Shopping for generator

[cjmccullen]

Hi! New to this forum. I'm going to buy a generator for travel with my 1996 5th wheel. It was suggested to me to buy 2 2000K generators so that it would be easier for me to move around instead of a larger one. As a result of being a single woman on the road, this will come in handy 😉 Also can use only one if I'm not going to be using the AC. My questions, which brands should I stay away from? Suggestions appreciated!

Cari.

[johndeerefarmer]

laknox wrote:
You can get TWO of these from Harbor Freight for less than the cost of ONE Honda 3000:

https://www.harborfreight.com/3500-watt-super-quiet-inverter-generator-63584.html.

Lyle

You also get a very short warranty, no proven track record and no source for parts so you had better plan on buying a new one every time your's breaks.

[waltbennett]

2oldman wrote:
You're claiming an open-frame generator "isn't much louder" than 2 Yamahas? Perhaps you've never done a sound comparison from 300' away.

Yes I did, and it really isn't all that loud. Too loud for a campground, but not for Walmart or truck stop parking.

[Mile_High]

2oldman wrote:

waltbennett wrote:
We've had one of their 4kw peak regular ones (a whopping $300!) for four years and it's worked flawlessly (and isn't much louder than the two Yamaha's I had previously).

You're claiming an open-frame generator "isn't much louder" than 2 Yamahas? Perhaps you've never done a sound comparison from 300' away.

X2 It's always the guy with the loud generator that thinks his is nearly as quiet as everyone elses.

[laknox]

You can get TWO of these from Harbor Freight for less than the cost of ONE Honda 3000:

https://www.harborfreight.com/3500-watt-super-quiet-inverter-generator-63584.html.

Lyle

[Butch50]

Don,

I put a rack on the front of my 2011 Ford CC gas 6.2 V8 F350 4X4 LB when we went to AK. I had upgraded my tires to commercial 19.5" tires. The tires were the same diameter as my stock 18" but where much heavier. On the front rack I had a 20" tall and 56" wide tool box with my Honda 2000 and a 5 and 2.5 gallon cans with gas in it and other odds and ends that weighed in at 300 to 400 lbs. I had loaded on it a 11' Northern Lite fiberglass truck camper. I was right at 12,000 lbs

We traveled 11,000 miles with this setup.The first 1800 miles was pulling a 17' boat. I never saw my temps go up and believe or not it was 96 degrees and higher in Fairbanks and stayed that way for a number of days. The average mileage for the entire trip was 10.8 MPG. This was taking into account the difference in gallons between US and Canada.

We also went over the Top of the World road, down into Skagway and Seward and then had to climb all the way back up.

I was really impressed with the way the truck preformed.

I don't know if a generator on the front of the Ram will affect it or not but if it does I guess it'll go into the bed. I watch my water temp, trans temp and oil temps very closely. Also I’m nowhere close to max GVWR nor the GCWR of the truck.

I really had a hard time getting this loaded as every time I use the "shift 3" to put in the symbol for weight this site blocked me and would not let me post. Has anybody else had this problem lately? As an example I tried to put this in red text and if stopped me from posting. I think the site is having some problems right now or it doesn't like me right now.

[azrving]

Honda is not only quieter at full load but also uses less fuel.
Honda has a fuel gauge.
Honda 300 hour valve adjustment, Champ 3100 100 hour valve adjustment.
Champ requires 50 hour oil change when powering heavy loads.
Honda 3 year resi or commercial warranty, Champ resi.
Honda manual pull cable choke, Champ remove cover screws to access manual choke.
Honda has oil life monitor light.
Honda instructs proper use for home, Champ say no use as prime power.
Honda plastic fuel tank, Champ steel.
Honda 3.4 gal tank, Champ 1.6
Honda no tools oil access, Champ screw on cover.
Honda clean carbon 500 hr, Champ 250 hr

[johndeerefarmer]

I recommend the Honda EU3000is and have someone install the Pinellas Products remote start and auto choke. Mine works great and will easily start my 15k a/c (and even easier now that I have installed the Microair Easy Start).Mine is installed on a rack on the back.
The twin Hondas are great as I have them as well but you don't want to be lugging them around or pulling on ropes to start them.

Honda makes the de facto standard that the others try to keep up with.
If you look at the larger Champions (3100-3400 Watts) you will see that they are way cheaper than the Honda equivalent but you get smaller engines, smaller fuel tanks, and a gravity fed fuel pump so using a larger fuel tank is harder. On top of this the Champions rate their sound output at only 25% load vs the Honda which gives specs at both 1/4 and full load. You can't find the specs at full load because champion says they are "not available". BS..... They don't want you to see how much quieter the Honda really is.

For example: Honda EU3000is is rated 58dB at full load and 49dB at 1/4 load. The Champion 3100W is rated at 58dB at 1/4 load. The Honda at full load is as quiet as the Champion at full load. The Champion at 25% load will sound twice as loud as the Honda at full load if you are not familiar with decibels.


I paid $1850 for the Honda EU3000is and then another $359 for the Pinellas Products remote control kit and automatic choke.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I did put my genny on the front of my class C. The results were:

1. better steering
2. engine ran 30 f hotter
3. cost of 20% more for fuel i.e. 8 mpg instead of 10 mpg.

