honda 3000is generator

It's ok but look into a diesel 1st. It's a hassle to fuel a gas one, you'll have to carry 5 gal cans to it. A diesel one is more reliable, last up to 15K hrs and resale on them is good. I have a 7500 Watt Onan, Kubota 3 cyl and it sips fuel at about 1/2 GPH. The Honda is good but it is a hassle, used to run a Onan gas.

 

Why do you think it won't charge your batteries? It certainly will. In fact, it has a built-in 12 volt 12 amp outlet (with battery leads/connectors) for exactly that purpose.
Besides the fact that you can also plug any battery charger into one of the 115 volt outlets on the generator.

I assume your choice of the 3000is is mainly for the quietness and low decibel noise level (besides Honda being a high quality generator manufacturer). I hope you realize you don't need a more expensive "inverter" generator, like the 3000is just to power electric heaters, A/C units, block heaters, as they don't need pure sine wave "clean power" of an inverter generator. These type of uses can be powered from any standard non-inverter generator, which costs much less (tho typically noisey'er than a Honda).

Where the pure sine power of an inverter generator "really shines" is for powering sensitive electronics (computer, tv, etc) rather than just "dirty power" items like heaters.

I assume you are you planning to carry this in the truck. Correct?

 

Carrying 5 gallon gas cans from the car pumps to the truck parking spots builds character.

 

Like Passin Thru said, the gas will end up being your biggest headache (as far as safely accommodating for hauling it). You also don't want any gas in the generator, inside your cab.

The standard non-inverter generators are much cheaper, and the size ranges are no different than an inverter generator. But they are roughly 1.5 to 2 X the noise level of the Honda inverter generators. Look around and have a rental shop or generator dealer start a few up and you can compare noise levels.

Not sure what make/model truck you run, but IF you have a 24 volt system, then yes, the 12 volt built in charger of the Honda 3000is won't work for you. You would have to carry a separate plug-in charger that has a 24 volt setting. But first make SURE you know what voltage your truck's system actually is,, 12 v or 24 v. This you should always know.

As far as block heaters, the ones I have seen typically run about 800 to 1500 watts, which equals to about 14 amps max draw.
Any 15 amp 110-120 volt generator outlet should be sufficient for nearly any block heater.

 

I would say the EU3000is is an excellent choice. Ran one on my last two trucks without a single problem, unlike the APU's out there. Also, I have @$3k in my whole setup, for better AC than an APU, less weight, and so on. Save @$7k? Yep, I'm all over it.
I wouldn't however, wish to lift one in and out of a truck! Yeah they have handles etc, but are not a one handed deal, weighing @100lbs.
Gas is a hassle if you are lazy, otherwise it isnt a big deal. I keep a few gas cans in my headache rack and along with the generators tank, have enough to run it literally for days on end. If you think that you stop in a truckstop every day, and that Flying J's have RV islands, you'll get my drift on the lazy part. Not for everyone by all means, but they work excellent and come with a 3yr commercial warranty. I couldn't stand the noise of the cheaper generators myself, and can afford the good one.
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Martin

 

Martin do you think a 2000 would power a space heater and a 7500btu AC?