Take it from me folks. NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY has more generators then these folks. They could power lower manhattan if the need arose. As far as them sharing their knowledge, these folks are some of the most honest folks on TH-cam! I would advise you to listen to what they have to say.
Good video! All we've ever needed is a single small (2000 watt) generator to recharge my RV's battery (guess we are still used to 40 years of tent camping). We run it each morning and each evening, hooked to a battery charger that goes to the battery. Keeps the fridge going on propane as well as the water heater. During the hot months of Summer, we either camp at full hookups for AC or in the mountains, where it is not so darn hot and we don't need AC. By the way, for those wondering about noise while using two 2000 watt generators in series, the sound is only about 3 decibels louder than just running a single....no big deal.
You should do a review of the 3500 Predator Generator from Harbor Freight. We have 3 and have many hours between the 3 and they are awesome. Our favorite generator is the Champion 3400 dual fuel because we have a LP quick connect on the back on our personal trailer (we rent trailers) and so we can lock that generator on the back rack, connect the fuel and leave it there and its quiet enough to sit back there the entire time. We will be converting the Predators to LP as well, and then they will be the best bang for the buck imo.
predator 3500 inverter generator is the best and quietest i have found for my RV... i have always had Honda, the predator is a exact copy at under half the price. I am a mechanic for a living and have worked on all of theses gens, i will tell ya the folks predator is hard too beat! for the money and very !!! quite.
I received a used open frame 3000W generator as a freebie. It wasn't running when it arrived, because it had been left out in the rain and it was full of old, water fouled gas. I tuned it up and cleaned the fuel system. It started right up. (It's a Coleman/Generac powered by a Subaru Robin engine.) I have only used it at a campsite once. I was among friends, and it was mid-afternoon. I ended up with extension cords daisy-chained up and down the row charging the house batteries in four rigs at once. I'm planning on getting an inverter before our next big trip, but the loud 3KW unit is good to have for emergencies in the meantime. Not an endorsement, but I have seen some folks happily using the Chinese-built Harbor Freight Predator inverters. They're quiet and way cheaper than a Honda, but I'm not sure I trust them for quality/durability. Leaning toward a Champion when we make our purchase.
HF quality/durability is fine - if you're concerned, get the extended warranty. If it ever dies during the warranty period, HF just straight-up gives you a new one. If your Champion dies, where will you exchange it? I've brought stuff back to HF - they're always like, "Here you go!" on exchanges.
Another issue to consider besides the actual sound level noise is the electrical noise associated with the operation of the inverter as it converts DC power to AC. Honda is the best in this category in my experience as a ham radio operator who uses a generator to power remote radio operations. Other brands have been disappointing in this area, some to the point of making it impossible to hear received signals because of interference from the inverter. This can also indicate a less than clean power level to your RV and sensitive electronics. Read the specs and select carefully.
I recommend the Harbor Freight Predator 3500. We have a similar trailer and we love the predator. It's super quiet, has pure inverter power, electric start and sips fuel while providing a constant 25 amps with more for starting power. We paid $699 for ours. I've been seeing lots of videos here on youtube showing how people have been getting lots of trouble free hours with the Predator. Zero problems with ours now for 3 years. Others have more hours than ours has.
We just bought a champion 3150 watt inverter generator for our rv. The first time I started it it shot flames out the exhaust and got red hot. I shut it off and called them. They walked me thru trouble shooting in the phone. I found that a wire fell out of the motherboard and the motherboard wasn’t mounted correct. The made sure I got it put back together and it ran correct before getting off the phone and sent me all new mounting hardware. VERY!! Impressed with champion.
I definitely considered a champion but after tons and tons of research I ended up going with a Firman 2,700-3,300W dual fuel Better quality and a bit more expensive then predator and comparable to Honda Yamaha and champion But half the price Comes with tons of extra accessories and it's also has electric start or pull start, propane tank adapter, large grab handles and wheels, USB port 2 110 outlets and a 30AMP outlet, and hours meter with output gauge Also has a wall charger and a car battery clamp style charger so you don't have to open the generator up to remove and charge the battery Runs everything in my RV with no problems My only complaint No fuel gauge, it's about 100lbs (with fuel) and I feel that mine is a little louder then I thought it would be considering everything I read during my research Overall the quality and build design is great and the performance exceeded my expectations Definitely recommend
You know one thing you should do for a video is I don't know if you guys are familiar or not but there's something called an Extended Stay this device hooks to your propane tanks and it allows you to add an extra propane tank to your R.v plus it allows you to hook up accessories that's what I think you should do is get one of those get hook this accessory part up to one of these generators in his see how practical it is someone has already done a video where they convert a gas generator to run on propane
I worked at a store that sold generators, etc. Your commentary was on the mark. I can add one thing. The small generator engines are air-cooled. The generator engines need fresh air to avoid overheating and self-destruction. I have assisted people multiple times who ran their generators with the tonneau covers, etc. closed to reduce noise. I had to duck the blast of extremely hot air that came out of the enclosed space. And, one more thing...don't buy diesel generators...they're loud.
Just wanted to say, after watching your earlier videos on generators, I went with 2-2000watt Champion generator/inverters to save my 65y/o back. I know that means I have to lift 2 of them but I don't always need both of them. Thank you for the time you put in on these videos they are priceless.
Unless you need the A/C, 2000 watts is lots. You just can't microwave popcorn while you wife is blow-drying her hair, is all. I live in Canada, so there are only a few places like Dinosaur Provincial Park (do check it out, you too LoLoHo's the tours are excellent and then spin by the Tyrell Museum 2 hours away but there are camping options nearby) but those spots have power. Mostly. Reserve in advance and get your powered site. Bring bug spray.
You guys should consider looking at the Harbor Freight Predator 3500. I've had mine for three years now and it has never failed me. It doesn't come with a remote start but I installed a aftermarket kit on mine and it works great.
I have the older champion 3100,pull start only. Starts on 1st pull. Ac in summer plus i'm a Ham operator:some of my radios suck 22 amps on transmit. Stay safe.
Last summer I was blacksmithing at a tractor show in Illinois, camping with no land power so I took along my 7000 honda. (Have the 7000 for 240V power to run our well pump at the house if needed.) The camper across the drive had a Champion Open Frame that they ran for 24 hours a day. (We only ran ours when it was hot enough to need air.) They didn't even shut it down to gas up, they just topped it off on the run. We got used to it and our Fantastic Fan drowned it out at bed time but DANG that was noisy! Been looking at a smaller unit that will fit under the cover and take up less room in the bed so I can haul more blacksmith stuff though. :)
I already had a 2000w Honda when I bought our Airstream. I'm an above average do-it-yourselfer and installed an Easy Start in AC unit. A dealer can do this. The Honda will run the AC or the microwave but not at the same time (of course they won't) but still happy with the small form of the generator. I have a medium sized truck, so lugging a larger unit around is less ideal.
I bought a Champion 3100 watt generator last year after watching one of your videos. I have to say I love it! Recently I was doing some work on my property and needed electric tools -- it was much easier to load the generator in the truck than to run 400 feet of extension cords. You forgot to mention another selling point of the Champion -- a 30A travel trailer will plug in without having to buy an adapter.