I moved it to the rear and the steering was a little less improved--but mileage and engine heat returned to normal.

Butch50 wrote:
I already have a Honda 2000i and a Yamaha 3000iSEB with remote start. I really don't want to carry either of them in the bed of my truck so I think I have found the way to carry the Yamaha without being in the bed or hanging off the back of the 5er. Torklift Lock and Load rack. This will allow me to carry the Yamaha on the front of the truck with a front hitch to install the Lock and Load on it. I have plenty of capacity on my front axle to carry it and I have used front racks on my other trucks with a truck camper and never had a heating problem.

It also makes it easier to take off the truck when I'm not using it and it is built to handle generators and locking them on.

Here is what I'm talking about:

Torklift Lock & Load

The worst part of this is that a few years back Torklift ran a contest on NATCOA and I won one of these but at that time I had just switched to a MH so contacted them and told them that I no longer had a need for one and to please pass it along to someone else. Now years later I'm looking at buying one. Crying shame that I didn't just take it and stow it away.

[Butch50]

I already have a Honda 2000i and a Yamaha 3000iSEB with remote start. I really don't want to carry either of them in the bed of my truck so I think I have found the way to carry the Yamaha without being in the bed or hanging off the back of the 5er. Torklift Lock and Load rack. This will allow me to carry the Yamaha on the front of the truck with a front hitch to install the Lock and Load on it. I have plenty of capacity on my front axle to carry it and I have used front racks on my other trucks with a truck camper and never had a heating problem.

It also makes it easier to take off the truck when I'm not using it and it is built to handle generators and locking them on.

Here is what I'm talking about:

Torklift Lock & Load

The worst part of this is that a few years back Torklift ran a contest on NATCOA and I won one of these but at that time I had just switched to a MH so contacted them and told them that I no longer had a need for one and to please pass it along to someone else. Now years later I'm looking at buying one. Crying shame that I didn't just take it and stow it away.

[2oldman]

waltbennett wrote:
We've had one of their 4kw peak regular ones (a whopping $300!) for four years and it's worked flawlessly (and isn't much louder than the two Yamaha's I had previously).

You're claiming an open-frame generator "isn't much louder" than 2 Yamahas? Perhaps you've never done a sound comparison from 300' away.

[waltbennett]

Not saying anything against Honda, Yamaha or Champion, but Harbor Freight has this: https://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/inverter-generators/3500-watt-super-quiet-inverter-generator-63584.html

We've had one of their 4kw peak regular ones (a whopping $300!) for four years and it's worked flawlessly (and isn't much louder than the two Yamaha's I had previously). I just got tired of managing two instead of one. Yes, I've either got to use an engine hoist or get help lifting it onto or out of my truck, but I only do that a couple of times a year. If this thing breaks, that inverter one will be next.

[valhalla360]

bpounds wrote:
I have the 2k Honda. Only the one, so we don't run A/C. I like it okay. Resale value on those ie2000 is great. You can own and use one for years for about $100.

One thing I don't see mentioned too often, is the issue of noise and distance. It is nice to move the little gen away from the trailer where we are trying to watch TV or sleep. For that reason I would not like a unit mounted on the pinbox, right outside the bedroom wall. Even hanging on the bumper will result in more noise in the coach, than the same genset would sitting on the ground.

Just something else to think about. Different folks will reach different choices.

With the inverter generators, when under light load, they really make very little noise plus if we aren't running the air/con, we typically don't run it while sleeping.

If the air/con is running the blower more than drowns out any noise from the generator.

One safety issue: Make sure there are no open windows or vents near the exhaust that could let carbon monoxide inside.

[cummins2014]

rjxj wrote:
The easiest way to use a genny is to bolt/secure a remote start model in the truck bed. Install a transfer switch in the rig and wire in number 10 gauge rubber coated cable between the transfer switch and up to the generator. I fastened mine under the overhang and up past the pin box. Make it long enough so you can pull the truck hood to pin so the noise is away from the rig.

You can sit inside and fire it up or start it on the road for taking breaks or cooling down before you set up. You do have to disconnect to drive away but I'd never ride off with ac or something running and I wouldn't ride away with the generator sitting there. Easy to fuel it while at a gas station.

I had modified and mounted a Champion on the rear bumper of a TT but isolating it from the RV is much quieter. When it's pointed away from the FW we forget that it's running when eco is on.

Noise is always a factor, either for you or someone around you, but also the exhaust put off from the generator, that also should be taken into account. Its a factor for you as well as someone near. Never know what can be drawn inside an Rv . They are not actually airtight by any means.

For me the noise is a bigger concern for people around us.

[prfssr]

Just food for thought. I owned 2 EU2000 Hondas that I bought used in parallel. Used them for 8 years and found out through Honda that they were 2006 models. I just sold them to a person who needed them both for the parallel capacity on a food truck. After 8 years of ownership - sold them for $100 less than what I bought them for. Fresh oil and a few spark plugs and air filters during my ownership. Well worth the cost.
Look for used as they are everywhere - but they usually go fast. I now have 2 Champion 3500 inverter remote start that are used in parallel. They are twice as heavy but managable for me using them twice a year.

[Mile_High]

Your 1996 fifth wheel may not have generator prep, which can be a pain to retrofit. If it is not tailored made for an Onan in house, I personally would go with the 2 portables.