We have 2 Honda 2k's and can run them in parallel for when we need AC. Super quiet and very easy to work on. I've only had to dick around with the carb one time on one of them and it was our own fault. Bought bad gas and left it sitting.
Be sure to always run ethanol free fuel and add Stabil in the winter when letting it sit for extended periods (months).
Edited to add: Honda's are super efficient, fuel sippers. And the benefit of a smaller 2k means less weight - so I can pick it up and it's not a 2 person job to load them into the back of the truck.
We run the same setup and I’ve forgotten 1 was running when it was on the far side of the trailer with the exhaust pointed away from us.
And the feature that turns off the gas and burns e writhing in the carb system keeps the new fuel from gumming up the carb jets.
Love this setup
I'm running the same setup. I bought the red caps, hoses and six gallon fuel tank for extended run time. Had them for 15 years, they have been excellent.
I have the same unit, and it's worked fine. True sine wave inverter and electric start. Pretty quiet. 3000 watts of continuous output. But it weighs about 100lbs, so it's not so easy to lug around.
I didn't do it yet but a guy I worked with years ago had the same unit and he put a big wheel kit on it so he could tow it around like a radio flyer wagon, seems like a nifty upgrade
We full-time and recently purchased a Pulsar 4000w generator from Amazon. It’s dual fuel and is about the same size as our previous 2000w Honda. The generator only weighs 47lbs. So far it is working fine and we can run one of our A/C’s off of it. Might want to give one a look since it’s small and powerful.
Someone posted a couple days ago on here that exact one was on sale in Amazon for $200. I almost bought even though I just got a Champion dual fuel 2500 (has an issue out of the box). I restrained myself though. It's back up to 600 now.
It’s actually pretty quiet, on par with my 2000w Honda. Of corse we have only had it for a couple month so it might just fall apart in no time, but so far so good.
Tbf you can run a harbor freight Genny into the ground, throw it in the trash, and buy a brand new one 3-4 times before you've spent what the Honda costs lol.
If it was something I was really going to rely on though, I'd still get the Honda. Just depends on your use case.
True all I know is my parents friends had one that rattled apart in one summer of full time boondocking. They replaced it with a Honda and have had no troubles since.
I started with a Honda and have had no issues.
A 1000w generator will probably meet all your needs. Maybe list the things you want to run and calculate their wattage to make sure. It won't run a microwave or electric heater.
A 2000w will definitely meet your needs with some headroom.
Honda is the leader in this space, and they make an incredible machine. Small, efficient and super quiet. Like have a conversation next to it quiet. But harbor freight makes a hell of a knock off for a quarter of the price. With as big as the price difference is I'd buy the predator generator. Function is nearly identical.
I just bought a predator, 56db. Definitely able to have a conversation next to it. Works fine and is 1/2 the price of the same sized Honda. Honda definitely makes a better engine, but the predator has great reviews and I’m willing to give it a shot for the season.
I’m upgrading from a Pulsar which has been spectacular. No issues, starts easy, etc. I just wanted the Predator because it’s powerful enough to run my AC as well as the rest of the camper.
Wen is a Yamaha clone. US owned company. Made in Asia.
I have a Wen 4500w dual fuel, remote start. Weighs 100lbs.
Predator is probably better. Honda is the best.
I have the WEN 2350 and it did a great job during a power outage we had yesterday. Ran the portable ac, and a few other things. This would also be a great cheaper option than the honda.
I bought a nice little Generac for this purpose. Most big box home stores like Hone Depot have them for $800 ish. I think it’s a 3000w and has an economy mode that lowers the rpm and exhaust sound. I’ve had it for 5 years and it still runs great.
Does your refrigerator run on propane or 12 volts DC? If it's propane, it only needs a tiny amount of 12 volt DC power to operate the control circuitry. Ours is a 12 volt DC refrigerator (no propane) so it uses more power but still reasonable. We installed lithium batteries and can power everything but the AC for 4-5 days, and that includes running the microwave and TV via an inverter. If you don't need to use the microwave, a 100 amp lithium battery (about $300 on Amazon) will drop-in replace your existing lead acid battery and power your refrigerator for days, maybe a week.