Brought their remote start single fuel champion generator 3 years ago. As we have a fifth wheel trailer we carry it in a carrier on the back of the trailer. Last year while crossing the Navajo reservation coming back from Colorado we hit a pressure Ridge in the highway the generator tore itself out of the carrier and we drug it down the highway at 65 miles an hour. Kind citizen pulled up alongside us and let us know we had a problem. The generator looked like it had been through a tornado. When we finally got home put it all back together using duct tape and hit the start button. It's still working like it did when it was brand new. Like to see a Honda or Yamaha generator go through that scenario and still be working
Champion 3500/3150 Duel Fuel is the way to go. Electric start, 30 amp RV plug equipped. nice handle, comes with wheels for easy pulling around, reasonably quiet (there is no such thing as a quiet generator, just some that makes less noise) and can be purchased at a reasonable cost. It does weigh just under 100 LBS which is not the lightest but we think it is worth it.We run ours on propane only so no need to carry gas can. Buy one and your done! Easily runs everything on our Flying Cloud 25' Airstream.
Great video, sorry late to the party on this one. Yes, I think everyone needs a generator and of course the dual fuel is the best one. Propane does not clog up the engine. You always have humor in the video and it is always great! Thank you and sorry for the late review. Dave
If your air conditioner is in inverter unit, which the entire RV industry has never heard of, they are a lot easier to start. And more efficient. And more quiet.
Picked up the Champion 3400 from your review 2 years ago. Duel fuel. Always have run propane and I would buy another one tomorrow if someone swiped it! Thanks guys!!
We installed a Micro Air Easy Start on our 15K AC and it allows us to run with a Honda 2200. It lowers the starting load from the AC and works great.Once running you can run microwave, refrig and other appliances. The Easy Start costs aroung $300 but is cheaper than a 2nd generator or a larger generator.
I went with two 2000 watt Champions with parallel kit in 2017. Mostly used just one for battery charging; maybe used both half-dozen times. It depended on where we were going. Wife could lift them, and they fit nicely under the truck cover. Traded for a class C last summer with built in genny... so the beloved Champions are in storage waiting on a new home...
@@jshepard152 I sold them both. But no problems at all. Easy to service, VERY quiet, and always started easy. The two of them running in parallel were probably quieter than my current 4k Cummins Onan motorhome generator. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Champion generators.
Sean, I bought a Champion 3600 last year after watching several of your generator comparison videos and we absolutely LOVE IT - NO REGRETS. We are weekend warriors and having this generator is great piece of mind. You and Christy keep up the great videos.
You didn't mention the Micro-Air EasyStart as an alternative to lugging around a heavy generator. I installed a Micro-Air in my AC unit, which allows me to use a 2,000 watt Champion dual-fuel inverter generator to power it. The generator is less than 50 lb and I only run it off propane. No messy gas cans or fumes to deal with. Love it!
They did mention you could climb up on the roof and do some wiring to the ac unit in order to be able to use a 2000 watt generator, but this video was not covering that.
actually we did mention that it was possible to add a soft start device that would allow you to use a smaller generator, we just didn't mention brand or specifics. We do talk about it a little more in our most recent video.
I bought the Champion remote start per your recommendation.The generator is completely reliable and the remote is the only way to go. Highly recommended.
I just purchased a 3500 dual fuel Champion. Great deal on them right now at Camping World. I did lots of research on generators before I made my decision and the one thing I kept coming back to with two smaller units paralleled together was there would be twice the noise level so the result would be way more than a single unit. I just hope I can get this thing into my truck; I have to buy a ramp to wheel it in the bed.
Just finished breaking in our new 4000W open frame hybrid Champion inverter generator for our 15K BTU AC when distanced from neighbors that fits under or tonneau cover. Our 2500W Westinghouse inverter generator (which is whisper quiet as we have borrowed one in the past), will be delivered this week for evening operations when AC is not needed, but fans are. So many trade offs! I thought weighing pros and cons of which trailer was bad. Selecting the best generator for our needs was almost worse!!!
Can't thank y'all enough! We bought our trailer less then 2 months ago and have been on 7 trips including a week long trip up to the Tetons and Yellowstone! You guys have made it easy to learn the ins-and-outs of the trailer world. Still have a lot to learn but am excited to do so!
Yay! We're so glad to hear that you've found our videos helpful! We always joke that we make all the mistakes (and share what not to do!) so that others don't have to :)
I have the champion with the remote. It works perfectly every time. It’s great for boondocking to have the remote control beside my bed so I can start and stop it to get the air conditioner running.
Honestly Sean & Christy we’ve been through hell with some campers attitudes toward generators. At the end of the day we have the Honda 22 works very well & powers all we need when we remote camp. Thanks 🙏🏻
Oh wow! Yes, generators can be a controversial topic for some. I'm in favor of moderation for most things in life, including generators. Honda 2200 sounds reasonable to me. :)
I have a Champion Inverter 3400/3100W. I could not start my TT AC unit with the generator, in Normal or Economy. I installed a Microair soft start for the AC unit and all is good. And then there is the altitude issue. When you camp in the mountains, above 3500ft, Champion recommends changing the carburetor jet for a high-altitude operation or else it will run to rich and foul the plug. I camp anywhere from near sea level to 10,000 feet, so there's that. One last thing, the power rating is determined at Mean Sea Level. The generator will deliver less power, 3.5% less, for every 1000 feet in altitude. So for me, at 5000 ft. the generator will produce 2560Watts, and at 10,000 ft, 2015W. So buy accordingly for your camping style.
Had a friend recently with the same issue - we were able to get around by turning off the 12v inverter for the RV :) to get "just enough" power to run the AC (microair is next!) I have a 3500 and going to do the microair just for the easier starts.
We ran into open frame generator guy just a few weeks ago. Horribly loud! Then, a few spaces down, was Honda generator guy. What a huge difference in noise output. I have been researching generators for a couple of years now and keep coming back to the Champion. Maybe by next Spring. We have gone so long without one that we are not sure that we even need one.
We own a Champion slightly larger than yours. It's a 4,000W starting 3,500W running. We love our remote start and it has an eco mode for most applications that is about as quiet as the smaller Honda and Yamahas.
Pre you wonderful reviews and advice we went with the 3400 duel fuel. Have not tried it on gas just propane. Runs our 1500 AC no issues and we keep it on Econo mode. We get from 8 to 10 hours from a 20lb tank. The biggest advantage I found is with propane you don’t have to worry about carburetors gumming up and draining gas when you store it. Had it over a year and it starts every time. And we purchased it from your store for a little over $900 including tax. Thank you for all you do to help us followers. You are very much appreciated.
Thanks for the post(s). Gonna be going full time next year, maybe we'll run across each other. A note on securing your generator or anything else, from a "40 year hardware guy": use galvanized aircraft cable instead of chain! It is much lighter (like 95%), cannot be cut with bolt cutters and any decent hardware store can make you any custom length you need. If you secure with air craft cable a potential thief is gonna need a helper, hack saw and two pairs of pliers! If you insist on chain, use grade 8, a little bit more expensive, but again, can't be cut with bolt cutters.
