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06-22-2020, 04:50 PM
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#21
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,074
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe88
I don't have one, suppose I could buy one looks like they have something online for ~$30. Wondering if I should contact Firman customer support first.
Hurt my ankle trying to kick myself yesterday, thinking maybe I bought too small a generator so glad to hear you think it should work.
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Either that or return to Costco for a replacement.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=86
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06-22-2020, 04:57 PM
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#22
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Long time camper.
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 227
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe88
Thanks for the welcome! Yes first TT and first post here so bear with me if I'm a bit ignorant.
I shut off all my breakers and water heater electric switch outside when I was testing so I don't think there was any other large load.
I'm not sure if the battery was charging or how to turn that off quite honestly but the battery was fully charged I believe because it gets full sun and has a solar panel on the roof where its parked.
I had the 30a surge protector connected to the Gen which was connected with the 30a cord provided with the TT ~20 or 25 ft, no other adapters.
Just to make sure I hadn't fried anything I hooked up my big old 6500w contractor gen and the AC ran fine.
thx
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Take the surge protector off. Shut off the converter in the fuse panel, that’s the battery charger. You should be fine running everything once the ac is on. Make sure it is not in eco mode. I have the same gen. I really like it.
Samtummo
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06-22-2020, 04:58 PM
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#23
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 4
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Yeah I started wondering if I should be using the surge protector on the gen this morning, didn't really occur to me yesterday.
Love buying from Costco because of the customer service and return policies, hoping to get this worked out if its not a bad unit.
So if i hooked up a clamp meter before turning on the AC I suppose I could see what kind of draw I was getting from anything else. Then hooking up to the larger gen would tell me how much power it takes to run the AC. Is that what you would recommend.
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06-22-2020, 05:04 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Box elder
Posts: 725
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After you have the gen hooked up. Did you hear the ac fan start?
Try waiting 2 min before you start the ac to let the converter ramp down if it’s charging the battery.
__________________
2015 silverback 31IK
2023 f350
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06-22-2020, 05:06 PM
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#25
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Long time camper.
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 227
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To the OP. If they are convinced they want your gen more than you do, they will take it. A cable with a master lock through both top handles in the truck or to the bumper will stop most thieves. Need really good tools to get it that way. Yes cover it somehow, wet weather and gasoline engines don’t get along. I have a hard to to cover with 23” on height from the bed of the truck fits fine. Use a ratchet strap to secure the gen and gas as far away from you as you can. I use 2 2.5 gal cans, shirt spout green button to deliver fuel and cap on the end. Should be plenty of fuel for 5 8 hour days. At least 4/5 hours for the battery charging. Get a Aili battery monitor. Easy to install and use.
Have a great time,
Samtummo
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06-22-2020, 05:21 PM
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#26
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,604
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Off Rez
I would try it without the surge protector plugged into the gen. The surge protector may not like some parameter (voltage drop) and shut off power to the trailer.
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I see no reason to use a surge protector with an inverter generator.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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06-22-2020, 10:03 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker
Either that or return to Costco for a replacement.
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Might have to wait a while for a replacement. They have been sold out for over a week now.
__________________
2019 Silverado LTZ 1500 6.2L 10 Speed 3.42 Max Trailering Package
2018 Freedom Express 192RBS
2022 Highland Ridge Open Air Lite Range 17BH
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06-22-2020, 10:16 PM
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#28
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Good Ole Dad
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: IE Calif
Posts: 69
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Champion
I just Bought a Champion Dual Fuel 3400 Inverter from Factory Pure. Delivered it to My House 2 Days later, Ready to Go. It fits in My Bed with Across the Back with 2 5 Gal Propane Bottles and I can Close the Bed Cover. Going on it's First Trip in 4 Days.
__________________
2016 F150 Super Crew 4x4
V6 3.5 Turbo, Auto 6 Speed, Axle=3.55
Rear Air Shocks. Ride Rite. 10 PSI.
Hensley Arrow.
2021 262RL StarCraft.
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06-22-2020, 10:18 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Big brown desert
Posts: 3,003
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Had another camper this weekend with a wen 3800 and wouldn’t start his ac at altitude the second day he tried to use it. Was acting like the ac and fan were trying to come on at same time. We turned off the converter, ran the fan for two minutes then kicked over to ac and all went well. I recommend him picking up a hard start capacitor as I had no issues running mine right next to his and that it’s a cheap thought
__________________
2014 Stealth Evo 2850- "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7- "Clifford"
2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6 w/Track Pack- "Julia"
Just glad to get away
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06-22-2020, 10:27 PM
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#30
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 603
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This is the can you want, the Eagle safety can.
I have one and it is ridiculous how much better it is than any plastic can made in the last 20 years.
