Looking for a generator for camping. Large enough to run a camper AC/H. Suggestions?

At the deer lease we use a Honda generator. They are reliable, quiet, easy to operate and have a good run time. Downside, they are not cheap.

Mike,
Is that the model you use in your link?

Yes. Now the window unit we run is a very small window unit (probably 5000 BTUs I would guess since we are just cooling a 15'x15' room. I have a bigger generator at home (for hurricane backup) and I am thinking about getting one of the Honda's too. They are just very easy to use and start, very portable and run incredibly quiet. You might ask someone at an RV center whether the Honda has enough juice, but I think you will be fine so long as the unit is not a 10,000+ BTU unit.

. . . and I forgot, they are a Honda so they seem to have excellent reliability.

Can read some reviews on Amazon.

If you survey amamteur radio types almost everyone of them [me too !] will say Honda .
The newest ones will run computors ,amateur radio equipment.etc ! Generating DC, inverted to AC with almost pure sign wave AC.
Mine is a 3000i and there is a 2000i , and a 1000i !

You can buy a Lincoln or Miller welding machine that makes 10,000 plus watts of power and you get a free welder that you can tig , mig or stick weld with, it can also run a air compressor..

Honda 2000i will run most single air conditioners/charge batteries & use 5-6 gal of gas in 3-4 days use.

+1 for Honda. Here, in Europe, we have 230V, but except voltage and freq. it is the same. We call it EU10i, EU20i and EU30i.

Jiri

Another vote for Hondas

Honda. Nothing else is worth it.

We run about a dozen Honda generators from 6 KVa to 15 KVa. The EUXXXXi models are fuel injected, very reliable, fuel efficient, and uber quiet.

But that being said, I would rather employ the Yamaha EFXXXXiS inverter generator as they are even more efficient and provide cleaner power than the Honda's. Unfortunately, they are not available in southern Africa. So you buy what you can find and is best supported, and in southern Africa that is Honda.

At the end of the day, when selecting a generator, make sure you purchase at least twice the generator you need as they operate more efficiently at quarter power and are much more quiet.

I have a trailer at my farm that has central heat and AC. The AC draws about 3K. I can not run the microwave and AC at the same time, but all other items can be opersated at same time.
I bought a Champion 3.5Kw (4Kw Peak) generator about 5 years ago and ran it about 200 hours per year. Been no problems. Runs for 12 to 14 hours on 4 gallons of gas. Unit only cost $280.

Honda

After using the Champion 3500 watt generator for 5 years, it still performed perfectly, but I felt it was time for it to be replaced. Sold the old unit for $180 and bought a new Champion 3800 watt unit for $312.
The old unit would go into lope mode and would run for about 12 hours on a tank of gas. The new one runs at full speed all the time and I only get 8 hours out of a tank of gas.

I am told the difference was the old unit didn't keep voltage and frequency within standard output specs so it could have been a problem with sensitive electronics (which I didn't use it for). The new one keeps proper voltage and freq at all run loads.
If I get 5 years out if this one and sell it for more than half of what I paid, I will be way ahead of the people who paid $899 or more for a Honda.

quote:

I will be way ahead of the people who paid $899 or more for a Honda.

Unless their Hondas are still running as many of them do.

I've had a Honda 3000 (can't remember the exact model) for the past ten+ years. It powers everything in my trailer and does double duty as emergency power at home.

It's usually windy in the winter where I live so it gets a workout every year. Last weekend for example. It runs today as good as it did when I bought it. The econo mode makes for a long run time between fillings, it's relatively quiet and it works great with electronics. A good investment in my mind.

To compare durability of units, a person can't judge by how many years they have had the unit. You need to correlate by the number of run time hours and the load during the running. A lightly loaded unit can last twice as long as a heavily loaded unit.
Honda may be wonderful but every gasoline motor has a limited life and that is only extended somewhat by changing oil frequently, but Honda or any other brand will eventually wear out.
A reasonable rule of thumb is that small engines last between 500 and 1500 hours.

I have 2 Champions myself and at about 400.00 each It was money well spent. Both are first pull starters and 3500/4000 watt.
Couldn't be happier. I do believe that the hondas are a better generator but for camping and occasionally uses when the power goes out it hasn't made a difference.

Several years ago I bought a generator from WW Graingers to the tune of 2K, I don't remember the wattage now. I had it chained to a piece of equipment that night before bringing it in the next day. In the night, thieves came with bolt cutters + stole it. When I called the S.O. their only response was "What do you want us to do about it?" Needless to say, I was screwed.