Need help selecting Generator for my TT

[mhbell]

I am thinking of getting a small portable generator for my travel trailer to run a coffee maker, charge the TT batteries, watch TV and play DVD player as well as run lights. All lights in my TT are L.E.D. I am thinking of getting a 2000 watt Generator. I don't want to buy a honda or one of those because of the expense, and we won't be dry camping that much. Won't be using the AC either. I have seen several, but how do you hook them to the trailer. most only have a 110 duplex outlet. do you use a adapter that converts your RV cord to a normal plug for plugging into a duplex outlet on the generator? I am thinking of getting a cheap sportsman 2000 watt non inverter type. What do you use? what do you recommend. The sportsman is $169 and a WEN is $179 both are non inverter types. The inverter types are $500 or more.
Thanks for your input and any advise.
Mel

[Mr_D]

Buy an adapter for the plug, even Wal*Mart has some types of them.

[60sumtin]

Yup, just get an adaptor to plug into the generator and you're golden. What I use is in my signature but you don't want one of those.

[okcnewbie]

You've spent thousands on your truck/camper..... save a little and at least get the HF 2k inverter gen. Later if you want to run the A/C you could pick up another one if the 2k doesn't do it.
Before you decide go and read the reviews for the harbor freight inverter gens. I have the 3500 and love it so far. Like you I couldn't justify the money for the Honda at this time.

[cruzbill]

try out one of these-quieter than contractor generators (think of the rest of us out there camping near you-

https://www.harborfreight.com/engine...tor-62523.html

[okcnewbie]

Originally Posted by cruzbill

try out one of these-quieter than contractor generators (think of the rest of us out there camping near you-

https://www.harborfreight.com/engine...tor-62523.html

Great minds think alike!

[Springdale1]

I just purchased a Firman invertor generator (3000 watt) from Bass Pro with free shipping it cost just over $700 is really quiet. I do run my AC but they do make a 2000 watt not sure of the cost but might be worth checking into

[Off Road]

If you buy one of the contractor open frame generators that makes enough noise to raise the dead, everyone in the campground is going to think bad thoughts about you. They will scheme and plan for your demise. They may spike your generator gas tank with caustic fluids. Who knows what might happen, but it won’t be good. Please do yourself a favor and get an inverter type generator. As mentioned above there are some reasonably priced ones out there. Nothing worse than a quiet afternoon at the lake and some Neanderthal fires up His loud generator.

[Searching_Ut]

Looking at your profile it would appear we're neighbors. I'm just a little south of you.

As for generators, many of the cheap contractor type generators are actually fairly reliable, but as has been mentioned they are quite noisy in use, and tend to make enemies in campgrounds.

I picked up a champion 2000 watt inverter generator back in 2011 and a second one in 2013 and both have been trouble free other than one clogged idle jet when I left untreated gas in the tank/carb through the winter. Easy enough to clean out. As you mentioned, they come close to $500 dollars but are worth it in my opinion. I haven't used the 2000 watt HF unit so can't comment on quality but I do own a HF 3500 watt inverter gen and have had good luck with it.

Hope Santa brings you one that makes it a Merry Christmas.

Should you decide to go with a contractor style, I'd seriously consider champion, or one of the other somewhat well know brands to ensure parts availability. While most of the parts like carburetors are probably interchangeable on most units you can't be sure until you check.

[vsheetz]

Do yourself and any neighbors a big favor and do not buy a contractor type generator. Way loud. I have a champion 3100 bought from Costco for $599 on sale. Easy start and will operate one air conditioner unit. Most of all very quiet - runs much of the time in econo mode.

[Cowpie1]

And you don't need a nuclear power genset to run the A/C. The smaller generators will do the trick. Just need to install a Micro-Air Easy Start unit on your A/C. Even a 2000w Yamaha or Honda can power a 13.5 BTU A/C unit. Now of course, you will need more than that to run everything along with the AC. But a pair of Yamaha's or Honda's hooked together, and it is like you are plugged into a site at a RV park.

Check this out....

https://www.microair.net/collections...nt=30176048267

[Cumminsfan]

I would go a step further and say save yourself the trouble of listening to a noisy one. I have a Honda 2000W and it's pretty quiet when it finally settls down. If the trailers batteries are low enough then the converter kicks into bulk charging mode and the Honda runs about 1/3 to 1/2 throttle. After the batteries get near full charge the converter goes into trickle mode and the Honda idles as low as it can. It's barely audible if I have it behind a tree.
If you have contractor type gen it will be as loud or louder all the time as when my Honda's only running 1/2 throttle.
When mines in the campsite I get tired of hearing it. Imagine if it was a contractor gen. You may as well go back inside the trailer and shut all the doors and windows.
If someone gave me one, I'd sell it.

[Chuck_Hammer]

a gas engine.. any make/model makes lots of noise without a muffler..

so get a Honda generator or a Honda small lawn mower MUFFLER and have it welded onto gen-set exhaust pipe...

Most muffler shops can weld thin wall metal pipe

[Intothewild]

I had a Yamaha 3000 for over ten years that I ran a 13500btu ac unit with with no problems but when I bought a new camper with a 15000 btu unit it would not always run it so I sold the Yamaha and bought the HF 3500 inverter generator and have had no issues. So consider how big your ac unit is. I could if bought 2 of the smaller units and the parallel kit but I wanted electric start