How To Use a Dual Fuel Generator - In Detail ⚡ Onboard in a Truck Camper | Full-time RV and Van Life

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In this video we talk about how our Honda EU 2200i generator gets used in a couple different ways. We cover the full range of usage options and include lots of tips and tricks. This is a custom setup that required us to solve several technical problems. These problems and solutions are shared throughout the video. We converted the Honda Generator to run on propane and gas using a Hutch Mountain Dual Fuel conversion kit. We opted to skip the factory installed Cummins Onan generator that was available for our NuCamp Cirrus 920 Truck Camper and instead chose to use a portable Honda Generator. We discuss the reasons, pro and cons and show the operation and usage in detail. Depending on our situation, we run the generator using both gas and propane. Follow along for all the details!
We would love to hear what you think and if you have any additional items to add, please drop us a comment and start the conversation!
As always, thank you for watching!
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These are most of the items that we mentioned in the video. If we missed something, please let us know in the comments!
✅Honda EU2200i 2200-Watt 120-Volt Portable Inverter Generator:
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✅Camco Heavy Duty RV Auto PowerGrip Adapter:
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✅Mini Bungee Cords set 9 inch 4 piece:
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✅Hutch Mountain Conversion Kit:
hutchmountain....
✅Xantrex 8072055 Schneider Electric Solar Inverter:
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✅BougeRV Generator DC Charging Cables for Honda Generator:
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✅Battery Switch 12V 24V 48V Battery Disconnect:
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12"w X 12"h Aluminum Outdoor Weather Proof Louver - Waterproof Air Vent:
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✅A-Team Performance Electric Car Radiator Cooling Fan 850 CFM 12V:
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✅Nite Ize CamJam Mini Cord Tightener:
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✅Generator 1" Silicone Coated Exhaust Extension 36" in Long:
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If you have any other questions, please leave a comment and we will be sure to respond!
We are a travel couple and explore full time in our NuCamp Cirrus 920 Truck Camper. The camper rides in our Ram 3500 Dually Cummins Diesel CrewCab truck. We love our camper and we are excited to share our life with all of you!
Our plan is to continue traveling for another 5 years at least, we are just getting started. Subscribe and follow our adventures around North America and the World!
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★A big thank you to Amber from Story Chasing for providing a boost of motivation to get started!
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★Full tour of our rig with Story Chasing: www.youtube.co....
#fulltimetravel #drycamping #nucampcirrus #truckcamperlife #truckcamper #travelcouple #boondocking #truckcamperliving #boondockingtips #hondagenerator #dualfuel

Опубликовано:

4 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 77

@JacksBack-h5f 2 месяца назад

This was awesome, it shows you don’t need 2000 watts of solar for batteries.

@richardkoch8752 Год назад

I have a Champion 2500 Dual Fuel Inverter/Generator. Close to 1/2 the price of the Honda, from the factory LP or Gasoline, full Champion warranty, always starts on the 2nd or 3rd pull.....I love it!

@Stonyboot Год назад

I looked at those too, but I found this Honda at a pawn shop, brand new in the box for $750. Since I was converting it to propane, I knew I would lose the warranty, so it was a win/win for me. But the champion and others are excellent options.

@malinformationspreader 2 года назад

One of the best youtube videos on any subject I've ever seen. That was awesome and EXACTLY the kind of information I've been searching for a while now. Great explanation and great camera work too! Thank you so much for taking the time

@Stonyboot 2 года назад

Thank you! Glad it was useful!

@sailorjohn2224 3 года назад

In the 80's and 90's the popular escape was to buy a sailboat ,now it seems land cruising has really taken hold. What I'm seeing is a lot of reinvention of the wheel. Blue water jugs (for drinking water), charging from portable generator plus extra large engine alternator to charge one of two banks of batteries rotating daily. We used a modified weed sprayer for showering ( benefit was 2 qt showers with water heated on stove). I surprised that I haven't seen a marine style water heater that uses the heat from the engine used in some campers. WE would go to the Bahamas for the winter season , very little really fresh water, fresh meat when supply boat came in if you were quick. I had to learn to fix everything on the boat and dinghy. Up grading all the systems as time passed charging systems, exhaust systems plus dozens of other improvements. 18 years on the boat and we lived a very civilized manner . Warm in the winter up north ,cool in the summer (added ac unit while working for WEST MARINE). When I worked there I had to answer hundreds of questions . My wife and I plus several different German shepherds had a good life . 78 yrs old! p,s, People have died using instantaneous water heaters without proper ventilation!

