Has anyone syphoned gas from their tow vehicle to use for a small generator? I'm considering the 2 Honda 2000's and thought instead of schlepping a gas container of some sort, which would probably not be that safe, instead, somehow syphoning a few gallons out of my 15 gallon Eurovan gas tank every now and then.
Aside from the obvious: don't do this near open flame, or have a bad case of hic-cups, any other tips.
Or am I out of my mind? Never mind, don't answer that one.
What would be a safe procedure for doing this, if in fact I am in my mind?
Thanks from the looney bin.
Jonathan
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I'm out of my mind right now, but will be returning shortly......
Has anyone siphoned gas from their tow vehicle to use for a small generator? I'm considering the 2 Honda 2000's and thought instead of schlepping a gas container of some sort, which would probably not be that safe, instead, somehow syphoning a few gallons out of my 15 gallon Eurovan gas tank every now and then.
Aside from the obvious: don't do this near open flame, or have a bad case of hic-cups, any other tips.
Or am I out of my mind? Never mind, don't answer that one.
What would be a safe procedure for doing this, if in fact I am in my mind?
Thanks from the looney bin.
Jonathan
Jonathan
Can you say chemically induced pneumonia.
I would say don't ever start a syphon with your mouth.
Bite the bullet and buy the best certified gas can you can find and use it.
If you must syphon gas use a mechanical hand pump to start the flow.
Please have a long and Healthy Life.
Jonathan
Whats the differance, you have gas in the generator that your goin to schlep around, why not a gas can. As Gary said, "buy the best certified can you can find" it really would be safer and you woun't be hssled for stealing gas. At today's prices someone will call the cops because they will think they may be the next mark.
Still figuring out the how, when and where of generator stuff.
I think another option I read somewhere is to bring the generator to a gas station and fill it up there every other day or so, depending on usage, to avoid a gas can.
Jonathan
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I'm out of my mind right now, but will be returning shortly......
I think another option I read somewhere is to bring the generator to a gas station and fill it up there every other day or so, depending on usage, to avoid a gas can.
Jonathan:
It's not a good idea to fill a generator in the vehicle - even in the back of a pickup if anything else is back there --
An eu2000 weighs 46 lbs - a 5 gal can of gas weighs less than that. That would make a no-brainer decision if a 5 gal can vs schlepping the gennies were your only two choices.
I personally like the 2 1/2 gallon plastic "tote tanks". MUCH easier to handle than a full 5 gal "can", less chance of a "spill", a whole lot easier on the shoulders when taking in and out of the TV.
The tank size of an eu 2000 is about a gallon, so you could get at least two full refills out of a 2 1/2 gallon "tote can".
As far as the "tote can", I have found that the ones with a self contained pull-out "nozzle" are much easier to use - don't have to look for a funnel each time you want to use it - and then there is the hassle of finding a "clean" funnel.
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Dennis
"Suck it up, spend the bucks, do it right the first time."
I will second Dennis, take anything that you are going to fuel OUT OF THE VEHICLE. The bulk of the folks that blew themselves up did it filling a gas can, etc while it was in the trunk or bed of their truck.
One container that would allow for safe contained storage and offer a way to move the fuel without pouring would be a boat gas tank. It has a quick disconnect, and a bulb that would allow for transfer of fuel. There is also the fact that you could retrofit the gas cap on the gen set to draw the fuel out of the boat tank.
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Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." -- Fitzhugh Mullan
Wise men talk because they have someting to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
In politics, absurdity is not a handicap— Napoleon
You are the reason my long term care insurance has not been activated at this time.
Points well taken about filling gasoline in an enclose/semi-enclosed area such as ones vehicle. Though, had I have done this I would have first removed the generator from the vehicle. It seems that even thinking this would be common sense probably wouldn't be as safe as filling from a can as you mentioned, far from a major supply of highly flamable liquids.
Jonathan
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I'm out of my mind right now, but will be returning shortly......
Has anyone syphoned gas from their tow vehicle to use for a small generator?
Aside from the obvious: don't do this near open flame, or have a bad case of hic-cups, any other tips.
Or am I out of my mind? Never mind, don't answer that one.
What would be a safe procedure for doing this, if in fact I am in my mind?
Thanks from the looney bin.
