Portable Generator for Camper

On Jan 9, 12:35*pm, DaveS wrote:
Suggestions and experience welcome. I need a smaller generator for use
with my camper. The Camper is a lance 825, no AC. I presently cart in
a couple of marine 12 volt batteries. With use confined to lights I am
good for 4 nites on one fully charged battery. I want to be able to
run the occasional power drill, recharge 12 volt bats, and some small
appliances, like radio, dvd , maybe a small power saw, maybe a small
ceramic heater.

Brand and model Suggestions? How to Plug in to Camper panal? Noise?

I have a Honda .... it's only noisy in comparison to true quiet. A
double semi-truck full of gravel wrecked my last trailer a number of
years ago and I salvaged the power cord from it to make an extra heavy
extension cord. Using it plus the built in cord I get the generator
about 60 or more feet from the rig and, usually, it never bothers me.

I seldom start it however, living 5 month/ year off of two RV/Marine
batteries kept up by solar panels. The installation I have was DIY
and probably far from optimum. It cost considerably less than the
generator ( and I got a family price as my brother-in-law worked for a
Honda dealer ). I run small things like OTT lights for tying off
the batteries via a small inverter. About the only time I start
the Honda is for a few minutes a time to run the microwave, maybe
twice a month. I would rate the solar panels as THE single best
investment I've made in my long term camping experience.

If I was to change trailers I would get a top end solar panel/inverter
system. I know several troutbums that live full-time in trailers
with top end solar systems that do everything, color TV, computer,
that ( IMHO) a reasonable person would want while 'camping' and NEVER
start a generator. Such systems ain't cheap, but neither are good
generators or the gas to feed them.

I can recommend the Honda for things like your drill/saw ... maybe
heater ( but the gas cost will likely equal propane costs if you have
a built in propane unit ) ... mine has been without problems of any
kind ( wood knocked ) and is 10 years old.