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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
 
| Just purchased an lq trailer, my first. I haven't picked it up yet and am far from an lq expert, the trailer has a shore line coming out of the side of the trailer to hook to a generator....where that goes inside the trailer I don't know. I currently have a Honda 3000 generator, it runs very quiet...less sound than normal speech. While it would not be a problem to carry the generator to the side of the trailer and plug it in it would be much easier to leave it in the midtack and use it as it sat. I would still need to use the generator for other uses so it couldn't be installed permantly. Is there anyway to exaust out the side with some type of connection? Would it get enough fresh air from the mid tack? Midtack is connected by a door to lq...would it be dangerous? How could I route the power to the midtack? Mike |
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Veteran
Posts: 197
Location: MT | I'm not sure I would leave a generator in the mid tack to easy to start a fire or have something happen. You ever see how fast a trail or vehicle will burn doesn't take more than few minutes. Plus what you going to do with you exhaust I'm sure you don't want to leave your mid tack door open.
I think your better off just putting your generator outside and when you’re done putting it back up. You have to remember when you get a generator already installed they have thought out all the problems and have a nice warranty most of the time involved w/ them.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 714
Location: Minnesota | The biggest risk of having the gen in the mid tack is carbon monoxide. Your shore cord is probably about 25 feet long. I have the same gen. and keep it in the back of my truck, locked down. For some reason people like to steal thos things. |
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | Most of your trailer manufacturers will recommend to not run a portable generator inside the trailer. Also, most of your generator manufacturers will recommend that you do not run the generator in an enclosed area. A couple of years ago, during an ice storm, there was a family here that died from running a generator in their garage. They had the door open, but the breeze was such that more of it was seeping into the house through where the had run the cord in through the door. If it can get you in a house that is at least 1200 square feet, I'm not taking my chances with it in a room next to 150 square feet of living quarters. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| Thanks for the replies....so tell me about the Onan generators? I have been looking at trailers for a month or so and see several with Onan generators. Some are stuck in a rear tack, some under a manger, some on top. Are these meant to be installed? Where does the exhaust go? I see some for a pretty fair price on ebay but most are older, they don't look like they have a fuel tank, and by the time you got them installed you would have probably been better off buying a new portable generator. Mike |
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | The biggest difference between the Onans and portables running inside the trailer is that the Onan is ducted out of the trailer and has a rigid exhaust that is plumbed to the outside of the trailer. They are high dollar. But the are quiet, and as far as mounted generators go, they are top end. There are some others out there, Generac and another that I can't think of. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| Originally written by Tresvolte on 2010-04-16 1:40 PM
They are high dollar. But the are quiet, and as far as mounted generators go, they are top end. So if I am finding them cheap on eBay they are probably junk? Mike |
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | Tough call, but probably. |
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New User
Posts: 3
| I have a customer of mine that has a 4000 onan for sale. We install them. Have for several years and it takes about 8 to 10 hours to install depending on where you want it mounted. Aluminum fuel cell to go with it runs $800 on up depending on the gallons. |
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New User
Posts: 3
| One more thing. Onan and Honda are by far the best generators out there and the easiest to work on. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| Thanks for the replies. Looks like I will stick with the portable Honda, 8 to 10 hours for an install means that it is certainly not a DIY job for myself. |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | Our LQ has an Onan 4000 in the rear tack, with fan intake through a screened louvered vent in the door, and exiting out the floor. The exhaust is down through the floor, then across the trailer underneath to exit at the far rear passenger side corner. It has a 20 gal aluminum tank in the manger (8' trailer) and this system works out extremely well. It is very very quiet as it is in a factory spec insulated aluminum cover. Our air compressor sits on top of this cover, and all that fits just under the lowest saddle rack. We love this arrangement, with the remote start in the interior of the LQ. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 736
Location: Western WA | I have a portable Onan generator that resides semi-permanently in my rear tack. Built a frame screwed to the floor of the trailer that keeps it from rolling around, but it can be lifted out if I want to use it other than with the trailer. Mounted so the exhaust points out the door. I run it in the rear tack with the door open. I also have a midtack so anything of value is kept in the midtack when I'm using the generator. I run my shore power cord through the head window of the back stall and behind the collapsible rear tack wall directly to the generator when I don't have access to shore power. I'd much prefer a permanent generator with remote start but this fit the budget and I have a portable generator for home use when needed. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | From various sources, you can purchase full extension, ball bearing, sliding drawer supports. They can be obtained with carrying weights of ~125#. It would be a simple matter to make a plywood tray, affix it to these supports and fasten it to the trailer's floor. Set the portable generator on the tray. When the generator is in use, pull it outside of the trailer. When you need to store it, push it back inside. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| A very recent sad story about the dangers of a generator and a camper: http://prorodeo.com/Story.aspx?xu=2041 Mike |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by blackcows on 2010-04-23 12:45 PM A very recent sad story about the dangers of a generator and a camper: http://prorodeo.com/Story.aspx?xu=2041 Mike Very sad for a couple of young guns trying to get started. This is why my portable stay AWAY from the trailer while running and another good reason not to have the generator mounted under the gooseneck of the trailer. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| So is the back of the pickup far enough away? Where is a safe spot, far enough away...yet close enough so you still have something to lock the generator to? Mike |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | just a note, sure you already are aware, a CO2 detector or two, (with fresh batteries) is an asset to say the least in our use of generators. |
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Location: Central Arkansas | The Hillman boy was my good friend Dana"s cousin. Her father and his father are brothers. So sad. |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by blackcows on 2010-04-24 6:44 AM So is the back of the pickup far enough away? Where is a safe spot, far enough away...yet close enough so you still have something to lock the generator to? Mike Ours is mounted on the bed of our flatbed Dodge, on day trips when using the gen its fine but anytime we stay over night or longer I take the time to unhook and turn the truck around to get the generator as far away as I can, my shore line is pretty long so I have alot of room. A regular pick up I would at least unhook and pull away from the trailer just because the side walls of the truck bed and gooseneck covering almost half the bed. If you dont the little vent holes in the window frame will suck the exhaust right into the trailer. |
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | I have never seen an actual distance recommended. This sticker is required on ALL portable generators produced after May 14, 2007. 
Here are some links on generator safety; http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.d229a5f06620c6052b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=6d39bf0d90dae110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default http://www.generac.com/Portables/Portable_Safety_Tips/ http://www.briggsandstratton.com/corp/safety_use/generator.aspx
Edited by Tresvolte 2010-04-26 8:39 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
Location: northeast Texas | I am always preaching safety concerning carbon monoxide fumes. I saw first hand when the lady and daughter were killed 20 miles from my home at the Josey Barrel Racing Ranch clinic several years ago. We always place our generator so the exhaust is facing away from the trailer. Whether we place it near the front of back depends on if the horses are in corrals or tied to the trailer. If in front of the trailer we usually put it on the opposite side of the truck if unhitched, or in front of it. Also be careful of neighbors that are camping and where you aim your exhaust. EVERYONE should have a CO detector even if they dont have a generator, just because of someone else's fumes. Even staying in a tent can be dangerous. A $20 detector from Wal Mart or Lowes can save your life. |
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Inside Mount for Portable Generator?
