Quiet Generator Comparrison

100acre

100acre

Adventurist
I'm wanting to purchase a quiet generator to run a portable AC for camping in extremely hot areas or to leave Bayleaf in the camper on a hot day while I go for a hike or some activity where dogs aren't allowed. Of all the quiet generators out there everybody is very familiar with the ubiquitous Honda generators. There are a couple of other ones made by other companies and distributed by other businesses but I thought I would go over three in this thread. All three units are 2000 surge watts and rated for 1600. I'm looking at the :

Honda EU 2000i from Northern tool for $1099
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200585499_200585499
Can be paralleled to another generator but kit costs an additional $60. 3 year warranty. 50.8 lbs.

Generac IQ 2000 from Tractor Supply for $849
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...unning-watts-2000-starting-watts?cm_vc=-10005
Also can be paralleled to another unit. 3 year warranty. 46.2 lbs


Powerhorse from Northern Tool for $569
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200623983_200623983
This model can be teamed up with another unit for more power and two of these together cost nearly as much as a single Honda. The parallel kit comes free with the purchase. 2 year warranty. 55 lbs.

Do any of you have any experience with any of these Generators? Any feedback would be much appreciated
 
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From my understanding, the Generac unit is made by Yamaha. I've relied on my Honda 2Kw for years with no issues other than a broken starter cord.
 
Interested in what you find out, but I'm probably going to try to stay with the Honda.

I need one for the exact same reason.

Been trying to find somewhere that has the right size Delta toolbox that would fit one, the one I have is too short. Deltas site is a cry for help on getting much info. The PDF with dimensions doesn't tell what the key they use is (A=__ B=___ but doesn't say which is what), calling a place that sells them, they said everything shows discontinued that they can find based on the info I gave them with model numbers. Of course they don't stock anything, so it would be a blind order basically.
 
I'm also trying to find an upright/stand alone AC as opposed to a window unit. The latter are more $$ than a window unit and a window unit is more problematic on where to set it and store it while traveling. Of the stand alone units they come in either one or two hose which have to be vented outside for efficiency. I could set the unit up on my storage area above my Engel and run the hose(s) up to the galley roof vent/fan. The drain hose I could run along the back of the counter to drain in the sink. I wish I could install a window unit in the rear window but I'm not willing to cut it out and attempt to reinforce it, plus I'd be concerned about rough roads I often find myself on beating the unit out or making it weaker. These are pix I got from other threads. 1st picture is where I'd keep it over the fridge where it'd be more efficient, cooling from the top down plus the vent is close so I wouldn't have big hoses hanging everywhere in the way. When traveling I'd just store it on the floor.
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Malamute said:
Interested in what you find out, but I'm probably going to try to stay with the Honda.

I need one for the exact same reason.

Been trying to find somewhere that has the right size Delta toolbox that would fit one, the one I have is too short. Deltas site is a cry for help on getting much info. The PDF with dimensions doesn't tell what the key they use is (A=__ B=___ but doesn't say which is what), calling a place that sells them, they said everything shows discontinued that they can find based on the info I gave them with model numbers. Of course they don't stock anything, so it would be a blind order basically.
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I got my tongue/tool box from Northern Tool some time ago. Tomorrow I'll take measurements to see which generator would fit best. The Blue Powerhorse is taller by at least 2" than the Honda.
 
Dave said:
From what I've seen and heard, the Honda 2K is the gold standard.
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I'll back that up. I have an older eu2000i that came with my Airstream when I purchased it. It was manufactured in 2008. It still runs smoothly and when in eco-mode is super quiet compared to other generators. Hardly notice it's there. We relied on it many rainy weeks in the two years we spent traveling on the road full-time when solar wasn't enough. Very easy to work on. And in my travels, I've seen Honda small motor shops everywhere. Including parts too.
 
The free standing one looks like it will take up a lot of space compared to the window unit. One other aspect, if/when a window unit has problems, if it isn't simple, pitch it and pick up a new one for $100 or so.

When I had the Suburban, it was a simple thing, it was either going in a rear barn door window or I was going to cut a hole in the left barn door below the window and mount it. For the 4runner, its not as easy. I may just put it in the box with the generator, and duct it into the vehicle. Also thought on adapting a rooftop cargo carrier as camouflage and mount both on the roof. Could make an adapter for the sun roof and duct it in there. Whatever container for either gen or AC will need to be seriously vented so they cool well when running. Thought of cutting most of the floor out of the Delta box and replacing it with steel mesh (or just using the mesh floor of the hitch mounted cargo carrier), and vents or steel mesh on the vehicle side of the box where it wouldn't be immediately apparent what it was.

I'm not hesitant to make some sort of mount and just leave it in place for the warm season. I just want it to be push the go button and it makes cold at a moments notice.
 
Malamute said:
The free standing one looks like it will take up a lot of space compared to the window unit. One other aspect, if/when a window unit has problems, if it isn't simple, pitch it and pick up a new one for $100 or so.

