Hey Joe!

As far as purchasing a generator isconcerned, there are two main factors to consider. The first is how much poweryou will require and the second is noise emissions.

POWER:  You seem to know your power requirements so all I will recommend here is keeping in mind the difference between running/sustained watts and starting/surge watts. Every generator will come with a rating for each. ie 2000/1600 - the higher number is the surge/starting watts and are for surges in usage such as when an electric motor kicks on. The running watts on the other hand are able to be sustained for a much longer duration and are a better indicator of what the generator is actually capable of producing. 

NOISE: No one wants their campsiteto sound like a construction zone. If you are looking for quiet portable power youare definitely right to be looking for an INVERTER generator (as opposed to aconventional generator). You are right that inverters produce a"cleaner" power source that is suitable for sensitive electronicssuch as laptops and smartphones. The inverting process produces a smoother sinewave that will not damage the microprocessors within these electronics.

Many people swear by Honda's andYamaha's and they are the industry leaders when it comes to inverter generatorsBUT there are many alternative companies (ie Champion, WEN, Briggs and Stratton)putting forth very competitive products at a lesser price that meritconsideration when shopping around for a generator- I particularly like theBriggs and Stratton P3000 30545.

I found this website to be extremelyhelpful when deciding which generator best suits your needs (specifically forrecreational use- they do not have as much info on standby home generators);

http://www.quietpowergenerators.com/

The "inverters vs generators"page is very insightful and arms you with the knowledge necessary to make aneducated purchase. They also have detailed reviews of the latest and bestselling inverter generators on the market.

I hope this helps! Happy camping andall the best,

Dave

Hey Guys and Gals! Not entirely sure if this is theright area to be posting this thread but I was wondering if anyone has anyrecommendations when it comes to purchasing a portable generator forrecreational use? After a little research I think I am in the market forsomething in the 2000-3000 watt range. Honda and Yamaha seem to be the industrystandard but are there any cheaper options that are comparable in performance?Also I have decided that I want an inverter generator as opposed to aconventional generator as I plan on using it with sensitive electronics andalso want it to be as quiet as possible. Any recommendations would be greatlyappreciated! Thanks folks!

JoeJ