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

It sounds like you have had a wonderful and full life of travel! The Bahamas are beautiful, even if there is a lack of fresh water :) I feel the same, RVs are just boats on land. Similar setup and needs. Someday, I would love to sail around various ares of the world. Any suggestions on where to start?

@standingmannequin7911 2 года назад

That Honda generator amp output is impressive. My Onan 2500LP put's out half that much, what a rip off.

@Stonyboot 2 года назад

It's been a good generator. It's in the shop for recall work, there was a possible faulty fuel shutoff valve.

@danieldoherty7920 3 года назад

If we put a rubber pad under your gen, the noise becomes a lot less . Just a thought.

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

I looked into using something like dynamat, but now we just run the generator outside on the rare occasions that we need it. Mostly when it’s really hot and we need the A/C for the entire day.

@1RComyn 2 года назад

Get a Chinese Diesel Heater to heat. I believe it's more efficient.

@Stonyboot 2 года назад

Maybe in a future project. No sense in swapping out a perfectly good Alde system.

@frankduzok 3 года назад

We are newbies who just purchased a 2021 23ft travel trailer. Your presentations are amazing. If you ever switch to a travel trailer, I won't miss an episode.

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

Thank you so much! We are sticking with a truck camper for now, we love it for the size and mobility. But we might switch to something different in the future.

@nickjacques6087 3 года назад

Nice tutorial. You are way more capable and handy than myself. I applaud you for your intelligence, work and all the thought you put into all of this. I learned how much more efficient a gasoline generator and like how the Honda works. Even with all that battery capacity and the hookup to the alternator I can see how the generator is needed. Your videos are so very helpful. Thank you

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

Thanks for watching and commenting! We have been getting most of our power from the alternator charging system. However, we will be boondocking for 3-5 days while we wait for a package and I’ll need to run the generator to recharge in the middle of the stay. I’m hoping solar will solve that completely, but the generator is a very trusty source of power. I’m happy to hear that our videos are helpful. Please let us know if there is anything you’d like us to cover!

@BillSprague 4 года назад

Nicely done and presented. For my use, a built-in would be my choice for my use but I certainly can understand why you use a portable. It's far easier to find a quiet gasoline powered generator than a propane powered one.

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

Agreed. The main reason was so that the generator was separated from the camper. And we don’t use it much, but it’s really nice when we need it!

@PerksOnMission 4 года назад

Man those Honda’s are awesome. They’re great here for if someone goes to teach in the countryside. We’re in somewhat of a similar situation here - these days we’re getting roughly 6-8 hrs of city power a day so I have the rest covered via solar, batteries and a generator backup. Works pretty good.

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

They really are awesome, the more we use it, the more we love it. What do you use for batteries and how much battery capacity do you have/need?

@PerksOnMission 4 года назад

Stonyboot I have a bank of 12 Trojan T105’s connected in series/parallel to make a 24v system. On paper, I should have just over 600 amp hours (if I understand that right) , but heat is a tough factor here. They supply power for a fridge, freezer, water cooler, ice machine and all the fans and plugs in the house.

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

Sounds like a good setup. I have 600 ah in our camper and it keeps us going for several days. How old are your batteries?

@mitchellchandler3689 3 года назад

Why not put solar on top of the camper to extend the battery life

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

It’s in the plans, we have 200 watts right now. I’ll be upgrading to 600 watts, but that won’t be enough to feed our needs. We have a small rig, so surface area is limited. The 600 watts will really help extend our stays if we have good sun. I’m still researching and waiting for inventory levels to return to normal. Last summer, when I was trying to do the solar project, everything was back ordered by 1-3 months, which made it impossible for me to get since we always move! Solar upgrades will be coming soon! Stay tuned!

@ConsidertheWonders 4 года назад

Dang...I feel like your an engineer with all of the things you’ve done. Between the fabrication, pipe and electrical work...that’s a lot to think through and make happen. Well done 👍. You’ve put a ton of thought into this setup. I was shocked you didn’t put sound dampening insulation in the generator box.

