Which generator to buy

[Jritz]

Should have bought a Ford so you could have let the truck idle! Lol Harbor Freight is the way to go. For about $700 you can get 3500 Predator inverter generator.

[Themoskwas]

I have a Honda Eu3000 gen
and it works great nice and quiet lots of power

[mazboy]

first off you can idle your truck as you like. the dealer is wrong. but, remember you have to drive it hard at times to get the dph cleaned.


as said earlier, any generator will do if you want to just do your batteries. but I'd go with a 2200 watt honda.

[ejerni]

If you do buy a generator, make it an inverter generator. The open frames are unbearbly loud. We bought ours on Amazon.

[JABURKHOLDER]

Lots of suggestions. Here’s a different one. I have a Westinghouse 2500w, inverter generator. Purchased on sale at Sam’s Club for $399.00

Also, when using your generator as shore power, your residential fridge will automatically turn on.
No big deal, just saying.

[ejerni]

We also have a westinghouse Inverter generator. 4000w Cost 813.00 on Amazon with discounts. Very quiet.

[CaptnJohn]

If you like buying a very good product and paying double for the name, go Honda. If you want a very good product~~~ Champion. One pair I bought years ago and my brother uses almost daily now he estimates 2000 - 2500 hours without a problem. The pair I bought after giving those to him now have about 260 hours. I paid just under $1000 for the pair and parallel kit. The Champion 2000 watt seem to go on like the Energizer bunny!

[Five O'clock Somewhere]

When my kids were growing up we showed horses and there were many weekends our truck set at show rings running two days never being turned off without any issues. Granted it was an older model Ford dully yet not sure what the issue with it sitting at idle could be.

Regarding a generator, when I decided it was time to buy one I looked at every model made and it came down to the start test, which one started with the least amout of effort. Honda won out, I have yet had to pull the cord more than six times no matter how long it has been since the last time they have been started (up to six months), provided and a good maintance schedule is maintained. I use two 2200i together and have been able to able to do eveything I want to with them. While more money that some of the others I feel they are worth the money.

[steiny93]

Originally Posted by Fred S.

Thank you everyone for all the replies.
The wife will be happy to know that she can run an air conditioner while cleaning.

Fred,
From the above I'm thinking that you may be assuming that these little generators will run the air conditioner of the 5th wheel. To be clear, that isn't the case; a 2000 watt generator will not run your ac. (I have a pair of the Honda's; a single isn't enough to run the ac)

The don't idle deal is and isn't real. Long duration idling will load up the oil with fuel, will it really matter, likely not. For 99% of folks it will never matter, for the 1% it makes it into the owners manual. (In in ND, in the winter 99% of the diesels idle a lot; they aren't dying left and right)

The advice above to disconnect the batteries when not in use is spot on; that is very likely the root of your issue and just doing that will probably get you to the next camping trip for a charge top off.

[CaptnJohn]

I may have to pull (easy) 4-5 times after a shutdown as Champions have a fuel shutoff that burns all the fuel in the lines and carburetor. With both running plus res fridge never a problem with 1 ac 15k or the 16.5k heat pump.

[Charlie 3931fb]

Originally Posted by Fred S.

We have a 2017 3791RD, I would like to get a small generator just to charge my 2 Optima batteries when the unit is in storage and the wife wants to run all 5 slides out. I used to just plug the unit in to my old truck which was gas and I would just let the truck idle. We now have a new 2019 Silverado 3500 DRW diesel and I was told buy the dealer not to let it idle for very long. I looked at a Generac GP 2200i generator which came with oil and the DC cables but I am not sure if it would charge my 2 batteries.

We had installed the Cummins Onan RV QG 6500 LP - 6.5HGJAB-904 - 6.5kW RV Generator (LP). Had some troubles with the install but now that we got thru all that we are happy with it. It is very soft on the noise level. It was almost $7000. installed.

Charlie

[OldRetiredMSGT]

I have a Honda 3000 is and it is mounted on the rear of my RV where the connections are. Question???? Do you really want a generator running under the bedroom while you are sleeping?????

[AZ Traveler]

Not sure why you want to run any genny when you are sleeping.

[PeteandJoan]

Originally Posted by AZ Traveler

Not sure why you want to run any genny when you are sleeping.

Maybe to run air conditioner , CPAP, oxygen supply?

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by PeteandJoan

Maybe to run air conditioner , CPAP, oxygen supply?

OK, We don't typically boondock where you need to run air at night. All else will run off the inverter. Might use a genny if its overcast and solar will not top off battery bank during the day.

[Creeker]

We dry camp as often or more than we do with hookups. There have been a few nights over the years where we did run the AC at night. Our Honda EU3000iS has given 8 years of extremely quiet trouble free use. Also used as home backup with frequent power outages. It has been one of the best purchases we've made. If only Trucks and Campers were as reliable as our Honda Inverter Genny...

[DebNJim B]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

I may have to pull (easy) 4-5 times after a shutdown as Champions have a fuel shutoff that burns all the fuel in the lines and carburetor. With both running plus res fridge never a problem with 1 ac 15k or the 16.5k heat pump.

We have the Champion 3400 dual fuel. I only run on propane so I don't need to prep for storage. I have never pulled more than twice to start it. We almost always have hook ups and I got this for power outages. On our trek home earlier this week we stayed at a Cracker Barrel overnight and I ran the gen to keep the residential frig going. All was well but I could not run the microwave. Even with the frig and converter breakers off the micro would overload the genny. going to do some investigating today.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Dave10]

Originally Posted by DebNJim B

We have the Champion 3400 dual fuel. I only run on propane so I don't need to prep for storage. I have never pulled more than twice to start it. We almost always have hook ups and I got this for power outages. On our trek home earlier this week we stayed at a Cracker Barrel overnight and I ran the gen to keep the residential frig going. All was well but I could not run the microwave. Even with the frig and converter breakers off the micro would overload the genny. going to do some investigating today.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Published specifications indicate that it should work with a 2k watt microwave. However, it probably would work using gas and would be marginal with propane. Saying that I have read where Champion and Predator generators will not reliably handle the rated running power specification as well as Honda or Yamaha. BTY make sure no other loads on. The battery charger can pull a lot of current for example.

[CaptnJohn]

We are about the same as I have a pair of 2000 watt together. I can run the fridge and micro or a 15K AC or the 16.5K HP. HW is on gas even when only the fridge is going to help keep batteries up. Use gas for better output.

[DebNJim B]

Originally Posted by Dave10

Published specifications indicate that it should work with a 2k watt microwave. However, it probably would work using gas and would be marginal with propane. Saying that I have read where Champion and Predator generators will not reliably handle the rated running power specification as well as Honda or Yamaha. BTY make sure no other loads on. The battery charger can pull a lot of current for example.

Finally got out to work on this. Really nasty thunderstorms yesterday. So I connected my EMS to see what amps I'm dealing with. Wouldn't connect, error, open ground. Ah ha... So I made up an Edison ground-neutral bonding plug and tried it again. EMS says good to go. Turned on all the lighting and had only .5KW. Turned on the microwave and genny ramped up and M/W cycled fine. Pulled 1.6Kw. The frig was plugged in but that leg was only drawing 200 watts. Not sure how much the convertor will draw, but it could be pushing 2Kw. So with the convertor running I likely couldn't run the M/W. At least not on Propane. Could possibly handle it running on gas. I like to use propane, that way I don't have to carry another gas can.
Guess I'll stick with the Champion for now although I do wish it were lighter. I can still lift it into the truck but at 73 it's getting pretty heavy. I may just go two 2000's.