Tailgating generators

Al_4_State

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Who uses them, what size do you use, and what are your thoughts on it?

I'm looking at getting this:
Product Reviews: 1000-watt 2-stroke Portable Generator | Overstock.com

as its on sale for $120 at the Alco in my town. I've been using an inverter connected to a car or boat battery to power my stereo, and crock pot and other stuff like that over the past year. This doesn't really cost much more than the battery and seems like its easier/more efficient. I think the noise would be mitigated by all the stereos around, and by moving the generator away from the tailgate and using longer chords.

Will 1000 watts be enough to power standard tailgating items? It just seems like one could do alot with this to enhance the tailgate experience.
 

mizouse87

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Aug 3, 2006
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Who uses them, what size do you use, and what are your thoughts on it?

I'm looking at getting this:
Product Reviews: 1000-watt 2-stroke Portable Generator | Overstock.com

as its on sale for $120 at the Alco in my town. I've been using an inverter connected to a car or boat battery to power my stereo, and crock pot and other stuff like that over the past year. This doesn't really cost much more than the battery and seems like its easier/more efficient. I think the noise would be mitigated by all the stereos around, and by moving the generator away from the tailgate and using longer chords.

Will 1000 watts be enough to power standard tailgating items? It just seems like one could do alot with this to enhance the tailgate experience.

I just got the 2000 watt Honda EU2000i. We'll be busting that bad boy out the first time this year. Expensive, but I hear it can't be beat.
 

rebecacy

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Jan 31, 2007
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Who uses them, what size do you use, and what are your thoughts on it?

I'm looking at getting this:
Product Reviews: 1000-watt 2-stroke Portable Generator | Overstock.com

as its on sale for $120 at the Alco in my town. I've been using an inverter connected to a car or boat battery to power my stereo, and crock pot and other stuff like that over the past year. This doesn't really cost much more than the battery and seems like its easier/more efficient. I think the noise would be mitigated by all the stereos around, and by moving the generator away from the tailgate and using longer chords.

Will 1000 watts be enough to power standard tailgating items? It just seems like one could do alot with this to enhance the tailgate experience.
too loud .... think of those around you
 

PabloDiablo

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Feb 10, 2011
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We have a cheapo 1200 Watt that pretty much does the trick for us, powers 3 crock pots and whatever else needs power usually. Sort of noisy but we got it at Menards on sale for something like $200 so I don't mind.
 

Al_4_State

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We have a cheapo 1200 Watt that pretty much does the trick for us, powers 3 crock pots and whatever else needs power usually. Sort of noisy but we got it at Menards on sale for something like $200 so I don't mind.

Do you really notice the noise over the stereos and general crowd noise?

We park in G7, and usually get their early enough to be in the first row, next to the gravel road. I would probably position it in front of our van, and it wouldn't be very close to any actual tailgating.
 

PabloDiablo

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Feb 10, 2011
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Omaha, NE
Do you really notice the noise over the stereos and general crowd noise?

We park in G7, and usually get their early enough to be in the first row, next to the gravel road. I would probably position it in front of our van, and it wouldn't be very close to any actual tailgating.

Not really at all unless you are sitting right next to it. We usually move it to the front of our truck and use longer extension cords, you can hear a low hum when there isn't music going, which isn't very often.
 

d4nim4l

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Do you really notice the noise over the stereos and general crowd noise?

We park in G7, and usually get their early enough to be in the first row, next to the gravel road. I would probably position it in front of our van, and it wouldn't be very close to any actual tailgating.

Others have done this in G7 as well. Since our tailgate is a good 10-15 feet away from it with barriers such as cars and the noise from people I think it'll be ok.
 

CycloneGB

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Jul 20, 2010
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Just don't be that guy.. We usually run into one that sets his generator about 50 feet from his own tailgate site and on the other side of his camper. Just so happens, that particular spot is right next to where we are set up.

I'm sure he's sitting over there thinking "Wow this is great, can't even hear that generator!" While we sit over there and draw straws for who gets to go take a leak in the gas tank.
 

cyflier

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Apr 13, 2006
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I just got the 2000 watt Honda EU2000i. We'll be busting that bad boy out the first time this year. Expensive, but I hear it can't be beat.

This is what I have as well. Awesome generator and very quiet. The ones in your link are way to loud for tailgating, in my opinion. They would definitely tick off your neighbors.
 

alarson

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If you're going to have a generator (as more and more do, including ours these days -thanks terryk), have one of the quiet ones. The loud ones get damn annoying.
 

2020cy

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Aug 7, 2006
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The quiet ones cost more, but your neighbors like you more.
 

MNCYWX

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Our group actually built a 'muffler' type box to put over the generator to help reduce the noise.

In the RV lot where putting it on the other side of the bus isn't a huge problem given how spaced out you are there. Try to match up with the neighbors too...
 

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