We agree whole-heartedly, Ryan! We had to upgrade ours this summer to a bigger output and sold this one with over 1,100 hours on it. Still running like a champ, if you'll pardon the pun, and we sold it for a full 2/3 of what we paid for it new back in 2017. And yes, we bought another Champion.
I bought one that was a refurbished unit. Big mistake on my part. I broke it in for ten hours, ran it until the fuel was gone. Took it out a month later, tried to start it and it caught fire in the air intake. Champion took it back.
We use a similar one! Just without remote start but is duel fuel. We were unaware that we need to do something for high altitudes. How easy/hard was it to change out the part and any ideas where to find it?
looking at these myself. you noted it did run your dometic 13.5 AC and that is what I have on my new little trailer. wonder how many lbs the remote start/electric start battery adds? I could live without it for a lower price and a lighter weight.
Is there a good way to secure this generator to your truck to prevent it from being stolen. I would think running a cable through the handles on the top, but are they plastic?
That's the only solution we've come up with. Sure they're plastic, but you're still going to have to work a bit and mangle the thing pretty badly to defeat those plastic handles. We bear in mind that no matter what you do, and no matter how the generator is designed to be secured (or not), nothing is theft-proof. All you need to do is make yours a little more difficult to take than your neighbor's. 😁
That is a very well done review of the Champion inverter generator. Thanks for putting it together. I do have a couple of questions now that you have had more experience with it. One scene in your current video series camping out near Crested Butte shows the generator off to the rear side of the trailer so I take it you had an opportunity to use it during the trip. That camp site looks to be close to 10,000 feet. I was wondering how it ran at that altitude and if you switched to the high altitude carburetor jet or were running on the originally supplied jet. I ask this because I do a lot of camping at 9,200 feet with a Honda 2000 that I have run for years on the original jet without any issue. I am looking to get a Champion 3000 series watt model and wonder if it is more sensitive to high altitudes. As a side note, Champion has a PDF file in their download section showing how to change out the jet. It looks to be the easiest I have seen on the generators I have checked out. It does not look difficult and should take just a few minutes. Second question is why you went with the 3100 model rather than the 3400 watt version? Weight, size and design are the same. Looks like the 3100 watt will burn about 1/10 of a gallon less over about eight hours at 1/4 load, but that means the load was a little less on the 3100. I suspect at equal wattage output the fuel consumption would be close and not that material. Noise is rated at 1 db difference, but again, that is at a small difference in loads. The major difference I see is about $100 or a little more in price with the 3100 watt model being less expensive. Are there any other advantages to the 3100 watt model vs the 3400 model that I am missing? If you were to do it again, would still get the 3100 watt model or go for the cushion of the extra wattage and pay the extra amount? I am leaning toward the 3400 watt model since I would keep it for a long time and then have the extra power should something come up where I needed it. If you have any other comments to add since the video, it would be great to hear. Thanks.
Bruce H thanks for the questions! When I got the generator I immediately installed the high altitude jet, as I reside at 5,000 feet and until this year never, ever camped below 4,200 feet. For our brief foray to the Pacific Coast this summer I just left the high altitude jet in place, for I knew that we would be quickly returning to the mountains. And yes, it was quite simple to install. As for the 3400W vs. the 3100W model, when we purchased this unit the 3400 had just come out, It wasn't readily available everywhere, and believe it or not I was able to score the 3100 with remote start for $595 when Amazon made a pricing error for 24 hours, and Walmart.com was willing to execute a price match for me. At that price it was a no-brainer. If I had to do it over again today I'd opt for the 3400W model, as I'm suspecting it would bog down less when a sudden large load was placed upon it while in economy mode, such as the microwave or the air conditioning compressor starting. That said, it does handle those loads admirably, even when in economy mode.
Thanks Mark for all of that additional information. The route you took makes a lot of sense. You definitely scored on that price! I suspect you are aware of the Micro-Air soft start kit. The TH-cam channel Fate Unbound put out an excellent video on it a few weeks ago. From all I have learned, that should help a lot on the surge when the A/C comes on when the generator is in economy mode. Normal price is $300 but there are coupon codes to get $30 to $40 off. I run my A/C on two Honda 2000 units once in a while with economy set to off to avoid the surge. I will be getting a Mirco-Air kit so I can have the generators on economy to avoid the noise and save fuel between cycles. Right now I am deciding if I want to stay with my older but low use 13.5K A/C or swap it for a new15K. Either way, I will be going with the Micro-Air and after reading your comments, the 3400 Champion and the high altitude jet kit for the mountain trips.
Bruce H yes, I'm familiar with the soft start capacitor but haven't been convinced to take the plunge as I'm getting by just fine with the way things are set up now. Sounds like you have a solid plan!
