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Old 11-26-2021, 08:49 PM   #1
Rogdeb
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What portable generator?

How large of a portable generator does everyone run?
What brand?

I have a 2021 3813MS with a residential fridge.
I understand we can only run 1 A/C unit(if we run one at all). But we do like our coffee and use the microwave a lot.

All suggestions welcome folks!

Thank you!
 
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Old 11-26-2021, 10:12 PM   #2
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Roger,

Honda is the gold standard when it comes to portable gennies but there are others that are less expensive and do a decent job. A pair of the 2200 watt units are easier to handle and give you options to run one or two depending on how much power you need at the time. If you install soft starts on your a/c units you could run two a/c units with the pair of 2200s but little else.
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Old 11-26-2021, 10:53 PM   #3
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You will need to determine your power needs then purchase the corresponding sized Honda.
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Old 11-27-2021, 05:22 AM   #4
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Several threads here and other forums. Honda always gets the nod, but several others work well, think Champion, Yamaha, General, and even Harbor Freight. Above 3400 you can usually run both ACs, the fridge and a MW. Or pair smaller ones, makes them easier to lug around.
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Old 11-27-2021, 06:34 AM   #5
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I have three of these generators, a 2000 watt and a 3500 watt Harbor Freight and a 3000 watt Honda. The Honda is a great generator but would I buy another one. No way. The only thing the HarborFreight unit lacks is a gas cut off and that is a thirty minute fix. The 3500 has an amp, watt, hour and voltage gage the Honda lacks. For almost three times the price I’ll buy something else that does the job just as good.
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Old 11-27-2021, 09:30 AM   #6
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For the weight, low noise level, ease of storage and transporting we went with the 2 Hondas and would buy them again.
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Old 11-27-2021, 09:36 AM   #7
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i have just one of these generacs works ok for me never tried using the air with it but if i did i think i would put the softstarts on my airs. they have went up in price just like everything else though..

https://factorypure.com/products/gen...ontent=Generac

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Old 11-27-2021, 10:03 AM   #8
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Like Dick said for portability you can’t beat two small generators. The Hondas have 1800 running watts each. My HarborFreight has 1600 and that is more than any 3500 watt generator. And even at my age I can easily carry them around.
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Old 11-27-2021, 01:51 PM   #9
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it depends how deep your pockets are. I bought 2 Power Horse generators from Northern Tool. They were 1/2 the price and do what the Hondas do and are just as quiet. They usually start on the 1st or 2nd pull. I am very happy with my choice.
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Old 11-27-2021, 04:28 PM   #10
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Owner of 2 - Cummings Onan P4500i 's here. When paired together, they run everything in the camper, same as being plugged into 50 amp shore power. I've run everything at the same time: Both AC's, Microwave, Residential Refrigerator, Electric on the Water Heater, televisions, and the generators never missed a beat. One by itself will service 30 amps, the same as being plugged into 30 amp shore power and does not miss a beat. They (even running 2 at the same time) are quiet, powerful, and pretty fuel effecient. Battery start, with remote start, or pull cord start, or push button start on the unit. Gas cut off, comes with a 30 amp RV female socket and even a USB socket for charging or running anything that uses USB connections.

We love ours, haven't missed a beat since we bought them, and use them a lot. The portability allows us to use them for more than just the camper. I run power tools with one of them when I need power away from the house.

Again, not cheap ... but you'll never be disappointed with what they can do.

Click Here for more details.

Again, the down side is, they are not cheap and they weigh 100 pounds (dry weight). Add oil and fuel (3.4 gallons), and they can be very heavy.

