Hi, I am planning to get a portable generator for camping, but not sure which one to get. I want a quiet one so that I can still enjoy nature whilst keeping our food and drink cold and powering our creature comforts. Yes, it is a bit glamping but that is the way we like it. I read here: Best Quiet Portable Generator for RV, Camping that the WEN 56200i Super Quiet 2000-Watt Portable Inverter Generator is quiet and good, and that the Yamaha EF2000iSv2 is also quiet and good. Anyone here more of a glamper and take a generator with them camping or Rving or something like that and can provide me some first-hand experience of how quiet these generators actually are.

It is impossible to recommend a generator with out know what you are going to power with it ! You mention keeping food and drink cold, so that requires refrigeration, but what size ? A/C ? Are you going to want to run an electric heater ? Hair dryer ? Micro wave ? You can probably run any of the above, one at a time, but not any two.Honda and Yamaha have been making inverter generators the longest and have both proven to be very durable. After that, Champion and Harbor Freight Predator. Westinghouse iGen is becoming popular.Most people would avoid "new" brands (like Wen), until they have a proven track record.

Many RVers carry generators.Honda and Yamaha are generally considered to be the best when it comes to quiet and quality. They're also probably the most expensive.Champion Generators have good reviews and a decent support/parts system.Depending on your needs, have you considered a larger battery bank and solar system? It doesn't get quieter than solar.Before you buy any generator, check for parts availability.

We have two. Honda 3000i and Westinghouse 2000i. Both very dependable thus far. Honda is heavy. Westinghouse is more portable. If buying today. I would get a Westinghouse 2500i. That should start and run a 13500 btu AC and be fuel efficient as well as quite.

The Honda & Yamaha seem to be the most popular by far. Honda is the most common sight around a CG.We do a bit of dry camping & have a Honda which has been flawless for 12 years save for a starter cord replacement.The method for us dry camping is to leave the fridge on propane & power the outlets for TVs, chargers etc. on an inverter. The genny gets run twice a day. At breakfast time to recharge from overnight inverter use plus toaster & coffee maker use then in the evening to top up the battery bank for the night.By this method a gallon of gas is good for 2-3 days easy.

I agree to make an good recommendation we need more info on how you intend on using it. That being said, I have a Ryobi RYOBI Bluetooth 2,300 Starting Watt Super Quiet Gasoline Powered Digital Inverter Generator for under $600

Generator for Rving, any recommendation please?

Luthierra
Explorer
May 27, 2020
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time2roll
Nomad
May 20, 2020
If I need that much air I find utility power.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 20, 2020
We're not sure what the OP wants. Most people do not run a/c with a portable generator.
pitch
Explorer II
May 20, 2020
Lwiddis wrote:
Why is the standard response from newbies and very oldsters always “generators?”

Probably because most of us want an easy enjoyable experience. Most of us do not want an engineering project,most of us want to enjoy traveling and camping without a bunch of extra equipment. Most of us require air conditioning at times. Find me a solar battery array that will run a 13k btu conditioner for 8 to 10 hours, for less than a thousand bucks.

All that being said, generator noise sucks. Even my Honda 2000 idling away is intrusive.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 20, 2020
Lwiddis wrote:
Why is the standard response from newbies and very oldsters always “generators?” .
Generators are easy to understand. Solar, inverters.. not so much.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 19, 2020
As would I, old-wizard, particularly if camped near OP. Why is the standard response from newbies and very oldsters always “generators?” Buggy whips are also outdated.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
May 18, 2020
Keyholder wrote:
Anyone here more of a glamper and take a generator with them camping or Rving or something like that and can provide me some first-hand experience of how quiet these generators actually are.

I would say most people here like most of the comforts of home, even when boondocking. Having said that, I would prefer to use a generator the fewest hours per day. Solar, batteries and an inverter large enough to run a refrigerator would probably cost as much or more than most 2000W generators, but I would rather have the peace and quiet.

A pair of golf cart batteries and an inverter would easily run a refrigerator overnight (assuming you don't open the door).
Sandia_Man
Explorer II
May 18, 2020
That clicky is the same generator we've been using going on 5 years and just over 500 hours thus far. After 8 years with our Onan and over 1K hours we wanted something that had the same one button starting/stopping capabilities and that could power our rig's AC unit.

This Champion inverter has been problem free, works well at high elevations, less noisy and wonderfully fuel efficient by comparison. That link is a great price for all that genny offers, we use regular ethanol laced gas but add a bit of Seafoam to 5 gallon gas can.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 18, 2020
valhalla360 wrote:
Honda & Yamaha are high quality but when you hear people talking about 10-15yr old generators, keep in mind, at that point, they were the only game in town for small inverter generators...so it's not really comparable to say the newer brands don't have comparable comments about old generators still kicking around.

But what is comparable, that a lot of you haven’t seen, is how Honda’s and Yamis hold up in hard use vs the 2nd or 3rd tier brands.
Not saying it’s necessary to get top of the line, but you get what you pay for.
Never been around the specific champion gensets people speak so highly of, But if buying an economical generator that’s what I’d buy.
MANY others call them 3rd tier are basically worthless.
Plus it’s just too easy to buy a gently used Honda for the same as a champion or slightly more than a junk model.
IAMICHABOD
Explorer II
May 18, 2020
jdc1 wrote:
https://www.amazon.com/Champion-3100-Watt-Portable-Inverter-Generator/dp/B00JZQUSAC/ref=sr_1_6?crid=ANK7T5T29N0Z&dchild=1&keywords=champion+generator&qid=1589818735&sprefix=champion+generator%2Caps%2C240&sr=8-6

This will cover all your needs.

Here ya go made it a CLICKY

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