Going RVing (rented) for a month. Haven’t had a rig for over 10 years. I find your videos really helpful and informative. Will be in Yosemite next week - can’t wait. You really inspired us to make this trip and not wait. Thank you keep up the great content.
Again, this is such a timely presentation with complete informations, and most of all, experienced point of view! Thanks to you! We really went for a Champion, and are really happy, but we will have to install the ‘easy start thing” on the AC for it to start with the 2000 Inverter unit we purchased! Yes, you need to think about weight, but also your overall capacity (payload) in order to avoid buying a bigger truck! Thanks! Stay safe in your travels! Rémi (Quebec city)
I really had no need for a generator before. I did add a 5,000 btw a/c because I didn't want to limit my travel to just cool places or places with electricity. I just bought a Champion 2500 watt inverter generator. Running the a/c hardly fazes it. I do have a small electric heater, that does increase the idle speed, but not too much. So I think it will work fine for heating and cooling!
Propane is the best all around option. The fuel does not get old so there is only the oil to change for upkeep. Chances are in a power outage there will be propane available where gas may not be.
Was going to buy a champion 3000w & harbor freight came out with there 3500w inverter & I got it for $650 . I thought I was taking a chance but after a few years it has been very good , its quiet starts my ac has electric start , it does not have remote start ( it would be nice on cold mornings) no fuel level ( no big deal) . Harbor freight does make some junk but this works really well for the money.
So many generators to choose from. We have a champion inverter generator wired up in a very interesting way ! Thanks for the great videos !! Thomas and Melissa
Wired an AC inverter 4000 watt. For those times in the evening when we microwave popcorn and watch a movie. We went with the small 2000 watt Predator X2. Old back. And I alternate between the 2 as to spread the hours between them. We boondock almost every weekend in the summer in Montana.
Sounds great! Montana summers do not usually require A/C for comfort....but summer in the south does (unless you like camping in an oven). That's why we still carry a generator, even thought we now have a huge solar bank. Sometimes you just need to cool off! :)
One other important consideration is power reduction with altitude. Generally you will loose about 10% per 3000' altitude gain, so at 8000' in the Rockies you will loose nearly 30% of the rated generator output. This will take a 3000W Generator down to 2100W and 2x2000W Generators down to 2800W.
Have had my dual Hondas I parallel for six years for my small trailer when needing to run the A/C and have not let me down yet. They weigh 50 lbs each and usually run one, unless hot, if so run them both.
Hopefully Coleman will start making with AC with soft start already installed. I use Honda 2200 which has always run on propane; gas (even non-ethanol) here is only good in cars.
Always enjoy your informative videos. We travel in a 40ft diesel pulling a 28 ft. Enclosed car hauler, but you two offer great advice for all rv enthusiasts all over. Love your channel
Great videos, guys. I'm just thankful I've been living without A/C and a microwave for over a decade so I don't feel the need for a fuel generator. I can make do with my solar generators that have smaller inverters and are very quiet.
I agree. The open frame generators are the worst. We've been really happy with our Predator 3500 Inverter generator from Harbor Freight Tools. Super quiet too.
Until I add the soft starts, and am still not sure I will, I've been able to avoid the high starting amperage draw by just turning on the A/C fan, let that stabilize then start the compressor with one Honda 2200i genset. We have aa Airstream International Serenity 30QRB. I can parallel two Honda 2200i gensets to operate most everything through a little load management. Current draw with both the 13.5K BTU and 15K BTU A/Cs online is around 3670 watts when observed on shore power. I have a short pigtail with the outer insulation removed so I can use a clamp on ammeter to gauge the generator load on the 30 amp generator receptacle. We have a bluetooth enabled surge protector when on shore power that shows draw on both legs of our 50 amp connection. Yes...a little OCD about load sharing....but not as freakishly OCD I am about the black water tank! Thanks again for your informative videos!
@@kristymichael I knew you would say that..lol I made that comment near the beginning of your video...And when you all said it, I said opps...Stay safe and keep these vids comng.
I would add that 2 generators are both louder and use more fuel than 1 larger generator. If you can lift a large one, I'd say it's the better choice. As for the fuel consumption argument using just one 2000 watt vs a 3000+ watt, I think that in economy mode, the fuel is probably negligible. I chose the Champion 3400 watt, but in hind site, I wish had gotten the duel fuel. I don't use mine very often, so I'm having to pour gas from my 5 gallon jug into my truck to keep "fresh" gas in that tank for the generator. Just to "agree strongly" with the warning on open cage or construction style generators..., they are NOT safe for ANY electronics including the control boards for your RV refrigerator, water heater, air conditioner..., on up to microwaves, computers, tv's.
E trailers has there own line of generate that is very well reviewed and the parallel kit is simply 2 cables bc the generator already had the rv plug built on to panel... if I recall correctly they are 400 each for a 2000watt class
Another option many seem to miss is the Westinghouse brand. Not sure who makes it for them but they make a 2500 model that generates more power than the new Honda 2200 series and is less expensive. It's lighter than the 3000 watt models and has enough power to run A/C units. Definitely worth a look.
Check with some of the rural farm type stores. Got our 3400 over two years ago and it was over a hundred cheaper. Always dependable while I look for a battery still pull starts esy😛 different subject but we just got a portable ice maker and love it, nice having clean edible ice. Thanks for your videos!
Go ahead and shoot me, but this year I got the Harbor Freight 3500W generator. Okay, it's a Chinese product, but it is essentially stolen plans from Honda. It has a wet weight of 110 lbs. and is (according to several video reviews) a couple of db quieter. I did the break-in by plugging in our 30amp RV cable and ran the AC, fridge, TV and a hot plate at the same time. Plenty of power and smooth running 212cc engine. I would consider turning off the AC if I needed the microwave. I just couldn't pass up the $599 special over the Christmas holidays. It has a 2-1/2 gal tank for 10-11 hours. With an additional gas can, I can boondock comfy for a couple of days at a time. Also, I am now waiting on a 500W Jackery, for keeping the fridge going or other emergencies, and I can charge it up via the vehicle or shore power when we find it. Thanks for the review. Hoping to be back on the road when this COVID-19 mess clears up.
I looked at the champions for a long time. They are great units. I do tent camping and not just rv camping so I went with two ryobi 1800 running 2300 starting with Bluetooth. I also installed a micro air easy start and can run my 13500 but a/c on just 1 if needed. My wife can’t lift a 3000 watt generator by herself. So two small ones it came to be. Plus I don’t need 3000 what’s for tent camping. Just need some power for electronics and tent heater ( we like to tent camp in winter also). I have not run into any issues yet with my ryobi’s. But I can say they are cheaply made. If I had to go with a 3000 class on the cheap I would go with a predator from harbor freight. I’ve seen them in action and boy they are quite and seem to be pretty well built. Well that’s my setup and 2 cents
I roll the 3500 predator from harbor freight. It’s basically a Honda clone, extremely quiet and 1/3 the price. I added the protection plan and will switch it out for a brand new gen in 19 months.
