We're going to Moraine Campground in Colorado next Summer where there is not electricity/water. I'm an outdoorsman, but my wife isn't, so I'm thinking about the Honda 2000i Generators x2 for this trip. That's a lot of money if I'm only using it for that trip; since we mainly stay in state parks that have Electric. However, wondering if anyone found that they may use it more often than not if they had it. I just don't want to spend the $2000 and have them collect dust.On another note, if I did have the generators for this trip, what could it give me that my battery couldn't. Do people have these on throughout the day to watch some TV or have AC (if its hot during the day), or do people use it just to charge batteries. I'm thinking if its the latter, then my vehicle can charge it.Thoughts?

If your batteries are low, they are worth a lot of $$...;)If you end up not needing it after this trip you won't have an issue finding someone to buy it from you.

What are your electrical usage habits?For things like lights, charging phones, water pump, that's all battery. If you want to get into entertainment like TV, radios and anything that needs 120v, an inverter is much cheaper and way less noisy than a couple generators! You must have a good way to charge your batteries, and I'm not sure the vehicle is a good way. Takes a long time - but then again, if your usage is very light, no matter.I've been around people using a gen to watch TV, but it's kinda annoying because it drones on for hours, and I know that's what they're doing. I've dry camped a lot in all kinds of situations, and I very rarely see people running air from their gens.

They're only worth the money if you need them. I have two Honda 2000's and use them some. I never use them to watch TV even when boondocking. I have a 12 volt TV in the bedroom that we can bring to the living area and plug into 12 volt there if we really want to watch something (usually a DVD but the TV has it built in). The main thing I use them for is A/C and coffee maker (and I don't even drink coffee but others do). Depending on how long I am camping I may need one to charge the batteries. We have a week long trip planned in a couple of weeks to the mountains where they are getting snow tonight. In that case we will probably run the heat at night so will need to charge the batteries daily. You only need one to charge the batteries or even use the microwave. You only need two to run the A/C.

Generators.......Depends on need and use whether they are worth the $$When without AC Power we use ours to:Maintain charge on batteriesAnd provide AC POWER for microwave, A/C, outlets when appropriate to use generatorIt also provides AC Power source just in case........rig is our emergency shelter.Maintaining battery charge via truck.......hours and hours needed due to limitations of truck charge line---size/amps.Truck charge line is more for maintaining trailer battery charge vs recharging a low battery

Are Generators worth the $$'s | Good Sam Community

PenMan
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
They're only worth the money if you need them. I have two Honda 2000's and use them some. I never use them to watch TV even when boondocking. I have a 12 volt TV in the bedroom that we can bring to the living area and plug into 12 volt there if we really want to watch something (usually a DVD but the TV has it built in). The main thing I use them for is A/C and coffee maker (and I don't even drink coffee but others do). Depending on how long I am camping I may need one to charge the batteries. We have a week long trip planned in a couple of weeks to the mountains where they are getting snow tonight. In that case we will probably run the heat at night so will need to charge the batteries daily. You only need one to charge the batteries or even use the microwave. You only need two to run the A/C.
2oldman
Explorer II
Apr 26, 2014
What are your electrical usage habits?

For things like lights, charging phones, water pump, that's all battery. If you want to get into entertainment like TV, radios and anything that needs 120v, an inverter is much cheaper and way less noisy than a couple generators! You must have a good way to charge your batteries, and I'm not sure the vehicle is a good way. Takes a long time - but then again, if your usage is very light, no matter.

I've been around people using a gen to watch TV, but it's kinda annoying because it drones on for hours, and I know that's what they're doing. I've dry camped a lot in all kinds of situations, and I very rarely see people running air from their gens.
RollandB
Explorer
Apr 26, 2014
If your batteries are low, they are worth a lot of $$...;)

If you end up not needing it after this trip you won't have an issue finding someone to buy it from you.

Forum Discussion

Are Generators worth the $$'s

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Generator question - worth it to sell Champion gen for Honda

Washer/Dryer worth it?

Second AC worth it?

S&S 2003 Ponderosa 8.5 SC

Balancing 19.5's