i am in the processes of converting a 1996 ford E350 ambulance into my permanent home and am having trouble finding generators. i require a generator that i can mount on the roof dew to size restrictions. i need something in the 3500-4000 watt range. i am just having a devil of a time trying to find something that wont break the bank. it needs to be in a weather proof housing.
my power pickle
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speedhighway46
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Can’t help you with the choice of a generator. But I can say that mounting that much mass on the roof of your vehicle sounds like a poor plan. Now only will it be difficult to service, but that much weight that high up will certainly add to your vehicle becoming top heavy, and may cause difficult handling. And be unsafe. Mass should always be mounted as low as possible.
Just my opinion . . .
Just my opinion . . .
Don't forget generators have required maintenance like oil changes. Doing that on a roof is going to get messy but at least it will keep it from rusting! LOL!!! Seriously a generator that size is heavy and dealing with it on the roof is a real pain is there some reason you must put it there?
How do you plan on filling it up? Have you taken into consideration that while it is running there will be a lot of vibration and noise transmitted to the interior?
Are you mostly doing this to prevent theft?
A water proof container is not likely to have enough air movement. You need vents and openings for running a generator, up on a roof while going down the road the wind will push water into any vent openings.
develop the practice of visualization...such as the generator is running, what will that be like if I am inside the van.
I am driving down the road in a strong rain with a lot of wind at 70mph, what is going to happen to my generator enclosure
I need to add gas to the generator, how will I manage to do that?
What if I spill some gas while filling it?
Are you mostly doing this to prevent theft?
A water proof container is not likely to have enough air movement. You need vents and openings for running a generator, up on a roof while going down the road the wind will push water into any vent openings.
develop the practice of visualization...such as the generator is running, what will that be like if I am inside the van.
I am driving down the road in a strong rain with a lot of wind at 70mph, what is going to happen to my generator enclosure
I need to add gas to the generator, how will I manage to do that?
What if I spill some gas while filling it?
for fuel rear mounted tank with electric fuel pump. for service i can get on the roof for that the roof is built as a roll cage so it can take my weight. as far as having that much weight mounted up i don't see that as a problem its 100 Lbs or less from what i can tell and for a vehicle of this size that is less then nothing.
What everyone is saying is there are so many issues and problems that if they do exist no one would use them for long before finding another location. A generator as you are describing would most likely need to be water cooled as there would not be enough air circulation to cool it. It would have to be isolated or the noise would run you out. Most generators of that size are heavy and are mounted in a ventilated storage compartment as far from the living compartment as possible and as close to the fuel tank as is safe. Mount a roof rack on thick rubber mounts then mount a ventilated storage box with deflector drains big enough so it won't overheat on thick rubber mounts then mount a fully enclosed inverter generator on big rubber mounts. Use a high pressure pump with a return line and pressure regulator as you will need the pressure to lift the fuel up to the roof but most generators are made for very low pressure or they overflow fuel and catch on fire. That is a lot of parts,money and work, when you could just buy a generator and carry it on a hitch rack or rear bumper box. Take a look for used motorhome gensets and how they are mounted,wired and plumbed. Maybe get the whole gen compartment off a wreck and mount it , don't forget the exhaust maybe you can point it up with a flapper to keep the water out. LOL!!!
AuricTech
Well-known member
Have you considered two generators (e.g., Honda EU2200i series) connected by a parallel cable for your power needs? That would give you the flexibility to run one generator when your power demands are low, then connecting the other generator when you need up to 3600 Watts of power.
AuricTech
Well-known member
Where I was going is that, with two smaller generators, rooftop mounting may well be unnecessary.
I know little about generators but my first thought was "When have I ever seen that?" NEVER! Not ever on sketchy DIY rigs or factory installs. That should tell us something but I'd be listening to the voices of experience above. 
B and C
Well-known member
I just hope you never get a gas leak.
