Hello,
I will soon own a 13 foot Scamp. I am interested in becomeing self contained for three to four days at a time. My next question to all you educated/experienced folks is: Would you suggest the Honda 2000 or do you know of another small, lite weight generator? I would need to be able to pick it up, senior female here!! I would need to use the 7100 BTU air conditioner, a microwave or television and lights or the fridge if not on gas. I appreciate your advise. Julie

Julie ... first, let me tell you that I don't have a Honda generator.

I've tried to get one in the past, but found that most owners chain them to their rigs.:)

A Honda eu 2000 weight 46 pounds (21 kg) (dry), with a fuel capacity of 1.1 gallons (another 8 pounds)(3.6 kg), so I suggest you fill and weigh a suitcase to total 54 pounds (24.6kg) and see if you can comfortably lift it with one hand.

If so, you can lift the Honda generator (other makes/models may weigh more) so do your homework!

Charles, thanks for your advise, it is good. I do believe that I can lift it. I would like to attach it to the back of the Scamp, I think it may cause a sway, I don't need that. I could put it on the back while camping though. I have a hitch receiver on the Scamp now. My main concern is, would the Honda 2000 do the job for me if I am careful with my electical needs? Has anyone used a generator to run their air conditioning in the South? Julie

Talk to the honda sales and ask if they would convert 0ne to operate on lp gas,(this can be done) Have a repair shop to make a frame just above the tank to fit the rubber feet on the honda,(this can be done) the rubber feet bolts will be the mounting bolts (6mm)to secure the honda.(This can be done) Use a bicycle locking chain as a backup security in case charles comes around after you go to bed.:bed :zz

Sure, the eu2000i would be plenty for your needs. We have run our a/c for hours on end, and used everything else at the same time, except the microwave. As you've read elsewhere, many of us use the Honda because it is, by far, one of the quietest and lightest. Throttles down when the electric demand lowers. Special electronics filtering that's easy on your on-board electric/electronic devices. Good run time (all day or all night) on a tank of gas. And did I say quietest? We use our safety chains and a padlock as the anchor when we're running it. Carry it inside the trailer or tow vehicle when traveling. If you're buying one, most of us have purchased on-line at about $300 under the local dealer's price. Do a search, many sources named here. Honda's only drawback, it is expensive compared to the noisemaker brands you can buy for half the price at Costco and Sams. (The smaller Honda eu1000 is not adequate for the a/c.)

There is one other Japanese brand that some think is similar in characteristics---I think it was Yamaha. Please someone, jump in and correct that, if I'm wrong.

Get the 12 volt jumper cable accessory. ($10+/-.) It would be good to have if one of your batteries becomes exhausted---of course that should never happen if you are using the generator in the first place.

Charles, come on----break down and buy Pam a Honda for St. Patrick's Day or some other grand occasion.

They can really do this. I think some one (maybe you) mentioned this before, but I thought, yea right. but this is for real?? no more gas tanks to spill. I want one. for lp. thanks

Now--------I just remembered why we chain our generator to our trailer!;)

Benita discovered and posted a couple of links about propane conversions on gasoline generators, including, but not limited to, the eu2000i. Roy's going to try it out, I think. Depending on how it works out for him, I think a few more of us might go for it. It would be nice to have one fuel for the trailer and not have to tote a can of gas.

(Of course, I would never be one to run out of gas in the car. Yea, right!---well I can call Good Sams Road Service for that. I doubt they would bring me gas for the generator, nor propane, for that matter.)

Thanks George, I just found that. Benitas so helpful. I don't think I was in the mood on 3/8 to look at conversions. but there they were waiting for me today. Thanks Benita.
Do you think they will start making them with the kit installed? ever?

In addition to the Honda, very similar gensets are made by Yamaha and Mitsubishi, altho I was told by a (seemed to me) knowledgeable tech in Calif, whose store sold both Mitsu and Honda that "the mitsu's electronics are bulletproof, but they tend to coke up (carbon buildup) the exhaust system in the econo-throttle mode".

