Generator Carrier and Accessory Hitch for a 2016 Heartland Sundance Fifth Wheel Trailer

Question:

I want to mount a carrier on back of rv for generator will I need to weld support down the I beam to spread the weight out? Generator weighs 100 lbs so total should not exceed 200-250 lbs. Its a carrier hitch on heartland 2016 sundance.

asked by: Ron

Expert Reply:

Before you install a hitch on your 2016 Heartland Sundance, you'll need to verify that the trailer is actually able to have a hitch, and how much weight that the manufacturer recommends is on an installed hitch. Depending on the hitch, some are weld-optional, others are weld-on only.

I recommend using Curt's RV and Camper Class III Hitch, part # 13703 if your manufacturer deems your RV hitch capable. This will fit up to a 72 inch wide frame and can weld to the I frame or bolt directly onto the frame with some drilling. It has a tongue weight capacity of 350 pounds. Again, your capacity will be limited by the frame of your trailer.

For the actual carrier, since it sounds like you are only intending to carry the generator, I recommend TorkLift's Lock and Load carriers. There is a 21-1/4 inch by 16 -1/8 inch version with a 200 pound capacity available as part # TLA7901. This smaller version weighs right around 35 pounds. The larger, 27-3/4 by 34 inch version as part # TLA7752 with a 500 pound capacity weighs just under 80 pounds. Both include steel security cables and locks for security.

In both cases, these carriers will add to the tongue weight of the carried cargo, so you'll again want to verify your vehicle's tongue weight capacity prior to purchase.

I've included a video review of this carriers' larger variant so you can get an idea of the carriers features and performance.