Posted 2011-09-15 9:49 AM (#137539) Subject: Mounting a generator.......
New User
Posts: 1
Location: ND Badlands
We are in the process of getting our first LQ trailer, and it is in the works right now. Question-where is the most logical place to mount the generator?? It will be a Onan 4000, and we are debating with either under the last manger or on the top with the hayrack. What is everyone's preference?? Thanks!!
Posted 2011-09-15 11:51 AM (#137541 - in reply to #137539) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Lockport, Illinois
I would mount the generator on top. When you put the generator in the manger,the exhaust is at that level, there are exhaust pipe extensions that redirect the exhaust above roof level. When you mount the generator on the roof, the exhaust is above roof level already, plus you have freed up storage in the manger.
Posted 2011-09-15 2:03 PM (#137545 - in reply to #137539) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
Mine is mounted on the roof with the hayrack. Only time I hate it being there is when I have to service it. Otherwise it is a great location. 2020 hindsight kind of wish it had been mounted so that you could easily unplug it and lower it down with a front end loader to service it. That would be ideal but would probably lead to a different set of problems. I try and change the oil, air filter, fuel filter and plug every year. So it really isn't that big of a deal. Have a friend that has a 4star with the genset in the manager and he has to open the door so that it gets plenty of air to keep from running hot. That would be a disadvantage if you ever needed to run it while moving.
Posted 2011-09-15 2:43 PM (#137547 - in reply to #137542) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Lockport, Illinois
Originally written by laurie on 2011-09-15 1:05 PM
Mine is mopunted on the gooseneck and exhaust is ran down low
That exhaust would be too close to the sleeping quarters for me, every year you hear about someone dying because of generator exhaust getting into the living quarters.
Posted 2011-09-15 3:39 PM (#137549 - in reply to #137545) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by tom-tom on 2011-09-15 2:03 PM
Mine is mounted on the roof with the hayrack. Only time I hate it being there is when I have to service it. Otherwise it is a great location. 2020 hindsight kind of wish it had been mounted so that you could easily unplug it and lower it down with a front end loader to service it. That would be ideal but would probably lead to a different set of problems. I try and change the oil, air filter, fuel filter and plug every year. So it really isn't that big of a deal. Have a friend that has a 4star with the genset in the manager and he has to open the door so that it gets plenty of air to keep from running hot. That would be a disadvantage if you ever needed to run it while moving.
Posted 2011-09-15 3:46 PM (#137550 - in reply to #137539) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
I use a Yamaha portable inverter genset... It lives in the back of the truck, (my preference)... One generator, three trailers. If I had to have one permanently mounted it would have to be low in the rear or manger area for ease of service, I can't negotiate a ladder.
Posted 2011-09-15 8:49 PM (#137555 - in reply to #137547) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 447 Location: cedar rapids iowa
Never had any exhaust issues nor smelled any inside. It is ran away from the trailer on the side below the running board and out. If it were unsafe I can't imagine they would do it that way.
Posted 2011-09-15 10:02 PM (#137557 - in reply to #137555) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by laurie on 2011-09-15 8:49 PM
Never had any exhaust issues nor smelled any inside. It is ran away from the trailer on the side below the running board and out. If it were unsafe I can't imagine they would do it that way.
Carbon Monoxide is an ODORLESS GAS...you need to make sure you have a CO alarm in your living area...
Posted 2011-09-16 6:41 AM (#137564 - in reply to #137539) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Veteran
Posts: 165 Location: Western Ar
The only way I would consider it if the generator was in a seperate totally sealed compartment within the manger itself with ventilation to the outside. Everyone I have known has eliminated there system in the mangers that was not enclosed due to gas fumes, not referring to exhaust fumes. Sooner or later there very well could be a failure with the generator,carbon monxide detector. To me its not worth the risk or the worry.
Posted 2011-09-16 8:03 AM (#137567 - in reply to #137539) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Elite Veteran
Posts: 798 Location: Tenn/Ala.
When mounted in a manger, it must be in a dedicated & sealed compartment. Onans exhaust hot air down, so it will have to be vented to the ground, through the floor of the trailer. And usually, it will be on a slide system with a flexible exhaust pipe, to allow easier servicing. All of this makes for a more complicated install, and as has been mentioned before overheating issues are not uncommon.
Otherwise- mount it on the roof, but be sure and enclose it. Either in an enclosed hayrack, or its own enclosure. Frankly- this is my preference.
