Buying a Generator

[MrBuddy]

Any tips on buying a Generator size or makes

Paul
TV 95 Windstar
PUC 2001 Viking 2460 Legend

 

[mbopp]

It depends on how much stuff you want to run and how quiet you want it to be. Yamaha and Honda are the gold standard. For strictly battery charging and light loads a Honda or Yamaha 1000 watt unit is fine. Moving up to a Honda 2000i gives you more flexibility but it's 50/50 if it will run your A/C. A Yamaha 2400 will run a 13.5K BTU A/C reliably (Note these are all going up in weight and price.)

Don't buy a cheap contractor generator unless you boondock far away from everyone else. Yhey are way too noisy for campground use.

Another brand is Kipor, a Chinese copy of a Honda. Cheaper than a Honda or Yamaha, almost as quiet, but dealer service can be hit or miss if you need it.

I have a Honda 2000i. I bought it when I had a PUC but before I bought the HTT. At 50 lbs I can still move it around and I'm lucky in that it will run the A/C. DB has a Yamaha 2400 that powers his 5er just fine but it weighs 70 lbs or so.

'04 Envoy
'05 Travel Star 21SSO
17' Wenonah Kevlar & 16' Dagger Royalex canoes
And DD's Necky kayak

 

[Yellowkayak]

The Honda's are really nice, but WAY, WAY to expensive. We got a cheap 1000 watt generator from Harbor Freight for $367.00 including an extended no question ask warranty. It will run everything except the AC. Maybe when we get more money and I'm not so stingy about paying out the wazoo for a Honda Generator, I;ll get the 300 series from Honda. It will run everything including the AC. We have an 8500 watt for the house, but its to noicy for a campground. We will take it if we go boondocking though!!!!

You will need about 2500 - 3000 to run everything including the AC. Look at the sound level when buying, the quieter the better. Some national parks actually put a noise level on generators, and I beleive its at or below 72 Dps.

07 Chevy Trailblazer
07 Chevy Crew Cab
07 Fleetwood Niagra
(2) Hobie Adventure Kayaks
(1) Hobie Outback
(1) Pungo 120
(1) Pungo 100

Edited by - Yellowkayak on May 23 2007 19:56:49

 

[Xolthrax]

I can say only good things about the Honda. I also have an "All Power" 2000W digital generator that I bought at Pep Boys for under $700. It is the Kipor with a different name on it. It's almost as quiet as the Honda, but was WAY cheaper. Well worth the money.

Joe
<img src=../Images/icons/icon_smile_pu.gif border=0 align=middle>'96 Rockwood Signature Series 1280

 

[CND SuperCrew]

I would seriously look at the Kipor. Half the price as the brand names and all the quality.

Ron & Lori

<b>TV</b> <font color=blue>2003 F150 SuperCrew FX4 4spd auto w/tow pkg 3.73LS</font id=blue>
<b>PUC</b> 1997 Starcraft 1021
2007 Nights camped out:

 

[MrBuddy]

Thanks for the info I read some other posts (which I should have done 1st) I see a lot of you use your battery and only use the generator to keep it charged When I camp I use regular lamps inside and bring a small TV for the kids also have a electric water pump and furnace no A/C will the battery run all this?

Paul
TV 95 Windstar
PUC 2001 Viking 2460 Legend

 

[tnchuck100]

By "regular lamps" do you mean lamps like you use in the house? If so, they will not work on the battery. The PUC should be equipped with 12V lights. The TV will be OK if it will run on 12V. Use it sparingly though. Otherwise you will need an Inverter. That changes 12VDC to 120VAC. See my mod photos for an example.

<b>Chuck & Mary - Sparta, Tennessee
'00 Dodge Dakota <img src=../Images/icons/icon_smile_suv.gif border=0 align=middle> '05 Palomino Pony 280<img src=../Images/icons/icon_smile_pu.gif border=0 align=middle>
'03 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic <img src=../Images/icons/icon_smile_bike.gif border=0 align=middle> '04 Timeout <img src=../Images/icons/icon_smile_pu.gif border=0 align=middle></b>

 

[CND SuperCrew]

I have a 15w solar panel I leave hooked up to the battery, and place it on top of the roof while were camping. I have gone 14 days using our furnace and lights with no problem.

Ron & Lori

<b>TV</b> <font color=blue>2003 F150 SuperCrew FX4 4spd auto w/tow pkg 3.73LS</font id=blue>
<b>PUC</b> 1997 Starcraft 1021
2007 Nights camped out:

 

[MrBuddy]

Yea I did mean house lamps will dump those I have a Inverter for the TV use it in the van on the way to let the kids watch movies
I think what I'll do is setup on battery in the back yard and see how it goes
Like the solar panel idea

Paul
TV 95 Windstar
PUC 2001 Viking 2460 Legend

 

[tnwoodworker]

I bought the 1,000 watt Kipor and do not regret it one bit. I bought a good deep cycly battery and with an Inverter I run a 13" TV w/DVD player, a small lamp with a 20 watt bulb, laptop, and a small clock. I can run all this for 3-4 days in between charging.
One thing good about the kipor is that it is pure sinewave which is safe for electronic equipment. Computers, battery chargers and a lot of equipment can be ruined using a non-pure sinewave generator. The Kipor seems to run forever on a tank of gas and is very quite, and, best of all, I saved a ton of money over the higher priced name models.
No matter how quiet it is, I NEVER run any generator after dark for the other folks that may be camping near me. I wouldn't want to hear theirs running all night either.

Steve
'96 Starcraft covered in NASCAR decals!
Days camped so far in 2007: 11

 

[MrBuddy]

Thanks Steve
Stewart fan here love camping at MIS
any guess wher Jr. will end up
would love to see him in a Gibbs car
He gets along good with both Hamlin and Stewart
but they have a issue with using Budwiser as a sponsor

Paul
TV 95 Windstar
PUC 2001 Viking 2460 Legend