Forum Discussion

HardcoreABN's avatar
HardcoreABN
Explorer
Feb 22, 2016

Storage Container on Rear of Camper

Ok, so I have been looking to see where I want to mount 2x generators and a few fuel cans - all inside of a sound deadening enclosure. I want to do this at the rear of the caper, behind/above the bumper area. It will need to hold about 400lbs (each gen is 100lbs, a few fuel cans, weight of the mount/enclosure, ect). I wonder how much reinforcement I will need to do to the frame to accomplish this. I am not intending to directly mount it to the bumper,rather mount it to the frame and the bumper.

I will be offsetting the weight by going from 1 battery on the tongue to 3 or 4 in a diamond plate battery box and placing 1 or 2 spare tires up there.

Suggestions on how much frame/bumper reinforcement I will need?

Oh, the camper is a 2014 30' Palomino Puma (Forest River)

10 Replies

  • wanderingbob's avatar
    wanderingbob
    Explorer II
    Feb 26, 2016
    I did something similar on Dutchman 5er . Frame cracked both sides just behind where axle shackles were welded on . Lot of weight cantilevered that was not designed into construction !
  • stufarmer's avatar
    stufarmer
    Explorer
    Feb 25, 2016
    You're Travel Trailer was built and designed for Campgrounds with full-hookups.

    Venturing to far Off Road would be like driving a Prius across the Rubicon.
  • hprince's avatar
    hprince
    Explorer
    Feb 24, 2016
    Look at KSH Marines web site for a custom made enclosure, I just bought one for my Champion 3100I, I think they make them for any Generator.
  • HardcoreABN's avatar
    HardcoreABN
    Explorer
    Feb 24, 2016
    proxim2020 wrote:
    HardcoreABN wrote:
    Ok, so I have been looking to see where I want to mount 2x generators and a few fuel cans - all inside of a sound deadening enclosure.


    Make sure you have some way to isolate the vibrations from the generator as well. The vibrations travel through the frame easily which can get pretty loud. You end up in a weird situation where the generator is louder inside of the trailer than it is when standing outside.


    I will definitely have rubber isolators on the feet of the generator as well as between the platform and the mounting brackets.
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    Feb 23, 2016
    HardcoreABN wrote:
    Ok, so I have been looking to see where I want to mount 2x generators and a few fuel cans - all inside of a sound deadening enclosure.


    Make sure you have some way to isolate the vibrations from the generator as well. The vibrations travel through the frame easily which can get pretty loud. You end up in a weird situation where the generator is louder inside of the trailer than it is when standing outside.
  • HardcoreABN's avatar
    HardcoreABN
    Explorer
    Feb 22, 2016
    69 Avion wrote:
    GrandpaKip wrote:
    I would think the real question would be, "Can the frame handle the cantilevered weight on either side of the axles?" I would contact the frame manufacturer to find out. I am contemplating the same kind of thing but of less weight. Lippert let me know that what I want to do is no problem with my frame.


    It isn't just whether or not the frame will handle it, but if the tongue weight will still be enough for stable towing.


    Well, I will be adding about 150lbs or so to the tongue of the camper. Given the distance from the axle center line, it should offset it just fine.
  • 69_Avion's avatar
    69_Avion
    Explorer
    Feb 22, 2016
    GrandpaKip wrote:
    I would think the real question would be, "Can the frame handle the cantilevered weight on either side of the axles?" I would contact the frame manufacturer to find out. I am contemplating the same kind of thing but of less weight. Lippert let me know that what I want to do is no problem with my frame.


    It isn't just whether or not the frame will handle it, but if the tongue weight will still be enough for stable towing.
  • GrandpaKip's avatar
    GrandpaKip
    Explorer II
    Feb 22, 2016
    SoundGuy wrote:
    Google bumper reinforcement "4SQUARE SafetyStruts" by a company called Mount-n-Lock.


    I'm going to add these, also.
  • GrandpaKip's avatar
    GrandpaKip
    Explorer II
    Feb 22, 2016
    I would think the real question would be, "Can the frame handle the cantilevered weight on either side of the axles?" I would contact the frame manufacturer to find out. I am contemplating the same kind of thing but of less weight. Lippert let me know that what I want to do is no problem with my frame.
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Feb 22, 2016
    Google bumper reinforcement "4SQUARE SafetyStruts" by a company called Mount-n-Lock.

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