Putting Generator on Roof Rack...

[itsjaredj]

I fly drones for a living and need to carry a generator with me to charge batteries. Inspecting things like wind turbines, I'm at a tower for 20-30 minutes and then drive on to the next tower.

Instead of pulling the generator out of the back and setting on the ground (handling all the extension cords and slack et al.) I'd like to get the generator mounted to the vehicle some how. I'm against the trailer hitch cargo carrier as the whole purpose of the 4Runner was having the liftgate area to work out of. (A cargo carrier would hinder this considerably)

I have the factory roof rack and two cross members, I can snag a couple more cross members this week to help if I need.

I'm not looking to have the generator mounted on top for highway driving, I'm ok throwing it up there at the beginning of the day.

**Perfect Solution?**
A more horizontal generator would be amazing but I haven't found one.

Chosen generator for reference.

 

[jhguth]

How many battery recharges are we talking about, because using a battery (or battery bank) inside the vehicle seems like it would be a lot cleaner

 

[Whippersnapper02]

Lifting this over your head will be much harder than carrying it around. Watch out for that.

 

[Dillusion]

Is the outlet in the back not enough to keep rotating batteries while moving around?

 

[Grug556]

Are you gonna put it on some sort of rubber isolation mounts? Otherwise its gonna vibrate through the roof rack like a giant tuning fork.

 

[Coyotegray]

Is the outlet in the back not enough to keep rotating batteries while moving around?

This or a larger inverter directly connected to the battery or a dual battery setup...

 

[Heavy_GD]

This or a larger inverter directly connected to the battery.

I second this, especially if you are only charging batteries.

 

[CavPro]

Still got to pull the rope to start it.

 

[mogg851]

Wouldn't a DC charging setup be better/faster/more efficient anyway?

 

[Toffees]

Instead of pulling the generator out of the back and setting on the ground (handling all the extension cords and slack et al.) I'd like to get the generator mounted to the vehicle some how. I'm against the trailer hitch cargo carrier as the whole purpose of the 4Runner was having the liftgate area to work out of. (A cargo carrier would hinder this considerably)

How much space/ventilation does the generator need? Why not just mount/tie it down in the back, where you already have the hatch open? Saves the trouble of lifting it, saves the trouble of having it stuck on top of your 4R in the wind, and if you fab the right setup you can surely make some kind of sliding tray/table to extend more workspace that you lost securing your generator behind the seat.

 

[itsjaredj]

Wouldn't a DC charging setup be better/faster/more efficient anyway?

Wish this could be a reality. We go through about 30-40 sets of batteries a day. 2 batteries per set. At least 8 different batteries on the chargers at same time. Each battery charges at 130-160 watts at 13 amps. So I don’t think any kind of inverter setup can keep up with it.

I do use inverter for smaller batteries and less intensive days.

I’ll look into building a platform in the back to mount it to that will exhaust out the back window when hatch isn’t open.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dillusion]

Personally sounds like a truck with a camper would of been a better choice of vehicle.

 

[Toffees]

Maybe get a swing out bumper and fab a plate to it to hold the generator there?
(But secure it so it doesn't wander away at a gas station)

Seems like you can make something work that's easier than lifting it on your roof.

 

[Jetboy]

I don't think you'll harm anything by having it on top. It doesn't weigh that much. Just secure it properly.

If you're willing to put a bit of effort into a nicer setup - there's 3 good alternatives I can think of:

1: front receiver hitch and basket. Like the rear mount - only on the front. Easy. Easy to remove the basket for non-use days. Cheap. Not on the roof where it's a PITA to get to/start/etc.

2. Rear swing away. Most 2kw generators are less weight than a spare tire, so you could fab a bracket to mount to any of the spare tire carriers. Use the swing out the move to the side of the rear area when you're working there.


3. Rear slide out - buy a fridge slide and use for the generator. It's inside for traveling and outside when you want to run it.

Or option 4: Buy a Tacoma.

 

[baldrik78]

What if you went with a solar setup and a goal zero yeti?

 

[4FL]

Make a holder that can mount to your trailer hitch. It will be a good height, easy to take off and put on, and takes up no more/less space than bicycles on a rack.

 

[ProfessorP]

We use a Stowaway cargo box for road trips instead of a rooftop carrier. It fits the hitch receiver like a cargo tray. I’m sure it will work for a generator plus other gear (200 pound capacity). When accessing the hatch, the entire box swings to the right leaving the hatch area fully accessible. When you’re done, simply fold the box back toward the vehicle and screw the pin in place. Best part is there’s no wobble, rattle or play when driving down the road unlike a lot of other hitch cargo trays/boxes.

They’re not cheap, but we’ve had ours for five years and put thousands of miles on it.

Stowaway website

If you don’t want the entire box, you can buy the folding frame separately Stowaway folding frame

 

[teotwaki]

Make a holder that can mount to your trailer hitch. It will be a good height, easy to take off and put on, and takes up no more/less space than bicycles on a rack.

I believe he wants to leave the area completely open rather than dismount the generator, dismount the hitch carrier and then fire up the generator.

I'm against the trailer hitch cargo carrier as the whole purpose of the 4Runner was having the liftgate area to work out of. (A cargo carrier would hinder this considerably)

 

[teotwaki]

We use a Stowaway cargo box for road trips instead of a rooftop carrier. It fits the hitch receiver like a cargo tray. I’m sure it will work for a generator plus other gear (300 pound capacity). When accessing the hatch, the entire box swings to the right leaving the hatch area fully accessible. When you’re done, simply fold the box back toward the vehicle and screw the pin in place. Best part is there’s no wobble, rattle or play when driving down the road unlike a lot of other hitch cargo trays/boxes.

They’re not cheap, but we’ve had ours for five years and put thousands of miles on it.

Stowaway website

If you don’t want the entire box, you can buy the folding frame separately Stowaway folding frame

Looks like a decent compromise if the main mount does not stick so far out so as to make the OP have to lean over it to access the cargo area.

 

[TOYO74]

The side rails of the OEM rack are at least 6 feet off the ground even with standard suspension. The gen you showed looks like a smooth 50 lb boulder with only a top handle. Unless you are taller than usual, getting that much weight over your head and on to the rack would be difficult. Go to a dealer that has these gens and try to do an overhead press with one and place it on a shelf that is 6 feet high.

Have you considered a small utility trailer? That would give you space to carry all the cords and gear in one spot.