick MDF, some household door hinges & long screws to hold it in place. Look back at postings I made or pictures I posted from late 2012 for easy ideas. What I keep on my bunk for comfort is two furniture pads folded in half, an air mattress I got from Walmart, a twin size comforter folded in half on top of the air mattress, a heated mattress, a twin size fitted sheet, a "20 degree" cocoon type sleeping bag & a pillow.

HEAT. You need to heat!! Trust me, I have tried and tried to justify having my generator and electric heater and will tell you that it is not easy. Refilling gas tanks at three in the morning in 10° weather sucks! But my wonderful wife bought me the generator for my birthday and it's not like I can say "sorry honey".
See BillG27's posts about his Espar gas furnace. This may be the single most important expenditure for you keeping your sanity. Yes that sounds dramatic but to be able to flip a switch and have as much heat as you could possibly want sounds quite comforting to me. And to be able to run it off your vans gasoline tank is priceless. It's not cheap, at $1400 plus install, but you would spend as much on a Honda generator, a heater & has to run them over time. Just look into it. And talk to Bill too. He's a great guy!!

CARGO SECUREMENT. Yes. Need straps. As for e-track, ideally you have enough but not overkill. Many of these guys have so much etrack that their cargo area looks like an etrack store. That's not me. And my bunk keeps me from placing it on the front 6' of the left side. Another possible reason to reconsider bunk placement. I usually have to sling the strap from that six-foot point, up around the front of the skids and then back to the right side where I can secure. Floor track would be much easier, I imagine, but see somebody else for better load securement ideas me.

EXHAUST FAN. I did a summer without an exhaust fan and will tell you this is a real necessity in my opinion. Laredo and El Paso are no fun in the summer without airflow. I installed a Fantastic-Fan in April or May and posted some pictures, but many people have and can advise as well. Many options to choose from and you can spend just as about as much as you want to or don't want to. I ended up with the 5000 and don't regret it.

GENSET. if you want to be able to sit around and burn power you're going to need a generator. If you want to be able to sit around and burn power without a generator you're going to need house batteries. This entire. Could be your most expensive venture. See Turtle for all things electrical. I don't know the guy, but it's not hard to tell he's quite experienced and will actually research and post a lot of useful info. You could search for the same information but 90% of it would not apply to what you're trying to do. Applying that electrical information to professional camping is the hardest part. But opinions are like a holes, and everyone has one.
As for the generator, there are two schools of thought. Honda 2000 is about $1000 and a great generator for doing this. Most of the time to thousand watts with the plenty of power. Especially if it is mainly just recharging your house batteries. The other school of thought is take that thousand dollars and only spent a fraction of it on a cheap Chinese made generator with a one-year warranty. Go to Harbor freight and see what they have. I have heard prices as low as $150. If that's really the case, that is simple math to figure out. Mine is a Hyundai Hy2000si. Birthday present. It does a good job for what I need it to do. Was also only about $470 I think.

I'll shut up now and let other people post. These people are way more experienced than I ever will be at "rolling can camping" and their opinions are all valuable. Just remember that an opinion is ONLY that. It is not a rule.

Great post Murray. The Hyundai was looked at and is a very nice generator. The problem for me was weight, and footprint. Reason I'll look at the Yamaha this time, is the small footprint, and compact size. Honeywell was super, but your looking at every 4 hours (running 8000 BTU air) for running out to fill it. Have talked with owner of Terra and he's going to keep the air unit and generator with the van. I've been paid for both. Have a template now for that set up....and will run it again in the GMC high top. Thanks for your great input!

 

[Murraycroexp]

Great post Murray. The Hyundai was looked at and is a very nice generator. The problem for me was weight, and footprint. Reason I'll look at the Yamaha this time, is the small footprint, and compact size. Honeywell was super, but your looking at every 4 hours (running 8000 BTU air) for running out to fill it. Have talked with owner of Terra and he's going to keep the air unit and generator with the van. I've been paid for both. Have a template now for that set up....and will run it again in the GMC high top. Thanks for your great input!

Consider a front hitch to carry and run your genset and spare gas. I like mine but check with BillG27. His setup is great and wasn't a high cost. Mine was a quick fix on a sub-freezing day. LOL!!

 

[Maverick]

Consider a front hitch to carry and run your genset and spare gas. I like mine but check with BillG27. His setup is great and wasn't a high cost. Mine was a quick fix on a sub-freezing day. LOL!! View attachment 8372

Got the unit home from Staten Island. Just my luck, two storm clippers in a row, and had to pay for my own fuel? Hmmm....better start figuring on that, huh?

Will look at front mount for sure. Need to have the generator outside the van, and nice set up you got there. Would like to have some weight up front, to keep the nose down on loads. Man I wish it were summer because I very much like DIY.....even if it takes the old man some doing.

 

[Maverick]

We had the Etrac put in both our vans there. Both were around $300-350 range with all the safety equipment out in. I was there like last week now that I think about it

What did this price include? And what safety equipment was involved? You state safety out...and safety in. Esplain....?