Costco generator... - R-pod Owners Forum

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Jdub

Groupie

Joined: 17 Mar 2013
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 94

Topic: Costco generator...
Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 9:01am

Anybody got any experience with the Smarter Tools Yamaha MZ80 generator?

Craneman

Senior Member

Joined: 12 May 2013
Location: Tokeland,wa
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 387

Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 10:52am

Last year at the northwest get together in Seaside, Or we went to the local Costco and bought

A 2000 watt gen set. They compared it to the Honda eu2000i Honda all the same specs. Well wrong

Every time we started our 1100 watt micro the gen would kick out,and would have to shut it off and restart not happy. The folks next to us had a Honda 2000 and he hooked it to our pod ,test and no problem. Sooo in my mind not the same, of course with Costco's return policy they gladly took it back. Will have a Honda here very soon

Moe and Jo

Jo and Gary, 2010-174,2011 F150

Jo and Gary
2010 174
2011 Ford 150

NancyandMike View Drop Down

Newbie

Joined: 15 Sep 2013
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4

Posted: 11 Oct 2013 at 10:06pm

I purchased the same generator at Costco after reading the same specifications. After seeing your post, I tried it out, with the same results. It goes back to Costco on Monday.

sammycamper View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Oct 2012
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 111

Posted: 11 Oct 2013 at 10:15pm

I'm interested in how you use, or intend to use your generators. When I think generators, I think noise. Since noise is among the things I'm trying to escape when camping, I have negative vibes about generators. But, feel free to enlighten me if I've got things mis-stereotyped.

Sam

2012 rPod 173
2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6

Tars Tarkas View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 14 Jan 2013
Location: Near Nashville
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1454

Posted: 14 Oct 2013 at 3:22pm

Sam: coming from tent camping I've always had a distain for generators, but having moved up to a pod, I got a quiet little Yamaha generator. They are noisy (not as noisy as most, but loud when you're sitting outside eating, or whatever). You get used to it though. And in many cases tent campers and trailer campers aren't too close together. Even if they are, if it's not you, someone else's generator is probably going to be running within earshot.

If it's just you you're concerned about bothering, you don't have to run it all the time. Most campgrounds have quiet hours so you can't run it overnight. It is nice to be able to crank up the microwave and/or recharge the battery if you're in the same place without power for a few days.

And it depends a lot on where you camp. Wind, water, natural barriers like trees or dunes do a lot to dampen the noise quickly over fairly short distances.

That said, some generators are a lot louder than others. I thought it was worth it to buy one of the quieter ones.

2010 176
FJ Cruiser

Kickstart

Senior Member

Joined: 20 Sep 2010
Location: Ocean Shores, W
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 267

Posted: 14 Oct 2013 at 4:30pm

Nicely worded Tars. I, too, spent the extra bucks for a good and quiet inverter. And Moe, don't eliminate the Yamaha ef2000is from your list when you go shopping. The 2000 Hondas and the Yammer are very equal in performance, quality, guarantee, and both are as quiet as they come. Each has a couple minor features/extras that the other doesn't, so these features and best price at the time could be the decision maker for any purchaser. I got a good deal on the Yamaha, and like blue better than red, but you can't go wrong with either.

'10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL
'12 Toyota Tundra
'05 Sportster (half a Harley)
Retired-We're on Beach Time!

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Jdub Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 17 Mar 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 94	Topic: Costco generator... Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 9:01am
	Anybody got any experience with the Smarter Tools Yamaha MZ80 generator?

Craneman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 12 May 2013 Location: Tokeland,wa Online Status: Offline Posts: 387	Posted: 09 Oct 2013 at 10:52am
	Last year at the northwest get together in Seaside, Or we went to the local Costco and bought A 2000 watt gen set. They compared it to the Honda eu2000i Honda all the same specs. Well wrong Every time we started our 1100 watt micro the gen would kick out,and would have to shut it off and restart not happy. The folks next to us had a Honda 2000 and he hooked it to our pod ,test and no problem. Sooo in my mind not the same, of course with Costco's return policy they gladly took it back. Will have a Honda here very soon Moe and Jo
	Jo and Gary, 2010-174,2011 F150 Jo and Gary 2010 174 2011 Ford 150

NancyandMike Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: 11 Oct 2013 at 10:06pm
	I purchased the same generator at Costco after reading the same specifications. After seeing your post, I tried it out, with the same results. It goes back to Costco on Monday.

sammycamper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Oct 2012 Location: Minnesota Online Status: Offline Posts: 111	Posted: 11 Oct 2013 at 10:15pm
	I'm interested in how you use, or intend to use your generators. When I think generators, I think noise. Since noise is among the things I'm trying to escape when camping, I have negative vibes about generators. But, feel free to enlighten me if I've got things mis-stereotyped. Sam
	2012 rPod 173 2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6

Tars Tarkas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1454	Posted: 14 Oct 2013 at 3:22pm
	Sam: coming from tent camping I've always had a distain for generators, but having moved up to a pod, I got a quiet little Yamaha generator. They are noisy (not as noisy as most, but loud when you're sitting outside eating, or whatever). You get used to it though. And in many cases tent campers and trailer campers aren't too close together. Even if they are, if it's not you, someone else's generator is probably going to be running within earshot. If it's just you you're concerned about bothering, you don't have to run it all the time. Most campgrounds have quiet hours so you can't run it overnight. It is nice to be able to crank up the microwave and/or recharge the battery if you're in the same place without power for a few days. And it depends a lot on where you camp. Wind, water, natural barriers like trees or dunes do a lot to dampen the noise quickly over fairly short distances. That said, some generators are a lot louder than others. I thought it was worth it to buy one of the quieter ones. TT
	2010 176 FJ Cruiser

Kickstart Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2010 Location: Ocean Shores, W Online Status: Offline Posts: 267	Posted: 14 Oct 2013 at 4:30pm
	Nicely worded Tars. I, too, spent the extra bucks for a good and quiet inverter. And Moe, don't eliminate the Yamaha ef2000is from your list when you go shopping. The 2000 Hondas and the Yammer are very equal in performance, quality, guarantee, and both are as quiet as they come. Each has a couple minor features/extras that the other doesn't, so these features and best price at the time could be the decision maker for any purchaser. I got a good deal on the Yamaha, and like blue better than red, but you can't go wrong with either.
	'10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL '12 Toyota Tundra '05 Sportster (half a Harley) Retired-We're on Beach Time!