When I had the Suburban, it was a simple thing, it was either going in a rear barn door window or I was going to cut a hole in the left barn door below the window and mount it. For the 4runner, its not as easy. I may just put it in the box with the generator, and duct it into the vehicle. Also thought on adapting a rooftop cargo carrier as camouflage and mount both on the roof. Could make an adapter for the sun roof and duct it in there. Whatever container for either gen or AC will need to be seriously vented so they cool well when running. Thought of cutting most of the floor out of the Delta box and replacing it with steel mesh (or just using the mesh floor of the hitch mounted cargo carrier), and vents or steel mesh on the vehicle side of the box where it wouldn't be immediately apparent what it was.

I'm not hesitant to make some sort of mount and just leave it in place for the warm season. I just want it to be push the go button and it makes cold at a moments notice.
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I'm too resistant to cut into the Hawk. The side escape window of the Hawk as shown in the picture above would be a PITA because I have the rollover couch and I'd have to remove the AC unit for driving. For a pop up camper I feel limited to possible options. Mounting stuff on the roof would make it more difficult to lift and reduce mileage. If I mounted the gen and AC in the trailer tongue box with vents for cooling and a 12v fan then I could then run ducting to the hawk, but again, without a way to mount the hose(s) into the camper without cutting into it.....plus I'm sure there's some loss of cooling for long exposed hoses....let alone I'd need a strong fan in the unit too push cold air the distance and to a floor level spot. I hate the expense of a stand alone AC unit but I'm seeing It as the best option...
 
Dave said:
AC is for pansies.

:stir
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Dang right! Count me in! The dog loves it too, which is the main thing in trying to get a functioning AC rig going when the vehicle is not running.

I run the AC in my cabin on MAXIMUM ARCTIC BLAST setting about 24/7 once the heat comes on strong in summer. My current window unit at home costs about $15/mo to run, and some of the best spent money Ive ever had the pleasure to pay.
 
I'll take the cold over the heat any day. I'm also thinking about my dog's comfort and health especially if I need to leave her in the truck on a hot day. Plus with the occasional intestinal attack, cold temps make me feel much better. There's also times that I've camped out in the Hawk with one fan sucking air in and the other pushing it out. In hot climates like Arizona summers, the camper becomes a convection oven and I'm the Turkey basting in, well...you get the picture!
I'm still going back and forth on the type of unit to use now that I've searched WTW. I may do the emergency window unit behind the couch, or if there's room, I'd consider maybe mounting it underneath the couch and cut out the face of the couch at foot and calf level then duct it out the turnbuckle access panel....I'd rather it be a little higher though. If installed in the escape window, it'd have to be removed and stored when not in use, hopefully in the trailer tongue box with the generator. If installed under the couch, it'd be more permanent in that it'd be out of the way. Of course I'd put foam under it to reduce vibration damage from rough roads. I could also run the drain line through the turn buckle and out the back of the truck bed along with power cord and exhaust...problem of floor mount is all air on floor is cool but cooling the upper areas may prove difficult. Picture is example of stand alone venting out turnbuckle. A regular compact mini window unit of 5,000 btu's under the couch is what I'm thinking...

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We have and use a portable unit with one hose. We use it at times in different sections of our non air conditioned home and have used it a time or two in our pop up. All with great success. I think we got ours at Home Depot on sale. I believe for the space of your FWC you could go with a tiny version and place as you suggested. Easy peasy, done. No headaches.
 
If I had it to do over again, instead of my roof air, I would have put a window rattler in the back window. I have one of the portable units for the back room in our house (originally purchased for use in my 24' enclosed car hauler). It works OK, but it is HEAVY, and you'll still have to vent it to the outside. They aren't the most robust units either, or at least mine isn't. I snapped one of the casters off the first time I moved the damn thing. On the flip side, it's easy to collect the condensate in a bucket to make water!:rolleyes:
 
100acrehuphalump said:
I'll take the cold over the heat any day.

...problem of floor mount is all air on floor is cool but cooling the upper areas may prove difficult. Picture is example of stand alone venting out turnbuckle. A regular compact mini window unit of 5,000 btu's under the couch is what I'm thinking...
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I used to prefer cold over heat, but have found that the last few years, winter isn't nearly as much fun as it used to be, the cold is harder to deal with. Heat is OK, so long as I can cool off when its really hot.


A small fan, either clip-on 12 fan, or repurposed computer fan or whatever, could circulate the air so it evens out and doesnt all sit on the floor. Maybe a deflector on the front of the AC unit would to the same, or just point the directional louvers on the front of the AC upwards would be enough to get the air moving around where its needed. I direct mine in the cabin right across the bed. With the AC so directed and set on about 67 degrees, its too cold to sleep without a blanket, which means about perfect.
 
I have the Generac, It's good but still not on par with the Honda, if you plan on getting 2 then go with the Generac or the Powerhorse paired they will do a great job, I have a friend with a Powerhouse and he likes it too. But if you only plan on getting one get the Honda. Most important, never bother with fuel stabilizer, just run it out of gas and store it like that.
 
You could modify that tongue box into a low power DC swamp cooler fairly simply and still have plenty of storage when you are not using it as a cooler.

Cam
 
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