Generator assistance

McCracken

McCracken

Logan Can't See This
Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Location
With your mom at a nice seafood dinner
So I'm planning on riding in about a week. I'll also be camping in 30-something degree weather...in a tent. I'm looking to find a solution to the cold. My idea is to run a small generator and hook up and electric blanket on a timer (to keep it from kicking out and staying off). Anyway, I need to get a bigger gas tank so what I'm thinking is to run a fitting inside a gas jug then run a hose down to the generator so it can run all night. Anyone else do this? What kind of fitting did you use? Of course, this is all for nothing if they already have electrical hook ups but still I'd rather be prepared.
 
I don’t know of a campground that allows running of generators all night. Most require generators to be off by 9pm.

No other useful info here aside @snappy I think did something similar with a generator at an ECORS race at the Flats once.
 
Couldn't you also just grow a pair? :flipoff2:
 
Black Bear said:
Put blankets over the top be two the rain fly and the mesh. Run a small buddy heater on a 20# tank. Enjoy a warm tent.

The buddy heater is rated for indoor use.
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I'm really leary of those. Had a friend die one time using a propane heater in a tent.
 
tent wise, I have used the Big Buddy heater, which allows as low as 4K BTU, and as high as 18K BTU, and yes they do have a carbon dioxide shut off. I have also used a 1500W electric heater, as well as a electric blanket, both are capable of making you sweat if turned on too high. One trick is to have some foam pad to lay on, to keep out the ground cold. My Honda 3500IS ran them fine all night, and was quiet too. The big buddy was on a 20 pound tank that lasted easily all weekend. Needs to be pretty cold for the buddy heater though, since it does not run on a thermostat. Been a while since I needed the gen though, everywhere I have been has a hook-up for power.
 
rockcity said:
I don’t know of a campground that allows running of generators all night. Most require generators to be off by 9pm.

No other useful info here aside @snappy I think did something similar with a generator at an ECORS race at the Flats once.
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I ended up buying a kit off ebay that ran a boat 5 gallon tank that worked way better that the first vs that was a spun al tank mounted on the big gennie, it would over fill the bottom tank.
 
I did this with my eu2000 Honda. They sell a kit with fittings to draw from an aux 5 gal tank. I just made my own using 1/4” npt to barb fittings and tapped the caps. Ran my truck camper all day/night with as much power as needed and never ran out of a fuel. Depending on what generator you have will depend on your approach. Some have fuel pumps some are gravity fed I believe.
 
Kickdeez said:
Foam pad would be good. Don't use an air mattress. The air in the mattress gets cold af.
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Funny you should say that because that was my plan. My old ass can't take rocks in the back all night.
 
McCracken said:
I'm really leary of those. Had a friend die one time using a propane heater in a tent.
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Your post got me to look up the safety features of the unit I have. Buddy heater isn't indoor rated. But does have tip over and o2 cut off. My concern is catching the tent in fire if a tip over happens.
 
McCracken said:
Funny you should say that because that was my plan. My old ass can't take rocks in the back all night.
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Good cot and a thermal rest with decent bag...or a really Good bag.

Never frooze.
 
Use a open cell foam pad. Layer a heavy poncho then bedding on top. Ground cold is your enemy. Even with a heavy sleeping bag the ground will get you cold. You have to have a “vapor barrier”. I’ve slept comfortably in a lot of “scenic vacation destinations” compliments of Uncle Sam and a nice poncho, sleeping bag w/Gortex outter layer and a fleece beanie have served me well.
 
McCracken said:
Funny you should say that because that was my plan. My old ass can't take rocks in the back all night.
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Absolutely do not use an air mattress.
Closed cell foam is your best bet. However bc most of them want to be compact, most pads are open cell which is second best.
What matters is the insulation, it acts as a thermal break from the ground and holds your bosy heat up in the tent/your body.
In an air mattress the air inside the mattress will become teh same temp as the air in the tent at best, but also cooled down by the ground below it.

Worst case, put a closed cell foam pad on top of a mattress or a cat.

It also helps to put down one of those shiny space blanket radiant barriers. They don't provide any insulation but prevent heat from going the wrong way.
 
Also... why not just run a blanket off of a big battery? A 12v blanket on a car battery will easily go all night. Recharge the battery during the day if need be.

30 degrees isn't THAT cold. A blanket under you and maybe even a layer of radiant barrier sheet between the tent and rain flay and you'll retain a ton of heat.
 
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