how-to-turn-your-truck-into-a-generator

[steel_ag]

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Electrical/DIY-Tips-On-Wiring/how-to-turn-your-truck-into-a-generator?keycode=TFHOUTBRAIN

"Overview

No matter how good your battery-powered saw or drill is, sometimes you need a plug-in tool to get the job done. Don’t have an AC receptacle nearby? Well, if you have a truck, you already have most of the makings of a rolling AC generator. Just install an AC inverter and you’ll have about 1,800 watts at your fingertips. The basic setup runs about $450, and the upscale version (with auxiliary battery and isolator relay) about $700. The installation takes just a few hours and requires only a drill and hand tools."

[LuckyStrike]

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Electrical/DIY-Tips-On-Wiring/how-to-turn-your-truck-into-a-generator?keycode=TFHOUTBRAIN

"Overview

No matter how good your battery-powered saw or drill is, sometimes you need a plug-in tool to get the job done. Don’t have an AC receptacle nearby? Well, if you have a truck, you already have most of the makings of a rolling AC generator. Just install an AC inverter and you’ll have about 1,800 watts at your fingertips. The basic setup runs about $450, and the upscale version (with auxiliary battery and isolator relay) about $700. The installation takes just a few hours and requires only a drill and hand tools."

I have a 1200 watt inverter in my truck, one of the best things I've ever done to my truck, cost less than 200 for the entire setup.

[chad]

I have a 1200 watt inverter in my truck, one of the best things I've ever done to my truck, cost less than 200 for the entire setup.

i have the same. we use it in canada to charge marine batteries which we ferry out to the island to run everything.

[drafter]

I prefer it over a generator. I figure a generator is going to just sit there so you have to worry about fuel going stale, and they're noisey to run when you do run them. I never let my vehicle go below half tank, so the fuel is always fresh, and if i let my vehicle run for a bit the neighbors or whoever aren't going to find it that odd. Hell I could blast the car stereo and act like some idiot that has no power like everybody else and I'm just wasting gas because I wanted to hear some tunes.

Unless your generator is muffled really well, it screams "prepper". Having your car run for a bit with the radio on just makes you look like everybody else that didn't prepare.

[steel_ag]

family member got into an accident with mid-nineties dakota utility truck. I'm thinking of modifying it with an inverter instead of selling it to the junkyard. And a cover to make it aesthetically pleasing to the neighbors...

[gunDriller]

Tripplite has a decent inverter, 1250 continuous 2000 watts peak, which you can get for about $260.

[skid]

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Electrical/DIY-Tips-On-Wiring/how-to-turn-your-truck-into-a-generator?keycode=TFHOUTBRAIN

"Overview

No matter how good your battery-powered saw or drill is, sometimes you need a plug-in tool to get the job done. Don’t have an AC receptacle nearby? Well, if you have a truck, you already have most of the makings of a rolling AC generator. Just install an AC inverter and you’ll have about 1,800 watts at your fingertips. The basic setup runs about $450, and the upscale version (with auxiliary battery and isolator relay) about $700. The installation takes just a few hours and requires only a drill and hand tools."

For that kind of money one could buy a fairly high quality 6500W generator (the Hyundai's at Walmart are quite good). However with the inverter you always have a plug in if your truck is near.

[LuckyStrike]

Tripplite has a decent inverter, 1250 continuous 2000 watts peak, which you can get for about $260.

Seems alittle steep, I would check Amazon this is the one I have

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Bright-PW1100-12-Inverter-1100/dp/B000NIG2FG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352177216&sr=8-2&keywords=power+inverter+1200+watt


I may upgrade it eventually because it will overload if I don't have my truck running with a sawzall, but it's a pretty stout sawzall. The rest of my tools I just let my battery handle it, but generally it's quick uses. The way I have the 2 gauge wire run, I can just swap it out for another unit in a few minutes.

[mamboni]

Good idea - and another layer of power supply is always a big plus. But you're still dependent on available supply of fuel, be it gas or diesel. And that has been the Achilles heel of generator power during this storm and aftermath. I have a 500 gallon propane tank to run my generator for weeks, on and off. And getting propane is not a problem and few are using. Dependence on gasoline is ubiquitous.