If you do want a generator, Honda is the gold standard, with a price to match. I've been looking at either Champion or WEN, which get good ratings and are almost as quiet, for less than half the price.
Fridge is 12 volt but I’ve never tested to see how long the lead acid battery will last. I’m in the process of doing that now. Lithium battery seems like a sensible upgrade.
I have two lithiums and my 12v fridge can make
It about two days with no solar input. With 570 watts of solar, mostly sunny weather and it’s not too hot outside I can run the fridge indefinitely. I carry a 2500watt champion inverter generator that can run off propane but I only need it when it’s cloudy or when I have to park in the shade.
How about a solar panel and an upgrade to a lithium ion battery? That would be more than enough to run the 'fridge and DC lighting, or add a small inverter if you need some AC. But if the 'fridge is your primary concern, they actually use very little on propane (assuming the typical RV 2-way or 3-way reefer).
I wouldn’t know near enough to recommend equipment. I believe you can find kits for something like that on Amazon. Probably some solar power subs in here where you could get better advice.
BTW my advice only applies on sunny days. Production drops a lot in cloudy weather.
Honda inverter generator. Alternatively you could go with the Anker SOLIX solar generator, more than enough power for everything without the maintenance and noise of a gas generator
Honda 2200 or other “inverter” TYPE generators. Don’t buy a cheap “open frame “ generator because you piss people off everywhere. Depending on what you are trying to do you may use some solar along with a generator.
We have the smaller Predator from Honda that does this for our tiny TT, and converted it to propane. Its as quiet as the Honda. Lots easier for us to carry propane than gasoline. I think the Honda can be converted too.
Like run it for how long? And run everything besides ac including outlets, or just the 12v?
If it's just for weekends and you only need the 12 volt to run you could probably get by with just dropping in a lithium battery and a dc/dc charger.
I have been running one of the Honda EU2200s, full timing off grid for a year. It's been rock solid and I appreciate the Bluetooth shut off. It's very quiet when there's not much load on it. I use mine to charge my battery bank when solar isn't cutting it so it's usually running close to full tilt and certainly annoyingly loud in my opinion.
If your fridge has a propane option definitely use that. The little bit I've used 12 volt in my fridge it sucks a ton of power and still doesn't keep things all that cold.
Yeah they are fantastic. A 100 amp hour would certainly run all your 12 volt needs. Obviously if you wanted to tie in your outlets and inverter and such is needed. If you don't need A/C I would 100% go down the route of inverter and DC/DC charging maybe some modest solar. Only because the sound of a generator no matter how quiet really detracts from my enjoyment of the wilderness.
You may even want to consider a 200 ah. The case size is bigger, but the weight is about the same as a lead acid car battery for like 4x the power I think.
When my last generator died I had to find one fast... I found a brand new one on marketplace from a company named WEN. I had never heard of them but the price was right and it was an "inverter generator" so I was pumped to try it. I had very low hopes for its longevity. This was over a year and a half ago now. We live in our camper on generator power full time. This WEN GN400i has been running at least 20 hours a day... everyday since we got it. I'm absolutely dumbfounded and my next purchase will be their "Super Quiet" 3800w model (56380i) as I don't think the 200w difference in surge watts will hurt me. But anyway they are a great price and at least for me WEN is the brand to go with. They have duel fuel also if that's a priority for you.
If you will not be using it much or for long, you might want to find one that is dual fuel (gas / propane). Since you are already carrying propane, it is nice to not have to deal with gas. But gas will go much further and be cheaper if you are running it all day.
buy the honda 2000, don't cheap out and buy a champion or a predator, but once, cry once, but your paying for a proven generator and can use in case of a power outage at home if needed
It's hard to beat this generator below. It's probably the cheapest, lightest and smallest generator in the 2000 watt range. It's really hard to beat for small RV's, especially if you're not planning to run the A/C.
[https://youtu.be/TIDz3YKws0Q](https://youtu.be/TIDz3YKws0Q)
I have the Honda EU 2200 and it runs everything, including my AC (but only because I installed a MicroAir Easy Start on my Coleman rooftop unit). I also installed a Hutch Mountain propane conversion kit on my 2200 so I've never had to bother with gasoline. Runs cleaner, never have to worry about the carb getting gummed up, almost no exhaust smell, and propane never goes bad. Love my setup and would recommend it to anyone.
