I have two Honda generators mounted in a alum tool box on a steel frame, all mounted on the back of my trailer.When I run the generators, there are vibrations and the sound resonates loudly in the trailer. The living room is at the rear of the trailer. Not pleasant to use.I have a heavy cloth type material (about 1/8" thick) between the steel frame and the tool box. It is the same material that goes between alum fuel tanks and the strap that holds the tank to the saddle on a 18 wheeler.I am thinking about checking in with the local Onan repair shop to see what they suggest.Thanks for any ideas and help!!Pat

I think you just found out why so few folks with portable generators run them attached to the trailer. Low frequency vibrations into the frame are like a voice coil in a speaker. and the trailer inside shell is like the speaker cone.If you find a solution, post it, I and others would like to find a solution. I just make sure mine is on the ground and not on the trailer when I run it.

The cloth won't help your vibration problem, you need to put some rubber between the generator and the frame - and then don't over tighten it. The Onan people should be able to sell you some sort of rubber vibration dampners from one of their generators. Or, look in the yellow pages if you still get them for a rubber supply place that sells hoses, conveyor belting, sheet rubber, etc. They should be able to give you some scrap belting (3/8" to 1/2" thick) that will do the same thing.Bill

The box itself may be resonating. Rubber under the gens may help.

ktmrfs wrote:If you find a solution, post it, I and others would like to find a solution. I just make sure mine is on the ground and not on the trailer when I run it.I'll do it!Pat

Trackrig wrote:The cloth won't help your vibration problem, you need to put some rubber between the generator and the frame - and then don't over tighten it. The Onan people should be able to sell you some sort of rubber vibration dampners from one of their generators. Or, look in the yellow pages if you still get them for a rubber supply place that sells hoses, conveyor belting, sheet rubber, etc. They should be able to give you some scrap belting (3/8" to 1/2" thick) that will do the same thing.BillI'll check with Onan. Thinking more about this, there is a thick rubber mud flap material for the big trucks that could work. Thick and not too hard.Thanks!Pat

Generator Vibration/noise, Isolator | Good Sam Community

Jay_Pat
Explorer
Oct 11, 2013
Trackrig wrote:
The cloth won't help your vibration problem, you need to put some rubber between the generator and the frame - and then don't over tighten it. The Onan people should be able to sell you some sort of rubber vibration dampners from one of their generators. Or, look in the yellow pages if you still get them for a rubber supply place that sells hoses, conveyor belting, sheet rubber, etc. They should be able to give you some scrap belting (3/8" to 1/2" thick) that will do the same thing.

Bill

I'll check with Onan.
Thinking more about this, there is a thick rubber mud flap material for the big trucks that could work. Thick and not too hard.
Thanks!
Pat
Jay_Pat
Explorer
Oct 11, 2013
ktmrfs wrote:
If you find a solution, post it, I and others would like to find a solution. I just make sure mine is on the ground and not on the trailer when I run it.

I'll do it!
Pat
Tin_Pusher
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2013
The box itself may be resonating. Rubber under the gens may help.
Trackrig
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2013
The cloth won't help your vibration problem, you need to put some rubber between the generator and the frame - and then don't over tighten it. The Onan people should be able to sell you some sort of rubber vibration dampners from one of their generators. Or, look in the yellow pages if you still get them for a rubber supply place that sells hoses, conveyor belting, sheet rubber, etc. They should be able to give you some scrap belting (3/8" to 1/2" thick) that will do the same thing.

Bill
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2013
I think you just found out why so few folks with portable generators run them attached to the trailer. Low frequency vibrations into the frame are like a voice coil in a speaker. and the trailer inside shell is like the speaker cone.

If you find a solution, post it, I and others would like to find a solution. I just make sure mine is on the ground and not on the trailer when I run it.

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