You have to climb to service, but good access once you're there, and good airflow.
You know- the floor of an enclosed rear tackroom works pretty good too. And you don't need an additional fuel pump when it is mounted low.
Just my feeble thoughts.
RTSmith
Posted 2011-09-16 8:24 AM (#137569 - in reply to #137539) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Valentine, NE
We've done the back of pickup, in the manager, in the rear tack and on the roof. I suggest the manager. The roof deal, had issues with fuel pump and was a pain to work on, check, change oil, manual start, get down when needed repaired, jump start, etc. In the rear tack--just got that compartment way to hot--put in a fan/vent and that helped, but had to remember to shut off and close. In the pickup, we unhooked and moved the pu to avoid gas issues and ran the risk of someone stealing it. The manager, you can start it at the gen, fairly easy to work on and remove, and seems to run better. Ours is exhausted out the bottom--only problem with that is we have to tie horses to the other side of the trailer when using the gen---never had a CO problem and have 400 hrs on this one. Yes, you lose one manager storage, but most of us take to much stuff with us anyway...
Good luck!
Posted 2011-09-16 8:48 AM (#137571 - in reply to #137539) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
Ours is an Onan 4000, mounted in the rear tack, with remote start in the LQ. It does exhaust out the bottom, with the exhuast pipe extending across the bottom to the rear curbside corner. There is a screened louvered vent that allows air circulation into the rear tack, and the unit is itself contained in an insulated aluminum compartment. There is a 20 gallon aluminum fuel tank mounted in the rear corner of the rear manger, vented out the bottom. To service, one undoes 2 bolts, lifts off the lightweight cover and access to all the top is easy. To drain the oil, there is an opening under the trailer to access the drain plug. This is also easy to do. We like this arrangment. It is safe, extremely quiet, fairly theft proof, and has been trouble free for 10 years. We do have a co2 detector, smoke detector, and propane leak detector in the LQ. We boondock and ride, and do pack a lot of crap (I mean stuff, some of which might be needed!) and this has worked really well with a minimum of intrusiveness into our storage..
Posted 2011-09-16 10:57 AM (#137587 - in reply to #137539) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Veteran
Posts: 229
Hello jdberquist, I have a 3H 10' LQ. I didn't want to have a generator in either the rear tack, hay rack or manger, as I mostly camp and those areas are storage for other needs. The generator+housing takes up quite a bit of space in either a manger or rear tack, and the full hayrack space is needed for hay and water. I prefer my generator in a dedicated "generator house" built into side of the LQ portion of the trailer. The generator is on the floor under a closet. There is a large access panel on the exterior of the trailer. I have the 3600 propane version of the Onan. If a person has purchased a trailer without a generator, he or she might be limited to manger, rear tack or hayrack. However, in a custom build, a person will have the additional option of putting the generator in the LQ portion of the trailer.
Posted 2011-09-16 11:14 AM (#137588 - in reply to #137539) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Valentine, NE
Good idea for a custom build. No matter where you put it, you will lose storage of some type. I personally want it as far away from the sleeping quarters as possible to reduce noise, vibration, and CO2 issues. I wish ours vented the exhaust thru the roof, not the floor.....
Posted 2011-09-16 1:56 PM (#137595 - in reply to #137588) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Lockport, Illinois
Originally written by Spin Doctor on 2011-09-16 11:14 AM
I wish ours vented the exhaust thru the roof, not the floor.....
This could work.http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=%2Bgenerator+%2Brv+%2Bexhaust%22&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=3723900185179867516&sa=X&ei=aZtzTsbZHbCFsgLk84SMBQ&ved=0CEYQ8wIwAg
Posted 2011-09-17 6:18 PM (#137617 - in reply to #137557) Subject: RE: Mounting a generator.......
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 447 Location: cedar rapids iowa
Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2011-09-15 10:02 PM
Originally written by laurie on 2011-09-15 8:49 PM Never had any exhaust issues nor smelled any inside. It is ran away from the trailer on the side below the running board and out. If it were unsafe I can't imagine they would do it that way.
Carbon Monoxide is an ODORLESS GAS...you need to make sure you have a CO alarm in your living area...
Well you can smell the exhaust if you are near the exhaust pipe on my generator and all my vehicles if you walk behind them. But yes every living qtr I have had has the CO alarm. This is a factory installed generater not an aftermarket.
Mounting a generator.......
