New and looking for a generator

[GravelRider]

Hello everyone. I'm buying my first travel trailer, a Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 16BHS. I am planning to do a lot of boondocking, and I want a generator. I want a small portable generator, but I don't want to go too small. I'm thinking I can comfortably do a 3000 watt generator, but I'd like to get some opinions of experienced RVers.

The travel trailer has a 13,500 BTU AC unit, a microwave, and I think everything else will be DC. We'll be running the normal lights, water pumps, etc., charging a couple phones and tablets, and may add a DC television as well. That's about it. I'm completely fine with shutting off the AC while using the microwave.

What size generator do I need?

And any suggestions on quiet cheap generators? (quiet being more important than cheap, but I'd prefer not to spend a ton)

Thanks everyone.

[72cougarxr7]

GravelRider wrote:
Thanks for all the above everyone. I purchased the Champion 3100 watt with remote start. It'll arrive Thursday, just in time for the trailer's maiden boondocking voyage next weekend.

You will love the Champion! I have the Champion 3400 remote start model. It starts my ac in eco mode no problem, and once the ac is running, it only sounds like it is running at half throttle. Pretty quiet as well.
If you ever need parts, you can call Champions 1800 number and they will ship them straight to you from their warehouse in California.

[72cougarxr7]

GravelRider wrote:
Thanks for all the above everyone. I purchased the Champion 3100 watt with remote start. It'll arrive Thursday, just in time for the trailer's maiden boondocking voyage next weekend.

You will love the Champion! I have the Champion 3400 remote start model. It starts my ac in eco mode no problem, and once the ac is running, it only sounds like it is running at half throttle. Pretty quiet as well.
If you ever need parts, you can call Champions 1800 number and they will ship them straight to you from their warehouse in California.

[_1nobby]

Huntindog wrote:

But this truely is a case of pay once. cry once, over paying less and crying many times.

Quote of the day.

[MFL]

Huntindog wrote:
I realize I am late to the party.
I have participated in dog Field trials for 14-15 years, Quite a few people attend, and it is a 100% boondocking situation. I have seen a LOT of generators in use. A lot of people have showed up with the off brands... But they don't last long. I have seen quite a few people replace them before their first outing is over.
It is pretty easy to comparison shop in camp when just about everyone is running generators.
If your neighbors generator can do more than the one you just bought.... You will quickly realize it's failings.
The Honda 2000/2200s are the overwhelming choice. I have known 2 people that ran the yamahas for several years.
A few people have showed up a few times with the Champions..But nobody has used them for long. Within a year, they have all moved on to the Hondas. Now understand that the FT crowd has some money, and are willing to spend it for quality/performance.... They like everyone like the idea of saving money, but if it doesn't meet expectations. it is changed quickly.. That even goes for the TVs they drive.

I personally have two Honda 2000s.I always boondock, and usually only need to run one Honda, and just about always can get by with one if needed. On a couple of occasions (over 15 years) I have had a minor problem. A pull cord broke, and a rubber foot broke off... I just used the other one till I got back to town for repairs. So I like the flexability and redundandcy of this setup. The little Hondas just flat out work. Yes they are pricey.
But this truely is a case of pay once. cry once, over paying less and crying many times.

[Huntindog]

I realize I am late to the party.
I have participated in dog Field trials for 14-15 years, Quite a few people attend, and it is a 100% boondocking situation. I have seen a LOT of generators in use. A lot of people have showed up with the off brands... But they don't last long. I have seen quite a few people replace them before their first outing is over.
It is pretty easy to comparison shop in camp when just about everyone is running generators.
If your neighbors generator can do more than the one you just bought.... You will quickly realize it's failings.
The Honda 2000/2200s are the overwhelming choice. I have known 2 people that ran the yamahas for several years.
A few people have showed up a few times with the Champions..But nobody has used them for long. Within a year, they have all moved on to the Hondas. Now understand that the FT crowd has some money, and are willing to spend it for quality/performance.... They like everyone like the idea of saving money, but if it doesn't meet expectations. it is changed quickly.. That even goes for the TVs they drive.

I personally have two Honda 2000s.I always boondock, and usually only need to run one Honda, and just about always can get by with one if needed. On a couple of occasions (over 15 years) I have had a minor problem. A pull cord broke, and a rubber foot broke off... I just used the other one till I got back to town for repairs. So I like the flexability and redundandcy of this setup. The little Hondas just flat out work. Yes they are pricey.
But this truely is a case of pay once. cry once, over paying less and crying many times.

[pianotuna]

valhalla360 wrote:


Mine always does a little boost. I think it's 2% but when voltage drops it bumps up by 10%.

30% would seem likely to cause other issues if you aren't careful. If you are drawing 20amp at the RV...you are now drawing around 27-30amp at the pedestal depending on the efficiency of the unit. Typical circuit breakers (particularly old worn out ones) don't like steady draws that high. You could probably run an air/con but if the battery charger or anything else kicks on, you are popping the breaker.

valhalla360,

That's an excellent point.

