Generator/Inverter Mounted in front of Trailer?

[Redawgleader]

I just purchased an ancient Honda ES3500 generator/inverter unit. Hardly used....kinda like if your grandpa was still a virgin. Was thinking I would create a slide-out along the side of my 32'x8' Cargo-mate trailer to house the unit. But that would be a fussy job and would create a permanent hole/door in the trailer wall. The unit is small enough that I could mount it on the trailer hitch, in between the leading edge of the trailer and the jack. That would restrict use the jack winder handle, but no big deal. I could replace the hand jack with an electric jack. My question is this: Including the generator and a waterproof enclosure that I would build for it, there would be about 300 lb of weight on the tongue. When I say tongue, I'm talking about the two trailer frame rails that extend forward from the trailer and form a triangle as they join together at the hitch. I'm not worried that they aren't strong enough to take the weight. I'm just concerned that adding 300 pound that far forward might mess with the trailer's balance. Am I worried for nothing? We haul 2 x Van Diemens, tires, tools and the like in the trailer. Probably 60-70% of that weight would be forward of the axles.

[Bob L.]

I have a 28 ft. Haulmark tag, 2 Mg Midgets, or Elva Courier and FF inside, nose to tail. About 2 yrs ago I put a Harbor Frt. 3500/4K generator on tongue, between jack and front wall, bolted on "framing"....not sure it's as heavy as you said, Made long hauls to Elkhart, Pittsburg, and NJ. since, didn't effect anything other that manual jack... have to flip handle every half rev. so that takes forever to use, but not that huge of deal. Made an alum cover/box that slips over it.

Would send pic. but haven't taken any..... if really interested, PM or email me and will try to do so.

Biggest issue is tiny frogs find a home under cover when parked.

You could always shift parts/spares inside to offset balance if that concerned.... I didn't.

Bob L.

[Rick Kirchner]

your real concern would be exceeding the hitch rating, but unlikely. You can just move things about in the trailer to re-balance. I had a toy hauler that had a LOT of tongue weight. I moved the spare to the rear door.

If you take one of your race car scales and put it under the tongue jack and level it out, you can move weight around inside and get a feel for what needs to go where.

[Redawgleader]

Thanks, Bob. You did exactly what I am planning. No problems with frogs where we are. The are all frogsicles.

I have a 28 ft. Haulmark tag, 2 Mg Midgets, or Elva Courier and FF inside, nose to tail. About 2 yrs ago I put a Harbor Frt. 3500/4K generator on tongue, between jack and front wall, bolted on "framing"....not sure it's as heavy as you said, Made long hauls to Elkhart, Pittsburg, and NJ. since, didn't effect anything other that manual jack... have to flip handle every half rev. so that takes forever to use, but not that huge of deal. Made an alum cover/box that slips over it.

Would send pic. but haven't taken any..... if really interested, PM or email me and will try to do so.

Biggest issue is tiny frogs find a home under cover when parked.

You could always shift parts/spares inside to offset balance if that concerned.... I didn't.

Bob L.

[Redawgleader]

Good suggestion w.r.t. the scale.

your real concern would be exceeding the hitch rating, but unlikely. You can just move things about in the trailer to re-balance. I had a toy hauler that had a LOT of tongue weight. I moved the spare to the rear door.

If you take one of your race car scales and put it under the tongue jack and level it out, you can move weight around inside and get a feel for what needs to go where.

[Redawgleader]

..

your real concern would be exceeding the hitch rating, but unlikely. You can just move things about in the trailer to re-balance. I had a toy hauler that had a LOT of tongue weight. I moved the spare to the rear door.

If you take one of your race car scales and put it under the tongue jack and level it out, you can move weight around inside and get a feel for what needs to go where.

[billtebbutt]

Isn't this sort of thing exactly what the additional links on the hitch torsion bars are for? To transfer tongue weight to the front axle of the tow vehicle?

As long as you aren't exceeding hitch limits, etc, why would you not use the torsion bars to help even the load?

cheers,
BT

[Dave Harmison]

More important and hopefully something you’ve thought out is exhaust. NHRA has a rule that exhausts must exit above top of trailer. I think their rule came about because on CO poisoning.
Just something to keep in mind.

[Bob L.]

More important and hopefully something you’ve thought out is exhaust. NHRA has a rule that exhausts must exit above top of trailer. I think their rule came about because on CO poisoning.
Just something to keep in mind.

A factor in putting mine outside the box.... although I didn't extend exhaust above roof. Saw little need when others have portables that exhaust at/near grade, or in my face on toter/motorhomes, etc.......... Roof extension is "tough" due to vent in top and complexity in having something that goes down the road nicely, or erects easily . I have slept in trailer in the past, and been "gassed" out by thoughtless neighbors...in giant motorhomes....

Solar on roof is another idea to explore... hard to keep clean to be efficient, and aim up in the great north....

Bob L.