I have a fiber glass cap on my pickup. Cost being a factor, my thought was to buy a cheaper generator like a "Champion" and crank it on inside the cap with an opened window to keep the noise level down outside. Does anyone else do this and does it work for you? I only need it to turn on for the AC on the hottest of days or charge the batteries. So, it would have to be at least a 3000 W gen. VS a Honda for $1800, a Champion cost about $300+.

It'll take a lot more than that cap to cut the noise enough to do you any good. Plus there's a small problem of cooling, not to mention the matter of enough fresh air to run the engine. Since hot days and AC are when you'll be running it, cooling is going to be a major issue. You won't save much folding green burning up that $300 generator every couple days.

Remember you get what you pay for.

Our road mechanic tried to run a generator inside the utility truck with the back door open but could only get about 1 hr before it didn't like the air inside the closed space started acting up.

I've seen a few generators on pickup beds. My observation is that the bed acts like a sounding board, making a loud generator even louder.I think the best fix for a loud one is to get a very long extension cord, and find a ditch or a tree at least 70' away.

Road Phantom wrote:I have a fiber glass cap on my pickup. Cost being a factor, my thought was to buy a cheaper generator like a "Champion" and crank it on inside the cap with an opened window to keep the noise level down outside. Does anyone else do this and does it work for you? I only need it to turn on for the AC on the hottest of days or charge the batteries. So, it would have to be at least a 3000 W gen. VS a Honda for $1800, a Champion cost about $300+.Have you ACTUALLY heard a REAL Champion (or any other Chinese clones like it)?Although the knock offs are a bit louder they actually are not all that bad, in fact I think they are extremely quiet when comparing it to a old school Briggs and Stratton contractor type.I would say that my Chinese gen is about as noisy as a gas powered golf cart (and we know that golf courses demand quiet carts).I have even gone as far as measuring the DB level and comparing it to my trucks which have a 5.4 gas engine with unmodified exhaust systems.Hands down the gen IS quieter than my pickup truck at idle, the truck easily was 10 DB LOUDER than the gen at 21 ft..Running a gen under a cap is asking for trouble. Heat build up which was mentioned will happen fast since you will not have much cross ventilation.Then CO is another issue to consider.. Your cap will be open to your trailer and the trailer will be only a few feet away from the truck when connected. Basically ALL the exhaust WILL exit the back of the cap and could potentially seep into your trailer.If using the gen while truck and trailer are connected ALL the noise WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE TRAILER making it seem louder than it is.With all that said, I have a two piece "topper" on my truck and the gen is at the front of the bed. I lift the front topper and have modified the gen exhaust with an added tail pipe which directs the exhaust up and out of the bed.I then drop the tailgate to allow the gen to circulate cooling air out of the bed.I do not CAMP with the gen running, it is only used when stopping for the night (overnighting without power) to cool down the trailer before getting some rest.Some folks have made special noise reducing boxes which are open to the sky. This redirects the noise upwards and helps to quiet the gen.But, if you absolutely can not stand ANY engine noise what so ever then I would recommend get yourself a roof full of solar panels.In this case even the expensive brand name gens will be too noisy for you (They DO MAKE NOISE in spite of what some folks tout).

noisy generators | Good Sam Community

85 Replies

jaycocreek
Explorer II
Mar 06, 2014
My concern running any generator in the pickup cap would be heat inside the cap. If it got 90+ or so degrees, my 4k Yamaha ES wouldn't run or run right especially pulling a good load. Nock on wood, my 3K Honda hasn't had any issues with heat pulling a good load like the AC.
Caveman_Charlie
Explorer II
Mar 06, 2014
I sometimes wonder if a bigger/better muffler would help the generator run more quiet too.
Unyalli
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014
Road Phantom wrote:
I have a fiber glass cap on my pickup. Cost being a factor, my thought was to buy a cheaper generator like a "Champion" and crank it on inside the cap with an opened window to keep the noise level down outside. Does anyone else do this and does it work for you? I only need it to turn on for the AC on the hottest of days or charge the batteries. So, it would have to be at least a 3000 W gen.
VS a Honda for $1800, a Champion cost about $300+.

