Tongue mounted Generator

Any RV with a generator should be equipped with a properly operating carbon monoxide detector. I have two installed.

We Cant Wait wrote:
IF this generator IS A propane powered generator, then the issues of fumes is greatly reduced as propane powered equipment are designed for indoor use, i.e. all the forklifts running around inside factories.

Umm..

Not true.

"Factories" are typically 5,000-100,000 SQUARE FEET of space.

"Factories" typically will have pretty darn large outside fresh air exchange systems running at all times.

RVs are pretty much very limited in interior space (100-400 square feet).

RVs tend to have very little full time air exchange with outside air.

Small square footage plus very limited fresh air exchange and you are setting yourself up to wake up DEAD.

Engines running on Propane DO still emit CO, just at a reduced rate. However, if for ANY reason the engine has any problems with the fuel mixture or spark and or plug, that goes out the door and CO goes up..

Personally, I HATE inhaling indoor propane fork truck exhaust, the smell makes me noxious.. It has a slight smell of the odorant ethyl mercaptan that doesn't always fully burn up which propane companies put into the propane to allow easy leak detection..

Fortunately my company uses electric forklifts..

IF this generator IS A propane powered generator, then the issues of fumes is greatly reduced as propane powered equipment are designed for indoor use, i.e. all the forklifts running around inside factories.

SoundGuy wrote:

hohenwald48 wrote:
Other than that I have had no issues at all. No problems with noise, vibration or fumes. Maybe others have had those problems but they have not been any issue with me. When the generator is running I can't even tell it from inside. The A/C noise completely covers any noise made by the generator.

Good for you but you can't same the same for your unfortunate neighbours. :(

If the neighbors don't like my generator running they should camp in a "No Generator" campground. Otherwise they can go pound sand.

hohenwald48 wrote:
Other than that I have had no issues at all. No problems with noise, vibration or fumes. Maybe others have had those problems but they have not been any issue with me. When the generator is running I can't even tell it from inside. The A/C noise completely covers any noise made by the generator.

Good for you but you can't same the same for your unfortunate neighbours. :(

SoundGuy wrote:

wanderingbob wrote:
For many years we have always had a Honda 3000 mounted on the rear or front of are travel trailers , we have had no problems with noise , theft , or fumes .
There will always be naysayers . We "camp" many, many nites in Wal-Marts , rest areas , county parks , you name it . We travel a circuit of craft shows all across the south and many of our fellow crafters will also have generators mounted .

Good place for you to "camp" :W ... far better than next to others in a campground where NO ONE has any interest at all in hearing your generator running. :(

Why would anyone run a generator in a campground? Wouldn't you just plug in the shore power? And if it's a remote campground without power that allows running a generator you better bring your earplugs because I'll be running mine.

I have my Honda eu3000is mounted on the Stromberg Carlson toungue mounted cargo tray that others have linked above. It works great if you can stand the extra tongue weight up there. The only issue I had is that I had to delete the hard plastic cover that was on my twin 30lb bottles. Since the cover would no longer be removable with the platform installed.

Other than that I have had no issues at all. No problems with noise, vibration or fumes. Maybe others have had those problems but they have not been any issue with me. When the generator is running I can't even tell it from inside. The A/C noise completely covers any noise made by the generator.

For me it is a great solution. I tow with a Nissan Armada and don't even have an issue with opening the tailgate. It clears by about 6 inches. I just run the TT cord up and plug it into the generator and away she goes. I do have the generator locked to the platform with two padlocks and two cable locks. Keeps out the casual thief but if someone really wants it, has the right tools and has enough time they can get it but I don't really worry about it at all.

Also, I keep the generator covered with a Honda cover and put an outboard motor cover I got from Bass Pro on top of the Honda cover. Put a small cargo net over that with some bungee cords to keep things from flapping in the wind. Generator has never evne gotten damp. If I had to run it while raining, I'd have to come up with some kind of "tent" over the top but that hasn't happened yet.

wanderingbob wrote:
For many years we have always had a Honda 3000 mounted on the rear or front of are travel trailers , we have had no problems with noise , theft , or fumes .
There will always be naysayers . We "camp" many, many nites in Wal-Marts , rest areas , county parks , you name it . We travel a circuit of craft shows all across the south and many of our fellow crafters will also have generators mounted .

Good place for you to "camp" :W ... far better than next to others in a campground where NO ONE has any interest at all in hearing your generator running. :(

colliehauler wrote:

stufarmer wrote:
Ok, say I can overcome the Vibration, Heat, Exhaust and Sound concerns, what are your thoughts on having the Propane Tanks mounted Horizontally above the Generator (?)

Unless you buy tanks designed for horizontal mounting the others will not work. Regular tanks are designed to operate vertically to give gas instead of liquid to the regulator.

X2!

Why not mount the gen ABOVE the tanks?

Would be a whole lot easier to deal with..

Not to mention your gen is going to EAT those tanks alive..

You typically will have two 20 lb, or two 30 lb tanks.. Your gen will empty one of those tanks in 8-10 hrs of use easily.

But.. You might be better off having a permanent propane ASME tank mounted to the underside of the trailer, then you could easily mount the gen on the tongue and have more propane capacity available to run the gen.. But that is gonna cost a lot for one of those tanks..

Seems to me that perhaps you NEED to rethink your idea?

stufarmer wrote:
Ok, say I can overcome the Vibration, Heat, Exhaust and Sound concerns, what are your thoughts on having the Propane Tanks mounted Horizontally above the Generator (?)

Unless you buy tanks designed for horizontal mounting the others will not work. Regular tanks are designed to operate vertically to give gas instead of liquid to the regulator.