2 or 1?

[stellar1dan]

So I'm about to buy my first airstream, a 27' international. I've started to look at generators as well and was wondering what people recommended. Would you recommend 2, 2000 watt generators paired together, or just get the 1, 3000 watt. Obviously getting the two and pairing them gives you an additional 10000 watts. What's the recommendation out there?

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by stellar1dan

So I'm about to buy my first airstream, a 27' international. I've started to look at generators as well and was wondering what people recommended. Would you recommend 2, 2000 watt generators paired together, or just get the 1, 3000 watt. Obviously getting the two and pairing them gives you an additional 1,000 watts. What's the recommendation out there?

Hi, welcome to the forum. I chose one; One Yamaha 2400 [2000 watts] that will run my air conditioner and weighs about 75 lbs. The two Honda 2000 watt generators is the most popular set-up. Many people are also using two Yamaha 2000 watt generators. The 2000 watt generators actually maintain more like 1600 watts, but will still put out more than one 3000 generator. The 3000 watt generators are great if you don't have to lift them at around 125 lbs or so.

[Skater]

We went with the two Honda 2000s because (a) we could buy them on the installment plan, and (b) there are plenty of times when we don't need the full power, and (c) they're easier to lift and move around. Further, this gives us the option of, say, lending one to a friend in need.

But you have to look at how you're going to use it and decide for yourself. There's nothing wrong with the larger models, and there are advantages to having only one to maintain. And if you're always (or even usually) going to use them together, then why not get the bigger one and save some hassle in setup time and all?

[dkottum]

Living in Minnesota and doing most of our travel in fall-winter-spring we never need air conditioning. With solar panels we seldom need a generator (on this trip it's 1800 miles away in the shed). We have a Honda 2000 but wish we had a Honda 1000, easier to handle and provides plenty of power if we ever needed it.

I think it depends on where you live and travel.

doug k

[switz]

We acquired the pair of 2,000 watt Honda generators (primary and companion). That allows for staggered low power (and noise) use to even wear and the option for full power if needed.

Also, I can lift the smaller units where a bigger one is beyond my lifting capabilities now.

[Wingeezer]

I bought a single 2000 watt Honda, and I find it heavy enough to lift in and out of our truck - wouldn't want to be lifting the 3000 watt unit.

I figured I would go with one first then add a second if I found it necessary.

In fact we mostly use our trailer in the winter, and also when we travel, 95% of the time we have shore power, so in our case I think it would be $$ not well spent in buying the second unit after all.

In fact so far, since we do not boondock, about the only time we use the gennie is when stopping overnight at a Flying J in cold weather when heading south in winter so it sees very little use.

I generally take it on all our trips anyway just in case we wind up stopping at a place with no power hookups.

I also like to have it at the house to give a little power in the event of a lengthy power failure - never had one yet though!

It is handy also to take out to our trailer which is stored at a facility about 15 miles from home, in case I need to do a few chores and want to run power tools, small 110v air compressor etc.

Brian.

[Drathaar]

Since you're in Yelm, do you really need air when dry camped? Why not go with a good sized solar panel ( 150 watt ) to keep the batteries charged.

[tkasten]

We use a Honda 3000 for several of reasons.
It has enough power to run our AC.
It is one of the quietest
It is elect. start.
Big fuel tank will run all night.

It is very heavy so we keep it in the back of the truck for the entire season which this year is all year. I placed it in a large feed tray so when used we just slide it to the tail gate (turn it so the exhaust faces out), and hit the switch.

I build a cart that is the same height as the tail gate so when I do want to remove it from the truck I can just slide it on to the cart.