Hi Marc! I am diving into the archives here ! Now that you have a larger solar system, would you still opt for a 3000+watt generator? Curious if you would get the same size gen or opt for the smaller one, i.e. a 2200-2500w gen with the soft start for your a/c.
Yeah you sure are, Alan! I'd be torn if I'd do it differently now. I like the idea of a smaller (and therefore somewhat quieter) genny with a soft start; however, I'm unaware of any ~2200W generator with a remote start/stop, and that's the killer feature as far as I'm concerned.
@@GrandAdventure Hi Marc! Thank you for the reply! Yes....I would dig a 50pounder vice a 100 pounder, almost any day of the week. Yes!! I do agree that the remote start/stop is REALLY awesome too hehehehe. Have you seen the 2200-2500w gens do ok up at altitude for the a/c (and with a soft start, of course)?
Carlos, it shouldn't be. The surge protector protects against overvoltage or undervoltage, open grounds, etc. The voltage on the generator should be well regulated, and by definition the generator has an open ground so most RV surge protectors won't work with the generator anyway unless you bypass that ground.
@@hooahextreme the threshold is 3,500 feet. We seldom get below that these days, aside from a few weeks in 2018 when I didn't bother changing it back. But I do keep the original handy just in case.
Like I mentioned in the vid, when it's 29ºF out, you have an electric coffee maker and you want coffee, and you're still in your drawers, it absolutely rocks.
still enjoying your videos..... can't wait to go out in Feb.... Still packing and getting all we need.. Man are you a big help...
So happy to hear that, Selby -- thanks so much! And we know all too well that feeling of anticipation.
Old video but… we bought ours in 2016. Well over 1000 hrs on it now. Still perfect compression and power output!
We agree whole-heartedly, Ryan! We had to upgrade ours this summer to a bigger output and sold this one with over 1,100 hours on it. Still running like a champ, if you'll pardon the pun, and we sold it for a full 2/3 of what we paid for it new back in 2017. And yes, we bought another Champion.
Good review. I have the same generator and have not had any problems whatsoever.
Glad to hear it, Craig!
Marc I have the same geny a D hour meter. I got mine from super gen (refurbished) for 699 shipped. So far I love they remote start.
Chris Carn Good price!
I bought one that was a refurbished unit. Big mistake on my part. I broke it in for ten hours, ran it until the fuel was gone. Took it out a month later, tried to start it and it caught fire in the air intake. Champion took it back.
Whoa! Somebody seriously missed something on the refurb.
We use a similar one! Just without remote start but is duel fuel. We were unaware that we need to do something for high altitudes. How easy/hard was it to change out the part and any ideas where to find it?
looking at these myself. you noted it did run your dometic 13.5 AC and that is what I have on my new little trailer. wonder how many lbs the remote start/electric start battery adds? I could live without it for a lower price and a lighter weight.
You say that now, Greg, but if you used the remote you'd wonder how you ever did without it. I'm guessing that it adds about 10-15 lbs.
yep, I looked up the 3100 w models at the champion site....96lbs vs 83lbs.
Is there a good way to secure this generator to your truck to prevent it from being stolen.
I would think running a cable through the handles on the top, but are they plastic?
That's the only solution we've come up with. Sure they're plastic, but you're still going to have to work a bit and mangle the thing pretty badly to defeat those plastic handles. We bear in mind that no matter what you do, and no matter how the generator is designed to be secured (or not), nothing is theft-proof. All you need to do is make yours a little more difficult to take than your neighbor's. 😁
😆
That is a very well done review of the Champion inverter generator. Thanks for putting it together.
I do have a couple of questions now that you have had more experience with it.
One scene in your current video series camping out near Crested Butte shows the generator off to the rear side of the trailer so I take it you had an opportunity to use it during the trip. That camp site looks to be close to 10,000 feet. I was wondering how it ran at that altitude and if you switched to the high altitude carburetor jet or were running on the originally supplied jet. I ask this because I do a lot of camping at 9,200 feet with a Honda 2000 that I have run for years on the original jet without any issue. I am looking to get a Champion 3000 series watt model and wonder if it is more sensitive to high altitudes.
As a side note, Champion has a PDF file in their download section showing how to change out the jet. It looks to be the easiest I have seen on the generators I have checked out. It does not look difficult and should take just a few minutes.
Second question is why you went with the 3100 model rather than the 3400 watt version? Weight, size and design are the same. Looks like the 3100 watt will burn about 1/10 of a gallon less over about eight hours at 1/4 load, but that means the load was a little less on the 3100. I suspect at equal wattage output the fuel consumption would be close and not that material. Noise is rated at 1 db difference, but again, that is at a small difference in loads.
