Running Honda 2000 in 7x14 cargo trailer

[towpro]

I put my Honda 2000 inside my 7x14 cargo trailer, ran an exhaust tube up and out the roof. Now the noise is louder than just sitting the generator on the ground. I think the 1/2" plywood floor is vibrating (even though the honda has rubber feet, and its sitting on 1/2" rubber mat) and that vibration is making the side walls vibrate. I even disconnected the exhaust to make sure that was not the cause of the vibration.

Using my cell phone and an sound app, I see 76dB outside the trailer on the side that is closest to generator.

Oh well, back to the drawing board tomorrow. Maybe put down some 3/4" plywood, enough to span 2 frame cross-members on the floor and try that.

but the 30A RV outlet box on front of the cargo trailer works out great :).

[mkirsch]

I camp with a group that enjoys a good practical joke, but stealing your generator and using it for the weekend? I'd find different friends.

Since you are not occupying the trailer while the generator is running, and the doors are open, I see absolutely nothing wrong with what you are doing.

[kohldad]

Sounds like you have the basis covered now that you have the noise taken care of with the 2x4s. Glad it was a simple fix.

[towpro]

The problem was the floor was transmitting the vibration into the walls. I solved that problem by screwing 2 2x4's down to floor and sitting generator on top. Exhaust is as follows. Honda opening is like 3/8", and I have a weld on adapter that allows me to slide 1" ID flex pipe on it. Flex pipe is 10" and goes down through an isolated fitting through the floor I build. temps seem to run max 145 on the pass through junction. Generator ran several hours today running my Coleman Mach 8 on and off (its in the 90's here in SE PA).

trailer temps inside with doors closed and fan sucking fresh air in through roof went up about 5 deg over outside temps.

PS: its not "where" I am camping, its the group I camp with once per year. they tend to want to play jokes that they think are funny on everyone. Take something and return it at end of weekend, show up when your not around and eat your food, etc. I just lock everything behind me and put up with there ****.

Now for over the road use, inside the trailer works great for me. its not exposed to water, when I need it just open door and start motor, and plug camper into 30A box on front of trailer. I could even use it while moving if I wanted. I also have a 3 gallon extended run boat tank hooked up.

Most times I only use the generator for AC and microwave. the solar covers everything else. in fact while on the road where i would use the generator I turn off all the AC breakers accept the AC breaker. Even though I am running the generator, I still run the AC outlets off the invertor. it stops the satellite receiver from rebooting everything the AC starts if I have the generator in eco mode.

[Kayteg1]

With outside exhaust only overheating is potential issue.
I think 2000 has overheating switch, but you will get annoyed going there every few minutes to reset.
Build-in generators have cooling blowers with suction on the side, where the door has louvers and air blowing out under the RV.
Honda 2000 is not design for such flow and question is how good is the trailer air circulation.

[jimh406]

Most generator compartments are going to be isolated from the rest of the trailer. I'd think about that and make yourself a bench and add a vents on the outside.

[Home_Skillet]

Putting the generator inside the trailer will kill you, eventually.

[Aquanut]

RoyB wrote:
My best spot for my 2KW Honda EU2000i generator turned out to be secured with a lock cable in the tailgate corner of my locked and covered truck bed.


Roy's Image

Excuse my loaded truck bed as this photo was taken we just arrived at a camp site up at LOFT MTN in VA...

When I need to use the generator I just pull it out onto the tailgate and point the exhaust away from everything..

When my truck bed is somewhat empty i can also close the front bed cover panel and close the the tailgate and prop open the rear folding bed cover panel... You can barely hear the generator running doing this... The dropped tailgate and the folding bed cover panels makes for a great weather protected spot when running in the rain...

This has been the best place I have found and my generator is always ready to use where-ever I end up going. The Shore Power Cable of the trailer just reaches the generator 120VAC receptacle here..

It solves my problem of having my generator out-of-sight when not in use and is not all that loud where it sits... Been doing this since the early 2009s...

I like the idea that my generator goes where I go and not left unattended at a camp site...

I use my generator at least a couple of times a week having it on the tail gate. Always someone somewhere needing a power boost...

Roy Ken

Where do you put the truck camper?

[palmwhit]

If you're that worried about someone ripping off your generator you should really consider camping elsewhere! IMO That said, I too have been places where that type of activity has been reported. I use a stout cable lock and then either put inside truck at night or locked tight close to the back side of the camper with a boobie alarm.
Running it inside of your trailer just doesn't sound like a good idea in-spite of venting exhaust. Sucks that people steal.

[RoyB]

My best spot for my 2KW Honda EU2000i generator turned out to be secured with a lock cable in the tailgate corner of my locked and covered truck bed.


Roy's Image

Excuse my loaded truck bed as this photo was taken we just arrived at a camp site up at LOFT MTN in VA...

When I need to use the generator I just pull it out onto the tailgate and point the exhaust away from everything..

When my truck bed is somewhat empty i can also close the front bed cover panel and close the the tailgate and prop open the rear folding bed cover panel... You can barely hear the generator running doing this... The dropped tailgate and the folding bed cover panels makes for a great weather protected spot when running in the rain...

This has been the best place I have found and my generator is always ready to use where-ever I end up going. The Shore Power Cable of the trailer just reaches the generator 120VAC receptacle here..

It solves my problem of having my generator out-of-sight when not in use and is not all that loud where it sits... Been doing this since the early 2009s...

I like the idea that my generator goes where I go and not left unattended at a camp site...

I use my generator at least a couple of times a week having it on the tail gate. Always someone somewhere needing a power boost...

Roy Ken

[kohldad]

Hopefully you increased the size of the exhaust pipe so you didn't increase the back pressure on the engine. The additional back pressure will cause the engine to work harder and not run as efficiently.

As mentioned the trailer will act like an echo chamber amplifying the noise. You could try making a foam box that reduces the exposed sides of generator without preventing the necessary airflow for cooling.

I mounted a Yamaha 2800 in the front compartment of my FW after lining the box with foam board covered with sheet metal for fire protection and then extended then exhaust to the side with twice the size exhaust pipe. It was much quieter than just sitting. I did have to put in four 5-1/4" 100 CFM fans to draw air out of the compartment to make sure it didn't get hot. Worked like a charm and was able to run it for 8 hours one day in 100* temps with the compartment showing only a 5* rise over outside air.

[Vinsil]

Why? What is your goal? Theft prevention?

If so, this is a better solution.

http://lowprolockdown.com/

[romore]

It is going to be loud inside the trailer, you have a big echo chamber. Be careful running it with the door closed, it will likely overheat.