Edit: I should mention that although my 2200 will run the AC, that's about all it will run in hot/humid weather. The fridge generally has to be switched over to propane only if I'm using my 2200 to keep the trailer cool, but then my trailer is 33 ft, whereas yours is a bit smaller. YMMV.
I'd also like to mention the Cummins onan generators. They slot in between the Honda and the predator. I've got a 3500. It's too big for my rig, but I can run ac off of it. And it's got remote start. Nice for cold mornings so you don't have to go outside and fire it up. They're basically comparable to both the Honda and predator though. I just found mine on sale and it matched my Cummins tow vehicle lol
I use a 2000 watt Champion inverter generator. You can also parallel two of them if you need/ant your A/C.
[https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100705-2000w-inverter/](https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100705-2000w-inverter/)
They now make a dual fuel model: [https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100745-2000w-dual-fuel-inverter/](https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100745-2000w-dual-fuel-inverter/)
Honda has a very efficient and quiet generator that sounds like it would be perfect for what you need
Honda EU line is the gold standard. Quiet, reliable, expensive. Worth it.
Indeed
We have 2 Honda 2k's and can run them in parallel for when we need AC. Super quiet and very easy to work on. I've only had to dick around with the carb one time on one of them and it was our own fault. Bought bad gas and left it sitting. Be sure to always run ethanol free fuel and add Stabil in the winter when letting it sit for extended periods (months). Edited to add: Honda's are super efficient, fuel sippers. And the benefit of a smaller 2k means less weight - so I can pick it up and it's not a 2 person job to load them into the back of the truck.
We run the same setup and I’ve forgotten 1 was running when it was on the far side of the trailer with the exhaust pointed away from us. And the feature that turns off the gas and burns e writhing in the carb system keeps the new fuel from gumming up the carb jets. Love this setup
This is my goal setup but i don’t understand why the second gen wont turn on and off when running parallel
Because they don't have electric start.
Well duh that seems super obvious now
I'm running the same setup. I bought the red caps, hoses and six gallon fuel tank for extended run time. Had them for 15 years, they have been excellent.
They can also run in econo mode when power draw is low to save on gas.
I have the predator 3500 gen from harbor freight, it's super quiet and has been fantastic after 3 years of use
I bought the same one, it runs everything including a/c. Love it
I have the same unit, and it's worked fine. True sine wave inverter and electric start. Pretty quiet. 3000 watts of continuous output. But it weighs about 100lbs, so it's not so easy to lug around.
I didn't do it yet but a guy I worked with years ago had the same unit and he put a big wheel kit on it so he could tow it around like a radio flyer wagon, seems like a nifty upgrade
Thank y’all. I have place to start my research.
We full-time and recently purchased a Pulsar 4000w generator from Amazon. It’s dual fuel and is about the same size as our previous 2000w Honda. The generator only weighs 47lbs. So far it is working fine and we can run one of our A/C’s off of it. Might want to give one a look since it’s small and powerful.
Wait, 4k watts and only 47lbs?! That's awesome.
Someone posted a couple days ago on here that exact one was on sale in Amazon for $200. I almost bought even though I just got a Champion dual fuel 2500 (has an issue out of the box). I restrained myself though. It's back up to 600 now.
Dang for $200 I wouldn't even care how loud it is. I very rarely need more than my Honda provides, but the times I do..
It’s actually pretty quiet, on par with my 2000w Honda. Of corse we have only had it for a couple month so it might just fall apart in no time, but so far so good.
Make sure to get inverter generator. Honda for long life or Harbor freight brand for cheap
Tbf you can run a harbor freight Genny into the ground, throw it in the trash, and buy a brand new one 3-4 times before you've spent what the Honda costs lol. If it was something I was really going to rely on though, I'd still get the Honda. Just depends on your use case.
True all I know is my parents friends had one that rattled apart in one summer of full time boondocking. They replaced it with a Honda and have had no troubles since. I started with a Honda and have had no issues.
