I've followed with interest this thread about small Honda generators (like
th one I have and occasionally use) and find the comments interesting.
Please don't confuse the small 1000w or even the 2000w Hondas with the
monster gen sets often deployed outside (or built into) the 40 foot land
yachts, there really is no comparison.  And in the case of charging the aux
battery in a Vanagon, on the rare occasions I've used mine, it's been for
about two hours every four or five days.  And it is quiet, just barley
detectable a few feet away in the normal campground noises in the afternoon.
And oh yeah, if I do find it to loud I just turn the stereo way up, can't
hear the generator at all then!