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

It was a big project! Thank you for noticing! My goal was to get it done cheaply and make it work. I looked into some dynamat and a few other options. I got it all done just as we left for our full time travels and ran out of time. After using it enough to get comfortable, I decided it’s good enough. The only change was the new batteries. The old ones were small an charged quickly. So it was more a case of running it for a hour here and there. Now we have upped our power needs and the generator had to start drinking gas to preserve our propane. Running it for 5-10 hours in a day was no fun. Had to move it outside. Chances are, that compartment will be filled with more batteries and the generator will get sold. But I’m not there yet. If it becomes a permanent fixture, I’ll probably put some sound mats in the compartment and get a small gas pump to help fill it up. So many projects!

@MrFoodTrader1 4 года назад

Nice use of space and the Honda generator. To help with the noise when running it in the camper try lining the compartment with Kilmat. I have the Onan propane unit in my Lance and after lining the compartment with Kilmat and adding a resonator, it made it MUCH quieter. Happy travels!

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

That a great idea. I looked at doing that but wasn’t ready to commit. I might be replacing the generator with a different system. So I’m going to hold off until I have a clear direction. We move a lot, alternator charging might be my go to power source along with solar. I’ll keep updating our channel with what we figure out! Thanks for watching ☺️

@ericl5973 3 года назад

Just use some graphite to lubricate the exhaust coupler. Nice setup overall.

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

That's an excellent idea. I was thinking about copper never seize

@geefy0 4 года назад

Cool setup! Thanks for sharing ☺️

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

Thanks for watching!

@mobileempire5522 3 года назад

Thanks for all the ideas , i'll add them to my list .

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

Thanks for watching!

@AFKDays 4 года назад

Thanks. I have had questions about generators thanks for answering them!

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

I’m glad it was helpful. Let me know if there is anything else that you’re looking for info on, I’ll help wherever I can :)

@kirstenstrobel4387 4 года назад

Well done. You have the heart of a teacher. I predict many more subscribers very soon! ~ Kir (and Ron) in Tennessee

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

Kirsten Strobel thank you very much. We are still learning, and have much more to share. Stay tuned and let us know what you think ☺️

@terrylarkin690 3 года назад

I'm surprised your solar when the sun is out isn't keeping everything charged.

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

With average sun, we get about 70-120 watts of charging. It all depends on shade, clouds, time of year, and the angle of the camper, which isn't always flat. Our "working" wattage is about 200-400 watts. When we leave our equipment on over night, it eats up the power. Once I upgrade to 600 watts, it will really help. For now, our alternator charging system has been keeping us charged up!

@Vanyoung66 2 года назад

Nice! I can appreciate the thought and planning in the little details that makes a huge difference between something that is a joy to use or a pain in the butt. I agree the weak link are probably the hold down straps. Perhaps a pair of strong black solid rubber bungee cords will do the same and easier to use? Keep up the good work!

@Stonyboot 2 года назад

Thanks for watching! With the frequency of use, it hasn’t been an issue. Every 1-2 months I pull it out to run the A/C or charge the batteries after a long stay. I’d like something better, but it isn’t enough of a hassle to make it a priority.

@jfitzpatrick6108 3 года назад

Liked your video. Very informative w/o being pedantic. To lubricated the dry rubber gasket in the exhaust quick-disconnect you _might_ _try_ using Flax Seed Oil from your local health food store. Flax Seed Oil has a very high smoke point _AND_ because it is _NOT_ petroleum-based it will not breakdown the rubber gasket. HTH!

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

Thanks for watching! That is a fantastic idea! That would be a 2 birds, one stone solution since I want to get some flax oil anyway for the Omega-3s. Thanks for the tip! 😁

@rMoore-zq3tw 4 года назад

Why don't you use a longer propane hose to use the generator out of the compartment? Also, why do you store it in the compartment instead of the front of the truck?

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

Thanks for watching :) We run it on propane while it's inside the truck, it's very convenient that way. The only reason we take it out of the truck is for long run times. It consumes too much propane to use it very much on propane while boondocking, since we need our propane for so many other reasons. It's nice to keep it stored in its compartment, all wired up incase I want to run it for a little while (mostly to reduce the drain on our batteries). keeping it in the generator compartment allows it to stay clean, out of sight and always ready to start. In the next few months, I hope to do away with it completely once we get our solar and alternator projects done. I might just use the generator compartment for additional storage or for more batteries!

