Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-18-2013, 05:16 PM   #1
3 Rivet Member
 
2004 25' Safari
Laramie , Wyoming
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 192
Why a Honda?

So I want to watch Opra and Days of our lives. and can't on battery power while boon docking, not to mention making espresso in the morning just before pulling out the Marshall stack and playing Ted Nugents rendition of God Bless America.

All kidding aside. I am looking to get a generator and am finding a wide disparagement in cost of generators. Here on the forum it seems like a majority of folks like the Honda brand. I am sure they are good, but at twice the price? Can anybody tell me why they are so much more? Are they really that much better? I guess I am asking for some one to sell me on one.

Thanks up front on this one
mgap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2013, 05:20 PM   #2
Rivet Master
 
A W Warn's Avatar
 
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County , NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
The cheap generators can damage the circuit boards in your tv, ac, refrigerator, computer, and other sensitive equipment because of the of the sine wave pattern. The Honda will not. Google sine wave for more info.
__________________
Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
A W Warn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2013, 05:26 PM   #3
JDS
2014 Bowlus Road Chief
 
JDS's Avatar
 
Cumming , Iowa
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 370
Plus the Honda and Yamaha are MUCH quieter.

John S.
JDS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2013, 05:37 PM   #4
Rivet Master
 
Jim Clark's Avatar
 
2012 28' International
Currently Looking...
New Orleans , Louisiana
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,077
Images: 6
I own 2 Honda 2000's 1 Honda 3000 and a 50 HP Honda Outboard, why because when I turn the key they start and are very quiet. The 3000 has a wireless remote start and shutdown and lives on my boat with the Honda Outboard. You pay for what you get in generators and outboards.
__________________
Jim N5TJZ Air# 174
2012 International Serenity 28
2005 Safari 25 SS Traded
1968 Globetrotter Sold
2011 F150 Ecoboost
Jim Clark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2013, 06:07 PM   #5
Rivet Monster
 
wahoonc's Avatar

 
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak , North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
Images: 40
Tale of two generators...

I bought a big Honda Construction grade generator 12 years ago, paid over $1000 for it. My FIL is now on his third generator from the local bike box store at an average price of $700 each.

Honda/Yamaha are dependable, you can get parts to fix them and they work.

Aaron
__________________
....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2013, 06:25 PM   #6
Rivet Master
 
ROBERTSUNRUS's Avatar

 
2005 25' Safari
Salem , Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,367
Images: 18
Blog Entries: 55
Yamaha 2400.

Hi, all of my motorcycles were Hondas so I bought a Yamaha 2400 generator for my trailer. Actually I bought the Yamaha because the blue color matched the stripes on my trailer. OK, OK, All of my Hondas were very dependable and the two Honda 2000's is the most popular generator setup. But I wanted one generator that was dependable, quiet, light weight, and could run my air conditioner. My Yamaha cost me a little bit more than one Honda 2000 and way less than two Honda 2000's. And the blue color does look good with my trailer.

Simple math; If you buy an off brand generator for $400.00 and it fails. And then you buy a Yamaha 2400 for about $1300.00. Then you actually paid $1700.00 for a generator. Like many others on this forum, I looked at the cheap Chinese generators too, but did the simple math and bought my Yamaha.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
ROBERTSUNRUS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2013, 07:07 PM   #7
Rivet Master
 
Skater's Avatar
 
1995 30' Excella
Bowie , Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
Because I had to replace my Onan generator in my B190 - for $2300, mind you - and had issues with it being hard to start, stalling, and it used oil. After that, I wanted to be sure that I wasn't going to have a problem with whatever I bought. So I went with the Honda, after hearing nothing but good about them (I'm sure Yamahas are of similar quality).

Also, it didn't hurt that I was at a pinball show one time and saw a 1000 or 2000 powering a video game...I was a couple feet from it and barely noticed it. My Onan was LOUD, although I'm sure at least some of that had to do with the enclosure.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel

Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
Skater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2013, 04:28 PM   #8
BAB
Rivet Master
 
BAB's Avatar
 
2015 30' Classic
2012 28' International
Greensboro , North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,708
Trust me, the Honda 2000's are awesome. I take one if I'm not gonna use AC and both if I think I might. Lots of flexibility. Easy to start. Quiet. Fuel efficient. Very low maintenance. Doesn't get any better than that!
__________________
_________________
"SilverLeaf II" 2015 30' Classic
2019 RAM 2500 Limited 4x4 CC w/6.7L Cummins
ProPride 3P
AIR# 58452
WBCCI # 3430-Unit 21
BAB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2013, 05:16 PM   #9
2 Rivet Member
 
1974 27' Overlander
San Francisco , California
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 30
I've got both a EU2000i and an EX4500. I'm totally sold on Honda generators.

