Generator Recommendations?

[Jopopsy]

I don't know I tend to lean more towards what others are saying on this forum. The Hondas and Yamahas have been running for decades with a proven track record. Has Champion got enough critical mass (as far as user base) and time in the field to really sit at the same table as the other two?

I'm not putting Champion down. For those of you that own them and are happy with them that's great, however sometimes peace of mind comes w/ the tried and true. That's usually the camp I fall in.

If I ever need to use my EU3000is in an extended power outage at home, I know I'll be completely at ease if my Honda has to spin for days on end. I won't think twice about it.

[whitedogone]

You're money I guess. The champion is $725. The honda is over $2000. Both get 4 1/2 stars on the jungle. The honda is model has 31 reviews and the champion has 270 reviews. I have ran mine and neighbor has as well for extended power outages with no issues.

[motorbreath]

I agree, Honda makes excellent engines but we are not talking about variable valve timing or direct injection, the value proposition of Champion generators is very high. I am picking up one of these for my parents,

http://www.championpowerequipment.co...-3500w-digital

The only reason I considered the equivalent Honda was because it had fuel injection...But $3.5k vs $800 when both are reliable?! I work too hard for my money...

Originally Posted by whitedogone

You're money I guess. The champion is $725. The honda is over $2000. Both get 4 1/2 stars on the jungle. The honda is model has 31 reviews and the champion has 270 reviews. I have ran mine and neighbor has as well for extended power outages with no issues.

[Hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by motorbreath

I agree, Honda makes excellent engines but we are not talking about variable valve timing or direct injection, the value proposition of Champion generators is very high. I am picking up one of these for my parents,

http://www.championpowerequipment.co...-3500w-digital

The only reason I considered the equivalent Honda was because it had fuel injection...But $3.5k vs $800 when both are reliable?! I work too hard for my money...

If you're paying $3.5K for a Honda eu3000is you really need to shop around a little more.

[motorbreath]

Canadian dollars, with sales tax, and after checking again it is $3300.

Originally Posted by Hohenwald48

If you're paying $3.5K for a Honda eu3000is you really need to shop around a little more.

[Sundancer330]

I have been sold on Honda power products for many years, buy quality and it will last for years. I have a Honda EB6500 liquid cooled generator that is now 27 years old and runs like new. I keep Seafoam in the fuel and a battery tender attached so I can hit the key and it fires right up, I don't think I will ever have to invest in another generator. But the fun toy is my Honda HSS1332ATD snowblower, its 2 stage, hydro track drive and will throw snow 60 feet. I have run it into 20 plus inches of snow and it doesn't slow down.

[Sundancer330]

Originally Posted by motorbreath

Canadian dollars, with sales tax, and after checking again it is $3300.

That is to much, most sellers in the states are under 2k, even Home Depot sells them at $1999.00

[motorbreath]

With oil prices low the Canadian dollar is weak, around 1.3 CAD to 1 USD, plus 13% sales tax.

Originally Posted by Sundancer330

That is to much, most sellers in the states are under 2k, even Home Depot sells them at $1999.00

[Hohenwald48]

Well, maybe I just don't understand Canadian math. $1999 * 1.3 = $2598. That's still $900 less than $3.5K.


Seems the Champion would be higher in Canada too. Maybe not.

[Hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by Sundancer330

I have been sold on Honda power products for many years, buy quality and it will last for years. I have a Honda EB6500 liquid cooled generator that is now 27 years old and runs like new. I keep Seafoam in the fuel and a battery tender attached so I can hit the key and it fires right up, I don't think I will ever have to invest in another generator. But the fun toy is my Honda HSS1332ATD snowblower, its 2 stage, hydro track drive and will throw snow 60 feet. I have run it into 20 plus inches of snow and it doesn't slow down.

A snowblower is your "fun" toy? You Yankees are just sick.

[Sundancer330]

Originally Posted by Hohenwald48

A snowblower is your "fun" toy? You Yankees are just sick.

