Special generator discussion
Requesting special thoughts here- I have dry camped a lot. And I can decide for myself but there's usually a few valid intangibles that you can pick up in a discussion. Never had a generator and I...
Forum Discussion
I have my little Honda EU1000i that I use for tailgating and battery maintenance. I can run the TV, charge phones and all of the 12V stuff. It quietly runs at 53db for more than the rated 9 hours on a half-gallon of gas. At 29 lbs., it’s easy to lug around. You can find them on Craigslist for around $500, but I've seen them for $400. If for some reason you don't like the Honda, there are plenty of buyers that will be glad to take it off your hands.
With that said, I've owned the $79 Harbor Freight 2-stroke generator that is rated for 800/900 watts. It is not a bad little generator. You do need to replace the spark plug with a quality plug when you first buy it, but after that, it’s all good. The 2-stroke operates at a low rumble and is quieter than it's decibel rating implies. It sounds like a moped engine at idle. It does not sound like a chainsaw. Yes it is Smokey at first, but it is fine once the engine heats up. It will run a long time on a gallon of pre-mixed gas/oil. It is rated at 800/900 watts, but will handle larger loads. I bought mine for $79 and sold it two years later for $60. It got a LOT of use after two major storms. It ran for days at a time with no complaints.
The Honda is the best quality and most quiet. Because I had the money at the time, I bought it on Craigslist. If not for that, I would have kept the little Harbor Freight 2-stroke.
I regret nothing about purchasing either unit, but the Honda is so nice!
With that said, I've owned the $79 Harbor Freight 2-stroke generator that is rated for 800/900 watts. It is not a bad little generator. You do need to replace the spark plug with a quality plug when you first buy it, but after that, it’s all good. The 2-stroke operates at a low rumble and is quieter than it's decibel rating implies. It sounds like a moped engine at idle. It does not sound like a chainsaw. Yes it is Smokey at first, but it is fine once the engine heats up. It will run a long time on a gallon of pre-mixed gas/oil. It is rated at 800/900 watts, but will handle larger loads. I bought mine for $79 and sold it two years later for $60. It got a LOT of use after two major storms. It ran for days at a time with no complaints.
The Honda is the best quality and most quiet. Because I had the money at the time, I bought it on Craigslist. If not for that, I would have kept the little Harbor Freight 2-stroke.
I regret nothing about purchasing either unit, but the Honda is so nice!
