Okay, so we'll probably need a generator for our big trip from Chicago to Seattle and back with our 27' TT. I don't want to get rediculous with weight and especially with cost, but it would be nice to have enough power to run the air conditioning if we need to. Honda and Yamaha make the best generators, but the prices are waaay above what I'd like to spend. I'd like to have enough juice to run the air, the TV and a few lights. If we need to use the microwave oven I would turn off the air conditioning.
How many watts would I need?
Can a generator sit out in the rain without any problems?
Could I run it from my pickup truck bed? (I have a cap and would open the back window)
What is better... "encased" or non-encased?
Inverter????
Please educate me on generators... and I'd like to keep it under $500, if possible.
I have a Coleman 5500watt(I think, might be bigger), it powers our A/C, tv and lights inside the trailer with no problem. If you are going to be in the trailer when you run it, I don't think it would hurt to have it in the back of your truck. I think mine weighs about 200lbs. If I remember right, it cost right around $500 a couple of years ago. You don't need an inverter, just a convertor to match to a regular outlet if the generator doesn't come with the right one for your trailer.
Okay, so we'll probably need a generator for our big trip from Chicago to Seattle and back with our 27' TT. I don't want to get rediculous with weight and especially with cost, but it would be nice to have enough power to run the air conditioning if we need to. Honda and Yamaha make the best generators, but the prices are waaay above what I'd like to spend. I'd like to have enough juice to run the air, the TV and a few lights. If we need to use the microwave oven I would turn off the air conditioning.
How many watts would I need?
Can a generator sit out in the rain without any problems?
Could I run it from my pickup truck bed? (I have a cap and would open the back window)
What is better... "encased" or non-encased?
Inverter????
Please educate me on generators... and I'd like to keep it under $500, if possible.
Thanx!!
To run the a/c you need at least 3k, and that is just the a/c. The next big power hog is the microwave. Then if you want to run sensitive electronics like a computer or TV you will want filtered power. Then you have to consider weight, fuel economy and how often you are going to need it and where you will carry it and where to store it. A popular option is 2 Honda eu2000 generators with a transfer cable. They are small, quiet and together they weigh less (about 45lbs each) than many 3 and 4k generators and only need to be run together when power needs top 2k which helps keep fuel use down. Unfortunately way more than $500. When I run mine I leave in the bed of my truck in the camper shell.
Filtered power is power regulated usually through a inverter and stays constant regardless of generator speed. A way around it is to get a pc backup battery supply. Don't need a big one. This provides surge protection and the batteries provide the filtering. Googled that Chicago generator your looking at but couldn't find any pros or cons posted. Price looks pretty good. Do you plan on dry camping all the way to Seattle?
Champion makes a 3500 watt generator (4000 peak) that runs about $350 -$400. It weighs about 100# and is pretty quite at 69db. Another advantage is it has a 30 amp Rv plug so you don't need a conversion plug.
List your requirements and then buy what meets them.
1. Quiet? Get a Honda or Yamaha inverter model. They are quiet. Anything else is not. Some are noisy as Hades.
2. Run the air conditioner? Yes = minimum 3000 watts. No, 1000-2000 watts will do
3. Dollars? Well, that depends on #1. #1=big bucks. No #1=buy it from Costco for $350.
I have a 3000 watt Honda 3000is. Quiet, very quiet. But I bought it so I could use it in a campground and not be heard 7 miles away. I paid $1700. My neighbor has a 7,000 watt Champion. It's often cited as a "quiet" generator. Quieter than my F-18 in full afterburner, maybe. But, he uses it as a backup generator. He paid $400. I might get one for myself for use as a backup generator as it has 50 amp power vs. my Honda which is only 30A. But I would not take that thing anywhere near a campground. Talk about ruining everyone's weekend.
True, you have to set your priority's.
Low cost ($350), reasonably quiet (69db vs 59db for Honda) light enough (100#) to load and unload from your truck and enough power to run your air then the Champion 3500w is a good choice.
If money isn't a consideration then a pair of the Honda 2000is and a patch kit to boost the power to 4000w ($2000) would be a better choice.
I have both the Honda and the Champion. If I don't need the air or microwave then I use the Honda. If I camp somewhere and need the air, I take the Champion.
I have a Kipor, it's a Honda Knockoff, made in China. Had it about 3 years now, electric start, auto-throttle. You will need 3K to start the AC unless you do some rewiring on your AC and change out the compressor then you can get by with one of those lil 2K models. Bad thing is that it weighs 130lbs. Good thing is that it's quiet as a Yamaha or Honda but much much cheaper. Got mine new for around $1200. I leave it in the back of my truck when I run it at rest stops to run the AC, looking to mount it on the back or front of the trailer. Probably the back since my tongue weight is around 2000lbs.
The Yamaha EF3000iSE is a 3000 watt Inverter Generator, and the DB output is 51. Every 10DB change doubles the loudness, so a 69 DB generator is approaching 4 times louder. True they aren't cheap, but then... ya get what ya pay for.
I find that people who have the loud cheap generators in public campgrounds tend to have more problems with them than the quieter models. They seem to get smashed, stolen, power cord chopped in two, potato shoved into the exhaust, etc. I guess most people don't like super noisy generators running 24 hours a day beside their quiet campground for the weekend.
Portable Generators
Linear Mode
