Posted: 8/1/2024 5:19:19 PM EDT
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I've got a 3500w Predator genny and I'd like some some recommendations for an rv bumper or 2" hitch mounted rack solutions. The trailer is a E Pro E15TB. My truck is a 2023 Offroad Tacoma so I'd rather pull weight than load my bed up. Thanks!! |
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That generator is all of 100 lbs. more if you count spare gas. With a Taco, I understand you not wanting to use truck payload up. I am not familiar with your camper. Does it have a rear rack or is it rated for any number weight? If so, you might be GTG on mounting it there. My grey wolf TT has a rack rated for 200lbs. I have put that same generator on the rack with no problems. I will add though that things mounted to the rear of the camper tend to get shook around pretty good enroute, so tie it down very well |
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Ok, so I looked your TT up. That is a cool little camper!! I pulled up the brochure and the website. It lists that there is a 2" receiver hitch on the rear, but no where could I find its capacity. There is no bumper in any picture I found, so a hitch would have to be frame mounted. I believe most mounted receiver hitches I've read about are rated for at least 2-300 lbs tongue weight, yours "may" be able to handle a rack to mount it on. Because I don't know the specs, I can't advise very well. I don't want you to lose a generator or hurt someone when it falls off the back |
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There is a 2" receiver mounted. Most racks are rated to 300 lbs or more. The bumper is 4" square tubular steel and that is a quanity of weight overhung on the bumper. It might be more weight distributive to have a bumper mount. But yes, the genny falling off or hitting a pothole and at best losing an $800 genny would suck. It is a cool little camper and my truck pulls it just fine, no floaty feeling in the front end. I love that everything short of AC is 12v including hot water tank and fridge. With 200w panel and 2 batteries, I'm pretty set for backcountry but the ac needs a genny. |
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Poster above is spot on. Racks in receiver hitches do tend to be floppy. Couple that with a short, single axle trailer and it could make for a lot of bounce on that generator mounted there(tandem axle trailers deal with bumps better). Bounce and leverage of a large, heavy object can weaken the hitch or bumper tube it's mounted on. My guess is that there is potential for failure. I'm not saying I would or wouldn't do it, but if so, proceed with caution after verifying the weight capacity of the hitch. Do you have a rear view camera that you can try it and monitor how much it bounces. For reference, I've seen bike racks mounted on the back of trailers that look like they would be shaken to pieces by the time they get to their destination. I'm sure they made it, and I haven't seen many bikes destroyed on the side of the interstate, so YMMV. As another possibility, try stuffing more stuff that would be loaded into the truck bed into the trailer and use the bed for the generator. You will need a few jerry cans of gas for an extended trip anyway |
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I'm camping this weekend so I had it out front. The receiver is welded to 3" sq tube and I'm guessing 1/4" wall. That is welded to the frame. There is also a sticker saying 300# capacity. Attached File I think I'm good with a 100# genny. To be safe though I may see if I can use a bike lock cable and secure the genny in case it would separate. Thanks for the input! |
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That does look pretty sturdy. 300 lbs is as good as you’ll get. When you put the rack in your hitch, use one of these to take the slop out De-rattle Your idea about cabling it is good. Be sure to strap it down really good, too Enjoy |
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Originally Posted By lizARdman15: That does look pretty sturdy. 300 lbs is as good as you’ll get. When you put the rack in your hitch, use one of these to take the slop out De-rattle Your idea about cabling it is good. Be sure to strap it down really good, too Enjoy That is a good idea! Thank you. |
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I've been hauling my generator on the rear bumper for a few years, and haven't had any problems so far. I use a 300# rated rack, and my generator is just over 100 pounds. I use a bolt to stabilize the rack, it threads in to the bottom of my receiver tube and keeps the rack pretty steady. I also use 4 ratcheting tie-downs to hold it in place. I monitor it with the rear camera on my trailer to make sure I'm not gonna lose it!! |
I'm not bald, I'm follically challenged!!