Lots of folks on lots of RV groups have gotten Hondas from Mayberry's with good results.

Pete and Rats

PS Like Charles, I don't have one yet as I first need to invest in a lock-pick set...

We got ours from Mayberry's. $859.00 with free shipping. It arrived in 5 days. All I had to do was add oil & gas and pull the starter rope.:)

Is the 2000i really enough for a roof air? I was told I needed the 3000i, (at twice the price and weight). It would be great if the 2000i would work. :)

It (the 2000i) runs the roof air on our 5W with no sweat. Pun intended.;)

Hi Don! Welcome to the group!

The Honda 2000 will run the smaller a/c's used in our little fiberglass wonders. I know a number of folks who run the a/c with the trusty little generators in even the hottest climates.

Hey, you didn't fill out your "profile" available in "My Home," so I don't know what size rig you have (or are hoping to have). I don't think the Honda 2000 would work for a Class A motorhome, however.

But if you are like the rest of us tiny-fiberglass-lovers, the Honda 2000 is a dream-come-true.

I've spent many sleepless nights thinking about getting one!

Attention all honda generator owners!

Y'all know Pete and I are just joking about taking your generators!

You don't have to lock them down when we're around!

Trust us!

For example, last year, I had the pleasure of camping next to the Fiberglassrv.com webmaster.

I was constantly double-checking his little generator box, to make sure Michael had locked it!

:mex

Where have I seen that guy before?

"You don' gotta put no steenkin' chains on that leetle generator! Trust us! Put away those damn chains! We are your friennnnnndz!"

Charles
The other day when I went to see my son,One of the things I noticed was a HONDA Gen Set sitting on deck of new house being built.Oh what a nice photo that would have been.It just kept saying (take me home;) )

:wave received the lp conversion package yesterday. 1st impression,:sad going to take a very simple unit and complicate it,2nd ;) quality parts supplied for change over.3rd.:o will be adding parts to outside of honda.:zz maybe had better sleep on this:zz :zz :zz Called supplier and will be returning the lp conversion kit.:conf

Y'all sure sound like you know what your talking about. Why all the gloom and doom predictions on some other sites about using the EU2000i for running roof airs? One guy said it would wreck both the air conditioner and the generator!

This would sure make my desert trips more enjoyable!

By the way, I've also done business with Mayberrys on some water pumps and the service was great!

Hi Don
Welcome to this forum.You will find lots of good ideas.Post lots and enjoy.:wave

Maybe it's a bigger AC then the one on the little Fiberglass TTs. So of course you would need more power = bigger generator.

Sorry, Roy, about the disappointment with the parts. I was hoping that would not be the case. From what you say, send the conversion kit back tomorrow morning and also re-post on the propane conversion thread, so that others are up to date on this. I for one, intended to follow your lead, but not now, thanks to your experience. Let us know if you someday find a decent conversion unit, though.


Dan, regarding the ''naysayers'' on the eu2000i, if you do a search, particularly on the casitaclub.com web site, there was one guy repeatedly jumping in on the Honda threads, telling what lousy experience he had had, particularly with warranty. All said and done, it came out that he bought a commercially used and abused unit, then tried to get a Honda dealer to cover repairs under warranty. That doesn't work in an honest world.:bh

George:

I think I remember the guy you're referring to. Many, many posts by ONE disgruntled person. :o

Digging a bit deeper for information it came out that the generator had been used in continuous duty. Something like 24/7 for 2-3 months, along with several other generators. Perhaps that's what you mean by comercial use?! It's sure not designed for that kind of use (abuse).

And it'll power an 8,000btu AC with a little careful attention. :)

I don't pretend to be an expert on the Eu2000 by any means, but I like mine very much and am very glad to have it. I don't understand the remark about "wrecking" the generator though. Short of running it 24/7, which it is not intended for, or not paying attention to periodic maintenance, how would you do that? The other day I tried to get it to go to overload by using the heat-strip along with a cube heater. It simply cut the trailer out of the circuit and continued running. I removed the load, went out, shut it down, started it back up and everything was fine again. For me it is the perfect match for my little fiberglass beauty, and it even looks good with its "jewelry"-- its set of stay-at-home chains!

