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Generator Recommendations

kfrost72
Explorer
Explorer
We've been dry camping a lot more and our poor old generator has seen the last of it's days. It was one we had before we bought our TT and it would recharge the batteries, but wouldn't run the AC.

Now that we need to buy a new generator we'd like to buy one that runs our 13,500 BTU air conditioning but we're uncertain what level of generator we need to do that. Anyone have any recommendations?
40 REPLIES 40

Vette_Racer
Explorer
Explorer
Champion 3400, have used it all winter, just as quiet as my Honda 2000 because it just idles while the little Honda is screaming its head off to carry the load. No question in my mind. On top of that the wireless remote is almost like having an onboard genset.
KE5NCP
2016 Ram CC Dually, 2011 HitchHiker 349 RSB DA, 2018 Wrangler unlimited Rubicon

aguablanco
Explorer
Explorer
totaldla wrote:
kfrost72 wrote:
We've been dry camping a lot more and our poor old generator has seen the last of it's days. It was one we had before we bought our TT and it would recharge the batteries, but wouldn't run the AC.

Now that we need to buy a new generator we'd like to buy one that runs our 13,500 BTU air conditioning but we're uncertain what level of generator we need to do that. Anyone have any recommendations?

Honda 2000 ($999) and Microair Easystart on the AC ($318). Paired with a 2000W inverter and 2 T105 batteries that will run your microwave for a bag of popcorn without starting the generator.


Or, buy a Champion 3100/3500 and a hard start capacitor for ~$700 and save hundreds of dollars! I have owned several Honda's over the years for my business and see no real advantage to them over the Champions. Spend your money as you will.
RichH
2017 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
8 Speed Transmission
2010 Dutchmen 24 FB-SL
Curt 10,000# WDH
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

totaldla
Explorer
Explorer
kfrost72 wrote:
We've been dry camping a lot more and our poor old generator has seen the last of it's days. It was one we had before we bought our TT and it would recharge the batteries, but wouldn't run the AC.

Now that we need to buy a new generator we'd like to buy one that runs our 13,500 BTU air conditioning but we're uncertain what level of generator we need to do that. Anyone have any recommendations?

Honda 2000 ($999) and Microair Easystart on the AC ($318). Paired with a 2000W inverter and 2 T105 batteries that will run your microwave for a bag of popcorn without starting the generator.

dewey02
Explorer II
Explorer II
I just had to post this.
I saw it posted in another RV Forum and figured it would be perfect here.

Here's a generator that NOBODY can recommend, but someone probably will! ๐Ÿ™‚

ulvik
Explorer
Explorer
tdst51 wrote:
GordonThree wrote:
ulvik wrote:
Champion 3100 inverter generator. Read the reviews on here, it has become one of the best on the market and will easily pull your 13,500 btu air-conditioner. We ran our 15,000 btu AC at 7,000 ft and no issues what so ever. Best inverter generator I have ever owned and it was less than half the price of the Honda I had.


I've been reading a lot of good things about this Champion. The wireless remote start seems a good feature too.

I've got twin Yamaha 2k generators, they'll run my 13.5 after I put an aftermarket capacitor on it. Without the cap, starting was hit and miss.


They may be okay, but, I'm sorry, not even in the same class as the Yamahas or Hondas. And you had to put aftermarket capacitor on it? Don't understand that one bit, but whatever. And the Champion just as quiet as the Honda? I don't think so. People may claim that; it's just not true. Maybe within a decibel or two? Maybe, but that is a big difference. Check out You Tube- lots of comparisons.

Sorry but I have owned both a Honda 3000 and a Champion 3100 and if I had to buy another one tomorrow I would buy another Champion 3100 without a second thought. Then I would take the remaining $1600 I would have spend on another Honda and take a month RV trip. Not knocking Honda it was a good generator also. It may be a hair quieter if any but for the price it is no comparison to the Champion. I had about 400 hours on the Honda before someone needed more than me but as of now I have 350 hours on the Champion with no issues what so ever.
2018 Ram 3500 DRW
2015 Heartland Big Country 3650RL
Great Smokey Mountains

MrWizard
Moderator
Moderator
the champion will run the A/C
we have FIVE small clip on 120v desk fans in this RV
one of them is in the bedroom
we also have a 3 speed 10>11" 120v portable fan that gets used in the bedroom when needed
we run these from our inverter, then charge the house batteries during the day with Our Champ and Solar

Friday was almost 80* and Sunny and i ran the A/C for a few hours
today was cloudy and rainy and i ran the LP heat

weather @#$%^&*()
I can explain it to you.
But I Can Not understand it for you !

....

