Yamaha and Honda Generators

[cpatinjones]

Hello Ladies,

I notice Soos made a comment in this mornings "Morning Coffee" forum on the OpenRoadSingles website about owning a Yamaha and a Honda generator. I have been reading and studying both of these generators. I don't own a generator, but would like to purchase one in the future. At this time, I don't need one, since all my RVing to date has been at campgrouds with electric.

What, if any, opinions (pros/cons, etc) do you have on each of the generators I have mention?

[Forestgal]

Carolyn, they're very similar and there's really not enough difference to worry about. What you need to consider is what you'd be using it for. If your fifth wheel comes with a space for a generator you might be limited to what can go there. For those of us with little trailers we usually get the smaller generators that are good for giving us basic power and running the microwave but not enough to run the AC. I have a Honda eu2000i and love it. It weighs just under 50# and I can haul it in & out of either the back of my Explorer or my trailer. It's not big enough to power the AC, but if I wanted to camp where AC was needed I'd be sure to have hook-ups. I usually take it when I'm going to dry camp at the beach for 2-3 nights to keep my batteries topped off and run the microwave.

The next size up is considerably heavier but will power an AC unit just fine. I don't want to mess with anything that large and there's nowhere in my trailer to store it. If I really wanted that much power I might get a second genny like mine & run them in tandem. But it just isn't practical for me at this point. The other good thing about having a more powerful generator is the ability to use it at home in case of power outages. I could use the one I have now but it probably wouldn't power my fridge (has something to do with the surge the fridge causes whenever it cycles on). But having 2 in tandem would take care of everything at home as well.

Hope this helps.

Laura

[AlmostThere]

Huh. Makes me think about the genny in my MH. I have no idea what size it is, and what all I can run with it.(exercised it today and even looked at it but can't remember if any size was written on it or not). I will assume since it came with the MH it will run the microwave, or the AC, but think I'll play it safe and try remembering not to run both at the same time (or with the coffeemaker or hair dryer or toaster oven )

[cpatinjones]

Carolyn, they're very similar and there's really not enough difference to worry about. What you need to consider is what you'd be using it for. If your fifth wheel comes with a space for a generator you might be limited to what can go there. For those of us with little trailers we usually get the smaller generators that are good for giving us basic power and running the microwave but not enough to run the AC. I have a Honda eu2000i and love it. It weighs just under 50# and I can haul it in & out of either the back of my Explorer or my trailer. It's not big enough to power the AC, but if I wanted to camp where AC was needed I'd be sure to have hook-ups. I usually take it when I'm going to dry camp at the beach for 2-3 nights to keep my batteries topped off and run the microwave.

The next size up is considerably heavier but will power an AC unit just fine. I don't want to mess with anything that large and there's nowhere in my trailer to store it. If I really wanted that much power I might get a second genny like mine & run them in tandem. But it just isn't practical for me at this point. The other good thing about having a more powerful generator is the ability to use it at home in case of power outages. I could use the one I have now but it probably wouldn't power my fridge (has something to do with the surge the fridge causes whenever it cycles on). But having 2 in tandem would take care of everything at home as well.

Hope this helps.

Laura

Laura,
I don't have an area for a generator on my Fiver. Wish I did, it would make things easier. Not having a secure place for one while using it is one of my concerns, how do you keep yours secure?

Thinking out loud: Another concern is the use of a generator if want to stay over in a Walmart parking lot or truck stop (never done this), especially if you would need ac. Again, I am concerned for the security of the generator. I guess using a generator in this scenerio would not be a good idea. Have any of you used your generator in a situation as described above?

I like the idea of two in tandem (if needed), which could run my ac on Fiver. I like the idea the 2000i is easy to handle and stow. I have a home propane generator for my home, so I would not be using the portable generator at home.

Maybe one is all I really need and forget about having ac. I guess that would mean no boondocking, unless the nights are cool. Just trying to think this out, without spending money, if not needed.

[Forestgal]

Carolyn, since you've got a truck you might think about a way to secure it in the bed. I've got the biggest, baddest cable lock available and lock it to the bumper of my trailer when I use it. And when I'm away from the trailer it goes inside. Maybe you could chain it to your bed hitch (or whatever that big ol' thing is called where you hook the 5er up to the truck).

As far as running one at a WalMart, I've never done it. Frankly, I've never stayed at a WalMart. That said, I wouldn't think they'd smile on you if you set a noisy machine like that out & ran it. If you could keep it hidden it might be different (like they are in motorhomes). Please remember that I'm speaking from a Southern CA point of view. Things might be different in different parts of the country. To be honest we don't see a whole lot of parking lot overnighters at the WalMarts around here.

Hope this helps.

Laura

[OutandAbout]

The best advice would be to think about what you need the genny for. The AC in your 5er would not run on one 2000 genny. You would need at least 2. If that's the case, you might as well go for a larger genny that will run all you need. The larger ones would be a lot heavier, naturally. Think about how you want to secure it also (the heavier one). Either in your truck or in a storage area in the RV.

I have a Honda 2000i and have not used it when overnighting at a truck stop. I have not stayed at a Walmart. I don't think I would use it at either location because of the amount of people around. Just too much temptation for me to deal with. These generators are relatively quiet and would pose no problem should they be used at Walmart. There are a lot of big trucks using Walmarts nowadays, so the noise coming from the generator is low.

I have a truck camper and keep the genny in the camper. There is absolutely no odor or fumes. I am thinking of mounting a box on the back of the camper which will allow me to run the generator from the box. This will eliminate chaining the generator to the truck, or tree, or ? when using it now.

Linda