Here is a similar model in action, if one has to live with snow you have to have fun removing it.

https://youtu.be/KDVfv7N7KVs

[Hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by Sundancer330

Here is a similar model in action, if one has to live with snow you have to have fun removing it.

https://youtu.be/KDVfv7N7KVs

We had a half inch of snow last week. Everybody stayed home for 2 days.

[Sundancer330]

Originally Posted by Hohenwald48

We had a half inch of snow last week. Everybody stayed home for 2 days.

My daughter lives in NC and I always laugh when they get a few inches of snow the schools and business grinds to a halt. They don't have the removal equipment and road salt, the county I live in sends out about 150 plow trucks and salts the heck out of everything which eats up our cars.

[Khans Keeper]

Sundancer,
My father in law had a lousy neighbor across the street that would snow plow all his snow pack directly across into my in laws drive. He solved the problem with a Honda snowblower. He would wait until said neighbor had finished his rude plow job and then he would use the Honda to return all the snow plus some. after a few iterations the neighbor discovered it was easier just to push his snow to the side when he was done rather than re-plowing.

[fragmag]

Originally Posted by pconroy

"cry once".

Haha, you're right. I just noticed that I typed it wrong!

[Bobx2]

Bought my little Honda 2000IU 10-11 years ago. There weren't many reliable choices back then, and the Honda was the go to unit. Don't know if I will ever have the need to experiment with any of these cheaper versions. It just starts and gens every time. It won't power up the A/C of course, or the microwave when at altitude, but I can live without both of those when camping, no problem. As a bonus, it fits in the front storage by the batteries until needed, so it's always with me, secured and out of sight.

[bsponsler]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm leaning towards the Yamaha 2400 inverter. Seems like a good bang for the buck.

[Kenelz]

I have the Yamaha 2400, works great, and it runs my air conditioner. Just cant run the microwave or any big drain item with it.

It is also more heavy than the 2000s, I think its around 75 pounds. I almost never run the A/C when boondocking, so if I had to do over, I would just buy a lighter 2000W unit.

[doonkin]

I have a Yamaha EF 2400iSHC. I love it.
It is much heavier than the honda 2000, but I only need 1 for my 13,500 btu aircon.
I added a hard start capacitor to AC (not sure if needed exactly)but im an electrical idiot and installing it was easy-peazy.

Remember the sta-bil in the gas, no matter what you get

[BuddyRay]

I'm considering the Champion 3100W/3400W DUAL FUEL INVERTER GENERATOR. I doubt I would ever use the propane option when using it with the RV - but it would be nice to have the option.

However, I also intend to use this unit as a backup at the new house we're building - just to run the furnace blower, a few lights and the refrigerator in the event of a power failure. We're at the end of a long country road and ice storms happen (more than snow) around here. The house is on Propane - hundreds of gallon tank. I plan to have a propane quick connect and a Plug to feed a manual transfer switch put just outside the garage.

I know the Champion is a 120v single phase genny - not a 240 two phase - so my electrician will have to make sure all the circuits I want to power are on the same side of the fuse box and that he uses a single phase 120v transfer switch (I understand there is such a thing).

I'm thinking about keeping it on a hitch tray (using the factory installed receiver) on the back of the 5th wheel. I'm aware of the theft dangers and will do what I can to minimize those - but I really want to reduce the TV weight, not increase it. I did read someone's comment in another tread about having "volatile materials" (ie Gasoline) on the back of a rig as being illegal in some states - the specific example was Florida. I've been researching that and I can't find any mention of such laws. I know around Atlanta, food trucks run around with huge propane tanks mounted on the back of the trucks.

But Hohenwald48, you comments about covering the genny when running threw me. I guess I could rig up something to cover it - but why can't it run in the rain? I've watched contractors run their generators in downpours. As long as the air intake/filter is protected it should be fine, Yes?