If you really want to splurge you can go for the Eagle type II or JustRite type II which have a built in spout instead of a pouring funnel. The attached funnel works great for lawnmowers and generators that have the gas fill on top, but flexible spouts are easier for filling automobiles.
__________________
Travel Trailer: 2004 Flagstaff 25LB
New Tow Vehicle: 2017 F-150 3.5 Ecoboost, supercrew short bed FX4 Lariat
Old Tow Vehicle: 2009 Silverado 2500HD 4x4 Ext. Cab Short Bed
Travel Pooch:Sophie the Sato - Cats: Rhody and Hazy
2018:22nights / 2019:31Nights / 2020:18Nights
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06-25-2020, 07:31 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 141
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Maybe you should into a Micro-Air EasyStart.
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06-25-2020, 07:37 PM
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#32
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 37
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I have a Westinghouse iGen 4500 and I put it in the bed of the pickup truck all the way in the front. I don’t take it out when camping. I pull it out from the front of the bed a little. I just run it in the bed and make sure I have plenty of ventilation around it.
And yes the generator is an electrical piece of equipment so it needs to stay out of the elements. They make rain covers for most of the generators so you can run in the rain. I don’t have one and I’m not sure how well they work. When I am driving I have a cover for it I got off of amazon and I bungee cord it on. I don’t run the generator if I’m driving. I carry a 2.5 gallon can with me in the bed of the pickup.
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06-25-2020, 07:47 PM
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#33
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Long time camper.
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 227
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Costco Gen Refund
I just got a $140 credit from Costco for the Firman gen I bought there. It went on sale 5/1 thru 6/29 $140 off. I purchased it 10 days before the sale. Requested the refund online. Got it two days later. I love Costco!
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06-25-2020, 08:03 PM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Ohio
Posts: 181
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I carry our Champion Generator (3500W) in the bed of the truck along with no spill cans of fuel. When I need it for power I just run it while in the truck bed. I leave it in the bed of the truck once it is loaded with and engine crane at home.
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06-25-2020, 08:04 PM
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#35
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Sedona, AZ
Posts: 29
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Tailgate generator
I built a sliding ramp ($50.) that allows me greater access to most of the bed contents. When I want to use the generator, I just pull it out onto the tailgate.
__________________
Rockwood 2018 Mini lite 2304KS
Avalanche 2500
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06-25-2020, 10:54 PM
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#36
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by samTummo
I just got a $140 credit from Costco for the Firman gen I bought there. It went on sale 5/1 thru 6/29 $140 off. I purchased it 10 days before the sale. Requested the refund online. Got it two days later. I love Costco!
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Unfortunately they ran out of that unit several weeks ago. So much for that sale price.
__________________
2019 Silverado LTZ 1500 6.2L 10 Speed 3.42 Max Trailering Package
2018 Freedom Express 192RBS
2022 Highland Ridge Open Air Lite Range 17BH
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06-26-2020, 03:07 AM
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#37
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 98
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A frame hitch hauler
Get an A frame hitch hauler. We had one for years on the Microlite 23lb. It will put the weight up front instead of in the rear which will increase sway. We had a 3500 watt Champion Generator. Used angle iron and marine plywood to build a front and top cover. This protected it from the weather but also made a nice theft deterrent. We bought it at etrailer.
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06-26-2020, 10:28 AM
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#38
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3
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Mike,
How do you like your champion? I have been considering buying one.
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06-26-2020, 10:37 AM
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#39
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 14
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Gas Cans and Filling Up
I want to advise you to purchase a gas can that can be easily lifted into the bed of the truck after filling. A metal can is best. Plastic gasoline cans must be filled sitting on the ground; NEVER FILL A PLASTIC GASOLINE CAN SITTING IN THE BED OF A TRUCK.
A plastic gasoline can being filled can generate static electricity, especially under low humidity. The truck is insulated enough from ground (tires) that a charge can build up during the filling process—then boom.
There are plenty of video demonstrating this effect.
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06-26-2020, 10:48 AM
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#40
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Gibsonville, NC
Posts: 571
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Our Honda Generator stays in the bed of the truck (against the front of the bed) and is secured with 2 3/4" chains and pad locks. We have a 3/4" horse stall mat underneath it to absorb vibration/noise (not that the Honda is loud). When not in use, I cover it with a custom fit cover. When in use, we remove the cover and connect a long 30amp extension cord (it's 45' in length) to feed the RV. For gas, we haul a 2 gallon Justrite Safety Can secured in a plastic milk crate (the crate helps to protect the can and to keep it from sliding around).
__________________
2019 Cedar Creek Silverback 37MBH
TV: 2017 Ford F350 CC DRW King Ranch
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