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Angary · 11-23-2011, 01:37 PM

I am looking to buy a generator and have been looking specifically at the Honda eu3000is. I know it will have enough power to run everything I need, about 2500 watts all together. I was just wondering if anybody had any suggestions on other good generators. The decibel level is high on my priority list. Oh and also, I am thinking of mounting this generator to where the propane bottles would be held on the tongue. Is that a suitable place to mount it?

angary

wolf146 · 11-23-2011, 02:30 PM

I have a 2000 watt Honda that I have used for many years and I am very happy with it. I also have a 2800 watt Yamaha generator that I use when I need to use the air conditioner. The Yamaha is almost as quiet as the Honda except when I run the air conditioner. The Yamaha is not as heavy as the 3000 watt Honda. I have a Tundra so I carry the generators in the truck bed. I would hesitate to put the generator on the trailer. You might get vibrations inside the trailer. The noise factor and extras weight might also be problem. I can move my generators as far away from my trailer and other campers to diminish the noise for everyone. I try to be very careful about where I use the 2800 Yamaha when running the air. wolf 146

Mr & Mrs S · 11-23-2011, 02:39 PM

I just purchased a Honda 3000 genny to use with our Airstream, I couldnt see mounting our unit on the tongue or the rear of the trailer since everyone will say and agree that its a No No.
Instead of mounting it on the trailer I have just recently mounted a front shore connection on the tongue of our trailer, I plan to leave the genny in the back of our TV and use a jumper wire fromt he genny to the front shore connection.
Dont know if this idea will suit your needs but you can take a look at my thread and get a better look at what I did. Refer to post # 172.
Hope this will help.

edglenn · 11-23-2011, 03:04 PM

I just bought a 1600 watt Champion from Costco; $500.00
It's very quiet, and can be stacked for 3,000 watts.
I'm happy, and the price is right.
Most everyone else insists on Honda's.
I have to be different! Plus, I'm Scottish (frugal)...

TBRich · 11-23-2011, 03:07 PM

Another often-used alternative to the 3000w Honda is two 2000s (this is what we have) ...that way when you need AC or heat pump you can take them both, run them in parallel, and run the AC and everything else ... and when you don't need AC you can take just one and run everything except the AC or heat pump... They are a lot lighter than the 3000 therefore easier to manage and also very quiet.

I agree about not mounting the generator on the trailer frame...you will get vibration and they will seem louder because they are so close and attached to the trailer...

By the way, it sounds like you thinking of mounting the generator to the tongue in lieu of the propane tanks?? You are planning to eliminate propane?? Not sure that makes sense in the long run, IMHO.

DMT · 11-23-2011, 03:16 PM

I considered the new "lighter weight" Honda 3000 but in the end chose two Honda 2000i's (regular and companion models). I like this combination for the ease of transport (weight) and the ability to only use one for everything except the AC. They are very quiet - only rev up to start the AC or if my better half inadvertently switches the water heater to electric.

I have a friend who has the Yamaha 2000. I believe it has a lower dB at idle than my Honda. Sounds quiet to me.

For me the proven reliability of the Honda was more of a deciding factor than price. Good luck with your purchase.

Angary · 11-23-2011, 04:50 PM

Thanks for the input!
@ TBRich "By the way, it sounds like you thinking of mounting the generator to the tongue in lieu of the propane tanks?? You are planning to eliminate propane?? Not sure that makes sense in the long run, IMHO."
We are not in need of propane for our trailer... it's quite the unique project. My wife is opening a little boutique and only needs electricity.
This is why decibel level is a big priority for us. However, now that I know mounting on the tongue would cause vibration the inside, not an option...

idroba · 11-23-2011, 05:20 PM

The Honda 3000 is the largest output and most quiet generator you can buy. As I recall, even quieter than the 2000 by a dB or so. It is remarkably vibration free. Although I am not sure that a tongue mount would be the very best you could do, I personally doubt that it would cause vibrations inside. Having said that, of course this is my opinion, I have not done it, just judging the 10 year old Honda 3000 I have and how quiet and free of vibrations it is.

jdalrymple · 11-23-2011, 05:28 PM

The 3000 is a very nice genset, but HEAVY for one person. I had the opportunity to try one, and opted for the twin 2000s.

But, for your application, the 3000 sounds ok. I believe the tongue mount would work. Vibration won't be a big deal with the Honda.

Regards,

edglenn · 11-23-2011, 07:51 PM

Another thing I liked about the Champions: You can link 2 of them together like the Hondas, but both generators are the same unit, not a Primary and Companion like Honda. So you can have two stand-alone units. I don't know if the Honda Companion unit can run stand-alone or not.

TBRich · 11-23-2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edglenn

...>snip<... So you can have two stand-alone units. I don't know if the Honda Companion unit can run stand-alone or not.

Yes, it can...in fact we bought the 2000w Honda Companion first...then the regular one...

edglenn · 11-24-2011, 02:34 PM

Good to know!
Uhhh.... why do they make two different ones?
What is the difference between the Primary and Companion?

TBRich · 11-24-2011, 03:02 PM

Ed... The primary difference is that the Companion model has a 30-amp outlet, one regular 15 amp household outlet and no 12 volt outlet... You need a small adapter to convert the twist & turn 30-amp outlet into a standard 30-amp outlet so your shore power cord can plug into it.. It is also easier to parallel with another using the Companion...just a simple cable that costs ~$40... The Companion model runs ~$100 more than a standard model.

The standard 2000 model has two household 15 amp outlets and a 12 volt outlet...and no 30-amp outlet You have to have a 15-to-30-amp adapter to plug your shore power cord into it. To parallell two standard units you need a parallel "box" that provides for the 30-amp connection and the box costs substantially more than the cables required by the Companion...