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Originally Posted By kevhogAZ: I've been hauling my generator on the rear bumper for a few years, and haven't had any problems so far. I use a 300# rated rack, and my generator is just over 100 pounds. I use a bolt to stabilize the rack, it threads in to the bottom of my receiver tube and keeps the rack pretty steady. I also use 4 ratcheting tie-downs to hold it in place. I monitor it with the rear camera on my trailer to make sure I'm not gonna lose it!! After having a bumper fall down and almost completely off, and drag on the road for about 100 yards before I got pulled over, I'm incredibly hesitant to put any weight on it. It was rated for 150 or 200lbs if memory serves, and only had a spare tire, lightweight RV gas grill, a propane tank, and a plastic dump tank mounted. Total weight was around 100lbs. I've since repaired and reinforced it with a SafetyStruts set of brackets that give me much more capacity than stock, but I've never put anything back there again beyond the spare tire and grill. They probably count the bumper as part of that weight! Short of a receiver hitch rated for towing, I don't think I would put anything I cared about on a hitch rack back there. |
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Originally Posted By Cpn_Ron: After having a bumper fall down and almost completely off, and drag on the road for about 100 yards before I got pulled over, I'm incredibly hesitant to put any weight on it. It was rated for 150 or 200lbs if memory serves, and only had a spare tire, lightweight RV gas grill, a propane tank, and a plastic dump tank mounted. Total weight was around 100lbs. I've since repaired and reinforced it with a SafetyStruts set of brackets that give me much more capacity than stock, but I've never put anything back there again beyond the spare tire and grill. They probably count the bumper as part of that weight! Short of a receiver hitch rated for towing, I don't think I would put anything I cared about on a hitch rack back there. I've got couple thousand miles on it, and so far not one problem. I did offset the mount closer to the right side of the trailer, so it's not putting all the twisting right in the middle. This setup only has to make it another year or so until I get a toy hauler. |
I'm not bald, I'm follically challenged!!
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Originally Posted By kevhogAZ: I've got couple thousand miles on it, and so far not one problem. I did offset the mount closer to the right side of the trailer, so it's not putting all the twisting right in the middle. This setup only has to make it another year or so until I get a toy hauler. Originally Posted By kevhogAZ: Originally Posted By Cpn_Ron: After having a bumper fall down and almost completely off, and drag on the road for about 100 yards before I got pulled over, I'm incredibly hesitant to put any weight on it. It was rated for 150 or 200lbs if memory serves, and only had a spare tire, lightweight RV gas grill, a propane tank, and a plastic dump tank mounted. Total weight was around 100lbs. I've since repaired and reinforced it with a SafetyStruts set of brackets that give me much more capacity than stock, but I've never put anything back there again beyond the spare tire and grill. They probably count the bumper as part of that weight! Short of a receiver hitch rated for towing, I don't think I would put anything I cared about on a hitch rack back there. I've got couple thousand miles on it, and so far not one problem. I did offset the mount closer to the right side of the trailer, so it's not putting all the twisting right in the middle. This setup only has to make it another year or so until I get a toy hauler. I believe you! It’s just my risk aversion speaking at this point; my bumper should easily handle the weight. Your 300lb rating is pretty solid for a typical travel trailer. |
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Thought I'd follow up. Mounted the cargo hitch and got the genny secured. Left for the Bighorn in Wyoming and made it maybe 10 miles. The first semi passing me at 55 caused me to severely fishtail. Started bumping my brake controller and straighten me up. Turned around and dumped the genny. I had 2 chairs in the bed and my wife in the passenger seat. I tried putting it in the bed and I think it would have been fine. But I've got 2 batteries in parallel and 400w of solar on the roof. The fridge has been running fine and using 100w heating blankets at night. It was down to 40's in Bighorn at night and here at Devils Tower. I think I had too much stuff past the axle in the camper including the genny. Lesson learned. |
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The 2" receiver on my Winnebago Hike is rated for 200 lbs. Essentially, it's intended for bike racks. Dynamic loading on bumps/potholes with a generator would shear it off easily I would think. Yours might be sturdier, but I'd be hesitant. It's welded to the frame, but the frame itself is pretty thin steel channel. |
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Originally Posted By John-in-austin: The 2" receiver on my Winnebago Hike is rated for 200 lbs. Essentially, it's intended for bike racks. Dynamic loading on bumps/potholes with a generator would shear it off easily I would think. Yours might be sturdier, but I'd be hesitant. It's welded to the frame, but the frame itself is pretty thin steel channel. It's rated for 300# by the OEM. The hitch rate was maybe 40# and the penny at 100#. I think it was strong enough but that sway is some scary shit. All in all the trip was good except for the head winds in the Dakotas that gave me 8 mpg for a long time. |
| Be careful with that small of a trailer. I know a guy that welded a receiver on the back of his small trailer and mounted a bike rack, the rack plus a few bikes was enough to unweight the tongue and as soon as he started up on the highway, he started swaying all over a few lanes. Watch your tongue weight. |