I've had a 15 amp breaker pop when running the roof air--input voltage was 100 unloaded. It did give me an hour of 100% duty cycle before it failed. Fortunately I had access to the breaker panel. It is the only time I've had a breaker trip when using the autoformer.

I did have one 30 amp breaker trip in the "old" section of a commercial campground in Regina, Sk. That was before I owned the autoformer. I did a work around by forcing the Magnun hybrid inverter charger to do "voltage support" by lowering the input amperage.

Doing that had the side effect of increasing the harvest from the solar panels. I do not recommend forcing voltage support. It may have damaged the Magnum.

[Bionic_Man]

I have tow Yamaha 2000's that I run in parallel. More power than a 3000 unit, and much easier to maneuver.

As a side note, I don't think any of the "quiet" generators are quiet when they are running the air conditioning.

[valhalla360]

pianotuna wrote:

I won't be running the roof air at 105 volts. But I do get a 30% boost at 90 volts input. That works out to 117 volts. However as I said earlier in the thread the lowest input voltage I've seen is 100 volts.

I also 'tweaked' the input trigger voltage to cut in at 3 volts higher--so I get my first layer of boost at 113 rather than at 110 volts.

Mine always does a little boost. I think it's 2% but when voltage drops it bumps up by 10%.

30% would seem likely to cause other issues if you aren't careful. If you are drawing 20amp at the RV...you are now drawing around 27-30amp at the pedestal depending on the efficiency of the unit. Typical circuit breakers (particularly old worn out ones) don't like steady draws that high. You could probably run an air/con but if the battery charger or anything else kicks on, you are popping the breaker.

[TomG2]

GravelRider wrote:
Thanks for all the above everyone. I purchased the Champion 3100 watt with remote start. It'll arrive Thursday, just in time for the trailer's maiden boondocking voyage next weekend.

We want a full review and report after you use it.

I have had three Champions, a couple of Hondas, and a Yamaha or two. All did very well with clean fresh fuel and regular "exercise".

[Ron3rd]

GravelRider wrote:
Thanks for all the above everyone. I purchased the Champion 3100 watt with remote start. It'll arrive Thursday, just in time for the trailer's maiden boondocking voyage next weekend.

Good choice.

[GravelRider]

Thanks for all the above everyone. I purchased the Champion 3100 watt with remote start. It'll arrive Thursday, just in time for the trailer's maiden boondocking voyage next weekend.

[time2roll]

I have seen 90-93 volts at an RV camp just east of Glacier. Even my booster shut down power. Came back on after the sun goes down. I have no generator to run the air.

[pianotuna]

valhalla360 wrote:

pianotuna wrote:

The autoformer I use can handle a lower input voltage. Lowest I've seen is 100. Output voltage was above 107 (I don't remember what it was). I'm supposed to be able to use it down to 90 volts input.

I was referring to the output voltage when I said 105v. I don't think you'll see much lower than because usually the main park breaker will be popping before it can drag the voltage much lower.

If you want to burn up your electrical system with low voltage, go for it. I'll break out the generator and deal with the consequences.

I won't be running the roof air at 105 volts. But I do get a 30% boost at 90 volts input. That works out to 117 volts. However as I said earlier in the thread the lowest input voltage I've seen is 100 volts.

I also 'tweaked' the input trigger voltage to cut in at 3 volts higher--so I get my first layer of boost at 113 rather than at 110 volts.

[_1nobby]

I have a Honda 3000i.

https://powerequipment.honda.ca/generators/ultra-quiet-3000i

Does everything I need it to in life as well as camping.

But, I'll be honest. I ONLY boondock. And I have yet to use it for the trailer.
I keep my batteries charged with 2 - 40W solar panels and have no need for A/C.

What I have used it for is to charge my Milwaukee Red Lithium batteries for my chainsaw.

[happy2rv]

TurnThePage wrote:
I would have to say, at first blush, that venerable NT Powerhorse 3500 looks almost EXACTLY like that throw away HF Predator 3500.

I believe they are exactly the same units, one in red, the other in blue. The difference is in the support. Northern Tools claims to support their stuff at any NT location, Harbor Freight AFAIK makes no such claim. I don't have personal experience with NT actual service because I haven't needed it yet. I have tried to get parts for HF products in the past with little success.

Lots of people like the HF Predator and I considered one. NT claims of service availability and a friend's advice that they did stand behind their products pointed me to the NT. When/if I ever actually need service, I hope the claims hold true.

There was a time that buying a Honda virtually guaranteed a high quality, trouble free experience. Reviews of late seem to indicate that might not be the case any more. Even if it were still the case, many people, me included, based on positive long term reviews of the "inferior" alternatives would rather gamble on the less expensive alternatives. I could buy two 2K PowerHorse for the price of one Honda or three of the Powerhorse 3KW for the price of one 2.8KW Honda. I'll take the chance that 3 Powerhorses outlast 1 Honda...