What Generator to buy

[av226]

Looking to buy a generator to power a '13 3006 Windjammer. Most of my camping is at the lake or in the mountains and at all times at least 5280' in elevation. I live in central Wyoming. I also plan on getting a satellite so I can watch football this fall when I am hunting. I want to have plenty of power to watch TV, run a satellite and have the AC running all at the same time. I am considering 2 Honda 2000's with the parrallel kit and wonder if they will provide enough power for what I want to do.

Please give me some ideas on what I will need. Mr. A/C unit is a 13.5k model. Price is not really a consideration, I want to get enough power and do it right the first time.

Thanks,

Aaron

[cyclepuck]

Honda Generators - Wattage calculator They will handle the ac but go here to calculate everything your running.

[bob7794]

I recommend the two 2000 honda generators because of the weight. Larger generators are much heavier. They should do what you want to do with no problem, but be careful if you start the coffee pot or the microwave with all the other stuff running.

[MtnGuy]

2 Honda 2000s should provide a maximum of 33 amps of service. Running the AC, a TV and satellite should be OK, but as bob7794 stated, you might want to not want to cut on the coffee pot and microwave. Power management is the key. Same as being hooked up to 30 amp power....the breaker is going to give if too much is going on.

You are wise to be considering the Hondas. Your TV and satellite, as well as other electronics with appreciate the "clean" inverter power.......as well as your neighbors for the quiet.

[HONDAMAN174]

I've had mine for 6 months now and love it. Only have one and it runs everything except my a/c. If it helps, harbor motorsports in Benton harbor Michigan has a good price on the pair.

[rkswyo]

Aaron, I forgot to mention in my PM to you, this is the best price I found on the Honda eu3000is. It included free shipping and I had the generator on my doorstep in 2 days. He also sent me the high alltitude jet with it. Really nice people to deal with. He beat the local dealers price by several hundred dollars.


Honda Generators : EU6500isa : EU2000i :Alamia.us

[Dennis and Julie]

We have 2 of the Honda generators and so far we have had no problems, but we don't watch much tv when out camping.

[av226]

Thanks for all the responses. rkswyo thanks for the website they are $75 cheaper for Eu2000i and at least $150.00 cheaper for the companion vs. BIG R, which is the only place I can get a Honda locally.

Thanks Gentlemen.

Aaron

[PapaSmurf]

I have a Honda 3000iS and it runs our big 15K A/C and the microwave or iron at same time with no problems. At night we turn off living room A/C and run the smaller bedroom A/C. It uses about 1 gallon of gas every 3 hours. A full tank will run the big A/C for about 12 hours of continuous running. After starting, I keep the generator in the ECO mode to save gas.

[bikendan]

i recommend the two Honda 2000s with a parallel kit or one of the 2000 is a Companion unit.
that way if you don't need a/c, you only need to take one. and 50lbs. each to lift is a lot easier than 130lbs. for the 3000.

[Rockinwood]

I had a Honda Eu3000is, before it crapped out, way to much to Rb, and not having alot of $$ I went with the Champion 3500 watt Generator for 350.00 Dollars,2 year warranty, Best Fathers Day Gift Yet! I Love it, Runs My 13k btu A/c and Micro at the same time, Not to loud at 68 Db, Just my opinion.

[grb2980]

We bought the EU 2000 and the companion for our Surveyor SP 293. We have a 15,000 BTU AC on our camper and it runs just fine with the TV on too. The water heater kicking in at the same time will trip the breaker though. Just learn to manage your devices. I love our generators. They are quiet, even under load, when compared to the construction site gennys. They are light weight. I can carry one in each hand to and from the truck with little effort. They sip gas. With the AC running and other devices on demand, we usually get 8 hours out of two gallons (one gallon each) before I have to refill them.

One thing I will caution about the Honda's, is the gumming up of the fuel lines and carburetors. I've had to take mine to the shop twice in the past 14 months. The mechanic, a Honda guy, said that if I cranked them about once a week and let them run about 5 minutes I wouldn't have the fouling problem. I used the red version of Stabil during this time. Six months and $120 later I was back in the shop for the same issue. This time a different mechanic said to use the marine (blue) version of Stabil. So far, no problems. They crank by the third pull.

