Primary use for the genny will be for backup recharging, and powering large 'tool' loads (welders, bandsaw, machine lathe, drill press, etc), and possibly for pumping water. I'm probbaly not going to be running it much at all for the first couple of years. The 12KW unit is actually about 50-60% larger than I wanted to get (I was thinking of 6-8Kw), but was in fact CHEAPER, even after shipping.
Yeah, my little 'tonka' is a 79 longbed Toyota....pictured here with my 'fatty gas-saver' 31/10.50's on the back:
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/Phssthpok/?action=view¤t=trucks003.jpg&refPage=40
&imgAnch=imgAnch49
I call it 'tonka' because this thing is dang-nigh indestructable. I've hauled some hefty loads in it before,
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/Phssthpok/?action=view¤t=wood001.jpg&refPage=120&
amp;imgAnch=imgAnch124
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/Phssthpok/?action=view¤t=hills020.jpg&refPage=60&
amp;imgAnch=imgAnch63
but never THAT much (I don't think...)and not with my 'fatty gas-savers'. The squat would shred the tires.
It's not the starting and stopping that worries me....the brakes would stop a freight train, and the engine was just replaced this spring with a completely rebuilt (assembled by yours truly) 20r/22r hybrid,
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/Phssthpok/?action=view¤t=26ed61e4.jpg&refPage=&am
p;imgAnch=imgAnch5
so she's got plenty of power.
The springs and tires on the other hand.... OY! Even with those loads of wood on (see linked photos) I was swaying pretty bad on the freeway@only 40mph, and I KNOW that ain't no 1300 lbs of wood! As for my tires, they're just a set of cheepie passenger car snow-tires that came with the truck when I bought it.
Now if I had decent load carrying tires, and an add-a-leaf or two, I'd probbably give it a shot!