Looking for a way to haul our Honda 3k generator. Weighs about 150lb with the wheel kit so hard to lift. There is not enough clearance/room in the truck bed and seen too many disasters with cargo carriers on 5vr rear bumper. So I'm thinking of a receiver hitch on the front of my truck with a cargo carrier. Anyone done this?

I'd be a little worried about airflow into the truck for proper cooling.I am surprised that you don't have enough room in the truck bed. My buddy brings his Honda 3000 with him when we go camping. He uses the step that is built into the tailgate of the truck - lifts it there, repositions his hands, then into the bed of the truck. Not easy, but not terrible either.That said, if you have the hitch properly welded onto the rear of the RV, it will easily hold the generator. I tandem tow my boat, and it has a lot more than 150 pounds of tongue weight.

How many disasters have you personally seen with the cargo carriers???I've used one for years with absolutely zero issues. From carrying bicycles, coolers, firewood, etc. Just make sure you have a strong reinforced hitch and a good carrier with the generator properly strapped and carry on. You could even get a rear camera system to monitor it while on the road. Most all factory fifth wheel receivers are good to go from 300-500 pounds tongue weight. I too don't think the genny in front of the radiators is a good idea.

I have one on my TV to carry bicycles, have used it to carry fire wood. Does not affect my operating temp at all. I realize a ginny might be a little more obstructive, IMHO should not be a problem. May have to put my ginny up front one trip to compare temps. :)

Several of the guys on the truck camper forum have front hitches for their generators and tool boxes. I carry a scooter or bicycles on mine. No problem with air flow.Hitches are readily available online and easy to install.I have done 2 on GM products, Ford should be easy as well.

Put a front receiver on my 2006 F350 to carry bikes. They were right in front of the rad. No problem in 10 years. Only negative thing was I lost the fog lights when I installed the receiver in this Ford.Dave

Front receiver hitch on tow vehicle | Good Sam Community

Gray_Fox
Explorer
Mar 10, 2017
I have a rear hitch from the HH factory it's like a rock. I got a cargo carrier from Harbor Fright it carries 500 LBS. I carry the Honda Gen 5000 with no problem, been twice cross country.
What is nice about it all I need is a 10' power cord to go from gen to back of 5th/w.

The first time that we used the gen was in the back of the pick up it was not easy in an out of the truck had to use a 35' cord to reach the back of the 5th/w. Get a carrier you will love.
motoadvrider
Explorer
Mar 09, 2017
New Mexico only has a rear lic plate so that is not an issue.
I have decided against the pin box idea. The reason I cannot put the generator in the bed is I have a rollup bed cover that takes up 1 foot of the front part of the bed. Generator is too tall to put in the back of the bed.
Bipeflier
Explorer
Mar 09, 2017
fulltime5er wrote:
Doesn't this cover the license plate? Missouri only issues 1 plate, and it goes on the front. Just wo9ndering about problems with LEOs with something mounted up there.

Info on ETrailer shows with some hitches you have to trim a hole through the front air dam and relocate the license plate lower or to one side. I believe it is a Curt hitch that sits below the dam but it looks to me like it is less than a foot off the ground. Too low for my tastes.
captnjack
Explorer
Mar 09, 2017
Not sure about issues with obstruction of lights or license plate. Seems to me a very unlikely summons to receive. Something being a violation is not the same as actually getting written up for a violation. But never say never I guess. I'm sure someone will chime in with a story about their brother in law's cousin's ex boyfriend's son who got a ticket for this 30 years ago.
Airflow likely depends on particular vehicle and cargo. I suspect it is not often a problem.
I carried bicycles up front (six weeks and 9000 miles) with only one problem. That was glare from the bike rims off of headlights. It got real annoying after a while. But I never drove at night by design. Had a mechanical problem that cost me time so I did one night drive to get caught up.
Definitely need to secure things up front.
fulltime5er
Explorer
Mar 09, 2017
Doesn't this cover the license plate? Missouri only issues 1 plate, and it goes on the front. Just wo9ndering about problems with LEOs with something mounted up there.
Crodad
Explorer
Mar 09, 2017
Bought my front hitch from Etrailer.com

I haul my bikes on it and I have no problems with vision or airflow.
topjimmy
Explorer
Mar 08, 2017
I have been carried my 220lb Scooter on my front Draw-Tite hitch for 6 years of fulltiming now and never a problem with over heating or blocking lights etc..and what is cool about the front hitch is you can see it and it is rock solid AND it installs in about 45 min all bolt on :B
mx727
Explorer
Mar 08, 2017
I put one on my 2007 Ford. If you get the right one, you won't lose your fog lights. Of course, you are on a 2012, so it will be different. Not a bad idea and I say go for it. Post up your results.
motoadvrider
Explorer
Mar 08, 2017
laknox wrote:
There are more than a few guys who have made a pin box mount for their generator...

Lyle

Where could I find info on a pin box mount?
crosscheck
Explorer II
Mar 08, 2017
All I could afford wrote:
I'm considering a front mount reciever for my 2006 Ford E350 van to mount my bike rack. For those of you who have done this, how much does this affect headlight operation? I realize it will depend on these shape and size of the bikes, but looking for some general guidance before I invest this summer.

It does affect your headlights. It all depends on size of bikes, where they are situated, how many. If you travel in the daylight, no problem.

Dave