Generator for RV

I’m wondering if anyone has any suggestions for the best place and what brand of generator you guys have. I have a Trailer with 30 amp requirements. I’m thinking 3,000 is about the size I want. I don’t know if I want to feed 2 Hondas? I saw Costco has a Firman dual fuel that peaked my interest.

 

I had the daul Hondas for many years. They are very reliable and easy to move around.
Nice thing about the Hondas is you can use only one for TV or microwave and only need both for AC.
I upgrade to the Cummins P4500i last year because of convenience of remote start and my wife being able to start and turn it off when I wasn't around.
I purchased a hitch platform. fortunately I have a 300lb rated 2" receiver on my TT.
I think it all depends on what you want to deal with.

https://www.cummins.com/generators/onan-p4500i-inverter-portable-generator

 

The Honda’s are great, no doubt, but I couldn’t swing the price tag. I’ve owned 2 Champion 3500W gens, the newest being a dual fuel, and have been very happy with them. $400.

 

$400? How many db’s running that? I have looked at the Champion dual fuel that are about a quiet as a Honda, about $1,100 and around 3,400 watts.

 

I’ve had good luck with 3500 ish watt Champions. I use the 30 amp rev plug for back up house power and in camp. On my second one, they have been flawless. Latest one is a Cabela’s branded Champion. It came with the 30 amp adaptor with 4 plug ins, $400. Large tanks and long run times, noisier than an inverter style, but cheaper too.

 

Thanks for the info...I am really torn between the Cummins, Honda, and Dual fuel model from Costco.

 

isn't it every 4db is twice as loud?

get a Honda or Yamaha if your wallet can afford it.

 

Champion is one of the best "mid priced" generators you can get and they have a great warranty. They make an inverter RV style 3500 with the remote start/stop. I got mine on sale online from Walmart a couple of years ago for about $850.

 

We got the Firman dual fuel from Costco over the summer when it was on sale. I always have propane on hand so this made the most sense to me. We have not needed the generator for a power outage (yet) but it was easy to set up and fired up with propane on the first try. It is powerful enough to keep the fridge running and power up the internet router so the kids can stay in school when the power is out.

 

https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100261-3400-watt-wireless-start-inverter/

 

I'm all for Hondas, we have them at work and they always work even after months of non-use, and are QUIET. I also have a Champion that was thrown in with the trailer when I bought it, big, heavy, loud, dual fuel, 3400 I think. Kill switch doesnt work, and wouldnt run on gas (owner said he had never tried). Ill be buying a Honda this season and keeping the Champ for a home back up.

Also, they do sell adapter kits to run propane on Hondas, as with other brands. Propane is nice, you never have to worry about gummed up carbs. Also recommend another tank in addition to house tanks, just in case.

TL;DR,

Buy Honda for lifetime, Champion for budget.

 

Sounds like you have narrowed it down OP. Cons to running 2 smaller gens in parallel is shorter run times between refueling and double the maintenance. Pro is lighter weight. I have heard propane is more expensive to run than gas and the gens go through a tank pretty quick, but maybe someone that's owned one can opine.

I cheaped out and bought a Predator 3500 and have been happy with it.

 

That could be a marketing slogan for Honda!

Love our Honda 2000 at work.

 

Predator 3500 from Harbor Freight.

Electric start, very reliable, and stupid quiet. They're running about $750 nowadays but can be found on sale every so often. Also has a nice electronic display that shows various outputs and times to include an hour meter.
Weighs 100#'s fueled.

Runs my Jayco 287BHS (30A) just fine and I can get about 14 hours out of a tank with a medium load.

Plenty of YouTube reviews for it.

 

What NorthWoodsTundra said. That is a great generator, especially for the price. And if you watch the Harbor Freight adds you can get it on sale, which is what I did.

 

I’m probably gonna pick up pair of these. Sale started today. Pros and cons for me specifically:

Pros:
Price
Quiet (only 2db louder than Honda)
30 amp plug
Comes with parallel kit
Weight/portability, I don’t have to drag around 3000 watt size if I don’t need to
I think it has 3 year warranty

Cons:
No dual fuel option

https://www.costco.com/firman-1600w...red-inverter-generator.product.100713858.html

 

We run 5 or so Honda 2000 gens at work. The only problem we ever have with them is the crankcases filling with fuel. This has happened to every one of them and multiple times. At least 20 times over the years. The trick to prevent this is:
Before turning it off turn the fuel cut-off off
Let it run till it almost dies (from being starved for fuel) then you can cut the on/off switch to off.
When rookies don’t do this properly, back to maintenance it goes with a crankcase full of fuel!

 

Gotta love Honda’s engines, have it on the snowblower and it is terrific. Had it on the air compressor and equally terrific. Am picking up a 2509 rockwood mini lite next week and there will be a Honda gen in my truck bed☝

 

Make sure it is the cheapest and loudest you can find. Pro tip: point the noisy exhaust side towards other campers so you dont have to listen to it

 

Thanks for the replies. I always appreciate the information from this site. I’m thinking I’ll watch the Harbor Freight prices.

if I wanted a Honda where would you suggest I buy from?

 

One more thing to consider, inverter. Since everything is electronic these days that was a major consideration for my purchase. I ended up going with a Honda

 

Powerhorse from Northern Tools is the same gen different name.

 

A Battery Jump Start Pack is also enough to run your Internet when the power goes out so there is that.

 

I use the Honda 2k and just got a smaller trailer!

The Yamaha are great too and I have heard slightly more powerful than the Honda at that size but equally pricey too.

Hondas just work.

 

Get on HF's email list.

They recently had a coupon for 10% off everything, no exclusions. Additionally, if you paid the $30 to join their Inner Track club they would double the coupon for any one item. I did that and ended up getting $150 off the Predator 9k gen to use for my house.

 

I don’t/won’t use a genny in a “campsite” or around other campers. I remotely camp because I got sick of what you’re saying. It’s rude as piss and annoying.

 

I honeStly cannot figure out if people are ignorant or just dont care that their generator annoys the shit out of every one else.
nothing like sipping on a coffee early in the morning, enjoying the trees and the birds, then someone fires up a generator. (which of course is far away from their camper, and exhaust pointed towards others)