We have a 2007 Aerolite 718 fd ( 18' ). We have camped for over a month total with it since purchase in Feb 2013. We have never dry camped or boondocked but are anticipating trying that some this year. I have an old 2000 watt Homelite Generator I keep around the house because we are in hurricane alley. It is so loud and old I would be not take it camping, even if I could lift it to put it in the truck.We have one 12volt battery (new ) in the Camper system. Since we are not sure how much boondocking / dry camping we will do I'm not sure I want to get into a big battery conversion / expense right now. Was thinking about buying a 2000Honda and using it. Couple of questions1: Would the 2000 honda serve our needs? I am guessing it may run everything but the a/c or would it power the a/c too?2: Do you just plug the 30 Amp TT plug into the Honda or is there something else that would be needed to run the TT off the Honda?PS: There are only two of us. We have propane HWH, frig, and cooktop. We have a small flat screen, a/c, and microwave, plus normal 110 / 12volt lights / outlets. Also, we are planning on buying a 30 amp surge protector soon for use at campgrounds. Don't have one yet and have been reading everyone recommends one for power surges. Would you use that with a genny?Thanks

Honda 2000 will run everything except the A/C and microwave. if the microwave is small enough you might get lucky. as rule both of them are iffy's

riven1950 wrote:We have a 2007 Aerolite 718 fd ( 18' ). We have camped for over a month total with it since purchase in Feb 2013. We have never dry camped or boondocked but are anticipating trying that some this year. I have an old 2000 watt Homelite Generator I keep around the house because we are in hurricane alley. It is so loud and old I would be not take it camping, even if I could lift it to put it in the truck.We have one 12volt battery (new ) in the Camper system. Since we are not sure how much boondocking / dry camping we will do I'm not sure I want to get into a big battery conversion / expense right now. Was thinking about buying a 2000Honda and using it. Couple of questions1: Would the 2000 honda serve our needs? I am guessing it may run everything but the a/c or would it power the a/c too? We have the Honda 2000 and it runs everything but use with common sense ie. don't try running the Microwave, AC and Hair dryer at the same time. We have the Coleman 9500 AC and it runs it just fine when needed, not sure if it can handle the 13,500 coleman.2: Do you just plug the 30 Amp TT plug into the Honda or is there something else that would be needed to run the TT off the Honda?You will need a adapter plug for connecting the 30amp connector from your RV to the conventional 110v outlet on the Honda 2000.PS: There are only two of us. We have propane HWH, frig, and cooktop. We have a small flat screen, a/c, and microwave, plus normal 110 / 12volt lights / outlets. Look into a small inverter for when you want to run the TV then you will not need to run the generator as often.Also, we are planning on buying a 30 amp surge protector soon for use at campgrounds. Don't have one yet and have been reading everyone recommends one for power surges. Would you use that with a genny? We don't use a surge protector when using our Honda 2000.Like oldguy mentioned the Microwave would be iffy unless it is a small unit. In addition, if you have the 13,500 AC it is very unlikely you can run it on the generator.Thanks

For years we boondocked in our TT using 2 Deep Cycle 12V batteries and a 1000 watt honda to charge them with during the day. The generator would also run a small TV and VCR.If we conserved electricity we could go for a weekend without having to charge the batteries. That meant turning off unused lights, using candles and trying to keep the water pump from running as much as possible.The generator would stretch the trip out to a week or until we ran out of gas/water or holding tank space.As others have said the 2000 watt will work well for you and is quiet enough not to distrub neighbors.

You won't need the surge protector for a inverter type gen. You need to provide more info on your a/c unit. It may or may not run on the 2000. Single high wattage items like hair dryers and coffee makers are usually the cause of tripped breakers. You always have to consider what else is using the power at the time. You won't damage most things but the a/c unit could be another story. I have a 3000 watt gen and my automatic fridge keeps tripping my memory about the time it trips a breaker, if get carried away with the microwave and a/c. Your trailer will be trying to recharge the battery as soon as your start the gen. You might have to start the gen early so the battery can absorb some of the life giving nectar then let other items have their share. The converter will always run unless you turn off the breaker that supplies it's power. If you have a 3 stage converter it uses max power at first. This means a 45 amp converter could use half the power from the 2000 until it kicks down to the second stage. We seem to use more juice than think. It's a learning experience. The Honda 2000 is a very good choice as long as it is capable of running thing you need.

Consider replacing the 12 volt bulbs inside with LED type. They use about 1/6 the power of the incandescent bulbs depending on what you get. They will extend the battery time.

Generator questions | Good Sam Community

rrupert
Explorer
Dec 21, 2013
mlts22 wrote:
There is always the Coleman propane coffee maker.

Maybe this is pure bravado, but I just don't feel like firing up a generator for a cup of coffee when I have a good propane stove right by that can easily boil water in a pan, then pour through a coffee filter in a funnel right into the mug.