Jonathan
No, but I've siphoned gas from my generator to my tow vehicle!!!! 5 miles out of Gilette, WY we ran out of gas. Yuck!! Not a pleasant experience . Now I know not to believe the computer on my Avalanche when it says I have X miles left until I run out of gas. It doesn't take into account hills, wind, Operator Stupidity, etc. BTW, I had an extra water hose with me that I was able to use transfer. I'm thankful I had my generator on hand with gas in it. It save me!! Now I don't recommend any of you try this unless you just want to experience the pungent aroma of gas in your mouth. Otherwise it saved me an 8 mile walk. I'm now thinking about subscribing to ONSTAR's service or getting a GPS to find the nearest gas station. Immediate Lesson Learned........Start looking for gas when tank reaches 1/4!!
With my diesel I can go about 12.5x30= 375 miles. I have gone as far as 300 miles before fill-up but I start looking for fuel at 250-275. I don't want the pleasure of being towed to a cummins service center.
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Keep the shiny side up. WBCCI # 3485 Region 3 1stVP
Past President Tidewater Unit 111
visit tidewater Virginia's web page @ www.tidewaterwbcci.com
Rick Bell in "Silverbell"
I use the Super Siphon. But for water only. It's great for passing water from my Jerry Cans into my holding tank while "Boondocking". I also carry a gas can for my generator.
Has anyone syphoned gas from their tow vehicle to use for a small generator? I'm considering the 2 Honda 2000's and thought instead of schlepping a gas container of some sort, which would probably not be that safe, instead, somehow syphoning a few gallons out of my 15 gallon Eurovan gas tank every now and then.
Aside from the obvious: don't do this near open flame, or have a bad case of hic-cups, any other tips.
Or am I out of my mind? Never mind, don't answer that one.
What would be a safe procedure for doing this, if in fact I am in my mind?
Thanks from the looney bin.
Jonathan
Jonathan
During the hurricane festivities in Palm Bay, I had filled the tank on my Olds so that when we returned after the Frances and after Jeanne I could siphon the gas out and fill the gas can for the generator, which I keep at home. It is too heavy for the trailer or the Excursion to tote around.
When I tried to siphon the gas out, nothing happened. I find that most of the newer cars have "siphon-proof" tanks, in that there is a curve at the bottom of the filler pipe that prevents the use of the siphon. One of the suggestions was to hook into the fuel return line that goes back to the tank. That is probably the best and safest way of getting gas out of the tank.
With regards to the hurricanes; having the 31' Excella and being able to go where ever we wanted to escape the storms really made us feel empowered and safe. I am retired Air Force so I am eligible to camp at military sponsored campgounds. For Frances, we went to Hurlburt Field campground in the panhandle of Florida. We stayed until Frances decided to visit the panhandle so we went to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. We stayed there until it was safe to return to Palm Bay. For Jeanne, we went to Tampa and MacDill AFB for one night. The campground was evacuated because Jeanne was not recurving soon enough, so we went to a civilian campground in Fort Meyers Florida, about 120 miles south of Tampa. That was just far enough away from the storm... barely. We had 40-50 knot winds there, but we weathered it all just fine. As for the home in Palm Bay, we had very minor and superficial damage. Others were not so lucky.
The military campgrounds in general are very well built and maintained. They charge $12-14/night in general. For the military active duty and reserves and retired folk, it is an excellent way to travel. The grounds are usually first come, first served and active duty have preference as well they should. Many who are transferred can stay there until their quarters are ready or they can find accomdations on the economy.
Sorry to go so far astray from the subject.
Vic
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Vic Smith
WBCCI #6782
31' 78 Airstream Excella 500
2001 Ford Excursion V-10
Reese hitch and dual cam sway control
Can you say chemically induced pneumonia.
I would say don't ever start a syphon with your mouth.
Bite the bullet and buy the best certified gas can you can find and use it.
If you must syphon gas use a mechanical hand pump to start the flow.
Please have a long and Healthy Life.
Been there, done that.
When I was 12, I came within an ace of buying the farm because I thought I would do a favor for my father and syphon kerosene for the stove that heated our house. I choked and inhaled some of the kerosene. Two days later, I was at death's door with pneumonia of both lungs. All they had then was sulfa and I barely made it through.
Don't syphon with your mouth!
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John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
Quick Links
Yuck!! Not a pleasant experience 
. Now I know not to believe the computer on my Avalanche when it says I have X miles left until I run out of gas. It doesn't take into account hills, wind, Operator Stupidity, etc. BTW, I had an extra water hose with me that I was able to use transfer. I'm thankful I had my generator on hand with gas in it. It save me!! Now I don't recommend any of you try this unless you just want to experience the pungent aroma of gas in your mouth. Otherwise it saved me an 8 mile walk. I'm now thinking about subscribing to ONSTAR's service or getting a GPS to find the nearest gas station. Immediate Lesson Learned........Start looking for gas when tank reaches 1/4!! 
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