Best dual fuel suitcase style generator?

[55AS]

Wanting to purchase a factory-built dual fuel 2000 or 2200 watt inverter generator. Will run exclusively on propane. Any feedback on current offerings? With an Easy Start I can run my A/C on a single generator and prefer small, light and compact. Looking for real world experience regarding reliability and noise level.

[Rocinante]

Check into GenConnex. We got ours from them, it’s been great.

[lsbrodsky]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Check into GenConnex. We got ours from them, it’s been great.

Me too

Larry

[nryn]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Check into GenConnex. We got ours from them, it’s been great.

Another happy GenConnex customer. And I don’t have to carry gasoline.

[55AS]

Love the GenConnex models but cheapest one in $1500. Anyone tried the "off brand" options? My brother has been running a DuroMax 2000 watt inverter generator all summer long on propane and loves it. Slightly louder than the Honda but it was only $600.... That is more what I was looking to spend on something I will only use a couple times per year.

[Bill M.]

But in your first post you asked for the "best".

[55AS]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

But in your first post you asked for the "best".

Good point. Perhaps I should have said Best Value:-)

[ghaynes755]

So you want something less than $600 that is dual fuel for using a couple of times a year? Skip the generator. When you need to power the air conditioner find a state or local park that has power for Free-$20 per night.

[PKI]

If cost is an issue, just get a Champion and move on. Best is a question of specification. We have a Genconex, which is propane only. Does not run on gasoline. You can modify a Honda to run gasoline, propane and natural gas, so it's all what you want. We like the propane only. Other folks have to have the gasoline option.

The GenConex is best, but ours had the faulty spark plug cap. That was very frustrating. So the world is never perfect. All generators need to have fuel jets changed to optimize for altitude. Most will run, just not as good as when optimized. There was a guy we met who could not get his non-major brand generator to start. He was a very unhappy camper as the failure ruined his planned event. Test before you go.

Note - generator stays home for a while. Better battery bank will fill the need for our travel style. The folks who minimized power use and set out a suitcase solar panel to recharge the battery bank spend about what a low end generator costs, do not subject their neighbors to noise and have the right to claim no carbon emissions. It's all a compromise. Make it and go forth on the adventure. Pat

[drbrick]

We run a Champion 3400 dual fuel (use LP only) it will run everything including our A/C

[djbar]

Originally Posted by drbrick

We run a Champion 3400 dual fuel (use LP only) it will run everything including our A/C

Ditto that. Adequate power output for A/C plus other, runs on propane or gas without mods, virtually same noise level as 2000-2200 watt gensets, less expensive. Con: over 90 lbs, so usually runs in open bed of TV.

[Munimula2017]

genconnex
don't have to worry about not be able to reset breakers while boondocking.

[55AS]

Originally Posted by ghaynes755

So you want something less than $600 that is dual fuel for using a couple of times a year? Skip the generator. When you need to power the air conditioner find a state or local park that has power for Free-$20 per night.

Certain events (like BalloonFiesta Rally) are dry camping only. Solar keeps battery topped up but I carry generator in case I need A/C. I guess dual fuel is not really a requirement either since I always use propane.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by PKI

If cost is an issue, just get a Champion and move on. Best is a question of specification. We have a Genconex, which is propane only. Does not run on gasoline. You can modify a Honda to run gasoline, propane and natural gas, so it's all what you want. We like the propane only. Other folks have to have the gasoline option.

The GenConex is best, but ours had the faulty spark plug cap. That was very frustrating. So the world is never perfect. All generators need to have fuel jets changed to optimize for altitude. Most will run, just not as good as when optimized. There was a guy we met who could not get his non-major brand generator to start. He was a very unhappy camper as the failure ruined his planned event. Test before you go.

Note - generator stays home for a while. Better battery bank will fill the need for our travel style. The folks who minimized power use and set out a suitcase solar panel to recharge the battery bank spend about what a low end generator costs, do not subject their neighbors to noise and have the right to claim no carbon emissions. It's all a compromise. Make it and go forth on the adventure. Pat

I love to make noise and aggravate my neighbors with a cheap noisy generator. Runs on vegetable oil. We get out at midnight with pots and pans and bang around while we chant for good measure.
Run and idle our stinking Diesel around the clock to pollute the atmosphere.

[adamkalins]

Okay, on the topic of BEST, considervthe Watt Imperium. It's a fuel cell that uses propane to charge your batteries, so you can be quiet and have lots of power and longer runtime. The only compromise is it's twice the price of a Genconnex. More runtime more efficient and quiet enough that you can sleep through the night with it on.

[lsbrodsky]

Originally Posted by adamkalins

Okay, on the topic of BEST, considervthe Watt Imperium. It's a fuel cell that uses propane to charge your batteries, so you can be quiet and have lots of power and longer runtime. The only compromise is it's twice the price of a Genconnex. More runtime more efficient and quiet enough that you can sleep through the night with it on.

Fuel cells are way cool, but I could not find a price for the Imperium. Moreover, it is rated at 500w. You would need a serious Lithium bank to be able to run A/C in a hybrid mode and a serious solar installation to charge those batteries with only 500w from the Imperium. Not ready for prime time....
Larry

[mojo]

Originally Posted by PKI

All generators need to have fuel jets changed to optimize for altitude. Most will run, just not as good as when optimized.

You do not need to change carb jets if you are going to run only on propane. Most propane conversions also include a regulator where you can adjust the propane flow for optimum output.

[ghaynes755]

For the Honda 2000/2200, EU3000i check out Hutch Mountain. Less expensive than the Connex system, 30 minute install and you will have a dual fuel setup.

[switz]

The beauty of the GenConnex conversion is that it replaces the gasoline fuel tank so there is no strange stuff protruding out of the factory enclosure to get caught when moving the unit. We have the Honda 2,000 watt pair converted to GenConnex. Took an hour or so to do the conversion per unit.

[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!