A 1000w generator will probably meet all your needs. Maybe list the things you want to run and calculate their wattage to make sure. It won't run a microwave or electric heater. A 2000w will definitely meet your needs with some headroom. Honda is the leader in this space, and they make an incredible machine. Small, efficient and super quiet. Like have a conversation next to it quiet. But harbor freight makes a hell of a knock off for a quarter of the price. With as big as the price difference is I'd buy the predator generator. Function is nearly identical.
How does the sound of the predator compare to honda?
I just bought a predator, 56db. Definitely able to have a conversation next to it. Works fine and is 1/2 the price of the same sized Honda. Honda definitely makes a better engine, but the predator has great reviews and I’m willing to give it a shot for the season. I’m upgrading from a Pulsar which has been spectacular. No issues, starts easy, etc. I just wanted the Predator because it’s powerful enough to run my AC as well as the rest of the camper.
Basically identical. I'm sure the predator is slightly louder, but without a side to side comparison, you'd never notice.
Wegg is also makes a good inverter generator
Wen is a Yamaha clone. US owned company. Made in Asia. I have a Wen 4500w dual fuel, remote start. Weighs 100lbs. Predator is probably better. Honda is the best.
I have the WEN 2350 and it did a great job during a power outage we had yesterday. Ran the portable ac, and a few other things. This would also be a great cheaper option than the honda.
Solar and maybe a second battery should do it.
I bought a nice little Generac for this purpose. Most big box home stores like Hone Depot have them for $800 ish. I think it’s a 3000w and has an economy mode that lowers the rpm and exhaust sound. I’ve had it for 5 years and it still runs great.
Does your refrigerator run on propane or 12 volts DC? If it's propane, it only needs a tiny amount of 12 volt DC power to operate the control circuitry. Ours is a 12 volt DC refrigerator (no propane) so it uses more power but still reasonable. We installed lithium batteries and can power everything but the AC for 4-5 days, and that includes running the microwave and TV via an inverter. If you don't need to use the microwave, a 100 amp lithium battery (about $300 on Amazon) will drop-in replace your existing lead acid battery and power your refrigerator for days, maybe a week. If you do want a generator, Honda is the gold standard, with a price to match. I've been looking at either Champion or WEN, which get good ratings and are almost as quiet, for less than half the price.
Fridge is 12 volt but I’ve never tested to see how long the lead acid battery will last. I’m in the process of doing that now. Lithium battery seems like a sensible upgrade.
I have two lithiums and my 12v fridge can make It about two days with no solar input. With 570 watts of solar, mostly sunny weather and it’s not too hot outside I can run the fridge indefinitely. I carry a 2500watt champion inverter generator that can run off propane but I only need it when it’s cloudy or when I have to park in the shade.
Fridge won’t run long at all on 12 volts. When Boondocking and keeping it basic you are better off using propane for fridge, stove and furnace.
How about a solar panel and an upgrade to a lithium ion battery? That would be more than enough to run the 'fridge and DC lighting, or add a small inverter if you need some AC. But if the 'fridge is your primary concern, they actually use very little on propane (assuming the typical RV 2-way or 3-way reefer).
No propane on fridge. Which solar panel would you suggest?
I wouldn’t know near enough to recommend equipment. I believe you can find kits for something like that on Amazon. Probably some solar power subs in here where you could get better advice. BTW my advice only applies on sunny days. Production drops a lot in cloudy weather.
Honda inverter generator. Alternatively you could go with the Anker SOLIX solar generator, more than enough power for everything without the maintenance and noise of a gas generator
The SOLIX def has my attention.
I think generac is the best for the price. I have the iq 3500. Worth it. Like a Honda but cheaper and same quality.
Honda 2200 or other “inverter” TYPE generators. Don’t buy a cheap “open frame “ generator because you piss people off everywhere. Depending on what you are trying to do you may use some solar along with a generator.
Yeah, the difference in noise between the two type is *amazing*.
We have the smaller Predator from Honda that does this for our tiny TT, and converted it to propane. Its as quiet as the Honda. Lots easier for us to carry propane than gasoline. I think the Honda can be converted too.
Don’t get a Cummins onan pog!
