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Old 09-17-2017, 01:39 PM   #1
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Looking to buy a Inverter Generator

We want to be able to boondock next camping season so now we are in the market for a generator. We are Solar equipped but I know that will just slowly recharge our 2 6V batteries. We need more power to run the A/C and microwave.
We don't want to be that person that everyone hates because their generator is so loud.
We are considering either a Honda 3500 or a Yamaha 3500 mainly because of how quiet they are.
We have been told the 3500 will run both micro and A/C but not at same time.
I have been researching and the Champion 3500 is coming up as a good option at a much cheaper price
What do you have and does it do what you want. Any other brands out there we should look at, we are in Canada if that makes a difference. TIA
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Old 09-17-2017, 02:04 PM   #2
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I will give a plug for the one we have, Predator 3500 Inverter generator, super quiet and works great. Runs our 30 amp service like a pro. No issues, electric start the works. Can't beat the $700 price and usually $650 with a frequent coupon on them. It sets in our tow vehicle all the time. Comes with with a RV plug.
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Old 09-17-2017, 02:41 PM   #3
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Come to the darkside...Champion

Lots of folks LOVE their Honda or Yamaha generators. Got it. Flame me if you must.

However, my Champion Hybrid 3500/4000 starts one pull, (every time I remember to turn on the gas) has a 3 year warranty, and it is QUIET in the Eco mode even when the 15,000 BTU A/c is cranking. Paid $600 on Amazon, added oil for 5 hour break in, changed oil, and went camping.

Added an hour meter and use synthetic oil well, just because I maintain my stuff.

It does have a 30 Amp RV outlet

https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Powe...brid+generator
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Old 09-17-2017, 03:07 PM   #4
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We have the Champion 3100 electric start and we are very pleased with it. It has an RV plug, keeps the batteries charged, starts when we push the button, and will run the air cond if we need it to.

In economy mode it is very quiet and to me sounds no louder than a Honda/Yamaha. With economy mode off, the noise level increases but I haven't heard a similar Honda/Yamaha running at full power to compare.
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Old 09-17-2017, 06:27 PM   #5
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Another vote here for the 3500 watt Predator... Handles our needs perfectly.
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Old 09-17-2017, 06:28 PM   #6
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Thank you for this now to show this to DH he is a Honda guy but I think they are to much $$.
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Old 09-17-2017, 07:14 PM   #7
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If you want to run the microwave and the AC at the same time, Install a Micro-Air on the AC, I did and I can run my AC and Microwave at the same time with my (2) Yamaha 2000 generators.
Here is the Link:

https://www.microair.net/collections...nt=30176048267
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Old 09-17-2017, 11:18 PM   #8
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Another vote for Harbor Freight Predator 3500w
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Old 09-18-2017, 04:05 AM   #9
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I purchased a Predator 3500 based on cost and online reviews. I really like it so far. Was camping next to someone that was using a Champion and the Predator seemed to be a lot quieter than the Champion. You can buy three of these for the cost of the Honda equivalent.

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Old 09-18-2017, 06:00 AM   #10
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I own a Harbor Freight Predator 3500w 30 hours on it no real problems, it does have a bit of a rough idle like some say, but it powers everything A/C and micro, just fine , never tried both at the same time. $650 good for me
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Old 09-18-2017, 06:19 AM   #11
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I have the champion too. I really like the dual fuel capability. I recently camped in Colorado over 7500ft and it ran great on propane with no adjustments needed. Better than changing to high altitude jets running on gasoline.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rivercityjeff View Post
Lots of folks LOVE their Honda or Yamaha generators. Got it. Flame me if you must.

However, my Champion Hybrid 3500/4000 starts one pull, (every time I remember to turn on the gas) has a 3 year warranty, and it is QUIET in the Eco mode even when the 15,000 BTU A/c is cranking. Paid $600 on Amazon, added oil for 5 hour break in, changed oil, and went camping.

Added an hour meter and use synthetic oil well, just because I maintain my stuff.

