Born Free Leap'n Lions RV Club Info & Discussion Forum

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..

And with this.

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

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.

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:

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.

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.
I will crawl under BF and check things out.

Can you mount it on the front with your Curt bracket?

Yes Bill, I have a receiver hitch on the front.

Don't forget to lock it up. Generator to the hitch and the hitch to the frame.

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

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

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

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