If you get one of these Champion 46539 wireless remote start generator for $539 shipped and put it in one of these Supergen Tent for $99.95 and position it correctly you can press one of these when ever you need 30 amps of power and barely hear it. In the bed of your truck with a clamp on fan and the exhaust pointing the right direction even quieter and your still less than half the cost of one of those 30 amp red or blue boxes.
Huntindog
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014
pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

And the more you use solar and not a genny the faster the pay back is.
What is your point?
Solar isn't the answer to everyones needs.
The OP is asking about the Champion generator.
I have ACTUAL experience with one, as well as the Hondas. I figure that my experience just might be relvant and helpful to the OP.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Mar 06, 2014
Hi,

And the more you use solar and not a genny the faster the pay back is.
Huntindog
Explorer
Mar 05, 2014
Road Phantom wrote:
I have a fiber glass cap on my pickup. Cost being a factor, my thought was to buy a cheaper generator like a "Champion" and crank it on inside the cap with an opened window to keep the noise level down outside. Does anyone else do this and does it work for you? I only need it to turn on for the AC on the hottest of days or charge the batteries. So, it would have to be at least a 3000 W gen.
VS a Honda for $1800, a Champion cost about $300+.
Between my brother and I we have 3 Honda EU2000s and 1 Champion 3500. My brother bought the Champion in a pinch. It was back when I had just bought my first EU 2000, and he had a Coleman. We were Elk Hunting and his Coleman died. So He ran into town and got the Champion.

The Champion is of course louder than the EU2000s, but it is quite a bit quieter than most of the contractor type generators.
It served him well for several years. A long extension cord can manage the noise easily... Of course we don't use campgrounds where there are neighbors that may object. Except for dog trials, we only boondock in dispersed camp settings out west... If I can see another camp.... They are too close.
About three years ago I picked up a couple more EU2000s with the parallel kit for a very good price, and gave my brother the first Honda.
He still has the Champion, but never uses it anymore. He has discovered the great benefit of the Honda's fuel economy. The Champion goes thru fuel at a astounding rate.
The Honda sips it. Since the 3500 watts of the Champion is rarely needed, he can now carry less fuel to our remote camp sites.

We figure that the Hondas will likely pay for themselves in fuel savings.

So yes, the Hondas intial price is higher, but the overall price of ownership is not.

Of course, the more you use it, the faster the payback is.

I just thought I would bring up a point to consider that is rarely written about here.... It's always about the noise.
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Mar 05, 2014
Talk about entry level.:B

Right now I have a 4k watt Generac/3k Honda/2k Honda and a 1k Champion. There is know comparison to the Honda's. They are well worth the money just as tow vehicles and quality trailers.

I've had a 4k Yamaha ES/4k Onan portable/4k Onan installed in motorhome and several smaller camping generators and none were more trouble free than the Honda's.

I don't worry about damage to things plugged in and it does happen.
goducks10
Explorer
Mar 05, 2014
If I see a contractor style gen in the CG I'm staying in, I'll make sure I'm at the other end.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Mar 05, 2014
Hi all,

Under $1 per watt.
BarneyS
Nomad
Mar 05, 2014
Doug33 wrote:
Cotay wrote:
We opted to buy two Yamaha EF2000is generators and I'm glad we did. Running them in parallel when we need the extra juice, but otherwise we use just one for nice weather camping. Campground neighbors will thank you...and so will your fillings. :)

Do you mind sharing how much those two cost you?

I am not the person you are addressing but I think I can answer the question pretty closely. I purchased my generator (Honda) from these people and they had the best price of anybody I could find. In addition, the shipping was free. Here is a link to their present price for the generator you are asking about.
Yamaha EF2000is generator
Hope this helps.
Barney

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