Generators?

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by moosetags

We use a Honda 3000 in the bed of our tow vehicle
We formerly used a pair of Honda 2000's for ten years. They were also great generators and super quiet even out on the ground.

How would you compare the performance of the 3000 to (2) 2000's?

[moosetags]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

How would you compare the performance of the 3000 to (2) 2000's?

I would place the performance of the 3000 right up there with the two 2000's. Theoretically, the two 2000's provide more wattage. The 3000 seems to run everything in the trailer just fine. I should note that we have only one air conditioning unit. I originally bought the two 2000's so that I get them in and out of the tow vehicle. I only went to the 3000 when I was able to run the generator in the truck, and did not have to take it in and out.

Brian

[UncleBad]

Home Depot has a sales today on Sportsman generators. I have no experience with them but it seems like a good deal. I bought the 4000 watt duel fuel and it was less than $300 with free shipping. Worst case I will use it for tools and backup.

Anyone have experience with these?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sportsma...3266/304541553

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by UncleBad

Home Depot has a sales today on Sportsman generators.Worst case I will use it for tools and backup.

Anyone have experience with these?

Please keep it for tools. The "open frame" generators work fine but are so loud that it drives people crazy. Because of the noise, people try to put them farther away, which translates to: "Closer to your neighbors". Not for campgrounds.

[UncleBad]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

Please keep it for tools. The "open frame" generators work fine but are so loud that it drives people crazy. Because of the noise, people try to put them farther away, which translates to: "Closer to your neighbors". Not for campgrounds.

Good to know. Tools and backup for house when power goes out it is.... still plan on one of the small Honda’s when we get our 27FB.

[VaTravelers]

All good responses. One question, if you can, it might be more economical to just put in a dedicated 30 or 50 amp circuit for your AS.

[Reeltimer]

Originally Posted by BCMtnHound

We have both a Honda 3000is and 2000i. Both bought 2nd hand with low hrs and they run on gas. We can run them together in parallel but that is mostly for the house in emergency. I was at Big White in Kelowna this winter on a course and the 3000 handled the floor and mattress heaters with ease, and topped up the batteries while the mercury dropped below -15C overnight. Need to install a softstart on the AC/heat pump for the rare occasion that we need to run the unit with the 2000i during our summer adventures north of 51 lattitude.

I may have to call Dometic, but maybe you (or someone from this forum) know the answer: which soft start (or hardstart?) unit would be the best for our 2018 15k AC unit?

[UncleBad]

Originally Posted by Reeltimer

I may have to call Dometic, but maybe you (or someone from this forum) know the answer: which soft start (or hardstart?) unit would be the best for our 2018 15k AC unit?

MicroAir can help you.

https://www.microair.net/collections...-soft-starters

[Reeltimer]

Originally Posted by UncleBad

MicroAir can help you.

https://www.microair.net/collections...-soft-starters

Thanks! btw- watched a great YouTube video on this:

https://youtu.be/soP0uZFd0nQ

[Mollysdad]

I guess I never understood the logic of, "How small a generator will run my AC unit?" You'll spend a fortune and then one day you'll add a electric coffee pot and crash the whole thing.
I get it, less weight, but also pull start, a tiny gas tank, and not much oomph!
I'd rather think, "How large a generator is practical?"

[Reeltimer]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

I guess I never understood the logic of, "How small a generator will run my AC unit?" You'll spend a fortune and then one day you'll add a electric coffee pot and crash the whole thing.
I get it, less weight, but also pull start, a tiny gas tank, and not much oomph!
I'd rather think, "How large a generator is practical?"

That’s exactly what I’ve been mulling over for months. I’m working through the process of deciding the most practical answer to powering our trailer. Keep in mind- we’ve only taken our Airstream out once, and I know we’ll eventually be somewhere without power so I’m researching the heck out this. I’m taking in the pros and cons to going bigger and smaller, thanks to all of those who are taking the time to offer their experiences. Getting one person’s opinion is good, but getting several opinions, that’s great! Thanks!

[switz]

Note that with the passage of time, I can still pickup one Honda 2000 (or the new replacement 2200) by myself. A pair of the new 2,200 Honda generators can provide continuous 3600 watts (or the amount of power a single A/C Airstream's main 30 amp breaker will allow). When less power is needed, just run one generator....

We converted our pair of Honda 2000 to the GenConnex propane only system that is completely enclosed in the original case so nothing to get broken off. We can drive one generator from the auxiliary propane gas outlet at the front of the trailer.

