How Do You Transport Your Portable Generators?

mkirsch wrote:

Raften wrote:
I get a really bad vision every time I read that someone carries a supply of gas on a front or for that matter rear hitch rack.

You've been watching too many movies.

The big boom and a big fire from the simple act of a vehicle hitting a gas can does NOT happen in real life.

If your "really bad vision" involves you crying over the spilled gas, which is a tragedy in and of itself considering how much gas costs, then I heartfully retract my previous statements.

I don't watch movies or watch much TV because I can't hear them so I guess I mised the boom.

A plastic gas can on a front or rear carrier stands a good chance of being compressed to the point of rupture in a collision. Because of the compression pressure you won't get a leak you will get a spray and a spray will ignite with just a spark, fuel air bomb. Just saying.

Raften wrote:
I get a really bad vision every time I read that someone carries a supply of gas on a front or for that matter rear hitch rack.

You've been watching too many movies.

The big boom and a big fire from the simple act of a vehicle hitting a gas can does NOT happen in real life.

If your "really bad vision" involves you crying over the spilled gas, which is a tragedy in and of itself considering how much gas costs, then I heartfully retract my previous statements.

Ken,

Hi Guy! How's it going for you now since we last talked and seen eachother? Not to be discussed on the open forum. Do you remember seeing my rear porch setup on the back of our 11'4" Lance TC when we were both up at Tahquamenon Falls SP lower Riverbend CG a couple years ago or the last time we met? IT was made in 2 sections: The carpeted porch section (passenger's side) with the carpeted swing up passenger side step that keeps shoe dirt out of the carpeted TC and has the Honda EU 2000 in it's pocket on the end of the porch section with the very heavy 3/8" dia heat treated aircraft security cable to the truck's frame. Keeps all the added weight LOW and that's important.

On the driver's side was the painted black 18" X 24" X 14" high slide in and bolted on (4 - 3/8 bolts under the generator), when wanted, Sunproof Formica topped lockable storage module for campsite setup needs that also serves as a table top for boondocking etc. Total size is 2' X 7' and carried by the truck's receiver and secured by cables to the camper jack brackets. Very solid and the cables allow it to rise up if you bottom out the porch on the ground with NO pressure ever applied to the TC. Made several of them for our different TC's rear door locations.

First one I made (2' X 8') was in 2002 and traveled over 140,000 miles including trips to Alaska. It had the Honda and a large storage box on it as the TC door was in the center. Also had a fold out table that seated 4 or dinner etc and also had a counter top on the TC side for food etc staging so stuff didn't take up table room.

Still have it in my toy barn in case we buy another center doored TC but I think you seen the second rear porch modular unit on our red GM diesel CC truck. It has approx 90,000 miles on it now going all over the USA, Canada, and Alaska and it's simply wonderful. Both of these 2 were engineered and designed to hold 1200 lbs min and both have a 2" dia trailer ball on their rear in a welded on receiver so bikes can also be carried on a bike rack. The trailer ball is for our 2150 lb boat or the 6 X 12 vee nosed 3500 lb trailer pulling. 260 to 450 lbs tongue weight is what the trailers have. I always design and build my items for max versatility as who knows what TC model may be in our future!

If you want/need pics for some ideas etc, PM me an email addy. I do not sell anything and am happy to help you.

Thanks everyone for sharing your ideas and pictures. I especially liked bigfootford's application, but we need to raise the ladder to access the previous generator cavity for storage. I just ordered a locking system from lowprolockdown.com and hope it is what I'm looking for. Once I have it in place, I'll send some pics. Again, thanks

Ken

Like this:









Reddog1's welding and fabrication expertise and a little help from me.

Been sitting up there 6 years, lots of rough roads and about 70,000 miles.

Jim

I plan on hauling my EU 1000i around in the back seat. Nice and safe from the elements. My truck camper only sees winter conditions. Fuel in front of the wheel well. Have an access door on the drivers side of the truck camper

wsdepa wrote:
I just carry my Eu2000 on the floor of the backseat of my Supercab Ford. With the cap vent off, you never smell gas. I carry a 2 gallon gas can in the empty generator compartment along with my lego blocks, shovel, splitting maul and doormat.

We do the same- in the back seat area with the dogs. They don't seem to mind sharing the space.

Never smell any gas. It's dry & safe.

Roadlover wrote:
This past summer, my 3 year old Onan 2500 quit working and the generator repair shop said it cost about $1200 to get it back in working order. Since I never liked how noisy it was, especially in quiet, backwoods settings, I decided to purchase a Honda 2000 from Camping World for $1000. I'll admit, I do miss the convenience of pushing a button from the comfort of the camper but other than that, the Honda has done a fabulous job and I really appreciate how quiet it is.

After removing the Onan, I installed a floor in the generator cavity and decided I would now use It for storing the Honda and additional gas. This idea works but I never realized how awkward it would be for getting the Honda in and out of the generator cavity. This now has me thinking if there is a way to secure and transport the Honda on the rear bumper. My thought is, if it can be locked and secured on the bumper, it wouldn't even have to be removed to operate it when needed.

So my question is, if this application has been done or if there are any other ideas for transporting your portable generator, could some of you please share how you accomplished this? And picture would be great!

Thank you for your help
Ken

I glued a metal exhaust pipe about 5 inches long using JB Cold weld onto the exhaust flange of my Honda 1000 generator,then drilled a hole thru the camper wall same size as this pipe sealed around it with silicone and bolted the Gen down ..
Works perfect..
I keep my gas jugs in that space between the camper and truck box ahead of a wheel well which most campers can't use,,I made air tight access doors on both sides big enough to store quite a bit of stuff there..
I've seen one camper having the Gen in some kind of metal box bolted on a rear bumper..seemed to do the job just fine..

I just carry my Eu2000 on the floor of the backseat of my Supercab Ford. With the cap vent off, you never smell gas. I carry a 2 gallon gas can in the empty generator compartment along with my lego blocks, shovel, splitting maul and doormat.

Yup bc I hear you and understand. Better to drive away from a fuel/air bomb if a collision from the rear happens instead of into one. Just saying.