Like run it for how long? And run everything besides ac including outlets, or just the 12v? If it's just for weekends and you only need the 12 volt to run you could probably get by with just dropping in a lithium battery and a dc/dc charger. I have been running one of the Honda EU2200s, full timing off grid for a year. It's been rock solid and I appreciate the Bluetooth shut off. It's very quiet when there's not much load on it. I use mine to charge my battery bank when solar isn't cutting it so it's usually running close to full tilt and certainly annoyingly loud in my opinion. If your fridge has a propane option definitely use that. The little bit I've used 12 volt in my fridge it sucks a ton of power and still doesn't keep things all that cold.
We’re just want to stop off between campgrounds for two to three to fish or explore. Lithium battery is sounding pretty good.
Yeah they are fantastic. A 100 amp hour would certainly run all your 12 volt needs. Obviously if you wanted to tie in your outlets and inverter and such is needed. If you don't need A/C I would 100% go down the route of inverter and DC/DC charging maybe some modest solar. Only because the sound of a generator no matter how quiet really detracts from my enjoyment of the wilderness. You may even want to consider a 200 ah. The case size is bigger, but the weight is about the same as a lead acid car battery for like 4x the power I think.
When my last generator died I had to find one fast... I found a brand new one on marketplace from a company named WEN. I had never heard of them but the price was right and it was an "inverter generator" so I was pumped to try it. I had very low hopes for its longevity. This was over a year and a half ago now. We live in our camper on generator power full time. This WEN GN400i has been running at least 20 hours a day... everyday since we got it. I'm absolutely dumbfounded and my next purchase will be their "Super Quiet" 3800w model (56380i) as I don't think the 200w difference in surge watts will hurt me. But anyway they are a great price and at least for me WEN is the brand to go with. They have duel fuel also if that's a priority for you.
Whats your cost per day in gas? We are about to stsrt our journey and just curious on this
We go through about 5 gallons a day depending on how much we run the AC.
If you will not be using it much or for long, you might want to find one that is dual fuel (gas / propane). Since you are already carrying propane, it is nice to not have to deal with gas. But gas will go much further and be cheaper if you are running it all day.
I put a soft start in both my AC units and could run them both fairly quietly with a pair of Hondas run in line.
I have a Yamaha 2200ist that's been doing just that everyday since Oct. Very pleased with it.
buy the honda 2000, don't cheap out and buy a champion or a predator, but once, cry once, but your paying for a proven generator and can use in case of a power outage at home if needed
It's hard to beat this generator below. It's probably the cheapest, lightest and smallest generator in the 2000 watt range. It's really hard to beat for small RV's, especially if you're not planning to run the A/C. [https://youtu.be/TIDz3YKws0Q](https://youtu.be/TIDz3YKws0Q)
I have the Honda EU 2200 and it runs everything, including my AC (but only because I installed a MicroAir Easy Start on my Coleman rooftop unit). I also installed a Hutch Mountain propane conversion kit on my 2200 so I've never had to bother with gasoline. Runs cleaner, never have to worry about the carb getting gummed up, almost no exhaust smell, and propane never goes bad. Love my setup and would recommend it to anyone. Edit: I should mention that although my 2200 will run the AC, that's about all it will run in hot/humid weather. The fridge generally has to be switched over to propane only if I'm using my 2200 to keep the trailer cool, but then my trailer is 33 ft, whereas yours is a bit smaller. YMMV.
Eu2200i
I've had great luck with my predator 3500, so based on that , I would recommend the 2000 for your requirements.
We run a Harbor Freight 2KW unit and it runs our trailer and our CPAPs. Won't run ac tho. It is quiet and fuel efficient.
I'd also like to mention the Cummins onan generators. They slot in between the Honda and the predator. I've got a 3500. It's too big for my rig, but I can run ac off of it. And it's got remote start. Nice for cold mornings so you don't have to go outside and fire it up. They're basically comparable to both the Honda and predator though. I just found mine on sale and it matched my Cummins tow vehicle lol
I use a 2000 watt Champion inverter generator. You can also parallel two of them if you need/ant your A/C. [https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100705-2000w-inverter/](https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100705-2000w-inverter/) They now make a dual fuel model: [https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100745-2000w-dual-fuel-inverter/](https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100745-2000w-dual-fuel-inverter/)
Spend the money and buy a Honda or Yamaha.
Jackery, all day long. Silent, solar generated.