@rMoore-zq3tw 4 года назад

@@Stonyboot I didn't use the correct word in my earlier message. I should have written why don't you store the item in the compartment vs the front of the truck. I thought you kept the generator stored on the attachment on the front of the truck all of the time and only put it in the compartment when you wanted to use propane. You only put it on the front of the truck to use gas. I am very curious to see how you will charge the batteries using truck's alternator. I've seen a few methods and looking forward to the video. Thanks for responding.

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

Hmm, I guess I didn't make that clear. Yeah, we only pull the generator out when we need to run it for more than 1-2 hours. When we do that, we want to run it on gas to conserve our propane. We have also used it outside a couple times to run the A/C when the sun was trying to cook us! I'll try to be clearer next time! And yes, most of the parts for the alternator setup have arrived, I'll be setting it up over the next few weeks and will release a video once I get it finished. Check back soon! :)

@walkwithme2840 4 года назад

Hi, thank you for this very useful information. have a great day

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

Thank you for watching and commenting! It’s greatly appreciated ☺️

@bryanstaten5585 2 года назад

So currently how much wattage in solar panels are you using and how many ah's of batteries? I'm guessing you don't have to use the generator near as much now but good to keep on board for emergencies.

@Stonyboot 2 года назад

We only have 200 watts of solar right now. That will be remedied in the near future. We have 1200 Ah or lithium on board. The generator is a backup system and currently we get the bulk of our power from our trucks alternators while we drive. With fuel prices being so high, we are staying stationary more often and will need to upgrade our solar soon.

@darkhorse2reign 3 года назад

weight of the 920? I'm also looking at the 820.

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

Dry its about 3500lbs, options and extras change that. Our total weight for everything is about 5500 lbs, which varies depending on how much water we carry. Bikes, racks, clothes, equipment, all add up. When we get back to our home state, we plan on getting rid of some things that we don't use to lighten the load. But so far, so good. I'm really happy we went with a dually truck!

@ppineault 4 года назад

Hey Scott 😁...great vid...don't ever worry that you might make vids that are too detailed...you obviously have a mechanical or electrical background so for someone like me who's obtuse as a bag of hammers about these things, it's all useful ;)...(and even for other viewers who are well versed in all these things, it might prompt a, "ah!...so THAT'S how he did it")... Although I'm not very experienced at it, I love doing DYI stuff and am always very keen to learn. For example, until I watched the vid, I was exactly sure how a friggin' generator was even powered (I know, like 'duh') so I found everything you covered very helpful. ;)...and btw, it made me chuckle about the use of bungie cords yet again because they are EVERYwhere in your environs;..everywhere you look there are bungie cords holding down the fort...lol...I'm offically designating you and Sasha as the official 'bag ladies' of the RVing World! (smirk)...bungie cord manufacturers owe you a solid, that's all I can say!... and btw?...Please do more vids of you and Sasha in everyday life. Aside from the fact that the two of youz are so cute to watch anyhow, deciding and endeavouring to pursue fulltime RVing would be a huge lifestyle change for ANYone and it is particularly even more of a challenge for couples, so making vids of your everyday life situations (problems and challenges encountered, adapted to and resolved etc) would not only be welcome, it would be fascinating to watch! :)...and tell Sasha she needs to get crackin' on the chin up bar so she can start that damn generator with one pull!... I mean, c'mon, what if you fell down a friggin' well or sumthin', huh?😏 Thanks again to the two of you! 😊👍

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

Obtuse bag or hammers 🔨!!! That made me LOL pretty hard. Command strips, hooks, Velcro and bungee cords seem to solve tons of problems. Cheap and easy, and they can be removed without damage. We try not to screw anything into the camper if at all possible. We will be making some vlog style videos soon, keep an eye out and let us know what you think! It’s a huge life style change and has its ups and downs. We are hoping to show an even balance and be honest about the reality. It will take a little time to figure out how to tell the story, but we have plans in the works! Thanks for the chuckle, I’m still laughing about it!

@ppineault 4 года назад

@@Stonyboot Welcome Scott!...glad I could make you laugh and look forward to seeing more of your vids...and big hello to Sasha! :)

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

It’s in the works, and hi back!