Connected using T-Mobile Home internet and Visible Phone service
1997 F53 Bounder 36s

tdsxt51
Explorer
Explorer
GordonThree wrote:
ulvik wrote:
Champion 3100 inverter generator. Read the reviews on here, it has become one of the best on the market and will easily pull your 13,500 btu air-conditioner. We ran our 15,000 btu AC at 7,000 ft and no issues what so ever. Best inverter generator I have ever owned and it was less than half the price of the Honda I had.


I've been reading a lot of good things about this Champion. The wireless remote start seems a good feature too.

I've got twin Yamaha 2k generators, they'll run my 13.5 after I put an aftermarket capacitor on it. Without the cap, starting was hit and miss.


They may be okay, but, I'm sorry, not even in the same class as the Yamahas or Hondas. And you had to put aftermarket capacitor on it? Don't understand that one bit, but whatever. And the Champion just as quiet as the Honda? I don't think so. People may claim that; it's just not true. Maybe within a decibel or two? Maybe, but that is a big difference. Check out You Tube- lots of comparisons.
2014 RAM 2500 CTD 6.7 CCLB Auto
2015 Forest River Rockwood Signature Series Ultra Lite 8289WS w/ Diamond Pkg.

brooks379
Explorer
Explorer
IMHO 2 Honda ei2000 gens are the way to go. They are light enough you can move them around easy, quiet, hook them together and you have enough power to run the AC. Easy to store away out of sight. Fill them up and they will run all night long. I have had 2 for about 5 or 6 years and they have been 2 of the best little gens I ever could have bought !!

TxGearhead
Explorer II
Explorer II
Having attended several nascar races, having a quiet gen is considerate, but it seems there is always someone with a oversized construction generator that they want to run 24/7.
Like many posts on many forums "just do what I do". LOL
We have 2 Honda 2000's with a parallel kit and an IPI Industries long run kit. The smaller Honda's are easier to move around and load and unload from the truck. Pus if you just want to charge batteries or run a fan you can run just one.
The Honda's are pricey. I would also consider Smarter Tools, Champion, or Generac 2,000 Watt inverters with parallel and long run kits.
2018 Ram 3500 CC LB DRW 4X4 Cummins Aisin Laramie Pearl White
2018 Landmark Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4
2014 NauticStar 21 ShallowBay 150HP Yamaha
2016 GoDevil 18X44 35HP Surface Drive

justafordguy
Explorer
Explorer
The Champion 3400 inverter gen is very quiet. I have several friends that run them and they seem to be very reliable also. Running one A/C on the 3400 will be no problem.
2015 Heartland Gateway 3650BH
2017 F350 CCLB KR FX4
2005 F250 CC FX4
77 Bronco, 302,C4,PS,PB,A/C,33" KM2s,D44/Lock-Right,9"/Grizzly locker

pellas2
Explorer
Explorer
NASCAR racing. Would need to run AC all night in the summer. Great idea for the fan, thanks.

GordonThree
Explorer
Explorer
pellas2 wrote:
We are in need of a generator for our TT and are torn between the 2 Honda 2000 inverters and the Champion 3400 inverter. The Champion is much cheaper but we are worried about it being too loud for infield camping at race tracks. Does anyone have experience with using the Champion at race tracks where your neighbor is very close? We would need to run it all night as my wife needs a fan to sleep as well as the AC in the summer. Our TT has 2 AC's equal to 15000. We would need enough to at least run one of them.
Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.


Horse racing or nascar-like? I can't believe any generator would be considered loud at a automotive race, but I have no experience with such things.

As far as running a fan "all night", check out Endless Breeze. 12v fan that provides a lot of air and doesn't use much power, any small battery should run it for days no generator needed.
2013 KZ Sportsmen Classic 200, 20 ft TT
2020 RAM 1500, 5.7 4x4, 8 speed

pellas2
Explorer
Explorer
We are in need of a generator for our TT and are torn between the 2 Honda 2000 inverters and the Champion 3400 inverter. The Champion is much cheaper but we are worried about it being too loud for infield camping at race tracks. Does anyone have experience with using the Champion at race tracks where your neighbor is very close? We would need to run it all night as my wife needs a fan to sleep as well as the AC in the summer. Our TT has 2 AC's equal to 15000. We would need enough to at least run one of them.
Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Explorer III
No, unfortunately I purchased two Champ 2000's before I heard about the Micro-Air. I am thinking about selling one Champ and purchasing the Micro Air.

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
Boon Docker wrote:
One of these these and one of these http://www.championpowerequipment.com/products/inverters/73536i-2000w-inverter/ and you are good to go.


Excellent suggestion! That's really thinking outside the box to best leverage technology both for one's budget and for minimization of equipment that one has to pack along and lift for drycamping.

Do you use this setup for A/C in your rig ... and if so, how high in altitude has the Champion been able to start your 13.5K BTU air conditioner?
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C