Generator

[dolfantony]

Im thinking of attaching a bumper or hitch rack for a generator on the back of a eagle 5th wheel..any suggestions..tia

[Marcm157]

I did it with a Harbor Freight Predator weighing 100 pounds. I wasn't at all comfortable with it from the beginning. I felt no difference in handling but my son followed me on a trip and took a video of how violently the back of the trailer bounced. My thought was that this couldn't be good for the generator so back into the bed of the truck it went. It will likely be a bit better on the back of a 5th wheel but I would have someone follow you and let you know what's going on.

[dolfantony]

Thank you very much.I was worry about the bounce
I will put it in the front storage.it weighs 95lbs,my wife can muscle it up for now
Thanks again

[drwnkw67]

I went with a Wen 3800 inverter gen from Home Depot and Walmart.
Fits in the "garage", or front storage compartment. A bit heavy, 99 lbs but manageable.

[dolfantony]

Originally Posted by drwnkw67

I went with a Wen 3800 inverter gen from Home Depot and Walmart.
Fits in the "garage", or front storage compartment. A bit heavy, 99 lbs but manageable.

Thank you.My wife and I did muscle up there and it fits perfect

[RichCarter]

Do some research before deciding on which generator to buy. Read the reviews. The inverter generators are quit under light load but they are very loud when you put them under a heavy load. If you want to run your air conditioner, you'll need a pretty big one. I have a Honda EU-2000 and love the thing. Its lightweight, reliable, and very quiet under light load. Honda's are expensive however and mine is too small for the air conditioner.

[eow]

Originally Posted by RichCarter

Do some research before deciding on which generator to buy. Read the reviews. The inverter generators are quit under light load but they are very loud when you put them under a heavy load. If you want to run your air conditioner, you'll need a pretty big one. I have a Honda EU-2000 and love the thing. Its lightweight, reliable, and very quiet under light load. Honda's are expensive however and mine is too small for the air conditioner.

Your Honda 2000 may run your a/c with a soft start like microair and if you are at a low elevation.

[Route 66 Traveler]

I have a Harbor Freight 3500 watt inverter that is very quiet, even under full load. If you install a SoftStart in your AC you'll be able to run your AC with a 2000 watt generator with no problem. Made a big difference in how quiet my AC is on startup.


https://www.softstartrv.com//rvlife/?utm_CamperReport

[Jay2504]

Thank you Rich Carter! I have been saying for years that an inverter generator is almost as loud as an open frame one when it is under a heavy load! I have even proved it by loading down a Honda 2000, while running a 3200 watt Predator open frame a few feet away. Really not much difference at full load. Cut the load down to 300 watts and then the Honda is much quieter. Jay.

[Route 66 Traveler]

....

Then there must be something wrong with mine because when it’s running I can’t even hear it when I’m in my RV watching TV.

They are building a house across the street from my house, running open frame generators and I can hear them running all day from inside my house! No way there is any comparison between the two. Not sure if that’s true with the over priced Hondas...

[RichCarter]

Originally Posted by Route 66 Traveler

....

Then there must be something wrong with mine because when it’s running I can’t even hear it when I’m in my RV watching TV.

Under light load, they are quiet. As the load increases, they run faster and become noisy. If you have a 2000W inverter, heat something in the microwave. That’s not even a full load.

[PaulB12]

Originally Posted by RichCarter

Under light load, they are quiet. As the load increases, they run faster and become noisy. If you have a 2000W inverter, heat something in the microwave. That’s not even a full load.

Running my two Hondas,2000, full load side by side I can have a conversation. My neighbors equivalent size open frame we have to shout or walk away to hear each other. I can hear his from across the street, he can't hear mine!!!
JMHO
PaulB12

[RichCarter]

Originally Posted by PaulB12

Running my two Hondas,2000, full load side by side I can have a conversation. My neighbors equivalent size open frame we have to shout or walk away to hear each other. I can hear his from across the street, he can't hear mine!!!JMHO PaulB12

It's not really a matter of being quieter than a large generator or being able to hold a conversation when your generator is running. You don't want to be annoying the folks in the camper at the next campsite. My Honda EU-2000 is pretty quiet running under the small load of just charging my batteries. Even at that, I wouldn't want to be running the thing all day even at that low level. The constant drone would be annoying. As for running the generator under a heavy load, I'd expect a visit from my neighbors to complain about the noise if I did it for more than a few minutes. People go camping to get away from the noise and congestion of city life.

Now if your boondocking at a place that is totally private, by all means, make as much noise as you want.

[bstuck69]

I carry a 5000W in the back of my pickup. Covered and not easy to see. That way I have it for use anytime.

[USNMA1]

Don’t go cheap. I had a hitch cargo rated for 500 lbs. had a champion generator at 160 lbs. on it, and the weld separated. Lost carrier and new generator on Montana 200. If anyone sees it give a call. Muhaha. Seriously though it did happen. Good news no one was hurt bad news I never found generator and not sure at 60 mph what kind of condition it would have been in. Getting an onboard Gen installed this week.

[Ralph0808]

Yep I had a 4500 watt Westinghouse strapped down with 4 locking cables and a low life thief or thieves stole it in Missoula, Mt last Monday a week ago. Was staying at Staybridge Hotel while working had it mounted on front hitch of my Ram 3500. It could handle everything in my AF 996 TC with no problems. It made me sick, but I should have chained & bolted it to the rack. I learned the hard expensive way. The next one will be very very secure and with video recoding I hope.

[USNMA1]

Ya when we were in California and staying at a state park,they lost several gens in one night. They were chained or cable lock and they cut them off. That’s what this country in turning into.

Mine was locked to the cargo carrier, when the cargo carrier broke off and skidded down the road. Probably still chained to it somewhere.

[Ralph0808]

What brand cargo carrier??

[kirkelli]

I carry about 130 lbs. with a modified HF Luggage rack and have no issues.. I also use a hitch tighter witch takes the wobble away. Traveled many many miles with this setup and not one issue.. I see no reason why a 100 lb generator work work any different.

[USNMA1]

Originally Posted by Ralph0808

What brand cargo carrier??

Mockin