I bought that champion dual fuel a couple years ago. Had it 4 months and the carburetor went out and had to be replaced. It had a 1year warranty so I figured no problem. problem. Come to find ou
Come to find out the carburetor on my new champion wasn’t covered under warranty. Oh well. I had it replaced and no problems since. Lesson learned if you use it with gasoline one time you’ll have to run it once a month to make sure condensation is cleared out of the carburetor. The other option is to use it with propane only. The only problem with that is propane doesn’t generate as much power as gasoline. Overall that champion is the best deal and best generator on the market.
I have a Yamaha 2800w open frame generator, but it is fairly quite because it is an inverter. At that time I wanted duel fuel and that was the best way to go (American Carburetor conversion, I can run it off the trailer bbq port). It isn't much louder than the A/C and is pretty quite on economode when just charging batteries. At that time Champion wasn't a thing. Anyway good video and thanks for ragging on the folks that bring a construction generator. I hate those. My generator isn't as quiet as a suitcase version but you can hardly hear it from 25 feet away it isn't a lawn mower engine strapped to a simple generator that must maintain a certain RPM to get 60 hz. But if I were making the purchasing decision today, I would get the duel fuel Champion.
Wish I had this information before we bought our two Honda. We've only needed to connect them together once, for the A.C. We've used one when camping in RMNP in Colorado.
Question for everyone with RVs. We will be retiring in 2021. We have a 38 foot class A. Monaco. I have a lot of knicknacks. Along with everything else. Coffee machine , toasted oven, toaster, s &p shakers , China display, plants, flowers in vases, place mats, computer, tablets, dish rack etc..... In the past we would go to a park. Unpack then repack and go home. Now we are going to be living in the RV. I need tips about packing and travel. I just can't see us unpacking 80items all over our home. Then a week later, pack it all up move to another state. The thought of constantly packing and unpacking is driving me nuts ! Help ! 🌹
Hi Sean and Kristy. Great topic and very timely as we have finally put our new RV on the road after a long Canadian winter and delayed opening of our campgrounds here in Ontario because of the pandemic. I like the duel fuel capability option because it's always good to have options when your out there with moose and bears as neighbours. I was wondering if you guys have ever looked at the Firman brand of generators? I believe their US built? (Not sure). From what I read they seem pretty reliable as is their customer support. I haven't bought one (yet) , but Costco here is putting the duel fuel on sale in a couple of days and I'm seriously contemplating pulling the trigger on one. Thank you for any thoughts shared. Safe travels! Cheers!
I can't believe that they still sell RV A/C units without a capacitor boost starter, combined with a staggered starting relay that would start the compressor only first. Or even the better (more expensive) option of soft-starting them. PS: My home heat pump (Trane) had an option for start boost capacitor (called a "Hard Start Kit"), but of course it came without it, so I added it after that. Why is that even acceptable to sell AC compressors without that... I don't know. Description: "Start capacitor and relay to assist compressor motor startup. Use in areas with marginal power supply, on long linesets, low ambient conditions, etc.". Marginal power supply. That's exactly the RV conditions!
Thanks for the video some good information there. Currently I have a camper with a built-in generator 2500 Watt. But if I ever change rigs & I need a generator the champion looks like a good one to get.
I have several generators....an Onan 6500 in our ‘83 Airstream 310 Motorhome. The 6500 is powered by propane and has worked fine. In our newer ‘04 Airstream 396XL motorhome which we call “Gigantor”, we have an Onan 8000 diesel generator which is really quiet. That Onan can power both a/c units and then some. When we had our ‘98 Airstream Classic trailer, I bought 2 Honda 2000 generators and the cabling to hook them together to operate the a/c unit. Now this was before those “soft start” kits for the roof a/c. I have also used my Honda generators for many other things too. Like you stated....once you have a generator, you can’t go back. Why did WE go with two Honda? Weight.......I could load and unload the Honda 2000 easily by myself. I would have struggled with the Honda 3500........Russell D.
Wen now has a new one out that is dual fuel that runs on propane and then when the propane runs out, it automatically switches to gas for longer run times! I thought that was pretty cool. It's the wen 4000 inverter generator. Might not fit under your cover though ;)
On the 2000 watt class, they almost all use 79cc Yamaha or Yamaha clone engines. The Honda 2000 uses a 100cc engine, and the new Honda 2200 uses a 120cc engine. I would like to see a real world comparison, between the 79cc units, and the 100cc and 120cc Honda units... if anyone has the expertise and ability. Especially fuel consumption, as common sense tells us a Honda engine with 50% more displacement should use a lot more fuel than a 79cc engine, but I believe Honda really runs these engines very lean so that they are still very fuel efficient. Also the larger Honda engines probably have more ability to handle larger start up loads....
i have a honda 2200is gen and it run my 13500 btu air cond. no problem but i have to have all app on gas to do so. which is fine, i also run the gen on eco mode.
Great video guys! We are not generator newbies but certainly not experts either :) We went through the options analysis about a year ago - one larger generator or two smaller ones...? Hmmm... We’ll we decided on the two smaller ones and went with Honda inverter ones to prevent enemies at the campground lol. I love your review of the Champion brand! Looks like a solid contender if/when our Honda dies... Keep the great videos coming!
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DUAL FUEL Champion amzn.to/3eI0yWx
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Honda amzn.to/2YEdeIo
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Propane is the only one to buy
Take it from me folks. NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY has more generators then these folks. They could power lower manhattan if the need arose. As far as them sharing their knowledge, these folks are some of the most honest folks on TH-cam! I would advise you to listen to what they have to say.
Aw, thanks! What a nice compliment! :)
Good video! All we've ever needed is a single small (2000 watt) generator to recharge my RV's battery (guess we are still used to 40 years of tent camping). We run it each morning and each evening, hooked to a battery charger that goes to the battery. Keeps the fridge going on propane as well as the water heater. During the hot months of Summer, we either camp at full hookups for AC or in the mountains, where it is not so darn hot and we don't need AC. By the way, for those wondering about noise while using two 2000 watt generators in series, the sound is only about 3 decibels louder than just running a single....no big deal.
You should do a review of the 3500 Predator Generator from Harbor Freight. We have 3 and have many hours between the 3 and they are awesome. Our favorite generator is the Champion 3400 dual fuel because we have a LP quick connect on the back on our personal trailer (we rent trailers) and so we can lock that generator on the back rack, connect the fuel and leave it there and its quiet enough to sit back there the entire time. We will be converting the Predators to LP as well, and then they will be the best bang for the buck imo.
predator 3500 inverter generator is the best and quietest i have found for my RV... i have always had Honda, the predator is a exact copy at under half the price. I am a mechanic for a living and have worked on all of theses gens, i will tell ya the folks predator is hard too beat! for the money and very !!! quite.
I received a used open frame 3000W generator as a freebie. It wasn't running when it arrived, because it had been left out in the rain and it was full of old, water fouled gas. I tuned it up and cleaned the fuel system. It started right up. (It's a Coleman/Generac powered by a Subaru Robin engine.) I have only used it at a campsite once. I was among friends, and it was mid-afternoon. I ended up with extension cords daisy-chained up and down the row charging the house batteries in four rigs at once. I'm planning on getting an inverter before our next big trip, but the loud 3KW unit is good to have for emergencies in the meantime. Not an endorsement, but I have seen some folks happily using the Chinese-built Harbor Freight Predator inverters. They're quiet and way cheaper than a Honda, but I'm not sure I trust them for quality/durability. Leaning toward a Champion when we make our purchase.