Now that I think I finally have the service issue solved, I am totally happy with these Honda's.

[latner]

Originally Posted by grb2980

We bought the EU 2000 and the companion for our Surveyor SP 293. We have a 15,000 BTU AC on our camper and it runs just fine with the TV on too. The water heater kicking in at the same time will trip the breaker though. Just learn to manage your devices. I love our generators. They are quiet, even under load, when compared to the construction site gennys. They are light weight. I can carry one in each hand to and from the truck with little effort. They sip gas. With the AC running and other devices on demand, we usually get 8 hours out of two gallons (one gallon each) before I have to refill them.

One thing I will caution about the Honda's, is the gumming up of the fuel lines and carburetors. I've had to take mine to the shop twice in the past 14 months. The mechanic, a Honda guy, said that if I cranked them about once a week and let them run about 5 minutes I wouldn't have the fouling problem. I used the red version of Stabil during this time. Six months and $120 later I was back in the shop for the same issue. This time a different mechanic said to use the marine (blue) version of Stabil. So far, no problems. They crank by the third pull.

Now that I think I finally have the service issue solved, I am totally happy with these Honda's.

If you find you're having issues with Stabil, give Seafoam a try. It's a gas stabilizer and cleaner all in one. I've been using it for years and never have had a problem with it.

[SaskCampers]

We have an EU3000is and it will run our A/C and a Keruig or conventional coffee maker no problem. Only complaint is the weight, but I use my John Deere with pallet forks on the loader to move it around so for us not an issue and it is chained in the truck box at all times when we travel with it.

[grayfox]

I'd like to recommend Star Tron fuel treatment. I use it on all of my small engines at the recommendation of my small engine repair guy. Chain saws, lawn mowers, string trimmers, and my Honda 2000's also use High Octane Gas in your small engines. I've used it for about 2 years with great results.

Just to mention my repair guy had about a half of a 5 gal. bucket of carburetors ruined by Ethanol

Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment - HOME

[Great Horned Owl]

Originally Posted by bikendan

i recommend the two Honda 2000s with a parallel kit or one of the 2000 is a Companion unit.
that way if you don't need a/c, you only need to take one. and 50lbs. each to lift is a lot easier than 130lbs. for the 3000.

I agree that two 2000 watt inverter generators is the way to go, but the Honda is ridiculously over priced. For example, the Champion 73536i is about half the price and works just as well. It has virtually identical specs, including the same 53 dba low noise level spec. It is easier to carry and when running both, they can be stacked.

Champion is an American company that owns their own factory in China. They have an extensive dealer network, so parts and/or repairs are readily available. IMO, Honda is price gauging. I hate encouraging them.

Joel

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Great Horned Owl

I agree that two 2000 watt inverter generators is the way to go, but the Honda is ridiculously over priced. For example, the Champion 73536i is about half the price and works just as well. It has virtually identical specs, including the same 53 dba low noise level spec. It is easier to carry and when running both, they can be stacked.

Champion is an American company that owns their own factory in China. They have an extensive dealer network, so parts and/or repairs are readily available. IMO, Honda is price gauging. I hate encouraging them.

Joel

the Champion 2000w inverter gennie is a good product. but many have posted reviews on other RV forums that they don't match up to the Honda 2000, even though the specs are similar. mainly in regards to actual output. check out RV.net's extensive thread on the Champion 2000w. it's very big with good real-world info.

i found my Honda on Craig's with only 25 hours on it, for $650. a new one can be bought for under $900 with free shipping.
the Champion wasn't around when i was shopping but prices for it out here, are in the $700 area. for that much i'll buy a Honda for the extra $200.

[Great Horned Owl]

I just bought two of the Champions at Farm & Fleet for $499.99 each. My tests indicate that if the economy mode is turned off, they will steadily put out in the vicinity of 1600 to 1700 watts each. I don't have an adjustable load to be able to make more precise measurements.

Joel