The major difference I see is about $100 or a little more in price with the 3100 watt model being less expensive. Are there any other advantages to the 3100 watt model vs the 3400 model that I am missing? If you were to do it again, would still get the 3100 watt model or go for the cushion of the extra wattage and pay the extra amount? I am leaning toward the 3400 watt model since I would keep it for a long time and then have the extra power should something come up where I needed it.
If you have any other comments to add since the video, it would be great to hear.
Thanks.
Bruce H thanks for the questions! When I got the generator I immediately installed the high altitude jet, as I reside at 5,000 feet and until this year never, ever camped below 4,200 feet. For our brief foray to the Pacific Coast this summer I just left the high altitude jet in place, for I knew that we would be quickly returning to the mountains. And yes, it was quite simple to install.
As for the 3400W vs. the 3100W model, when we purchased this unit the 3400 had just come out, It wasn't readily available everywhere, and believe it or not I was able to score the 3100 with remote start for $595 when Amazon made a pricing error for 24 hours, and Walmart.com was willing to execute a price match for me. At that price it was a no-brainer. If I had to do it over again today I'd opt for the 3400W model, as I'm suspecting it would bog down less when a sudden large load was placed upon it while in economy mode, such as the microwave or the air conditioning compressor starting. That said, it does handle those loads admirably, even when in economy mode.
Thanks Mark for all of that additional information. The route you took makes a lot of sense. You definitely scored on that price!
I suspect you are aware of the Micro-Air soft start kit. The TH-cam channel Fate Unbound put out an excellent video on it a few weeks ago. From all I have learned, that should help a lot on the surge when the A/C comes on when the generator is in economy mode. Normal price is $300 but there are coupon codes to get $30 to $40 off. I run my A/C on two Honda 2000 units once in a while with economy set to off to avoid the surge. I will be getting a Mirco-Air kit so I can have the generators on economy to avoid the noise and save fuel between cycles. Right now I am deciding if I want to stay with my older but low use 13.5K A/C or swap it for a new15K. Either way, I will be going with the Micro-Air and after reading your comments, the 3400 Champion and the high altitude jet kit for the mountain trips.
Bruce H yes, I'm familiar with the soft start capacitor but haven't been convinced to take the plunge as I'm getting by just fine with the way things are set up now.
Sounds like you have a solid plan!
Hi Marc! I am diving into the archives here !
Now that you have a larger solar system, would you still opt for a 3000+watt generator? Curious if you would get the same size gen or opt for the smaller one, i.e. a 2200-2500w gen with the soft start for your a/c.
Yeah you sure are, Alan! I'd be torn if I'd do it differently now. I like the idea of a smaller (and therefore somewhat quieter) genny with a soft start; however, I'm unaware of any ~2200W generator with a remote start/stop, and that's the killer feature as far as I'm concerned.
@@GrandAdventure Hi Marc! Thank you for the reply! Yes....I would dig a 50pounder vice a 100 pounder, almost any day of the week. Yes!! I do agree that the remote start/stop is REALLY awesome too hehehehe.
Have you seen the 2200-2500w gens do ok up at altitude for the a/c (and with a soft start, of course)?
@@campingalan yes. I've seen others with soft starts successfully operate a 15K BTU a/c at altitude with a soft start installed.
@@GrandAdventure Hi Marc. Ok...thank you for that info. Definitely things to ponder!
Is a surge protector necessary with a genertor ? sorry ...new to all this
Carlos, it shouldn't be. The surge protector protects against overvoltage or undervoltage, open grounds, etc. The voltage on the generator should be well regulated, and by definition the generator has an open ground so most RV surge protectors won't work with the generator anyway unless you bypass that ground.
Thanks buddy !
new sub as well here
I'm thrilled, thank you!!
Have you had any issues with the generator at high altitudes?
None whatsoever, but we've swapped out the standard carburetor jet for the high altitude jet that Champion offers owners for free.
@@GrandAdventure I like the sound of free. Now at the lower altitudes do you need to swap it back?
@@hooahextreme the threshold is 3,500 feet. We seldom get below that these days, aside from a few weeks in 2018 when I didn't bother changing it back. But I do keep the original handy just in case.
Does remote start also mean remote stop?
brian frias Yes indeedy!
Thanks for the clarification. Sounds like a GREAT feature.
Like I mentioned in the vid, when it's 29ºF out, you have an electric coffee maker and you want coffee, and you're still in your drawers, it absolutely rocks.
Just like inverters, inverter generators do NOT necessarily generate pure sine wave output.
Ted Fryman I should have been more clear: this one does.