Permenant Genset Instal

[rowekmr]

Has anyone installed a permanent genset on their travel trailer? I was thinking of this and thought the main issues would be fabricating a mount for the generator itself then the tank and associated wiring. I have been using a Champion generator for years (loud) but after renting a few MH's love the pushbutton electric start option and fully integrated power supply.

[Passin_Thru]

Needs to be put in a box, designed for cooling a generator with Lord mounts to dampen vibration. I had a 5K mounted on a Peterbilt frame and it was quiet and you could'nt feel it. Ran a 800 W water heater, 1500 watt ceramic heater in cab and a coffee pot in the morning. Cummins Onan built the box.

[BurbMan]

That's where I'm at....I have a Honda 2000 mounted on the back of the TT and the vibration is pretty annoying. I am in the process of replacing that rack with a truck box set up so I can store the gen out of the weather and then put it on the ground to run.

[rgolding]

We installed 2 Honda 2000's on the tongue of our 181ck Starcraft and couldn't handle the vibration. I wrapped the shelves on the tongue with rubber foam and it still was there. Finally settled on using the racks to carry them, but put them on the ground to run them. It worked well. Two trailer since then and carry the generators in the covered bed of the pickup, since that first trailer.
Put away, secure, and out of sight.

[BurbMan]

the4quads wrote:
Hello. I did a install on my 2004 Keystone. I used a Cummins Microquiet 3600LP. The main issue was the fireproof box that I had to make up for a safe install. I also installed a automatic transfer switch and the factory remote start panel. I have some pictures of the install if you want and could offer some advice.
The deciding factor was the size of my pass-thru compartment is large enough to fit it. I have to figure out how to post some pictures.

Yes, pictures please!!

[gmw_photos]

When I was camped at BalloonFiesta last year, the lady parked next to me had her Honda genset in the bed of her pickup, and just plugged the normal trailer umbilical cord into it. She had remote start from inside the trailer. That Honda sitting in the bed of the truck was so quiet, even sitting outside fairly close you could barely hear it.
Having it in the truck pretty much solved the NVH issue.

[the4quads]

I guess the easiest way is for me to email them to you from my computer. My email is- the4quads@aol.com . I have my camper for sale but I took a lot of photos of the project. It came out really nice but I'm looking buying a smaller motorhome.

[the4quads]

Hello. I did a install on my 2004 Keystone. I used a Cummins Microquiet 3600LP. The main issue was the fireproof box that I had to make up for a safe install. I also installed a automatic transfer switch and the factory remote start panel. I have some pictures of the install if you want and could offer some advice.
The deciding factor was the size of my pass-thru compartment is large enough to fit it. I have to figure out how to post some pictures.

[Dtaylor]

wrenchbender wrote:
It was placed on a tray and the tray had very heavy duty tracks to enable it to slide in or out.This eliminated the need for cooling fan and by having the unit away from the TT a tad quieter.It was out of site when not in use.

This is how we had them mounted on our fire trucks. The were all regular Honda generators much like the champion pictured above

[Lantley]

It can be done
I had a 4300is Subaru Inverter genset installed on my last TT.
The setup was simply awesome. It worked like a champ. Genset was secure and out of the weather. Genbox is air cooled with built in fans.
I had full 30 amp power just like being plugged into the pedestal. THe genset is 4300 watts not 300 watts
The platform was custom built and welded to the frame.
Like the OP I towed my combo with an Excursion I also had a 31BHDS TT

[marcsbigfoot20b]

My Bigfoot came with an Onan 2500 microlite LP.
Great thing about LP gens are they don't gum up if it isn't used for a few years.
Too bad they don't all come with gens.

[wrenchbender]

About 7yrs ago I helped a friend install a 3k Honda in a TT.It was placed on a tray and the tray had very heavy duty tracks to enable it to slide in or out.This eliminated the need for cooling fan and by having the unit away from the TT a tad quieter.It was out of site when not in use.It ran on propane.

[beemerphile1]

We had an Onan Microquiet LPG fueled 3,600 watt installed. One consideration is our TH had a generator compartment from the factory. Many TT may not have a compartment that can be converted. It should be insulated and completely sealed from the interior of the trailer.

[wmoses]

One of my biggest considerations for not installing a generator on board a TT, especially a lightweight one, is NVH - especially the vibration. No matter how soft mounted it is, there will be vibration transmitted thought the frame of he trailer and I don't think I'd like that. Better to have it not mounted on the RV as the NVH would be cut down dramatically. I know that is not what the OP asked about, but I thought that it could be worth mentioning the vibration issue.

I am leaning towards the greener solution as Roy suggested. In the hotter months when AC is a must, I'd just as soon camp in an electrified campsite.

[RoyB]

Everyone wants to have a generator to run their whole trailer experience...



You would actually need at least a 4000WATT generator and probably would be better to get one in the 5000-6OO0 WATT range to cover all needs.

You would want to pick up one of these RV STYLE generator packages..


Then you would need to find a place to install it. Placing it on the trailer tongue or inside one of your precious storage compartments are about your only choices. Adding lots of weight to the trailer tongue has other problems to overcome... Also anything you mount outside is more prone to thief...


I would think behind the rear wheel of the trailer inside a storage door would be best to install something heavy.








Doing this would also be a hugh problem of cutting the floor out of the storage area and modifying things for good drainage and exhaust system along with wiring and fuel requirements...

After thinking about all of this to overcome it might be better to just beef up your trailer with smart mode charging, LED lights, other power savings techniques, and add more batteries to run inverters for 120VAC items and direct connected to 12VDC items. Plan the system to be able to run every 120VAC item and 12VDC item you want to run in one day/night run off the batteries. Then recharge your battery bank once a day starting at 8AM each morning when allowed to run a generator from the truck bed and be able to re-charge your battery bank back up to is 90% charge state so you can do all of this all over again for the next day/night run off the battery. You can also add solar panels to recharge your batteries during high sun days...

This is what we did haha... Of course it does not allow you to use your air conditioner or high power microwave but everything else works just fine...

All of this submitted for food for thought only..
All photos from google search...

Roy Ken