hi, i'm new to trailer camping and just bought a 05 Fleetwood Pegasus 27FQS today. its in perfect condition and great for a first camper. we are going to use it this summer and see what we like and don't like then maybe move to something different. I have a question though, I would like to get a generator and one that would power everything yet be small, light and quiet so how many watts do I need. I don't have the trailer here now so I don't know what the wattage of the ac and other items are THANKS ! Jay D.

Generally, a 3000w inverter generator will be what you're after if you want to run A/C. If you like the idea of redundancy, many 2000w inverter generator options allow for pairing of two units to increase output. Some people also go that route because a 3000w generator isn't particularly light.If you can live without A/C and probably the microwave, a single 2000w generator is plenty. You could possibly go even smaller if the maximum draw of your converter allows.Popular brands are Honda and Yamaha. Many people, myself included, find the Champion inverter generators to be good value for the money.

I have two Honda EU2000 generators. They run everything including A/C in my TT.I had the EU3000 but in the mountains it would not run my A/C

1000W will keep your batteries recharged and keep basic things like lights on and plugs for low draw things like a TV or computer2000W does all of the above + will allow you to use higher draw things like the microwave, toaster, coffee maker and hair dryer (although not more than any one of those at the same time).3000W = all of the above + you should be able to run an A/C in most circumstances.Of course, there are exceptions but that should be pretty close. I love my Honda 2000. Quiet, fairly easily portable and I can make the kids microwave popcorn :)

Get yourself a Champion 2000 generator and a Micro-Air for your AC and you would be good to go for under $1000.

There's the new Generac IQ2000, quieter than any other 2k watt and they can be paralleled to run a 30A load. Not super cheap at ~$1600 for two and the kit but cheaper than some of the alternatives. Another interesting option is the Champion 3k dual fuel, runs on gas or propane (great for those using an SUV or van to tow or a class b/c without an onboard since you don't have to have fume producing gas cans in the vehicle)

generator | Good Sam Community

89 Replies

GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Mar 14, 2017
What convinced me to buy a Honda was that it was made in the US. With over 30 years experience in building, I have never had a Chinese tool last like an American one.
My son in law has my 32 year old Generac 5000 watt generator and it still runs well.
Yeah, the Honda costs more. I think it was worth it.
Just an old fart's opinion.
RSD559
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
Huntindog wrote:
LOL... I already showed you some facts. As usual, your blindness to the yellow won't let you acknowledge them

1 dbas. not opinion, but fact.
2 fuel tank. not opinion, but fact.
3 resale. easily checked out on ebay, etc. Used Hondas go for good money and sell quickly.
I have done this myself, and have personal experience. When I put a very used EU2000 up for sale last year. I asked 350.00.and people were racing to give me the money.... Word of mouth sold it, no need to advertising needed. I then added a little over 500.00 to it and got a brand new one. You will NEVER get anyone to pay decent money for a champion that was as well used as that Honda. Probably have to give it away.
4 Which leads me to another point that is common in these internet discussions. The proponents of what ever in is they like quote the very best price available for their choice, but not for the competitions... Shame, shame.
You guys need to shop a little harder, deals on Hondas are out there, just as they are for champions.
5 We had a champion in camp for several years, it was bought in a pinch away from home. It served us well for quite awhile, and we still have it. It doesn't get much use anymore, as a Honda replaced it... So having a choice readily available to us.... We use the Honda. It simply is in a different class. Kind of like comparing a chevy to a Mercedes.... They both have 4 tires and a steering wheel. but the mercedes is in a different class.

Okay. I checked.
1) I couldn't find anything that shows the noise produced by either while running a decent load, like an A/C. Idling, pulling no load, the Honda is quieter. But, what kind of a test is that?
2) That wasn't part of the original discussion. However, the Honda not starting about 50% of the unmodified 13,600 btu A/C units was mentioned, and ignored.
3) Yes, it is easily checked. Problem is, only two used Champion 75531i generators were available. Both are asking for more than the price of a new unit. Lots of Honda EU3000is's. From $1200 on up. So this isn't obviously isn't a valid test. However, the fact that few are re-selling the Champions should tell you something.
4) I stated $2300 for the Honda. I did find one for $2000. You could buy half of a Champion for that difference. But, I overstated the price for the Champion as well. I commonly state that it is $700, but I got mine for $610.
5) More opinion without facts. The only reason you use the Honda is because it's too heavy to pull out of the RV and carry to the garage. You have to pay extra for wheels. It would also be more convenient to have a fold-up handle to help pull it.
You still didn't provide any facts. Only opinions that can't be substantiated either way.
TomG2
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
It is called business. Honda and Yamaha built a good product and dominated the market in small generators. They became the target of other companies that began building high quality generators at lower prices. These other companies are building their own brand recognition and loyal fans. For an automotive analogy, don't look at Mercedes, but at Imperial, Packard, and other elite brands that were overtaken in the marketplace.
troubledwaters
Nomad
Mar 14, 2017
Yes, we have opulent people in our neighborhood that drive Mercedes. The rest of us drive a Ford Edge. In the end, they both get us to where we are going. Some people just like to drive Class. That's the part that you can't acknowledge; your paying up for Class. The others of us go for value. Talk about color blindness.