Coleman now has a stove top version of their coffee maker, no propane bottles needed.
pnichols
Explorer II
Dec 21, 2013
mlts22 wrote:
Maybe this is pure bravado, but I just don't feel like firing up a generator for a cup of coffee when I have a good propane stove right by that can easily boil water in a pan, then pour through a coffee filter in a funnel right into the mug.

I agree 150%!!!

I have a heat proof (titanium) mug that I fill with instant coffee and water ... then place it right on one of the RV's propane burners to boil it. When it bubbles, I grab it with a napkined hand and enjoy.

I wipe it out afterwards with the same napkin I grabbed it hot off the burner with. Nothing to wash off or throw-away or otherwise "mess with". Male laziness at it's peak ... for anyone (male?) who can put up with instant coffee! :C
mlts22
Explorer
Dec 20, 2013
There is always the Coleman propane coffee maker.

Maybe this is pure bravado, but I just don't feel like firing up a generator for a cup of coffee when I have a good propane stove right by that can easily boil water in a pan, then pour through a coffee filter in a funnel right into the mug.
rrupert
Explorer
Dec 19, 2013
LowRyter wrote:
.....or you might just get an old fashioned cook top percolator (if I can ever figure it out). Those instant coffee bags are pretty good too.

What can't you figure out? Put water in the bottom, coffee in the top, put the lid on, heat it up and when it starts to perk turn the heat back for a gentle perk rate and let it go for about three minutes. Remove from heat and pour yourself a hot cup. Enjoy!! :)
LowRyter
Explorer
Dec 19, 2013
.....or you might just get an old fashioned cook top percolator (if I can ever figure it out). Those instant coffee bags are pretty good too.
NinerBikes
Explorer
Dec 15, 2013
riven1950 wrote:
Thanks all the info. I am thinking we would only be dry camping for 2 or 3 nights max at a time or just boondock overnight. Our shower is pretty tight ( we usually just use CG showers ) and after 2 nights I suspect the GF will be looking for a hot shower.

TT is not available today to check for sure but I think the a/c is 13,500. Will need to check on it. The Aerolite website shows 13,500 and 15,000. Can't hardly believe it is a 15,000, but it will freeze you even in hot Fl sun so I am thinking at least a 13,500.

The coffee pot comment got my attention. I hope it will run off the 2000 honda!

Will need to check on the a/c, micro, and coffee pot specs and come back for more advice. We may have to do without a/c and only run the other energy hogs one at a time. Will check into led lights too.....but man I have got to have my coffee in the AM :)

Get a kettle of water and a French press coffee maker, and you'll get hot cups of coffee, every time. A Honda EU2000i will not run a Dometic 13,500 BTU AC, which is standard on most units. It will run a Colema Polar Cub 9000, stand alone, everything else electrical turned off and battery out of the 14.4v bulk charge mode by the charge controller.
riven1950
Explorer
Dec 14, 2013
I am in Fl right now. When I return I will check the specs on the a/c and come back here, maybe someone can tell me if a 2000 will run it. I am pretty sure now it will run everything else. thnks
LenSatic
Explorer
Dec 14, 2013
The Honda EU2000i does power the 9500 BTU (+/-) A/C on our Casita. It also will power our Sharp micro/convect oven. BUT, not both at the same time. Early on it would not run the A/C. I learned that that was because our water heater would heat anytime AC power was on. There was a switch next to the water heater (accessed from outside). If I let the genie run for 20 minutes or so, the water heater shut off and it would then run the A/C. I chose to just turn off the AC (alternating current) switch and use propane to heat the water.

Another trick with A/C (air conditioning) is, if you know you will need it, turn it on as soon as you get up and start the genie. That way it will not have to work overtime to cool to the ambient temp. You will save fuel and stay cooler. ;)

Remember, though, turn off the A/C before using the micro.

LS
ICamel
Explorer
Dec 13, 2013
Our Honda 2000 will power everything the RV has except for the AC(13,500). Microwave is 900W. Like others have said, just don't try to run multiple electric hogs at the same time. You can get a Coleman Drip Coffeemaker that uses the rangetop. Takes a little longer to make coffee, but it is just as good as what I get at home with the Melitta electric.
TNRIVERSIDE
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013
I agree with the concern about the coffee. We can do without a lot of stuff but we better have coffee in the mornings. Most plug in items use no more then 1500 watts. So portable heaters, hair dryers or coffee pots should be okay on a 2000 watt generator operating one at a time. On our last outing we used a small KEURIG coffee maker. This unit only uses electricity when making a cup. It does not cycle off and on like a regular pot. So you do not need to be concerned that it will cycle on while you using another device. That's my 2 cents worth.

This is only true with the smaller KEURIG. The larger unit keeps the water hot and will cycle.

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