Generator brands

handirifle · Feb 25, 2014

OK this is more RV related, but it will be used at home in emergencies. I want to get a 3-4KW generator for my RV, and I know the top models are the Yamaha and Honda units, but honestly at $2300+ they are pretty much out of my range. I see some units that have been considered reliable for about 1/4 as much. So with that, are the Yamaha's and Honda's 1/4 as quiet and 4 times as reliable?

I also know air cooled motors are more efficient if there is little or no back pressure on the exhaust, but surely one could be muffled enough with no increase in back pressure, right?

Are there some more affordable brands that are quiet and reliable?

timswi · Feb 25, 2014

handirifle said:
OK this is more RV related, but it will be used at home in emergencies. I want to get a 3-4KW generator for my RV, and I know the top models are the Yamaha and Honda units, but honestly at $2300+ they are pretty much out of my range. I see some units that have been considered reliable for about 1/4 as much. So with that, are the Yamaha's and Honda's 1/4 as quiet and 4 times as reliable?

I also know air cooled motors are more efficient if there is little or no back pressure on the exhaust, but surely one could be muffled enough with no increase in back pressure, right?

Are there some more affordable brands that are quiet and reliable?

Sadly for camp ground use, I haven't seen anything better than the Honda and Yamaha...I'm in the same boat. I have a 9,000 watt generator that is very quiet as far as they go, we took it to camp to power 2 other campers while I ran my on-board 4k in 100+ degree heat...The aluminum echo from the campers was unreal, and we have very generous spacing...If you are going to use it a lot, spend the money, you won't regret it and neither will your neighbors.

Now that I have a TT, I have to do some shopping if I can't get the power company to bring me dedicated power (a whole other story).

If there's something I'm unaware of, I'm open to suggestions...one other thing, on my camper I have to power 15k for the AC surge...That requires a boost on the portables that equates to a 3500 or so surge.

Diamondpilot · Feb 26, 2014

For the money the TSC units made by Champion are excellent. Little loud but $300. My father has a 4000 watt unit with a 30 amp RV plug on it. I know 2 others with it that are pleased. With AC on its just a steady hum.

Chris

Looking4new · Feb 26, 2014

timswi said:
Now that I have a TT, I have to do some shopping if I can't get the power company to bring me dedicated power (a whole other story).

If there's something I'm unaware of, I'm open to suggestions.

What's a 'TT'?

jwstewar · Feb 26, 2014

I second DPs opinion on the Champion. We've had one for about 4 years or so now. We've lost power a few times and it has always worked well. In 2012 we had the derecho come through and we lost power for 4 or 5 days, it ran constant except for shutting down for fueling and checking (not changing) the oil. We moved to the camper for those 4 or 5 days where we could have AC. I then borrowed a generator (and finally on Sunday bought a Generac 5500GP at TSC they had a bunch brought in) to power the refrigerators and sump pump and stuff in the house. The Generac is much louder and doesn't put out as clean of power as the little Champion. The Champion also starts much easier, usually on the 1st or 2nd pull. Back to the Champion and the power outage, we were able to run everything in the camper except for the water heater on electric. If it kicked on and the AC was on, it would stall the generator. Other than that it did fine including running long extension cords and running fans for our goats. Our camper sits beside my 30x48 pole barn, I set the generator in front of the pole barn on the concrete approach with a chain wrapped around the frame. Ran the chain under the door and then parked the truck on both ends of the chain (did the same thing for the generator at the house), once we were in the camper with the AC on, you couldn't even here the little Champion running - though I could hear the Generac much farther away. Now, I'm not saying I would run the Champion in a campground as part of normal camping, but for emergency use, I think $300 is a very good investment. When we bought ours they were $299 and I got a $50 gift card. I believe now they are $329 and you might see them on sale for $299.

jwstewar · Feb 26, 2014

Looking4new said:
What's a 'TT'?

Travel Trailer

Looking4new · Feb 26, 2014

jwstewar said:
Travel Trailer

Thanks. What I was going to suggest wont work.

bucktaker · Feb 26, 2014

I am very happy with my Honda Eu2000's bought them 10 years ago and they are still running great. I made my own cable to run them both when I need to run the AC but 99 percent of the time its only one.