@terrylarkin690 3 года назад

Will that generator run your AC?

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

It sure does! Even without a start capacitor. Although, we haven't needed to run the A/C very much. I usually just cool things down a little using the batteries as a power source.

@jmonserrat2018 3 года назад

Great video Scott, as you drive you keep your fridge cold using your alternator, is that correct? I hope you are able to do a video some day regarding your fridge. Stay safe.

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

Yes, it does run from the alternator. I'll try to do a video on that in the near future! It's a pretty neat setup 😊

@maxyourjourney 4 года назад

Gotta have a good generator and, take even better care or it. Love the video guys great info. MAX_YOUR_JOURNEY [Alvin]

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

Thanks for watching and commenting! It was a more complicated topic than we originally thought!

@TumbleweedRvLife 3 года назад

That is an awesome generator Strategy. I like the convenience of the factory generator, but I am not in love with the noise and using our precious propane which we need to run the fridge. You got me thinking of pulling out the Onan 2500! Christian (I was wondering why you don't use your front rack to carry anything aside from the gasoline can?)

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

At this point, I haven’t used the generator in almost 10 months. We get all our power from the alternators and solar. I do still have a gas can, but we never use it. I hated using up my propane, but it was much cleaner and safer to carry than gas. Since we have high power needs, our batteries and alternator charging system have become our main source of power. It’s silent and easy to operate. The front rack was put on as a “lets see how this goes” thing, 10 months later, we still have it. It’s basically a wood rack when we need to collect firewood and I use it as a work bench from time to time, I’m not really sure what else to do with it. My next step will be to get a folding rack so i can leave it folded up until I need it. We might add a grill or fire pit on it someday. We have made it back to NH to take care of some appointments and registration. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be making a bunch of changes for our next journey. The rack is one of the items that needs to be addressed.

@kenknutson4684 3 года назад

Great video as usual! Curious what retractable steps you have on the back of your camper?

@Stonyboot 3 года назад

They are Torklift Glowsteps. They have a newer version now, but these are perfect for us!

@shmack-dab-in-da-middle3960 2 года назад

Hopefully you're only using non-ethanol fuel in your generator will keep the carburetor excetera from getting clogged up works like a charm and cut off the gas and leave the generator running until it dies that way it drains the gas out of the injectors or carburetor

@Stonyboot 2 года назад

I run what I can find. I run cleaners through it occasionally. In many of the western states I’m able to find ethanol free gas fairly frequently. And agreed, I run it out of gas every time I shut it off since I don’t always know when I’ll use it next. Also, whenever possible, I run it long enough to burn full tanks completely so there is little to no gas in it at all.

@douglaspayne8065 4 года назад

What do you use for internet service while boondocking

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

We use an unlimited ATT plan with our MoFi 4500 hotspot as much as possible. We also jumped on the Visible deal for unlimited everything which costs us $70 a month for both phones. Between ATT and Verizon, we have had pretty good success. We also use a Alfa WiFi repeater when the only option is WiFi, like in big bend. I’ll be making a video about the connectivity setup soon, it seems to be a popular topic!

@chrisscotti 4 года назад

great video. I run a pulsar dual fuel with my 820 but I'm finding I rarely need it unless I need AC. Do you have solar as well and how does it figure into the mix?

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

Thanks for watching! I almost bought a pulsar, the price was awesome. I let some other people in the Cirrus Truck Camper Owners Group on Facebook test it out first, many reported that it wouldn’t start the A/C. I was a little skeptical about it and found a great deal on a Honda. But that pulsar was pretty close to perfect. We have 200 watts of factory solar, it’s not enough for our usage. Once I get the alternator charging setup done, I’ll be going with 600 watts of solar and a MPPT controller. I’m having trouble finding inventory and shipping times are killing me. I’ll be making videos about all of this stuff as I get the projects done. Stay tuned 😉

@cheriethompson2266 4 года назад

Hey you mention leaving New Hampshire in your Cirrus in story chaser. Where did you buy it? I’m in Vermont and want a cirrus.

@Stonyboot 4 года назад

Cherie Thompson we bought our camper at Webb’s RV in Maine. They had a very good deal on it. We also found a few Cirrus truck campers at Truck Camper Warehouse in NH, but they were little too expensive for us.