generator on rear bumper cargo rack

[kwise_6]

I'm getting tired of hauling my cumbersome 3,000 watt generator in and out of the bed of my truck when dry camping. The other day on the road I passed a travel trailer with a generator mounted on a cargo rack which, in turn, was mounted to the rear bumper of the trailer. I thought that was a great idea for dry camping, assuming it could just be left in place on the cargo rack while running to provide electricity for the AC, etc. But then I got to wondering how much vibration is felt throughout the TT while the generator is running. (My 3,000 watt generator is a Champion which runs virtually about as quietly and smoothly as my previous 2,000 watt Honda.) I'm just wondering if anyone else has a set-up like this and how they like it.

[johndeerefarmer]

I built a rack for the back of my GD Reflection 29rs fiver. It slide into double receiver tubes. It was the very quiet Yamaha 4500ise. The problem wasn't the noise but the vibration. The generator vibrated the entire floor. It would have been ok if you needed to pull off the side of the road to cook a meal but I could not stand it very long. Up front in the bedroom it was better but still felt vibration. I had a thick rubber pad under it which didn't seem to help either. If I decide to keep the fiver I will install a small crane so I can set the genset on the ground at the campsite.

[nadkaw1957]

On a previous trailer, I had a rack fabricated and welded to the frame to carry my Yamaha 3000. The first weekend out, I fired it up and the vibration throughout the trailer was horrendous. It created a loud hum that could not be ignored. I tried every conceivable vibration damper between the generator and the rack, but nothing worked. Back in the truck bed it went... I don't recommend it.

[JESTER7406]

I built a rack over my batteries on the tongue. I had to schooch the propane tanks forward a couple inches, but am able to get the genset up there.

I also reworked the wheels on the genset to be narrower by 3".

I get it up and down by a ramp so I do t have to lift.

As far as vibrations, Its not that bad. If I'm set up for a few days and running a lot its easy enough to pull down.

[pira114]

I used to have my gen on the rear of my trailer. In a hitch receiver cargo tray. Used a hitch lock and u bolts to secure it. Zero issues. It was a Coleman 3500 construction type. Loud. I did hear it inside,but not enough to bother me. Same with vibration

Only issue is if I tried to nap in the bedroom (rear bed layout). That was loud enough to bother me. Otherwise, it was fine. A newer quieter o e should be even better.

[Huntindog]

On my first TT I did just what you are thinking of. The inverter generators were not around then. The quietest one was a Honda EX3300S. It weighed 440# empty. With a full gas tank it was close to 500#. That old 75 prowler had a pretty stout frame, so I custom fabricated a frame extension for it. Many hours of welding was involved. I also fabricated a frame with sheet metal louvered panels to lock it and disguise it. Just a casual looker would not realize a Honda was sitting under it. All this added up to a lot of weight. I compensated by moving the spare tire to the front with a custom under the TT between the frame rails mount. and then loaded it heavy on the front. It towed fine. I wired the electric start so that I could control it from inside the TT. Vibration and exhaust were not a problem. It worked really well for several years, and was a key feature that that sold it quickly and for top dollar when it was time for me to move onto my next TT.
That was a 2001 Fleetwood Wilderness. I custom mounted an Onan 4.0 Microquiet under the floor between the frame rails just in front of the axles on that TT. It had a custom stainless steel 26 gallon gas tank mounted under the floor as well. That was an even better setup, that eliminated the TW issue the first TT had. It was wired with an ATF just like a MH. IIRC,
I had over 2600 hours on it when I sold it.That TT sold in minutes with two more buyers waiting with backup offers. I got really good money for it.

Now having said all of that. These were fun projects for me...
But if I had to pay someone to do them, the cost would have been sky high.
And you CAN NOT just mount it to the bumper. It isn't even close to being strong enough.

[RSD559]

These have been tested for 400 lbs capacity on the rear bumper.
Bumper Struts
My bumper is heavier duty than my other trailers, and it's welded pretty well. So I added these to it and now I use to tote my sewer tote.

[hbillsmith]

Check this out. Geardeck17 rear carry for generator on RV

I had a weld shop fabricate a receiver hitch on my 24' TT and carried my Champion 3100 in it. When I needed to run it, I propped the lid open and ran it in the box. Could barely hear inside trailer.

[DesertTracker]

I mounted a Champion open frame 3500 on the back of my Pioneer 18' and did feel the generator when running, but it was not enough to bother me, but I usually run the generator for short periods only; DW hair dryer, microwave leftovers, A/C for dog during food stops, etc. For that setup, I had stringers welded to the frame and used the bumper as a balance point for the platform. I cut the bottom out of a metal truck box with a locking lid, and bolted the box over the genny from the inside with the gen sitting on a section of truck bed mat. I then mounted drop down hinged doors covering ventilation holes with computer fans and ran the exhaust through the wall. I wired the genny to the breaker box and used a breaker to switch between shore or gen power. I could close the lid to the box and it was pretty quiet. 6 years and close to 13k towing miles with no problems. I had no rear window and never had an issue with fumes.
I now have the Stromberg tongue mount with a Champion 3100 invertor over the propane tanks on my current trailer. I have it bolted to the carrier and have been to campgrounds notorious for thefts (Emma Wood in Ventura for example) and have had no problems...but its yellow so no one wants it anyway. I'm still gathering parts to wire in with the transfer switch, so for now I plug in when needed. No front window on this trailer so no fumes in this case either.
Either setup worked for me with no bad effects on tongue weight.

[drmopar]

I would think that if you have a support custom made for the rear, to make more like a box to prevent theft. The noise, vibration, and exhaust coming in will be the problem. Same thing for the front location. Another poster asked why take it out of the truck bed. If for some reason you had to remove it, spend less than a custom built box and buy a bed mounted lift crane. About $75.00. They can lay flat when not in use. I don't think your generator weighs that much, so it would be an easy task. In addition, you could lock the hoist cable to the generator. It eliminates any weight changing issues, the design and cost to build something strong, and the issue of the vibration, noise, and don't forget about that exhaust. From a safety point of view, I would not want a gasoline tank as a fire hazard next to my trailer. Happy Camping.

[GrandpaKip]

I frame mounted a cargo rack and love it. I have not run a genset on it but would guess that, yes, you would feel it in the camper. Some people would be ok with that; it would drive me crazy.
By the way, I added about 100 pounds to the rear which translated to less than 25 pounds removal of tongue weight. For me, not a big deal.

[corvettekent]

Why do you remove it from the truck? I have seen a few running in the bed of the truck with a heavy extension cord to the trailer.

[kwise_6]

fdhealy4 wrote:

ScottG wrote:
If I were going to fab up a mount for that gen, I would put it over the propane tanks.
Much safer and add's weight to the front rather than the back.

Here's a link to the rack over the propane tanks -https://www.amazon.com/Stromberg-Carlson-CC-255-Trailer-Tray/dp/B00U8AXRPW/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&...

Thanks...

[DC8Captain]

ScottG wrote:
If I were going to fab up a mount for that gen, I would put it over the propane tanks.
Much safer and add's weight to the front rather than the back.

Here's a link to the rack over the propane tanks -https://www.amazon.com/Stromberg-Carlson-CC-255-Trailer-Tray/dp/B00U8AXRPW/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&...

[TUCQUALA]

Curt, and others, make hitch receivers for trailers and 5ths. Both bolt-on and weld-on that attach between the rv frame and don't affect the rear tube bumper. Better idea than just adding a 2" box on the bumper, puts load on the frame not the bumper. As to tongue weight, your "nobody wants to steal" Champion wouldn't be a terrible amount (90# approx), and you can easily load trailer to balance if necc.