--------------------------------------------------------------------------------It is about generators, and not the wealthy that have the built in units. I'm talking about portables. I also would like honest opinions of your feelings when boon docked around them.I have researched until I'm blue in the face. I already own a champion 4000 that Camping World sells. It works great and runs my 15000 btu ac.I know the DB is a little louder than the Honda and Yamaha, but being in a rest area or Walmart parking lot with semi engines running, would my champion be that annoying? ( By the way I drive for Wal-Mart and experience this in about every parking lot I stay in) and honestly it does not bother me.That being said and me being an RV'er I don't want to piss off another RV'er.SO should I use the champion, for the few time (maybe 5 time a year) or just spend the un necessary money for the Honda/Yamaha to keep a few people happy? ( you know some complain no matter what)Long post, but I really want your opinion, I may or may not take your advice, but that's for another conversation. Really, I am willing to do the right thing. We have never boon docked before , but see it happening while traveling to AlaskaThank for your time __________________Gone 2007 GMC slt,cc,dually,4x6Now 2014 Ram Laramie, 4x4, Dually, Crew Cab, 6.7 Cummins, Aisin Trans, 4:10 rears2011 Carriage Cameo 37KS3,full body paint, all options but generator.

I guess it depends if you park bumper-to-bumper and try real hard and park upwind.

you tube has some interesting videos on cheap ways to reduce dbs using a car muffler. don't know if that is an option for you but you reference staying on the inexpensive side.camping world also makes an extension for motorhomes that is vertical and is just taller than the roof. Hopefully others with portables will chime in.

I see you drive a 2014 Ram that's loaded and pull 2011 Carriage loaded, so why not spend a couple more hundred dollars and get the Yamaha 2400 or 2 Hondas 2000. JMO

Huge difference between a truck stop or WalMart and a provincial or state park so far as worrying about the neighbours.Even in the parks around 11am checking out time with so many trucks on the move who cares about a short time of loud generator at lunch time?The problem is the clown who runs his gen in a park from supper to midnight or at 6am.You can have an inverter to do your 120v things in the quiet hours and run the gen in the mid-day when nobody cares about the noise to recharge the batts to restore what the inverter drew.Common sense should rule before spending big bucks. There are times when running a quieter gen would be appreciated by all, but you don't have to go broke trying to please everyone when it is not necessary.

I have come to expect anything while overnighting at Walmart, so go ahead and run it.On the other hand, if out in real a boon-docking area, try not to crowd your neighbor unless he has a similar generator. The Reds and Blues might frown if you are too close.

I would like to start a conversation that has a lot of talk

time2roll
Nomad
Nov 13, 2014
He might be better to ask this question in the Canada/Alaska forum.
Lantley
Nomad
Nov 13, 2014
smkettner wrote:
If we stick to the OPs criteria it does not have to be the same discussion.

OP thinks he needs a generator to run the air conditioning when boondocking on the way to Alaska.
How warm is it really up along that road?
I read there are plenty of campsites along the journey to plug in.
Or can he beef up the battery and get by fine with a fantastic fan?

If the OP is traveling to Alaska during the summer it could get very warm along the way. It appears OP is from SC which is not around the corner from Alaska.
pnichols
Explorer II
Nov 13, 2014
Notice the noise spec on those quiet little portable Honda 1000i and 2000i inverter generators: 53dB at 1/4th power and 59dB at full power ... but who runs them at only 1/4th power much? 59dB is NOT that quiet.

Here's expensive quiet - the Honda 3000iS at 1/4th power: 49dB ... but who can afford it or lift it?

Here's cheap quiet - the Honda EX650 at full or any other power: 54dB ... and it's noise spectrum is a muffled low frequency humming that doesn't irritate anyone who's not irrationally paranoid (sorry about the double negative) with regards to RV generator sounds - 2nd column in from the far right http://www.tappedin.com/hop/html/litegen.htm

Now for those of you who think any size generator is never justified during all hours of the night for drycamping use - try touring the Southeastern U.S. in August and wind up spending all night in a Walmart parking lot WITHOUT the genny and AC running. That's a good way to commit suicide from the terrible RV accident you're in the next day from no sleep the night before. Or alternatively, try having lunch along a Gulf of Mexico beach stop-over in Texas in August WITHOUT a genny powering your air conditioning.

RV generators have their place unless you want to cross your fingers and hope for the best on what Mother Nature may, or may not, send your way when on lengthy RV tours. We have two generators and an engine alternator with us on all RV trips.
dieseltruckdriv
Explorer II
Nov 13, 2014
I have the quiet Hondas, and even though you can't buy anything quieter, they are still really noisy depending on the location.
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 13, 2014
If we stick to the OPs criteria it does not have to be the same discussion.

OP thinks he needs a generator to run the air conditioning when boondocking on the way to Alaska.
How warm is it really up along that road?
I read there are plenty of campsites along the journey to plug in.
Or can he beef up the battery and get by fine with a fantastic fan?
Lantley
Nomad
Nov 13, 2014
This is really the same old discussion.
Should the OP by a quiet inverter type genset. Or should he take the savings and potentially annoy those around him. Really the answer is simple.
No one wants to buy the more expensive inverter models, but in order to maintain a slight bit of peace and quiet most recognize and inverter model is needed if using it while surrounded by others.
.
A few decide to take the savings at the expense of the tranquility of those around them.
All gensets are not created equal, some are considerably louder than others.
If potentially annoying others doesn't bother you get the louder cheaper model.
If you want to be a good neighbor,even in a Wal-Mart get a quiet inverter model.
Once upon a time inverter models were significantly more costly. However Champion has changed the game and introduced reliable, reasonably priced inverter models
NinerBikes
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
There's only 2 kinds of generators, mine, and everyone else's. If I am overnighting at a Walmart, I am not using the AC or the generator, period. If it's too stinking hot and humid that I need AC overnight, I'm going to get a cheap motel room intead, or drive up to the mountains where it is cool at night, by planning my stops accordingly, where I don't need the AC to drop and cool the temperatures off at night. Pretty simple to do out here from the Rockies and further West.
chalet05
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Walmart lot - anything goes. Just be kind and don't run it all night!!
pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 12, 2014
Hi Cloud,

What slays me is when I'm the only RV on the lot--and someone comes and parks so close to me that their slide would block my door--and then they fire up a genny. (even the quiet ones are noisy)

Cloud Dancer wrote:
OK, so I do NOT tolerate loud generators. And, I don't care who owns them, wealthy or not.
Whenever someone starts up a generator at the Walmart, and it bothers me, I just simply MOVE.
otrfun
Explorer II
Nov 12, 2014
Interesting thread. I was in the same mindset as the OP about 6 months ago. Had a Champion 3100 inverter generator I purchased new for $750 which would easily power my 13.5k a/c with the ECO mode on. After using it a couple times decided I wanted something quieter.

Purchased a pair of new Honda EU2000i's for $1900 online. Much to my surprise, they wouldn't start the same 13.5k a/c unless the ECO mode was off! Two EU2000i's running full-time with the ECO mode off are not exactly "quiet"--probably approaching the loudness of a Champion 3100.

Long story short, I'm back to the Champion 3100. Sold the Hondas on CL for $1900. I tried, but no-go.