What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hitch?

Post your general and technical information, questions or responses in this forum. Viewing messages is open to all with no registration or log-in required. Prior to posting a new message or a response to an existing message, registration or login is required. Please do not post FOR SALE or WANTED ads in this section!

Moderator: bfadmin

Post Reply
User avatar
stevek
Posts: 1184
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:33 pm

What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hitch?

Post by stevek »

My Born Free did not come with a generator. I have been looking at the Honda EU3000is.
It weighs 130 pounds dry. Too heavy for my rear hitch? Bad idea? Will it look odd?
$1700 on sale. Electric start.
Any comments, suggestions, ideas? It is very very quiet, which what I like. 49-58 dBa.
Thanks..
Attachments
Screen Shot 2018-12-09 at 12.02.18 PM.png
Screen Shot 2018-12-09 at 12.02.18 PM.png (192.47 KiB) Viewed 8150 times
Steve
2011 Born Free 22 foot RSK, rear side (corner) kitchen, E350, 29k miles.
Our first motorhome. Lots to learn. Thanks.
CA/OR border
User avatar
stevek
Posts: 1184
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:33 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by stevek »

And with this.
Attachments
Screen Shot 2018-12-09 at 12.15.53 PM.png
Screen Shot 2018-12-09 at 12.15.53 PM.png (140.94 KiB) Viewed 8145 times
Steve
2011 Born Free 22 foot RSK, rear side (corner) kitchen, E350, 29k miles.
Our first motorhome. Lots to learn. Thanks.
CA/OR border
bigdipper
Posts: 353
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 3:13 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by bigdipper »

Steve,
Weigh loaded, both axels. Then do the arithmetic wirh added weight at rear. I'd expect it will not look good for a likely already light front and possible near capacity rear.
Ralph
Ralph
2011 24RB
Former 2001 23RK
User avatar
whemme
Posts: 2110
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2005 8:05 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by whemme »

My work since his coach is only 22 ft long. Would probably be problem on a 26 ft long coach due to long overhang in the rear. What chassis are you on? If it is a Ford E350, the rear axle is limited to a max weight of 8500 lbs. The Honda generator with fuel and the mounting bracket will probably weigh around 175 lbs. With the multiplication effect of the rear overhang, I would estimate that this would add approximately 250 lbs to the rear axle and reduce the weight on the front axle by 75 lbs,

A separate question is whether the rear hitch on the Born Free can handle the 175 lbs of vertical weight.
Bill Hemme - Spencer, Iowa
E-mail: whemme@earthlink.net
2002 Born Free (Ford E-450 V10) 26' RSB
2016 VW Golf GTI - toad
tomzleapin
Posts: 485
Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2010 9:15 am

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by tomzleapin »

Until recently I carried my 250cc Kawasaki motorcycle on a ramp. It weighs 300 lbs dry. The weight of the bike plus ramp would be about 375 lbs. This worked well for six years and about 60,000 miles. As Bill noted, tongue weight may be an issue. Even though mine is rated for 500 lbs. I didn't trust how the bumper framework was attached to the truck frame so I beefed it up:

Image

Image

Image
Tom
2005 24' RB
Towing 2016 Mini Cooper convertible on tow dolly
New Hope, MN
randallrae
Posts: 365
Joined: Wed May 22, 2013 7:30 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by randallrae »

Steve I think because you have a newer coach that your frame may use Ford approved aftermarket frame extensions .Look under the rear of your coach and see if it looks different than Toms.
2012 25' rb
User avatar
stevek
Posts: 1184
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:33 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by stevek »

Thanks everybody. As always, GREAT comments and ideas. I will be on the road/ Born Free, the month of Jan 2019. Will get my BF weighed. Guess just front axle and back axle? right or wrong??? Suggestions?
Also it is a 350 series Ford. Not 450. Thanks again. Happy Holidays. :D
I will crawl under BF and check things out.
Steve
2011 Born Free 22 foot RSK, rear side (corner) kitchen, E350, 29k miles.
Our first motorhome. Lots to learn. Thanks.
CA/OR border
User avatar
bcope01
Posts: 1290
Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:55 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by bcope01 »

Can you mount it on the front with your Curt bracket?
Barb & Bill
2004 Born Free 22' Built for Two (Sold)
no longer towing a 2008 Smart ForTwo

Escondido, CA
User avatar
stevek
Posts: 1184
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:33 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by stevek »

Yes Bill, I have a receiver hitch on the front.
Steve
2011 Born Free 22 foot RSK, rear side (corner) kitchen, E350, 29k miles.
Our first motorhome. Lots to learn. Thanks.
CA/OR border
User avatar
Mike Jean Bandfield
Posts: 513
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 3:43 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by Mike Jean Bandfield »

Don't forget to lock it up. Generator to the hitch and the hitch to the frame.
Mike & Jean
2005 26' RSS Diesel
oliverpsmile
Posts: 271
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:46 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by oliverpsmile »

Do you really have electrical load to justify 3000 watts generator, unless you insist for on microwave cooked dinner? A small unit would charge your battery for noiseless sleep and will be able to make morning coffee. The electrical start is very attractive, but I bet smaller generators could have one.

Former 2005 26 ft RSB
Oliver P Smile
2005 26ft RSB
User avatar
stevek
Posts: 1184
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:33 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by stevek »

Its rated at 2800 running watts.
I wanted something that would run my 13.5 AC
It also holds 3.4 gal of gas. thanks
Steve
2011 Born Free 22 foot RSK, rear side (corner) kitchen, E350, 29k miles.
Our first motorhome. Lots to learn. Thanks.
CA/OR border
Gretchen
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2022 6:33 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hit

Post by Gretchen »

stevek wrote: Sun Dec 09, 2018 3:17 pmAnd with this.
Did you end up using this? Where did you curt plate? We are having same challenge now. Want Gen that can run AC and weighs same as this Honda. 2000 24rb e450
User avatar
stevek
Posts: 1184
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:33 pm

Re: What you think of me putting heavy Generator on rear hitch?

Post by stevek »

No I did not make any mods. Still using my old and noisy Yamaha 2800i to run my 13.5 AC.
Honda does have a new generator: EU3200i. $2600, 58 pounds, 54-58dB.
Search the Web, and you will find people using the Honda EU2200i ($1200) and the SoftStartRV modification ($319)
to run the 13.5 AC.
Good Luck
Steve
2011 Born Free 22 foot RSK, rear side (corner) kitchen, E350, 29k miles.
Our first motorhome. Lots to learn. Thanks.
CA/OR border
Post Reply

Return to “General and Technical Information, Questions, and Responses”