Hauling a Honda 3000

[zulu52]

I believe it is Kayteg that hauls his Honda 3000 on a cargo carrier mounted to the front of his truck.
I have wanted to do that for a while. Without pulling a trailer, I have no place to put the generator and sometimes you don't want to pull a trailer.

I bought a front hitch mount from Etrailer. It came right away.
I watched the installation video on their website and installed mine. I did need help lifting it into place but it could probably be done with just one person.

Here is the video on this page.

https://www.etrailer.com/Front-Receiver-Hitch/Draw-Tite/65078.html

Here are some pictures.

Kayteg, how did you secure your 3000 to the carrier? Did you do anything to help deter theft?
Zulu

[BurbMan]

Kayteg that's a nice set up! I'm a big fan of KISS designs and agree that you're anti-theft is probably more effective than a lock. Buzzcut, TL sent me one of those as a free "marketing evaluation". Was so heavy I could barely lift it, and wouldn't enable me to fit a cover on my Honda 2k.

FYI on other front hitch installs, I used a floor jack to lift mine into place and it went very smoothly.

[theoldwizard1]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Not really secure, but potential theft would have to spend some time figuring out the setup and getting 10 mm socket on extension.
Not only generator holding bolts are not visible, but close to the ground, so you can't stick your head under. The only key lock is on platform pin.

That should slow them down a lot !

Kayteg1 wrote:
As for cooling - my 2017 Ford displays digital thermometer when engine temperature goes over 215F.
Coming from 124F in Death Valley with 6300 lb camper, I was really pushing the gas pedal going 55 mph over the mountain pass. The temperature come up to 225F and dropped very fast once I come to flatter road.

That is starting to get a bit warm, but modern cooling systems use higher pressure than they used to (about 21 psi instead of about 14 psi). This gives you a higher margin before you coolant actually starts to boil (about 270F) .

[Lwiddis]

Not only theft but exposed to the weather...all the weather. A last choice position.

[Kayteg1]

I had lot of questions about that mount and this is a sketch I did
Not really secure, but potential theft would have to spend some time figuring out the setup and getting 10 mm socket on extension.
Not only generator holding bolts are not visible, but close to the ground, so you can't stick your head under. The only key lock is on platform pin.
The vibration bushings I found at Lowe's.
As for cooling - my 2017 Ford displays digital thermometer when engine temperature goes over 215F.
Coming from 124F in Death Valley with 6300 lb camper, I was really pushing the gas pedal going 55 mph over the mountain pass. The temperature come up to 225F and dropped very fast once I come to flatter road.
Did well over 20,000 miles with generator on front, although the 8000 miles to Alaska it was just dead weight.


Click For Full-Size Image.

[theoldwizard1]

Very nice installation. And very convenient !
There are some downsides to mounting your generator out front like that.

• That loaction is going to block a lot of air flow to your radiator, transmission cooler and A/C condenser. Keep an eye on your coolant temperature especially in hot weather.
  
• That convenient location is advertisement for thieves. "Out of sight, out of mind" applies to thieves also !
  
• It also allows easy access for a thief. Padlocks and chains only slow them down and with giant bolt cutter and battery operated grinders, that does not slow them down a lot.
  
• Even though that is a very "beefy" hitch, I would be a bit nervous about it hold up 150+ lbs, bouncing up and down for long periods of time. Front hitches are not designed to carry a load for long periods of time. Compare it to a Class III hitch you would mount in the rear. Those have a lot more metal.
  

[Buzzcut1]

its expensive but secure. I have the model that fits the Honda 2000/2200

https://tweetys.com/torklift-a7752-lock-and-load-trailer-hitch-cargo-carrier-24-long-x-27-3-4-wide.a...