Jimmy Rigged Design Studio presents...

Well, we finally got the generator for the trip. A big honking Yamaha EF 3000 iSEB that according to specs and testimonials, should be able to handle everything in the trailer, including the 13K BTU airconditoning unit.

The biggest challenge with this size generator (weights about 150lbs), in a Tow Vehicle + Trailer configuration, is where to place the generator for minimal movement and ease of operation. I have seen some people operating their generators out of the bed of their pick-up trucks. But for that, you need an open bed.

The best setup that I have seen is to have the generator installed on top of the trailer hitch arrow.
Check "this old redneck" installation, done right. Definitely not done by a 5th Ave. Nancy Boy blogging while looking over Central Park.

But Airstream decided to put the propane tanks and batteries on this area, so the generator will not fit there, unless the tanks are relocated to the back. So for now, the generator will have to stay on the truck bed.

Since we have a bed cap on our truck, we will need to find a way to:

1. Easily slide the generator in and out of the cap area
2. Load the generator on and off the truck without major spine surgery reconstruction.

This dilemma gave birth to our second Jimmy Rigged project (the first one was the bathroom). The idea to better handle this generator came when I was unloading the generator from the truck all by myself, it took two men to load the boxed generator onto the truck. I could have waited for Vicky but I was experiencing the anxiety of an eight year old on Christmas morning, I just needed to rip that box open and start the generator, for no good reason.

Although the generator has two handles, the ratio of weight to size is so small that there is very little leverage. It is like trying to lift a particle of dark matter. So I started scouring the garage for something to use as a lever. A crude 2"x4" did the job somewhat adequately...hey, I got that thing off the truck.

Now, this 2"x4" approach was definitely not a permanent solution. The prospect of performing that crude unl0ading maneuver, seemed a refutation on the theory of evolution.
So sketch pad in hand, I set to improve on the basic idea of adding leverage handles to the body of the generator. As soon as I started sketching, I realized that these extensions, could also serve as anchoring points to secure the generator in the back of the truck.

So without further due, Jimmy Rigged Design Studio presents the Spine Saver Generator Handles, SSGH ver 1.0





Vicky helped on the material selection and she sanded the ends of the bars so the metal shreds (from the cutting) wont rip the rubber ends. Here she is demonstrating the whole burrito in action.