Robert B... Good to hear from someone who actually owns the little Honda 2000. Would you please tell me the size of your little "egg". Also, where do you put the generator? I don't have a truck, I would like to put it on the back or attach it somehow to the V. Julie

Hi Julie M-

I have a p/u truck, so it rides inside. But I have seen several posts about carrying it on the a-frame and even in a custom designed box. I suppose you could also just set it inside the trailer when you were on the move. Even when it has been running for a good long time it is a very clean and polite little package. I know that if I were in a much-travelled area and going to be gone from the camp site for any length of time I would put it back in the truck or set it inside the trailer. It's just one of those gem-like little items that tends to "get legs."

(I also have the camo cover for the gen. But I have to wonder about the wisdom of designing a cover for it and then emblazoning "HONDA" across it. Go figure! )

A 2 bottle propane tank cover just fits over the Honda to hide it.

......or a tricycle box. :)

Julie; If you are going to be staying in campgrounds most of them have hookups and you don't need a generator.

It seems that a great many people think a generator is a must have option. We do have a eu2000 and we carry it in the bed of our pickup.

We spent about 80 days in our Casita last year and never used the generator.(We do have a small solar panel.) Most of that time was in Forest Service campgrounds or boondocking in the desert(winter)

Nick

Nick, What is the wattage of your solar panel? Does it allow you to boondock indefinitely or do you slowly lose battery power?

Larry; The solar panel is very small. It is meant to keep the battery topped up. The trailer is not here and I don't remember the size of the panel.

I try to keep the battery in top shape and we conserve electricity as much as possible but we do slowly loose power. We have gone over a week with no problems but did have some sunny days.

We use a black cat heater and at the most two lights at a time.

We are planning on a 75 watt panel and will then be OK

Hi All
On home page is good article on solar panels,I printed it out last nite for a friend and they were really happy with it

:wave

I am thinking in terms of generators and the storage of same as I must be prepared to camp in the boondocks for three to five days at a time. I will gladly plug in when I have a campground at my disposal. I am trying to plan for those other days, when I am self-contained. Living in Florida I see no way but a generator for those 99 degree summer days. Julie

Julie:

We travel with ours in the mini-van.

Here's a vote for the Honda 3000. Yes, it weight 147 lbs. We put it in the back of the truck with a come-a-long screwed to the ceiling of the shop. Unless, of course, there is another person around and we can con him/her into a little help.

I would be very concerned about using a 2000. The reason is the amount of restart amperage needed to recycle the compresser during the normal cycling on - off that occurs in use. I could be mistaken, but I think that it is just a little more than the normal start amperage, and the initial start amperage is more than double the run amperage.

Bottom line is we can run the microwave and the airconditioner at the same time in our 17' Casita.

I've come up with an answer for my needs. Looks like the Eu2000i does well with the smaller air units, but I've got a 13,500. Coleman makes a new unit called the Polar Cub. It runs on 8 amps at full load so the Honda should work with it. I'm going to see if I can get a deal on changing it out. My Dometic is hardly used, so maybe I can find some one who wants it. Thanks for all the help!

:r

Julie Hi... I checked the Honda generator site and a 2000 w inverter model is still very available. It puts out a peak 18-19 amps.If this model at 46 lbs. is too heavy for you to throw around you can gang two 1000 w models together at about 28 lbs. each. This would get your 2000 watts. The down side is cost. The upside could be no back injuries. There is also a propane model available but it is a commercial model I think with a lot more weight. Just search the Honda Generator site for more info. The reason that I mention the availability is that on another thread there was mention of the 2000 model not being available anymore. Good Luck Benny

Irv:

Right, with the AC on, and we want to use the microwave, I reach over and turn the thermostat up so the AC compressor cycles off during that time. It's 'either/or'.

When using the (8,000btu) AC the generator has to be set on 'constant run', not ECO mode. It'll kick off when the AC tries to re-start with the generator on ECO. On constant run it's OK. :)