Thoughts on Generators

[Pigsticker]

Looking at purchasing a small portable gas gen for hooking up to the camper. I am shopping in the arena of the 2000 watt models. I noticed three units that stood out.

1. Honda 2000 - $999
2. Yamaha 2000 - $949
3. Smart tools 2000 - $600 (utilizes a yamaha engine)

Whats everybody's opinion of these that has seen them run. I have experienced the Honda but just wondering how the other two compare?

 

[guywhofishes]

1. Honda
2. Honda
3. Honda

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Sorry, it is just that for work nothing has come close to Honda. Anything else has disappointed.

 

[wildeyes]

I'm with guywhoknowsHonda

 

[sweeney]

other than carb problems on 2 out of 3 honda 3000's Everyone i hear that runs them loves them, My only suggestion is if you camp and run an AC unit or microwave, The 2000 is going to be to small. All the guys who have 2000's i know have either bought another 2000 and a parallel kit or else just bought the 3000i.

 

[Hookin8easy]

I had a Kipor that ran like a champ, sold with the camper, little better price than the Honda, very clean power as too not affect any high end electronic devices. I too would say to look in the 3000-3500 watt range

 

[Obi-Wan]

You may want to look into one of these as the tanks on the 2000 are quite small

Dual Honda Eu2000i Generator Feed Tank

 

[MuskyManiac]

For a 2000 size you probably can't beat the Honda. Small, quiet, and runs like a champ. The external fuel tank is a must, particularly if you're using it for ice fishing.

That said, there is certainly nothing wrong with the Yamaha either. I have a Yamaha 2800i that is a lot smaller than the 3000 Honda's or Yamaha's, and the fuel tank is large enough to go 14 hours in eco-throttle. For that size generator, I would get another Yamaha if I had to buy one today.

 

[Holmsvc]

Bought a northern tool powerhorse 2000 last winter for running the a few things in the ice house and charging the batteries. It was quiet and ran well. I'm not saying it will hold up to a Honda over time, but so far it's been good.

 

[wby257]

I have 2 Honda 2000 and hook them up together when I need more wattage. They sit in the back of the pickup and run. Very quite and worry free.

 

[b2down]

Brother in-law bought a Kipor with his new camper and it worked less than a year. It has numerous issues (carb and low oil shut-off). The problem he is having is finding someone who can work on a Kipor. Several shops have tried and no one has been able to get it to run. I'm with Guy on this one, buy a Honda. FWIW, I have a Champion 3850. I only paid $250 for it and have been running it 5 years. Works flawless but is a little loud. So I bought a longer extension cord and problem solved.

 

[jlh321]

A 2000 watt is not large enough to run a/c. I bought the Yamaha 2400 watt, it is easy to move around and will work for a small a/c unit.

 

[Kickemup]

Honda is probably the best option. I have a champion a little loud but runs good and starts every time.

 

[johnr]

I picked up a Craftsman 5600 about 10 years ago, it will power everything in my camper at once, and even run a second camper (not both AC units at once though).
I was on the low income side of things and could not put together $1500 for the 3000 Honda, so I pulled together $500 for the sears one. It absolutely works great, but you might as well pack along some ear muffs as it puts out 1,000,000 decibel's...haha
We plug in when camping now, and I don't own an ice castle, but someday when I do the Honda will be purchased with it.
My fishing partner who does have a fishhouse uses a 2000 Honda, it is quiet, it powers everything, and it is super easy to start.

 

[Wild and Free]

If you dig into them and research reliability and repair the Yamaha is much better than Honda, roughly the same noise level but the Yamaha engine is repairable, the Honda engines are throw away and the Yamaha is supposed to be a much longer lived engine as well plus they have a slightly larger fuel tank. I have talked to several folks who went with Yamaha after digging into the details versus just the name.

I just throw my 6500 watt generac into the bed and let her bellar at the campground along with all the others now since every single person in the "PRIMITIVE" camp areas seem to need several generators running all day long even when they leave @ 6am and return @ midnight. I tend to aim my exhaust at them and fire it up about the time they get back and keep my ac running all night.

2K watts will fire up the newer ac units with soft start capacitors but will not start up the older ones, they draw too many amps at start up for a 2k watt generator.

 

[Muzzytipped]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JZQUSAC/?tag=nodakangler10-20

Has a remote start for upto 80 ft and also is an inverter for all your smart electronics. ONLY 58dbls

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http://www.amazon.com/Smarter-Tools-STAP-2000iQ-Generator-2000-watt/dp/B00K2YDPU6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_86_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=514yc%2B1X1bL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR134%2C160_&refRID=0QN9HYENQA9XC8K9845W

BUILT WITH YAMAHA ENGINE.
This one is able to be used parellel and runs at only 51dbls.

 

[Wild and Free]

Also stay away from the ones with a metal gas tank, have heard a lot of nightmares with these as well.

 

[fnznfwl]

I have a honda 2000 for emergency use at home and occasionally running my forced air furnace in my tent camper on late fall hunting trips and early spring fishing/camping trips and I really like it. Though I still hate it when I have to use it, but a deep cycle battery wont keep the blower motor going much more than a night.
That said, at what point in the last 5-10 years did "camping" go from camping to just hauling all your shit from home to the lake?
We camped at Steinke and a few other small primitive spots with my family and our tent camper this year and I swear every other damn camper there had a generator blaring all damn night and day.
One group had about 6 kids with them I don't think I saw them come out of the camper more than an hour or two each day.

If you need A/C and a flat screen TV to enjoy camping. I don't know what to tell you.

 

[Wild and Free]

^^^^^^^^^^^^My point exactly.

 

[guywhofishes]

I swear every other damn camper there had a generator blaring all damn night and day.

So... they don't run Honda's. :;:smokin

 

[fnznfwl]

So... they don't run Honda's. :;:smokin

In fact I saw several hondas. No matter the brand you can still hear that "brrrrrrrrrr.rrrr" on a calm day/night.