And I'm pretty sure we've acknowledge value has a smaller gas tank and a few more dba's. And guess what, we still think it's a better value.
Huntindog
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
LOL... I already showed you some facts. As usual, your blindness to the yellow won't let you acknowledge them

1 dbas. not opinion, but fact.
2 fuel tank. not opinion, but fact.
3 resale. easily checked out on ebay, etc. Used Hondas go for good money and sell quickly.
I have done this myself, and have personal experience. When I put a very used EU2000 up for sale last year. I asked 350.00.and people were racing to give me the money.... Word of mouth sold it, no need to advertising needed. I then added a little over 500.00 to it and got a brand new one. You will NEVER get anyone to pay decent money for a champion that was as well used as that Honda. Probably have to give it away.
4 Which leads me to another point that is common in these internet discussions. The proponents of what ever in is they like quote the very best price available for their choice, but not for the competitions... Shame, shame.
You guys need to shop a little harder, deals on Hondas are out there, just as they are for champions.
5 We had a champion in camp for several years, it was bought in a pinch away from home. It served us well for quite awhile, and we still have it. It doesn't get much use anymore, as a Honda replaced it... So having a choice readily available to us.... We use the Honda. It simply is in a different class. Kind of like comparing a chevy to a Mercedes.... They both have 4 tires and a steering wheel. but the mercedes is in a different class.
RSD559
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
Huntindog wrote:
troubledwaters wrote:
Well the dba rates are up in the air but in any event we are talking about a few dba. $1300.00 will buy a lot of ear plugs.
It's probably about 10 dba which is a LOT more than a few... Every 3 dba increase is a doubling of sound.

At any rate, quality costs $$. But it is easily a bargain in the long run. A used Honda will sell quickly for good money... Not so much for the others.

Okay, I'm game. Show me something other than your opinion. You don't have to prove the difference in price, we all see that. Does a higher price mean better quality? Nope. Usually a higher price means more marketing and higher markup. Where did you get the information that proves that Honda has far superior quality than Champion? How about info on the re-sale values of the different generators? And how about the 10 db figure, where is that documented? I've owned both generators. I had a Honda EU3000is and I now own a Champion 2800/3100. I can tell a slight difference in the noise level of the two. But it's barely noticeable. I do know that the Honda wouldn't start my A/C. I would think a company so interested in quality would make sure their flagship generator would start the most popular A/Cs on RVs. Have you ever looked closely at a Champion? I doubt it. I have. I see lots of really cool features that my Honda didn't have. Why doesn't Honda have them? I'm just guessing, but why should they. They have people falling all over themselves to spend $2300 on a generator that is more or less as good as one that costs $700.
This whole thing reminds me of the '80s and '90s. By far the most popular game system was the Nintendo. Was it better than the rest? No. In fact, it was the wimpiest game system available at the time. But it cost more than it's competitors and it still sold twice as many units.
It's a free country. You spend your $2300 on a Honda. Know the facts and share them. But make sure they are facts, and not fake facts. (Stepping off the soap box)
RPreeb
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
wing_zealot wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
troubledwaters wrote:
Well the dba rates are up in the air but in any event we are talking about a few dba. $1300.00 will buy a lot of ear plugs.
It's probably about 10 dba which is a LOT more than a few... Every 3 dba increase is a doubling of sound.

At any rate, quality costs $$. But it is easily a bargain in the long run. A used Honda will sell quickly for good money... Not so much for the others.

Is the quality 3 times better, cause thats how much more it costs. On the other hand you could buy 3 of the champions for the same price and have 2 spares.

No it isn't, but you'll never convince the Honda guys of that. I went with a 2000w Powerhorse inverter generator (rated 52db idle to 61db full load), priced a bit higher than Champion but still far less than Honda. You can get 2 of these with the parallel kit for the price of one Honda 2000i. I really can't see any good reason to pay the premium for the Honda.
wing_zealot
Explorer
Mar 14, 2017
Huntindog wrote:
troubledwaters wrote:
Well the dba rates are up in the air but in any event we are talking about a few dba. $1300.00 will buy a lot of ear plugs.
It's probably about 10 dba which is a LOT more than a few... Every 3 dba increase is a doubling of sound.

At any rate, quality costs $$. But it is easily a bargain in the long run. A used Honda will sell quickly for good money... Not so much for the others.
Is the quality 3 times better, cause thats how much more it costs. On the other hand you could buy 3 of the champions for the same price and have 2 spares.
Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Mar 14, 2017
Actually if you do an in depth read up on decibels a 3 db increase is barely perceptible to the human ear.
Huntindog
Explorer
Mar 13, 2017
troubledwaters wrote:
Well the dba rates are up in the air but in any event we are talking about a few dba. $1300.00 will buy a lot of ear plugs.
It's probably about 10 dba which is a LOT more than a few... Every 3 dba increase is a doubling of sound.

At any rate, quality costs $$. But it is easily a bargain in the long run. A used Honda will sell quickly for good money... Not so much for the others.

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