But just like your truck ... it's better to have more power and not need it, than to have minimum power and regret you didn't spend just a little more and get something that could do it all.
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Old 11-27-2021, 04:48 PM   #11
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All the manufacturers give noise levels at usually 25 feet. Go to their website. Compare the features make special note because most of these come from a few Chinese companies. Don’t spend several hundred dollars more for the same generator. They are all private label units except for the Honda and the rest are Honda clones.
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Old 11-27-2021, 06:33 PM   #12
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We have a 10 year old Honda 3000 with countless hours on it. When/If it goes I will absolutely buy another Honda.
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Old 11-27-2021, 06:52 PM   #13
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I have been really intrigued w/ the P4500i.
I’m very familiar with Onan/Cummins.
Thank you for all the info on them.
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Old 11-28-2021, 12:14 PM   #14
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We have two Honda 2000’s for a number of reasons. First is reliability. We bought our first one about 16 years ago and still runs like new. Second is flexibility. We can run or two generators depending on need. We can run both AC’s off two or everything but AC with one. Plus, they’re quiet, sip fuel and I can carry one with one hand. I built a cage and each generator sits on either side of the hitch with a 6 gallon extended run fuel tank in-line with the hitch between the two generators. Everyone has different needs. We have Super Solar so our generators are backup for cloudy days. We seldom rely on generators for AC. Even an expensive campground is cheaper when it’s hot. Good luck with your choice. Lots of options. Figure out how the options fit your needs. Where will you carry it, how will you get it in/out, how do you fuel it, where do you have to go for fuel when you camp? Sensitive electronics - be sure it’s a pure sine wave.
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Old 11-28-2021, 02:12 PM   #15
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yep

Quote:
Originally Posted by DutchmenSport View Post
Owner of 2 - Cummings Onan P4500i 's here. When paired together, they run everything in the camper, same as being plugged into 50 amp shore power. I've run everything at the same time: Both AC's, Microwave, Residential Refrigerator, Electric on the Water Heater, televisions, and the generators never missed a beat. One by itself will service 30 amps, the same as being plugged into 30 amp shore power and does not miss a beat. They (even running 2 at the same time) are quiet, powerful, and pretty fuel effecient. Battery start, with remote start, or pull cord start, or push button start on the unit. Gas cut off, comes with a 30 amp RV female socket and even a USB socket for charging or running anything that uses USB connections.

We love ours, haven't missed a beat since we bought them, and use them a lot. The portability allows us to use them for more than just the camper. I run power tools with one of them when I need power away from the house.

Again, not cheap ... but you'll never be disappointed with what they can do.

Click Here for more details.

Again, the down side is, they are not cheap and they weigh 100 pounds (dry weight). Add oil and fuel (3.4 gallons), and they can be very heavy.

But just like your truck ... it's better to have more power and not need it, than to have minimum power and regret you didn't spend just a little more and get something that could do it all.
With this I agree, it got a little frustrating having to turn things off just to use something else and not being able to use both A/C`s with twin 2000`s. The little gens had to run at full bore and went thru gas like crazy(try filling them up in the middle of the night in the pouring rain)and nothing else could run except a night light. Any way twin 4500`s on propane paralleled to a 50Amp outlet on the frame runs everything. I leave mine in the truck and secured. Westinghouse came out with these and Onan just put their logo on them but these have the duel fuel capabilities.
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Old 11-28-2021, 05:14 PM   #16
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Great generator and you saved a couple hundred bucks per generator.
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Old 11-28-2021, 11:01 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bshgto View Post
With this I agree, it got a little frustrating having to turn things off just to use something else and not being able to use both A/C`s with twin 2000`s. The little gens had to run at full bore and went thru gas like crazy(try filling them up in the middle of the night in the pouring rain)and nothing else could run except a night light. Any way twin 4500`s on propane paralleled to a 50Amp outlet on the frame runs everything. I leave mine in the truck and secured. Westinghouse came out with these and Onan just put their logo on them but these have the duel fuel capabilities.
That’s the generator I have too. Works great. I think Onan & all the other ones like that model are the same. At least the specs are the same on that i4500
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Old 11-29-2021, 07:10 AM   #18
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Just know that top of the line products are often duplicated in performance numbers, capacities, abilities, etc. Many components are made from lesser quality materials to allow for lower production costs. As a person that used to bid out big ticket items, it was difficult to weed out the cheaper clones. Generators are no different.
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Old 11-29-2021, 08:59 AM   #19
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Quote:
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That’s the generator I have too. Works great. I think Onan & all the other ones like that model are the same. At least the specs are the same on that i4500
A couple of years use and the 4500`s still run like a top. But it is 2 gens to maintain. So I`ve been eyeing this new one from HF and looking for a kit to convert to propane, to new for that I guess.
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Old 11-29-2021, 09:14 AM   #20
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That is a great generator but it’s a lot to carry around with you. If I needed a generator to use when the power went off that’s the one I would get but my little generator will run every I need to run except my heat. I can get by using my gas logs.
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