HF quality/durability is fine - if you're concerned, get the extended warranty. If it ever dies during the warranty period, HF just straight-up gives you a new one. If your Champion dies, where will you exchange it? I've brought stuff back to HF - they're always like, "Here you go!" on exchanges.
Another issue to consider besides the actual sound level noise is the electrical noise associated with the operation of the inverter as it converts DC power to AC. Honda is the best in this category in my experience as a ham radio operator who uses a generator to power remote radio operations. Other brands have been disappointing in this area, some to the point of making it impossible to hear received signals because of interference from the inverter. This can also indicate a less than clean power level to your RV and sensitive electronics. Read the specs and select carefully.
I recommend the Harbor Freight Predator 3500. We have a similar trailer and we love the predator. It's super quiet, has pure inverter power, electric start and sips fuel while providing a constant 25 amps with more for starting power. We paid $699 for ours. I've been seeing lots of videos here on youtube showing how people have been getting lots of trouble free hours with the Predator. Zero problems with ours now for 3 years. Others have more hours than ours has.
I've heard good things about those as well.
We just bought a champion 3150 watt inverter generator for our rv. The first time I started it it shot flames out the exhaust and got red hot. I shut it off and called them. They walked me thru trouble shooting in the phone. I found that a wire fell out of the motherboard and the motherboard wasn’t mounted correct. The made sure I got it put back together and it ran correct before getting off the phone and sent me all new mounting hardware. VERY!! Impressed with champion.
Please note that when you run on propane the output is only 70-80 percent of running on gas.
I definitely considered a champion but after tons and tons of research I ended up going with a Firman 2,700-3,300W dual fuel
Better quality and a bit more expensive then predator and comparable to Honda Yamaha and champion
But half the price
Comes with tons of extra accessories and it's also has electric start or pull start, propane tank adapter, large grab handles and wheels, USB port 2 110 outlets and a 30AMP outlet, and hours meter with output gauge
Also has a wall charger and a car battery clamp style charger so you don't have to open the generator up to remove and charge the battery
Runs everything in my RV with no problems
My only complaint
No fuel gauge, it's about 100lbs (with fuel) and I feel that mine is a little louder then I thought it would be considering everything I read during my research
Overall the quality and build design is great and the performance exceeded my expectations
Definitely recommend
You know one thing you should do for a video is I don't know if you guys are familiar or not but there's something called an Extended Stay this device hooks to your propane tanks and it allows you to add an extra propane tank to your R.v plus it allows you to hook up accessories that's what I think you should do is get one of those get hook this accessory part up to one of these generators in his see how practical it is someone has already done a video where they convert a gas generator to run on propane
I worked at a store that sold generators, etc. Your commentary was on the mark. I can add one thing. The small generator engines are air-cooled. The generator engines need fresh air to avoid overheating and self-destruction. I have assisted people multiple times who ran their generators with the tonneau covers, etc. closed to reduce noise. I had to duck the blast of extremely hot air that came out of the enclosed space. And, one more thing...don't buy diesel generators...they're loud.
I had a diesel generator built in on a camper and it was not loud and ran great, started fast even in cold and ran off the fuel tank, worked great.
Just wanted to say, after watching your earlier videos on generators, I went with 2-2000watt Champion generator/inverters to save my 65y/o back. I know that means I have to lift 2 of them but I don't always need both of them. Thank you for the time you put in on these videos they are priceless.
Unless you need the A/C, 2000 watts is lots. You just can't microwave popcorn while you wife is blow-drying her hair, is all. I live in Canada, so there are only a few places like Dinosaur Provincial Park (do check it out, you too LoLoHo's the tours are excellent and then spin by the Tyrell Museum 2 hours away but there are camping options nearby) but those spots have power. Mostly. Reserve in advance and get your powered site. Bring bug spray.
You guys should consider looking at the Harbor Freight Predator 3500. I've had mine for three years now and it has never failed me. It doesn't come with a remote start but I installed a aftermarket kit on mine and it works great.
I have been trying to find a video comparing the HF predator 3500 to the champion. Do you think the HF is as good quality as the champion?
Saw a video that showed how to cut decibels by a lite weight box that can be used for open frame or closed frame! Also keeps it out of the rain!
I have the older champion 3100,pull start only. Starts on 1st pull. Ac in summer plus i'm a Ham operator:some of my radios suck 22 amps on transmit. Stay safe.
I bought a Champion 3100 dual fuel last fall, it was an excellent choice! Very happy with it
You helped decide on a Champion 3500 RV ready, remote start inverter-generator! Being 67 years old, it’s heavy, but manageable!
Last summer I was blacksmithing at a tractor show in Illinois, camping with no land power so I took along my 7000 honda. (Have the 7000 for 240V power to run our well pump at the house if needed.) The camper across the drive had a Champion Open Frame that they ran for 24 hours a day. (We only ran ours when it was hot enough to need air.) They didn't even shut it down to gas up, they just topped it off on the run. We got used to it and our Fantastic Fan drowned it out at bed time but DANG that was noisy! Been looking at a smaller unit that will fit under the cover and take up less room in the bed so I can haul more blacksmith stuff though. :)
I already had a 2000w Honda when I bought our Airstream. I'm an above average do-it-yourselfer and installed an Easy Start in AC unit. A dealer can do this. The Honda will run the AC or the microwave but not at the same time (of course they won't) but still happy with the small form of the generator. I have a medium sized truck, so lugging a larger unit around is less ideal.
I bought a Champion 3100 watt generator last year after watching one of your videos. I have to say I love it! Recently I was doing some work on my property and needed electric tools -- it was much easier to load the generator in the truck than to run 400 feet of extension cords. You forgot to mention another selling point of the Champion -- a 30A travel trailer will plug in without having to buy an adapter.
Thank you...Finally a generator/ac video for newbies that is actually useful.
Twyla Alvarado Not really.
Brought their remote start single fuel champion generator 3 years ago. As we have a fifth wheel trailer we carry it in a carrier on the back of the trailer. Last year while crossing the Navajo reservation coming back from Colorado we hit a pressure Ridge in the highway the generator tore itself out of the carrier and we drug it down the highway at 65 miles an hour. Kind citizen pulled up alongside us and let us know we had a problem. The generator looked like it had been through a tornado. When we finally got home put it all back together using duct tape and hit the start button. It's still working like it did when it was brand new. Like to see a Honda or Yamaha generator go through that scenario and still be working
Champion 3500/3150 Duel Fuel is the way to go. Electric start, 30 amp RV plug equipped. nice handle, comes with wheels for easy pulling around, reasonably quiet (there is no such thing as a quiet generator, just some that makes less noise) and can be purchased at a reasonable cost. It does weigh just under 100 LBS which is not the lightest but we think it is worth it.We run ours on propane only so no need to carry gas can. Buy one and your done! Easily runs everything on our Flying Cloud 25' Airstream.
