You want to go real cheappppp? Get yaself a lawn mower. Rig any old car alternator using a belt to run off the pulley. The old big gm were easy to wire up. One wire to hot to energize it and charging. Now hook any battery and a invertor.



Now you got yaself essentially free genny that can do anything from jump a car on 12v to power your tools. Only cost is the inverter. 1000 watts for like a 100 or less will power most any tools except plasma cutter.

Great thing is a 5 hp mower is perfect and wont cost you more than a gallon or 2 of gas in a 8 hr period running continuously.

I figured this out when I was like 10 years old. Watched the mobile diesel mech come up to get dads truck going. He was otr and hurt bad for a few weeks.n Truck was parked at house and batteries froze. Anyone knows a diesel requires a huge amount amps to start.

Well the mech had a old power washer with the pump removed. Pulley bolted on and alt attached via 1/4 angle iron. Then he ran jumper cables straight from the charging pole of the alt to the truck. Then he had to hook his van up as well to get the truck enough amps to run.

Trust me works and essentially free if your a true scrapper and save any good stuff.