Both trailers have solar systems. In the 2015 23D International Serenity, we used a hybrid Magnum MSH3012 that will draw power from the battery during the start of the air conditioner while using a single Honda 2000.

[UncleBad]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

I guess I never understood the logic of, "How small a generator will run my AC unit?" You'll spend a fortune and then one day you'll add a electric coffee pot and crash the whole thing.
I get it, less weight, but also pull start, a tiny gas tank, and not much oomph!
I'd rather think, "How large a generator is practical?"

I plan to get the newer Honda 2200 and convert it to propane use and connect to the AS tanks. Takes care of small tank issue anyway.

[moosetags]

As you saw in the photos that I posted earlier in this thread, my Honda 3000 was mounted on a wheeled dolly in the back of my truck. The purpose of the dolly was to facilitate rolling the generator out on to the truck tailgate for maintenance and service. It did not roll as easily as I would have liked, so I have now come up with Plan B.

I am now using cupped furniture sliders to make the generator mobile in the bed of the truck. This seems to work very well. I originally strapped the generator to the side of the truck bed with a ratcheting strap. This worked, but was not ideal due to the position of the short strap end. I am now using a bungee cord and wooded door stop to secure the generator while underway. I am hoping to find some suitable nylon strapping in the near future.

This whole set-up is still a work in progress. Here are some photos of the current set-up.

Brian

[DBinSD]

Originally Posted by moosetags

As you saw in the photos that I posted earlier in this thread, my Honda 3000 was mounted on a wheeled dolly in the back of my truck. The purpose of the dolly was to facilitate rolling the generator out on to the truck tailgate for maintenance and service. It did not roll as easily as I would have liked, so I have now come up with Plan B.

I am now using cupped furniture sliders to make the generator mobile in the bed of the truck. This seems to work very well. I originally strapped the generator to the side of the truck bed with a ratcheting strap. This worked, but was not ideal due to the position of the short strap end. I am now using a bungee cord and wooded door stop to secure the generator while underway. I am hoping to find some suitable nylon strapping in the near future.

This whole set-up is still a work in progress. Here are some photos of the current set-up.

Brian

Moosetags
Have you given thought to a slide?

I put in a Cargoglide 1800 and love the ease of access.

[moosetags]

Originally Posted by DBinSD

Moosetags
Have you given thought to a slide?

I put in a Cargoglide 1800 and love the ease of access.

I looked at slides. What I didn't like about them is that they took about 5" of depth from the truck bed. Also the retaining side on a slide would make it difficult to get to the area of the generator where the oil port is located.

Brian

[SilverHouseDreams]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

I guess I never understood the logic of, "How small a generator will run my AC unit?" You'll spend a fortune and then one day you'll add a electric coffee pot and crash the whole thing.
I get it, less weight, but also pull start, a tiny gas tank, and not much oomph!
I'd rather think, "How large a generator is practical?"

I think some of this really depends on the use case and "where" you spend time. Here in the PacNW (and much of the west) you don't need to run your A/C in the morning when you are making coffee. Many times you only need it for a few hours in the evening to cool the trailer off for sleep, and many other times you are needing the heat by the time you wake up.

I realize you don't get 40-degree temperature swings daily in the southern humid states, however in the west it isn't uncommon...so why would I lug a big generator that costs more to buy, takes more fuel to carry, more risk of injury when moving etc. Just in order to have it run my A/C when boon docking for 2-4 hours a day?

Sometimes less is more, if more is more it starts to take the entire option out of being possible for many of us.

Whatever generator someone buys, I hope they put more thought into how it is secured within the TV/TT when in motion. A 30# rated stretch strap isn'g going to do much when a 80# object follows the laws of physics during emergency situations. There are so many threads about all of using towing with SUVs are going to kill everyone on the road, and yet we have unrestrained loads in all of these pickups

[moosetags]

I have now come up with a more substantial webbed nylon strap to secure the 3000 to the bed of the truck

Brian

[Gmccloskey]

We went with the Honda EU7000i inverter generator, and the Zamp Solar 200W portable solar panels. The Honda is a heavy generator at 261 pounds dry, and I plan to keep it in the back of my pickup. I did not want the hassle of a dual-generator setup, and opted for the powerful and quiet 7000. It will have no problem running my 2018 International Signature 27FB when needed.