Best dual fuel suitcase style generator?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by HHPJ

Question: propane people, do you find that you burn through a lot of propane while using for AC? Do you use a separate tank from your AS? Do you have to rejet carb at high altitudes like gas?

Thanks!

Can't answer the burn question, don't use the 2000i for AC.
I converted our Honda for dual fuel in 2007, (US Carb)
I use it for dual fuel, petrol is still more convenient when not in the AS.
It can be adjusted for altitude when running on LP.


Bob
🇺🇸

[Pete B55]

We have the Champion 3400 dual fuel but it is heavy. Champion just recently released its 2000W dual fuel- super quiet and half the weight - model 100402 - try Acne tools, seems to have the best price

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by HHPJ

Question: propane people, do you find that you burn through a lot of propane while using for AC? Do you use a separate tank from your AS? Do you have to rejet carb at high altitudes like gas?

Thanks!

Hi

If you run your A/C on propane, you *will* go through a lot of propane. How much depends very much on how hard the A/C is working. If you are out in full sun / no breeze in Mobile and it's 99F out and (likely) 90% RH, your A/C will be working very hard all day long. Figure on going through a 20 pound bottle.

Bob

[Thorsondj]

I see someone already mentioned Hutch Mountain. They were a vendor at 2018 international rally at Salem. We bought kit and husband converted. Very pleased.

[Rocinante]

If you’re camping without shore power where it’s Mobile, AL, hot, there’s only one good solution: camp somewhere cooler! 🤣

[Prettygood]

I have the Duromax 2000w Dual Fuel and am happy. It runs my A/C at sea level just fine, but didn’t at 6k elevation. They just released a 2200 model that likely will be enough at elevation. For the price and dual fuel capability, I’ve yet to see a better deal.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

If you’re camping without shore power where it’s Mobile, AL, hot, there’s only one good solution: camp somewhere cooler! ��

Hi

No argument there, we've been out since mid July and really have not run the A/C more than two or three days the whole time. In truth the *need* to run the A/C has been near zero. We ran it yesterday simply because we could ( = on shore power). Pretty much the whole time we've been below 5,000 feet so no crazy altitude issues involved.

Bob

[turk123]

I have a Honda 2200i that I converted to duel fuel with kit from Hutch mountain. I also added an extension that runs to the propane quick connect that Airstream provides. All works very well.

I have an easystart and the generator pretty much starts the AC at full speed but will drop down to "eco" while the AC is running. Very efficient. 15,000 btu AC.

And the best thing is it is "clean"!

[ghanesdvm]

When I purchased a used 2014 FC from a private party in Colorado I searched generator prices and comparisons. Turns out the best value I found was a dual fuel unit from WalMart. Since I couldn't purchase it online and have it delivered to California (California Air Resources Board regulations), I had it shipped to the seller in Colorado, put inside the AS, and it made the journey with the trailer. It's rated 2db louder than the Honda and was just under half the price. Easy to buy a pigtail propane hose to connect to the propane adaptor provided at the front of the AS (just inside the A-frame hitch), so generator can be placed out of the way when running. Consider how much time you will ever actually use the generator and decide if the premium price of a Honda or Yamaha is worth it.
Sportsman 2200 watt peak, inverter sine wave generator. Has output for 2 regular plugs, a 12 v outlet to connect to batteries, USB, and wired for running two generators in series.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The whole "how much will you use it?" *is* very much part of this. We have hauled a generator of one sort or the other on and off for three years now. Total usage time in those three years has been zero. Indeed we have a bit of solar on the roof and upgraded batteries. We also don't go "off grid" for months at a time.

Bob

[lsbrodsky]

The premium price is a courtesy to other campers. I wanted the quietest one I could find to minimize the disturbance to my neighbors and only the Honda/Yamaha fit that bill.
Larry

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The other subtle part of the price is how many hours the generator is designed to "live" for. After some number of running hours various bits and pieces start to wear out. It's never a hard limit, but rather a "likely to go that long" sort of thing.

On some designs, the target is around 100 hours. On other designs it may well be a lot more than that. It's not always a matter of this brand vs that brand. It's also a matter target market. If your target consumer ( = me) uses the generator zero hours in three years, a 100 hour design life may be just fine

Bob

[StephSH]

We bought the Champion 3400 dual fuel a couple years ago but the new Champion 2000 dual fuel would be sooo much easier to haul around. Has anyone tried the new Champion?

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by StephSH

We bought the Champion 3400 dual fuel a couple years ago but the new Champion 2000 dual fuel would be sooo much easier to haul around. Has anyone tried the new Champion?

Hi

At 50 pounds for a generator that will do 1440 W, it's a bit on the heavy side. You also don't have electric start. There are a *lot* of choices in the "2KW" range. Indeed dual fuel without the need to mess with a conversion kit *is* a nice thing.

Bob

[Pete B55]

Originally Posted by StephSH

We bought the Champion 3400 dual fuel a couple years ago but the new Champion 2000 dual fuel would be sooo much easier to haul around. Has anyone tried the new Champion?

I have the 3400 dual fuel and also bought the new 2000 dual fuel. I like them both and the 2000 is super light and quiet. Its a better choice with my solar/Lithium battery setup; I rarely need a generator and only if I have canopy or rain for 7 days. Starts on 1 pull and you can’t beat the built in propane option

[rmkrum]

We used our 3400 dual fuel several times this last month on our epic vacation.

Ours is rigged to run off the Airstream propane tanks whilst still in the bed of the truck. Fantastic performance. The dogs enjoyed the air conditioning while we ate dinner one night.

Quiet enough to be hard to hear over the A/C fan and compressor inside the Airstream or outside over local street traffic.

Barely grunts when the compressor kicks in. Runs fine in economy mode even.

EasyStart is the next upgrade to reduce the startup ‘thump’ noise further and provide extra compressor protection.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by lsbrodsky

The premium price is a courtesy to other campers. I wanted the quietest one I could find to minimize the disturbance to my neighbors and only the Honda/Yamaha fit that bill.
Larry

Bingo!

Be a good neighbor and ambassador IMO.

[GSansoucie]

Dual fuel. Honda EU2200i with the Hutch Mountain Propane kit. Love ours. Goes right in front of the rig, uses the external propane line by the A-Frame and I connect it to the generator 30A port out front. Super light weight and quiet as has already been mentioned above.