I have 2 3400 watt dual fuel champions. It powers my 3 a/c units and dryer. Love them. I occasionally use just 1 when boondocking for a short time.
I just picked up a 3150 watt Champion from Lowe's on sale for $629. It will handle all of our travel trailer needs as well as emergency use at home.
Great video, sorry late to the party on this one. Yes, I think everyone needs a generator and of course the dual fuel is the best one. Propane does not clog up the engine. You always have humor in the video and it is always great! Thank you and sorry for the late review. Dave
I have the champion 3100w generator. For sure louder than more expensive units. It's a work horse though, and I love the remote start
If your air conditioner is in inverter unit, which the entire RV industry has never heard of, they are a lot easier to start. And more efficient. And more quiet.
Picked up the Champion 3400 from your review 2 years ago. Duel fuel. Always have run propane and I would buy another one tomorrow if someone swiped it! Thanks guys!!
We installed a Micro Air Easy Start on our 15K AC and it allows us to run with a Honda 2200. It lowers the starting load from the AC and works great.Once running you can run microwave, refrig and other appliances. The Easy Start costs aroung $300 but is cheaper than a 2nd generator or a larger generator.
I went with two 2000 watt Champions with parallel kit in 2017. Mostly used just one for battery charging; maybe used both half-dozen times. It depended on where we were going. Wife could lift them, and they fit nicely under the truck cover.
Traded for a class C last summer with built in genny... so the beloved Champions are in storage waiting on a new home...
Any problems with those generators?
@@jshepard152 I sold them both. But no problems at all. Easy to service, VERY quiet, and always started easy. The two of them running in parallel were probably quieter than my current 4k Cummins Onan motorhome generator. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Champion generators.
@@nortonnewmann3711
Thanks much.
Sean, I bought a Champion 3600 last year after watching several of your generator comparison videos and we absolutely LOVE IT - NO REGRETS. We are weekend warriors and having this generator is great piece of mind. You and Christy keep up the great videos.
You didn't mention the Micro-Air EasyStart as an alternative to lugging around a heavy generator. I installed a Micro-Air in my AC unit, which allows me to use a 2,000 watt Champion dual-fuel inverter generator to power it. The generator is less than 50 lb and I only run it off propane. No messy gas cans or fumes to deal with. Love it!
They did mention you could climb up on the roof and do some wiring to the ac unit in order to be able to use a 2000 watt generator, but this video was not covering that.
actually we did mention that it was possible to add a soft start device that would allow you to use a smaller generator, we just didn't mention brand or specifics. We do talk about it a little more in our most recent video.
I bought the Champion remote start per your recommendation.The generator is completely reliable and the remote is the only way to go. Highly recommended.
Your videos are hands down, the best on the web. Thank you! Hope to see you on the road someday!
Wow, thank you! You are very kind. Positive feedback like yours helps to keep us going. It is all too rare on TH-cam. :D
I just purchased a 3500 dual fuel Champion. Great deal on them right now at Camping World. I did lots of research on generators before I made my decision and the one thing I kept coming back to with two smaller units paralleled together was there would be twice the noise level so the result would be way more than a single unit. I just hope I can get this thing into my truck; I have to buy a ramp to wheel it in the bed.
Just finished breaking in our new 4000W open frame hybrid Champion inverter generator for our 15K BTU AC when distanced from neighbors that fits under or tonneau cover. Our 2500W Westinghouse inverter generator (which is whisper quiet as we have borrowed one in the past), will be delivered this week for evening operations when AC is not needed, but fans are. So many trade offs! I thought weighing pros and cons of which trailer was bad. Selecting the best generator for our needs was almost worse!!!
Can't thank y'all enough! We bought our trailer less then 2 months ago and have been on 7 trips including a week long trip up to the Tetons and Yellowstone!
You guys have made it easy to learn the ins-and-outs of the trailer world. Still have a lot to learn but am excited to do so!
Yay! We're so glad to hear that you've found our videos helpful! We always joke that we make all the mistakes (and share what not to do!) so that others don't have to :)
I have the champion with the remote. It works perfectly every time. It’s great for boondocking to have the remote control beside my bed so I can start and stop it to get the air conditioner running.
Honestly Sean & Christy we’ve been through hell with some campers attitudes toward generators. At the end of the day we have the Honda 22 works very well & powers all we need when we remote camp. Thanks 🙏🏻
Oh wow! Yes, generators can be a controversial topic for some. I'm in favor of moderation for most things in life, including generators. Honda 2200 sounds reasonable to me. :)
I have a Champion Inverter 3400/3100W. I could not start my TT AC unit with the generator, in Normal or Economy. I installed a Microair soft start for the AC unit and all is good. And then there is the altitude issue. When you camp in the mountains, above 3500ft, Champion recommends changing the carburetor jet for a high-altitude operation or else it will run to rich and foul the plug. I camp anywhere from near sea level to 10,000 feet, so there's that. One last thing, the power rating is determined at Mean Sea Level. The generator will deliver less power, 3.5% less, for every 1000 feet in altitude. So for me, at 5000 ft. the generator will produce 2560Watts, and at 10,000 ft, 2015W. So buy accordingly for your camping style.
Had a friend recently with the same issue - we were able to get around by turning off the 12v inverter for the RV :) to get "just enough" power to run the AC (microair is next!)
I have a 3500 and going to do the microair just for the easier starts.
We ran into open frame generator guy just a few weeks ago. Horribly loud! Then, a few spaces down, was Honda generator guy. What a huge difference in noise output. I have been researching generators for a couple of years now and keep coming back to the Champion. Maybe by next Spring. We have gone so long without one that we are not sure that we even need one.
We own a Champion slightly larger than yours. It's a 4,000W starting 3,500W running. We love our remote start and it has an eco mode for most applications that is about as quiet as the smaller Honda and Yamahas.
Pre you wonderful reviews and advice we went with the 3400 duel fuel. Have not tried it on gas just propane. Runs our 1500 AC no issues and we keep it on Econo mode. We get from 8 to 10 hours from a 20lb tank. The biggest advantage I found is with propane you don’t have to worry about carburetors gumming up and draining gas when you store it. Had it over a year and it starts every time. And we purchased it from your store for a little over $900 including tax. Thank you for all you do to help us followers. You are very much appreciated.
Thank you so much for the kind words! And a super big THANK YOU for purchasing your generator through our store!!! We greatly appreciate it!
Just got the firman 3600 inverter generator with electric start and love it ! Has the hr meter and is 100 lbs
Thanks for the post(s). Gonna be going full time next year, maybe we'll run across each other. A note on securing your generator or anything else, from a "40 year hardware guy": use galvanized aircraft cable instead of chain! It is much lighter (like 95%), cannot be cut with bolt cutters and any decent hardware store can make you any custom length you need. If you secure with air craft cable a potential thief is gonna need a helper, hack saw and two pairs of pliers! If you insist on chain, use grade 8, a little bit more expensive, but again, can't be cut with bolt cutters.
That was a first class presentation. If I didn't know a thing about generators, I believe that would have been most helpful.
Champion makes open frame inverter generators now. Pretty solid and not too loud.
