new member needs generator help!

[Montana_4277]

just got a 05 3500 and want to put a honda 3000i in the generator compartment and need help!does anybody have ideas?

[Bill and Ann]

I am sure someone will jump in and help you. What kind of help are you looking for?

[Montana_4277]

i need to know how to secure it in the compartment and is their an adapter to plug into the rv wire?thanks for the help

[HamRad]

Bobo,
We don't have the 3400 model but the generator compartment is pretty much the same in all the Montanas. An stand alone type generator like the Honda 3000 is not meant to be operated while it is in the compartment. If you carry it there you MUST remove it before you operate it. The problem with the 3000 and larger units is the weight. They are very hard to get in and out of the compartment. A friend of ours carries his there but he modified the compartment to make getting the 3000 unit much easier to get in and out. The 2000 unit which I have is much easier to get in and out.

Welcome to the MOC and good luck with the generator.

HamRad

[Montana_4277]

quote:Originally posted by HamRad

Bobo,
We don't have the 3400 model but the generator compartment is pretty much the same in all the Montanas. An stand alone type generator like the Honda 3000 is not meant to be operated while it is in the compartment. If you carry it there you MUST remove it before you operate it. The problem with the 3000 and larger units is the weight. They are very hard to get in and out of the compartment. A friend of ours carries his there but he modified the compartment to make getting the 3000 unit much easier to get in and out. The 2000 unit which I have is much easier to get in and out.

Welcome to the MOC and good luck with the generator.

HamRad

[Montana_4277]

thanks hamrad-do you know what he did to modify it?

[tollmann]

Our gen is bolted in the bed of the TV. I added a transfer switch and a cord that comes out at the hitch. This way I keep the gen hooked up to the Monty and can use it whenever we are stopped and need power.

[harleyrider]

I have the Yahama 3000 with boost.This to is heavy(150lbs)I mounted a hitch on the front of my truck and have a 20 inch x 48 inch cargo carrier on it.which folds up when not in use.It sits fairly close to the ground,not that close where it bottoms out though.Got a couple of short ramps and its a breeze to load and unload.It has wheels on it so moving it while its on the ground is also easy.The generator and the ramps fit nicely on the cargo carrier.You just have to remember that you have 20 more inches beyond the bumper.

[William H. Collier]

I have two of the 2000's and carry them strapped down in the front comp. They are removed to operate, only 50lbs a piece. I also have a built in 18 gal. aux tank to connect to the both of them running in parallel.
Bill

[HamRad]

Bobo,
The fellow that modified his rig is a MOC member. His name is Randomline. What he did was to cut the lip of the front compartment. Where the front door is he just cut straight down to the bottom of the rig. Then across. Next he had a piano hinge welded on. At the top of the now modified lip he placed a latch on each side. To get the generator in and out he just unlatches and lets the lip down. He has a ramp to help get it up and down.

I'm sorry if this is not any clearer. It's really a nice simple modification. It would be nice if Keystone would offer such an option. I don't remember if pictures were posted or not.

HamRad

PS.... I've added pictures to my PictureTrail account. They are located in the "Generator Compartment" album.

[Montana_4277]

thank ya all for the help-i guess i will go back to the drawing board.it would be nice if keystone used that space for other type generators.thanks again everyone!i'll be back i'm sure with more

[gitrdun]

What do you guys mean you can not operate a Honda 3000 while it is in the front compartment? All you have to do is revamp the exahust out the bottom of the compartment, take a little work and know how but it works fine on my 3980. Maybe ther is something here I don't know and that is very possible, because sometimes I am the king of dumb.

[gitrdun]

See I told you I was dumb, I meant 2980.

[worknomore]

I ASSUME, from your post, that you plan on running that Honda mounted in the compartment. Just outta curiosity, what had you planned on doing about the exhaust fumes? I've seen Onan's installed in the front (which is what it was intended for - not portables) & they had an exhaust pipe running out the bottom of the compartment & over to the driver's side of the rig.

I think that this would be a huge liability issue that neither Honda or Keystone would be responsible for (& possibly your insurance company also...), since these portables were never meant to run in an enclosed space, let alone underneath a bedroom!

[NJ Hillbilly]

The units that are designed for an enclosure have a large fan mounted to the flywheel. It pulls air in through the compartment door screen or other air intake. The fan pulls the air across the motor and generator assembly before exhausting it straight down through a duct that is cut into the floor of the compartment.

Most (if not all) portable generators are designed to run out in the open with air circulating around all sides allowing the heat generated to escape straight up or blow away in the breeze. Ducting the exhaust is only part of the problem, cooling the unit sufficiently is another.


John

[thook]

I just had a Onan Maquis Gold 5500 installed in our 3400. Beautiful installation. It takes up nearly all the space in the forward compartment but the trade off is worth it. The unit is very quiet.....also very expensive, but what the hey.....they are RV dollars...not the same as real money!