bowler1 wrote:
I am the original poster. So I still have not bought a generator. To be honest I don't really NEED one. I want one to use as a backup source of power in the event the electric goes out (my RV is next to my house to I could hook it up and go stay in the RV when the power is out).
I could just get a cheap / loud industrial generator for this application, but I figure that if I am going to spend the money I might as well invest it in something I could use while dry camping in a campground .....i.e. a quiet generator.
In my case, I would not be putting lots of hours on the generator. I would use it as needed on a rare occasion. So in that case I may not need the highest quality generator.
But on the other hand, I want it TO WORK if I ever do have to use it.
Seems like only the Honda or Yamaha are truly reliable from my research. They are expensive though....especially if you need enough juice to run two AC units on a 5th wheel.
I still have to think about this. I really don't want to spend the money for a generator and then have it not work when I really need it. Just don't know that i am willing or able to spend the money for a high voltage Honda.
FWIW I have owned two Honda 2k generators in the past that I ran in parallel, and a 2400 watt Yamah, and a 1k Yamaha.
Also, FWIW the Yamaha did fail on me when I really needed it. It started but would not produce electricity and it took a long time to get it fixed. That really sucked b/c I was dry camping and it was super hot and I had no AC. Had to go stay in a hotel it was so bad.
Matt
Guess I’d hedge a bet based on how often your power goes out, presuming you haven’t just moved to that house and don’t really know.
In our case, last place we moved into was pretty much a guaranteed power outage waiting to happen. Still is. Power goes out anywhere from a few to about 10x a year.
Cost/budget being an issue, I searched Craigslist for a bit and ended up with a basically new John Deere 7kw generator for $400 if I recall. Couple years later got a TC and bought a used Honda 2k for $500.
I’ve got less than half the cost of one 3kw Honda into 2 generators. And now have a 4kw in the toyhauler. So the Honda just sits. Thinking about putting it on Craigslist during the next wind storm!
The main thing that makes generators unreliable is old/bad fuel. And once you understand that, it’s too easy to prevent those issues.
1. Run the carb out of gas if not going to be used for a while.
2. If you don’t drain the tank, at a minimum have fresh, treated fuel in the tank before storing. Personal preference is AV gas. 2 year shelf life.