A few more things to think about. Since you dont often run the second it uses less fuel. If one of them fails, you still have power
Just bought the 3500 predator super quiet and will run our air conditioner. We live in a very humid area during the summer. Great info,thank you!
Going RVing (rented) for a month. Haven’t had a rig for over 10 years. I find your videos really helpful and informative. Will be in Yosemite next week - can’t wait. You really inspired us to make this trip and not wait. Thank you keep up the great content.
Again, this is such a timely presentation with complete informations, and most of all, experienced point of view! Thanks to you! We really went for a Champion, and are really happy, but we will have to install the ‘easy start thing” on the AC for it to start with the 2000 Inverter unit we purchased! Yes, you need to think about weight, but also your overall capacity (payload) in order to avoid buying a bigger truck! Thanks! Stay safe in your travels! Rémi (Quebec city)
I really had no need for a generator before. I did add a 5,000 btw a/c because I didn't want to limit my travel to just cool places or places with electricity. I just bought a Champion 2500 watt inverter generator. Running the a/c hardly fazes it. I do have a small electric heater, that does increase the idle speed, but not too much. So I think it will work fine for heating and cooling!
Propane is the best all around option. The fuel does not get old so there is only the oil to change for upkeep. Chances are in a power outage there will be propane available where gas may not be.
Propane gives less power and that together with power loss at altitude means that propane really isn't an option for some users.
Was going to buy a champion 3000w & harbor freight came out with there 3500w inverter & I got it for $650 . I thought I was taking a chance but after a few years it has been very good , its quiet starts my ac has electric start , it does not have remote start ( it would be nice on cold mornings) no fuel level ( no big deal) . Harbor freight does make some junk but this works really well for the money.
So many generators to choose from. We have a champion inverter generator wired up in a very interesting way ! Thanks for the great videos !!
Thomas and Melissa
Wired an AC inverter 4000 watt. For those times in the evening when we microwave popcorn and watch a movie. We went with the small 2000 watt Predator X2. Old back. And I alternate between the 2 as to spread the hours between them. We boondock almost every weekend in the summer in Montana.
Sounds great! Montana summers do not usually require A/C for comfort....but summer in the south does (unless you like camping in an oven). That's why we still carry a generator, even thought we now have a huge solar bank. Sometimes you just need to cool off! :)
The only problem with Champion is it uses a Kohler motor which is prone to head warp and failure.
One other important consideration is power reduction with altitude. Generally you will loose about 10% per 3000' altitude gain, so at 8000' in the Rockies you will loose nearly 30% of the rated generator output. This will take a 3000W Generator down to 2100W and 2x2000W Generators down to 2800W.
Certainly a great point. I will probably do an extra video talking about the effects of altitude on power output. Thanks!
Have had my dual Hondas I parallel for six years for my small trailer when needing to run the A/C and have not let me down yet. They weigh 50 lbs each and usually run one, unless hot, if so run them both.
Been Following you guys for year(s), You were my first RV Channel I binge watched when I got into RVing.
If you have a 15K BTU AC unit the Predator 3500 is the only quiet one that'll run it on a hot day. Honda eu3000i won't cut it.
Dive Bar Casanova how do you like the Predator? I’ve been watching to see when they put that on sale.
+1 for the Predator 3500! Just picked one up for 689. Worth every penny! Powers AC and everything else without breaking a sweat.
Just got out of RVING, loved the champion duel generator, but like you said, 4 years , maybe 5 times.
GENMAX GM3300i 3300 Watt Gasoline Inverter is what we use and love it. 48#
Hopefully Coleman will start making with AC with soft start already installed. I use Honda 2200 which has always run on propane; gas (even non-ethanol) here is only good in cars.
Always enjoy your informative videos.
We travel in a 40ft diesel pulling a 28 ft. Enclosed car hauler, but you two offer great advice for all rv enthusiasts all over.
Love your channel
thanks so much!
Great videos, guys. I'm just thankful I've been living without A/C and a microwave for over a decade so I don't feel the need for a fuel generator. I can make do with my solar generators that have smaller inverters and are very quiet.
If you don't ever need A/C a solar charger will be just fine for you!
Thank you for your information. Very much. I ended up getting a Honda EU3000. Very happy with it. Stay safe and sound. 🏴☠️
Great choice 👍
If you use a Diesel or gas to a lesser extent buy a couple of fuel filters they are cheap
I agree. The open frame generators are the worst. We've been really happy with our Predator 3500 Inverter generator from Harbor Freight Tools. Super quiet too.
Until I add the soft starts, and am still not sure I will, I've been able to avoid the high starting amperage draw by just turning on the A/C fan, let that stabilize then start the compressor with one Honda 2200i genset. We have aa Airstream International Serenity 30QRB. I can parallel two Honda 2200i gensets to operate most everything through a little load management. Current draw with both the 13.5K BTU and 15K BTU A/Cs online is around 3670 watts when observed on shore power. I have a short pigtail with the outer insulation removed so I can use a clamp on ammeter to gauge the generator load on the 30 amp generator receptacle. We have a bluetooth enabled surge protector when on shore power that shows draw on both legs of our 50 amp connection. Yes...a little OCD about load sharing....but not as freakishly OCD I am about the black water tank! Thanks again for your informative videos!
You may want to get a soft start for your AC. You can start it with a 2000k Gen set.
someone wasn't paying attention in class! ;) We actually talk about this in the video :)
@@kristymichael I knew you would say that..lol I made that comment near the beginning of your video...And when you all said it, I said opps...Stay safe and keep these vids comng.
I would add that 2 generators are both louder and use more fuel than 1 larger generator. If you can lift a large one, I'd say it's the better choice. As for the fuel consumption argument using just one 2000 watt vs a 3000+ watt, I think that in economy mode, the fuel is probably negligible.
I chose the Champion 3400 watt, but in hind site, I wish had gotten the duel fuel. I don't use mine very often, so I'm having to pour gas from my 5 gallon jug into my truck to keep "fresh" gas in that tank for the generator.
Just to "agree strongly" with the warning on open cage or construction style generators..., they are NOT safe for ANY electronics including the control boards for your RV refrigerator, water heater, air conditioner..., on up to microwaves, computers, tv's.
E trailers has there own line of generate that is very well reviewed and the parallel kit is simply 2 cables bc the generator already had the rv plug built on to panel... if I recall correctly they are 400 each for a 2000watt class
Another option many seem to miss is the Westinghouse brand. Not sure who makes it for them but they make a 2500 model that generates more power than the new Honda 2200 series and is less expensive. It's lighter than the 3000 watt models and has enough power to run A/C units. Definitely worth a look.
I have a Westinghouse 4500 inverter generator toy hauler trailer 15000 ac it will power every thing
Check with some of the rural farm type stores. Got our 3400 over two years ago and it was over a hundred cheaper. Always dependable while I look for a battery still pull starts esy😛 different subject but we just got a portable ice maker and love it, nice having clean edible ice.
Thanks for your videos!
You may want to mention that with propane on the dual fuel champion, you get less power because if the BTU of propane..