I used one all week last week as a power source for power tools while building a boat dock. Had someone come over to see what I was doing and after I turned the radio off he asked is that generator running. lol I highly recommend the honda eu units they make camping a fun experience not a noisy bothersome event.

bdeboer · Feb 26, 2014

I have a Yamaha ef2400is or 2400 watt. It will run our travel trailer AC but that is about it, forget about a coffee maker or microwave at the same time. We usually only run the AC for a short time in the evening to cool the camper down. It has been reliable and it is quiet.

Travelover · Feb 26, 2014

As has been stated above, Honda and Yamaha are the quietest, Champion seems to be the best of the Chinese brands. That said, don't under estimate how much generators annoy fellow campers. If you don't need air conditioning, just about anything else can be handled with propane and solar panels. The price on solar panels has dropped dramatically in the last year or two.

bullbreaker · Feb 26, 2014

With in 2 months plan on using my JD genny w/Subaru motor "extensively". Could'nt pass up on it,paid $1200 for it with 1 hr time on it. Now has a whopping 2 hr's. Still ain't ran into someone that has one of these Subaru powered units. Plan on posting the good,bad and ugly bout them if any when I put some serious use on it.

HHR · Feb 26, 2014

bullbreaker said:
With in 2 months plan on using my JD genny w/Subaru motor "extensively". Could'nt pass up on it,paid $1200 for it with 1 hr time on it. Now has a whopping 2 hr's. Still ain't ran into someone that has one of these Subaru powered units. Plan on posting the good,bad and ugly bout them if any when I put some serious use on it.

We have an old Subaru-Robin 2500 L-head generator and it has been the nicest running generator. It's not real quiet, but has been a one pull starter and uses very little fuel.

Diamondpilot · Feb 26, 2014

bucktaker said:
I am very happy with my Honda Eu2000's bought them 10 years ago and they are still running great. I made my own cable to run them both when I need to run the AC but 99 percent of the time its only one.

I used one all week last week as a power source for power tools while building a boat dock. Had someone come over to see what I was doing and after I turned the radio off he asked is that generator running. lol I highly recommend the honda eu units they make camping a fun experience not a noisy bothersome event.

I have a client that has 13,000 hours on his Honda EU2000. Gets synthetic oil twice a year and he did not replace the spark plug (actually I did) until it had over 10,000 hours. It's now pink from sun fade.

Chris

Diamondpilot · Feb 26, 2014

bullbreaker said:
With in 2 months plan on using my JD genny w/Subaru motor "extensively". Could'nt pass up on it,paid $1200 for it with 1 hr time on it. Now has a whopping 2 hr's. Still ain't ran into someone that has one of these Subaru powered units. Plan on posting the good,bad and ugly bout them if any when I put some serious use on it.

Champions and some Harbor Freight units have Subaru motors. In my opinion the only thing better is Yamaha, Honda, and Kawasaki.

Chris

Egon · Feb 26, 2014

Can't comment on generator make but noise is different.

A little sound deadening around the engine that allows airflow will work. Larger mufflers will also work. Flexible line to a free standing muffler.

wawajake · Feb 26, 2014

I had a Subaru Robin model for my camp that was great ( 240 volt plug and 3500 watt) Was finicky with gas , but got used to emptying fule bowl if it gave any problems (five minute job) Sold it when I sold the camp, and it was nine years old running good. Tried to find one here in Canada and could not find a Subaru motor one, but found that Walmart carried a line that has a Hyundai motor. Same size as before for $299 on sale . I can wear out three of these before I paid the same as a Honda. So far so good.

dodge man · Feb 26, 2014

I have a Powermate. Its without a doubt a cheaper generator, its something like 6500 watts. It works well and I think it powered by a knockoff of the Subaru engine, but it is very loud, way to loud for a campground.

grsthegreat · Feb 26, 2014

you know... if using them in a camp ground, you better get a quiet running unit....or be ready to have some pissed off neighbors. People want to go camping to get away, and the last thing they want to hear is your generator.

bucktaker · Feb 26, 2014

dodge man said:
I have a Powermate. Its without a doubt a cheaper generator, its something like 6500 watts. It works well and I think it powered by a knockoff of the Subaru engine, but it is very loud, way to loud for a campground.

you know... if using them in a camp ground, you better get a quiet running unit....or be ready to have some pissed off neighbors. People want to go camping to get away, and the last thing they want to hear is your generator.

I agree.be polite to your fellow campers... Imagine yourself in a nice quiet spot, camping in the sierras...when along side you pulls a camper who sets up his RV. Lays his electric cord all the way out, faces the genset away from him. Fires it up then goes inside for some tv watching. it happened to us ...