The EX4500 I had sitting in storage for over 3 years. Just this past weekend I pulled it out and put a fresh battery in it and it fired right up.

The EU2000i I got from a friend who broke the starter line. Parts were available anywhere and it was easy to work on. It's like having an industry standard piece of equipment.

Both are quiet enough to have a pleasant conversation next to while running.

I can tell you quiet generators make good neighbors, especially when you're camping.
Creech is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2013, 05:37 PM   #10
Rivet Master
 
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville , Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,095
Blog Entries: 1
Both Honda and Yamaha are very good generators. When many of us bought our generators those were about the only quality, quiet generators avaliable. Now other brands are trying to catch up. How close they are, I do not know.
Now way I can tell if the difference is "worth it" to you. Look at what is now avaliable and how you want to carry and use it and decide. What is nice about the Honda and Yamaha is more the package than the just the generator. Quiet, self contained, easy to stow. The Honeywells at Camping World look like a good copy to me.
Bill M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2013, 06:48 PM   #11
Rivet Master
 
RickDavis's Avatar
 
1961 24' Tradewind
1969 29' Ambassador
1970 21' Globetrotter
Jamestown , Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,783
While not a current generator, I have a Honda EM600 which I have had for 30 years. It was purchased to replace an EM 400 which was an earlier version.
Why did I replace the EM400? It was run over by a cement truck. They are tough, but not quite that tough.
__________________
Rick Davis 1602 K8DOC
61 tradewind, plus a few others
13 Ram 2500 TD
99 Dodge TD 577K miles

RickDavis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2013, 06:54 PM   #12
Rivet Master
 
Wingeezer's Avatar
 
2005 30' Classic
Burlington , Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
I have a Honda bike, Honda lawnmower, Honda snowblower, Honda pressure washer, and Honda generator, all work great!

I'd probably have a Honda truck if there was one to match the GMC / Duramax!

Brian.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell

2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
Wingeezer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2013, 07:00 PM   #13
2 Rivet Member
 
ARLINGTON , Texas
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 41
I have the Honda EU6500IS and love it. It serves two purposes for us, it will power everything in our 34' Airstream Classic with 2 A/C's, and never runs over about 2600 RPM. I use a fold up engine life to pick it up and put it in the back of the truck and have a 50 foot 50 amp power cord. We can pull over anywhere we want and have power to the trailer in a minute or so. The second use is backup for our house, we installed an automatic transfer switch next to the main circuit breaker and can power the majority of the house, less the A/C. As others have mention they are super quite and dependable. I have a 18 year Honda lawn mower that starts first pull everytime. I last thing I have a snug top cab high top on my truck, and when the gererator is running in the back running and your more than about 8' from the truck you don't hear it running.
HighFlying is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2013, 07:31 PM   #14
Rivet Master
 
TBRich's Avatar

 
2006 19' Safari SE
Tucson , Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,627
Images: 64
Get a Honda or a Yamaha of the size to meet your needs (we went the two Honda 2000s route for flexibility and weight considerations) and you will be happy...and so will your electronic equipment (clean sine energy) and your neighbors (quiet-running). There is nothing quite as offensive as being in a campground and being able to hear a generator on the other side of the campground that sounds like a chain saw in heat. Imagine what it sounds like if camped next to it! Honda and Yamahas purr.
__________________
TB & Greg and Abbey Schnauzer
AirForums #21900
PastPrez, 4CU/WBCCI
TBRich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2013, 07:41 PM   #15
Rivet Master
 
Jim Clark's Avatar
 
2012 28' International
Currently Looking...
New Orleans , Louisiana
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,077
Images: 6
I forgot I also have a Honda Lawnmower to add to my previous list.
__________________
Jim N5TJZ Air# 174
2012 International Serenity 28
2005 Safari 25 SS Traded
1968 Globetrotter Sold
2011 F150 Ecoboost
Jim Clark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2013, 06:38 AM   #16
3 Rivet Member
 
2004 25' Safari
Laramie , Wyoming
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 192
I went to Murdocks and got the EU 2000I. It was 999.00, Then they had a 50.00 gift card that came with it, so it came off price of the generator, which made it 949.00. Then they charged me the 50.00 for the gift card, so generator cost 999.00, but I got a 50.00 gift card to use.
mgap is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:04 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.