It does have a 30 Amp RV outlet

https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Powe...brid+generator
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Old 09-18-2017, 07:36 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeepyj93 View Post
We want to be able to boondock next camping season so now we are in the market for a generator. We are Solar equipped but I know that will just slowly recharge our 2 6V batteries. We need more power to run the A/C and microwave.
We don't want to be that person that everyone hates because their generator is so loud.
We are considering either a Honda 3500 or a Yamaha 3500 mainly because of how quiet they are.
We have been told the 3500 will run both micro and A/C but not at same time.
I have been researching and the Champion 3500 is coming up as a good option at a much cheaper price
What do you have and does it do what you want. Any other brands out there we should look at, we are in Canada if that makes a difference. TIA

Honda doesn't make a 3500 inverter generator. do you mean the EU3000is ?
if so then I have one. It runs my a/c just fine and it is quieter than anything out there hands down. (read the specs carefully)It is much more money but my needs require about 1200 hours use per year. I believe the cheap ones, champion, predator, etc are just not going to be long lived equipment so I spent the money for the longevity and super quiet operation. I am happy with my choice. If you don't need but 100 or so hours a year then you may be ok with one of the others. Only time will tell the whole story
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Old 09-18-2017, 07:49 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ch.rungood View Post
I purchased a Predator 3500 based on cost and online reviews. I really like it so far. Was camping next to someone that was using a Champion and the Predator seemed to be a lot quieter than the Champion. You can buy three of these for the cost of the Honda equivalent.

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Do you know the model of Champion your neighbor was using? Were you both using your generators to run your air conditioners?
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Old 09-18-2017, 07:52 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dee View Post
I have the champion too. I really like the dual fuel capability. I recently camped in Colorado over 7500ft and it ran great on propane with no adjustments needed. Better than changing to high altitude jets running on gasoline.
We were campground hosts all last summer at ~7,000ft. Our Champion 3100 ran fine on gasoline with the standard jets.
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Old 09-18-2017, 09:11 AM   #15
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Do you know the model of Champion your neighbor was using? Were you both using your generators to run your air conditioners?
His was a 3400/3100 dual fuel. Both generators were running air conditioners. His was being powered by gasoline.

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Old 09-18-2017, 09:58 AM   #16
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Talk with an old telephone man if you think that a increase of 3db more noise is not much.

It's double the noise your ears hear.
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Old 09-18-2017, 10:10 AM   #17
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Happy with my Champion 2800/3100 Inverter/Generator, still can lift the 90 lbs. on the tailgate. Runs always in eco mode but when the 13.5k A/C kicks in the Champion loves to work. That's why it is called "Champion"
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Old 09-18-2017, 11:52 AM   #18
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Happy with my Champion 2800/3100 Inverter/Generator, still can lift the 90 lbs. on the tailgate. Runs always in eco mode but when the 13.5k A/C kicks in the Champion loves to work. That's why it is called "Champion"
I have the same generator. I've put about 25 hours on it this season. Runs great.

I (I should say 'we') have overloaded it a couple times by accident. It runs through gas pretty quickly when running the AC. We ran through 7 gallons of fuel in 2 days, only running the generator a few hours a day. If I had the money, I would have purchased 2 Honda's that can be paired together. This time of year, we don't need the AC anymore and it would have been nice to just get battery charging, better gas economy, and a lighter weight setup. Bring and connect the second unit when needed. That said, the Champion is a good unit. I leave mine in the bed of my truck when camping, cable locked to the tie out points in my truck, and what little noise it makes, seems to be directed up, instead of out... making it so we hear the Air Conditioner almost as loudly as the generator itself. It's still too loud for my taste honestly.

We don't boondock that frequently thus far. Over the last holiday weekend we couldn't find camping spots anywhere that had plugins, so we ended up in a camp ground that had One spot left, no hookups. I'll never do that again. Our generator is pretty quiet, but there were a lot of people in our 'loop' that were running the non-inverter, construction type generators. I wanted to sabotage all of them and genuinely felt terrible for the tent campers that were also in that loop. Didn't feel like camping at all to us.... beat staying home I guess. I've learned this year that a 'boondocking' site in an established camp ground is definitely not for us. 30 amp service is now a requirement for us if we're going to be within 100 yards of other campers... I don't want to hear their gen set, they don't want to hear mine. I'm hoping to camp on a lot of BLM land next season and get away from the generator as much as possible, with our new solar setup (still in progress). 'Boondocking' obviously is defined differently by all of us.

'Camping' in a generator saturated environment is definitely not it for us
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Old 09-18-2017, 12:06 PM   #19
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Where in Canada did you buy your Champion, the only place I saw it was Canadian Tire but it was only the 3000 and not sure it would be big enough.
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Old 09-18-2017, 12:34 PM   #20
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Costco sells the Champion 2800/3100 Generator/Inverter. In the US you can get them with remote start. Canadian Tire sells the 2000, you can hookup a pair
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