Still have my 3100 because your videos. Love it
Go ahead and shoot me, but this year I got the Harbor Freight 3500W generator. Okay, it's a Chinese product, but it is essentially stolen plans from Honda. It has a wet weight of 110 lbs. and is (according to several video reviews) a couple of db quieter. I did the break-in by plugging in our 30amp RV cable and ran the AC, fridge, TV and a hot plate at the same time. Plenty of power and smooth running 212cc engine. I would consider turning off the AC if I needed the microwave. I just couldn't pass up the $599 special over the Christmas holidays. It has a 2-1/2 gal tank for 10-11 hours. With an additional gas can, I can boondock comfy for a couple of days at a time. Also, I am now waiting on a 500W Jackery, for keeping the fridge going or other emergencies, and I can charge it up via the vehicle or shore power when we find it. Thanks for the review. Hoping to be back on the road when this COVID-19 mess clears up.
Fortunately for me, the RV I'm looking at comes with a built-in generator. But thanks for the information anyway. Keep the good stuff coming.
I went with the Champion brand dual fuel 3400 after watching your earlier in depth review of it. Thank you and happy travels!
I looked at the champions for a long time. They are great units. I do tent camping and not just rv camping so I went with two ryobi 1800 running 2300 starting with Bluetooth. I also installed a micro air easy start and can run my 13500 but a/c on just 1 if needed. My wife can’t lift a 3000 watt generator by herself. So two small ones it came to be. Plus I don’t need 3000 what’s for tent camping. Just need some power for electronics and tent heater ( we like to tent camp in winter also). I have not run into any issues yet with my ryobi’s. But I can say they are cheaply made. If I had to go with a 3000 class on the cheap I would go with a predator from harbor freight. I’ve seen them in action and boy they are quite and seem to be pretty well built. Well that’s my setup and 2 cents
I roll the 3500 predator from harbor freight. It’s basically a Honda clone, extremely quiet and 1/3 the price. I added the protection plan and will switch it out for a brand new gen in 19 months.
I bought that champion dual fuel a couple years ago. Had it 4 months and the carburetor went out and had to be replaced. It had a 1year warranty so I figured no problem. problem. Come to find ou
Come to find out the carburetor on my new champion wasn’t covered under warranty. Oh well. I had it replaced and no problems since. Lesson learned if you use it with gasoline one time you’ll have to run it once a month to make sure condensation is cleared out of the carburetor. The other option is to use it with propane only. The only problem with that is propane doesn’t generate as much power as gasoline. Overall that champion is the best deal and best generator on the market.
I have a Yamaha 2800w open frame generator, but it is fairly quite because it is an inverter. At that time I wanted duel fuel and that was the best way to go (American Carburetor conversion, I can run it off the trailer bbq port). It isn't much louder than the A/C and is pretty quite on economode when just charging batteries. At that time Champion wasn't a thing. Anyway good video and thanks for ragging on the folks that bring a construction generator. I hate those. My generator isn't as quiet as a suitcase version but you can hardly hear it from 25 feet away it isn't a lawn mower engine strapped to a simple generator that must maintain a certain RPM to get 60 hz. But if I were making the purchasing decision today, I would get the duel fuel Champion.
Wish I had this information before we bought our two Honda. We've only needed to connect them together once, for the A.C. We've used one when camping in RMNP in Colorado.
Question for everyone with RVs. We will be retiring in 2021. We have a 38 foot class A. Monaco. I have a lot of knicknacks. Along with everything else. Coffee machine , toasted oven, toaster, s &p shakers , China display, plants, flowers in vases, place mats, computer, tablets, dish rack etc..... In the past we would go to a park. Unpack then repack and go home. Now we are going to be living in the RV. I need tips about packing and travel. I just can't see us unpacking 80items all over our home. Then a week later, pack it all up move to another state. The thought of constantly packing and unpacking is driving me nuts ! Help ! 🌹
The Predator 3500 is another good option for a budget unit.
Hi Sean and Kristy. Great topic and very timely as we have finally put our new RV on the road after a long Canadian winter and delayed opening of our campgrounds here in Ontario because of the pandemic. I like the duel fuel capability option because it's always good to have options when your out there with moose and bears as neighbours. I was wondering if you guys have ever looked at the Firman brand of generators? I believe their US built? (Not sure). From what I read they seem pretty reliable as is their customer support. I haven't bought one (yet) , but Costco here is putting the duel fuel on sale in a couple of days and I'm seriously contemplating pulling the trigger on one. Thank you for any thoughts shared. Safe travels! Cheers!
I can't believe that they still sell RV A/C units without a capacitor boost starter, combined with a staggered starting relay that would start the compressor only first.
Or even the better (more expensive) option of soft-starting them.
PS: My home heat pump (Trane) had an option for start boost capacitor (called a "Hard Start Kit"), but of course it came without it, so I added it after that. Why is that even acceptable to sell AC compressors without that... I don't know.
Description: "Start capacitor and relay to assist compressor motor startup. Use in areas with marginal power supply, on long linesets, low ambient conditions, etc.". Marginal power supply. That's exactly the RV conditions!
You guys rock, we just bought our 1st camper and am learning a lot from your videos. Thanks
Thanks for the video some good information there. Currently I have a camper with a built-in generator 2500 Watt. But if I ever change rigs & I need a generator the champion looks like a good one to get.
I have several generators....an Onan 6500 in our ‘83 Airstream 310 Motorhome. The 6500 is powered by propane and has worked fine. In our newer ‘04 Airstream 396XL motorhome which we call “Gigantor”, we have an Onan 8000 diesel generator which is really quiet. That Onan can power both a/c units and then some. When we had our ‘98 Airstream Classic trailer, I bought 2 Honda 2000 generators and the cabling to hook them together to operate the a/c unit. Now this was before those “soft start” kits for the roof a/c. I have also used my Honda generators for many other things too. Like you stated....once you have a generator, you can’t go back. Why did WE go with two Honda? Weight.......I could load and unload the Honda 2000 easily by myself. I would have struggled with the Honda 3500........Russell D.
Wen now has a new one out that is dual fuel that runs on propane and then when the propane runs out, it automatically switches to gas for longer run times! I thought that was pretty cool. It's the wen 4000 inverter generator. Might not fit under your cover though ;)
On the 2000 watt class, they almost all use 79cc Yamaha or Yamaha clone engines. The Honda 2000 uses a 100cc engine, and the new Honda 2200 uses a 120cc engine. I would like to see a real world comparison, between the 79cc units, and the 100cc and 120cc Honda units... if anyone has the expertise and ability. Especially fuel consumption, as common sense tells us a Honda engine with 50% more displacement should use a lot more fuel than a 79cc engine, but I believe Honda really runs these engines very lean so that they are still very fuel efficient. Also the larger Honda engines probably have more ability to handle larger start up loads....
Thanks for being honest by naming names!
i have a honda 2200is gen and it run my 13500 btu air cond. no problem but i have to have all app on gas to do so. which is fine, i also run the gen on eco mode.
Great video guys! We are not generator newbies but certainly not experts either :) We went through the options analysis about a year ago - one larger generator or two smaller ones...? Hmmm... We’ll we decided on the two smaller ones and went with Honda inverter ones to prevent enemies at the campground lol. I love your review of the Champion brand! Looks like a solid contender if/when our Honda dies... Keep the great videos coming!