Generator purchase - Champion 4000?

[Happytrails]

Hi all,

First of all this forum has been immensly helpful with finding information to assist us with the purchase of our TT (on order). So thank you to everyone who participates!

My husband and I are now researching generators. We almost had a heart attack a few nights ago, when looking at the prices for the much respected Hondas and Yamahas. We are purchasing this TT so that we can vacation affordably with our 5 year old. The investment is already maxing our budget, and we really had no idea about generator costs before this. We cannot afford the Honda or Yamaha. After several hours at the computer, I ran across the Champion 4000. It seems to be well reviewed across all consumer reviews I have seen. It's sub $400, readily available and 10db louder than the Honda/Yamaha versions. Now I don't know what 10 db means in progression of volume increase. And I am not sure if it justifies the increase in price for the other brands. I grew up in the rural coastal mountains of California. We often lost power and the generator we had, you couldn't hear each other in the house over that sucker. It was LOUD. So went the generator my grandfather had in his Class C. The sound almost rocked the RV. I can see generators have come a looooong way, now purring instead of roaring.

From what I have seen there are a lot of full timers and others who really feel it's important to keep the sound down. I agree!! I just have nothing to compare sound to, and I am not sure if the Champion will be a nuisance to my neighbors. Enough to avoid the unit.

Thanks to all. Sorry for being wordy, my husband is at work and my coffee is kicking in.

-Mary

[svamarlins]

Hi there
We purchased the powerhouse gen from our dealer with our trailer and we love it. Not too loud and comes with a remote start.
We orig ordered the 2700 which is 2600 watts but they messed up the order and gave us the 3500 instead.
What's nice about the 2700 model is you can tether them together like the Honda and it's more wattage and about 900.

Both models have remote start

[caper]

The champion will be like the one you had in California. You get what you pay for. If you purchase a $400 genny you get a $400 genny if you pay for a Honda you get a Honda. If you do not plan on boondocking you will not need a genny.

[Happytrails]

We will be doing some boondocking. So 60 db for the honda vs 68 for the champion is enough of a breaking point?

[t.simpson]

We just bought the Champion 3500. I did some research and found quite a bit of positive feedback on several websites from many different users. The camper related discussion boards praised it the most.

Cabela's has them on sale right now, in their bargain cave. With the sale price and an online coupon, I paid under $300 delivered and it was at my door in three days. I put gas and oil in it last Saturday and gave it a half hearted pull just to turn the motor over and it started right up. I found it much quieter than a typical lawn mower. If I need it to be quieter, I will build a box for it with forced air for cooling.

I don't work for Cabelas or Champion, matter of fact I had never heard of Champion before I saw them on sale. I did find that they are sold in many big box places like Lowes and Tractor Supply.

[SaskCampers]

Just a point of reference. Every 3db douples the sound level. My EU3000is Honda runs from 48 to 58 db depending on load and speed. Also gets up to 20hrs on a tank of fuel which we have done more than once. We keep it chained in the box of our truck and you can barely hear it running and can easily carry on a conversation beside it. At one camp site we stayed at last summer a few people had other gennies that you could hear very loud 1000' away. You do get what you pay for.

[Happytrails]

My in-laws have offered to help purchase a generator, I will continue to research and maybe find a used Honda. I do hear what you are all saying.

[VTX Al]

You need to seriously consider obtaining a generator/inverter. Several of your on-board items, like Microwaves, Modern TV's etc, do not like the raw power provided by the cheap, non-inverter generators. Also if you want to plug your lap-top or other computer type devices into your trailer power, they will require the smooth power of the generator/inverter. Don't ask me how I know this LOL.

When we were researching a replacement for our el cheapo non-inverter generator (also had severe budget restrictions) we eventually settled on the Boliy Pro3600SIE. You can find info by googling it.

...VTX-AL

[trailraider]

Champion are cheap grade gennys. The have several issues with voltage spikes( as noted earlier for electronics). They also don't run worth a crap at higher altitudes.

[photog]

Last year we purchased a Champion 2000 Watt Inverter Gen. (Was on sale at Costco) So far so good, it runs well (even at 7000 feet) and is reasonable quiet. All we use it for is to charge the trailer battery as well as the camera and laptop batteries. It will run small kitchen appliances but of course not the A/C.

So, it all depends on what you want it to do.

[brianjames]

Boliy inverter generators are nearly half the cost of a hondas, more wattage, lighter, and have very good reviews:
Boliy Generator Magna Generators RV Power Source

[Granted]

We have a Kipor, runs quite , is an inverter gen and much cheaper that the 2 honda's or yamaha ? spelling?

[bikendan]

It comes down to whether you want quietness or inexpensive. You can't have both. 10 decibels doesn't sound like much, but it is . The champion gives a lot of bang for the buck and has great customer service.
But it's way louder than a more expensive inverter generator.
It also weighs over 100 lbs.
If you aren't in a campground, then the champion will be fine.
If you plan on dry camping in a campground, then you will not be liked by your neighbors.

[brentnrobin]

I have a DuroPower DP2000S 2000W Generator. It's quiet, lightweight, and low priced. DuroPower® - DP2000S 2000W Silent Camping Generators w Free Shipping!

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by TheSasks

Just a point of reference. Every 3db douples the sound level.

Yep! Most people don't understand that and think the different between 50DB and 60DB is small; WRONG! The scale is logrithmic not linear. Get the Champion if you must but your camping neighbors are NOT going to be happy with you. People go camping for nature; not to hear noisy generators. Sorry that is so strongly worded but I think it has to be. Respect your camping neighbors.

[jimh]

3db equal double power or the min change u can hear. 10db equal 10 x. I'm thinking 13db equal 20x. 20db equal 100x.

[Mark_1125]

I own a Champion 3500W Generator to power my camper trailer and am very happy with it. I am amazed that it is not that loud. I've received no complaint from my neighbors.

Really, I do not run the generator continuonusly. I only run to recharge the battery and to use the microwave for about 30 min to 1 hr at a time.

I bought mine at the Tractor Suppy Store for only $279 last spring.


The Champion Power Equipment® 3500 W Portable Gasoline Generator provides dependable power where and when you need it.

• 6.5 HP* / 196 cc Champion™ OHV engine (*as rated by the engine manufacturer)
• Integrated Control Panel - 120 V / 240 V Twist lock, 120 V RV Receptacle, Single 120 V Receptacle & Push-to-Reset Circuit Breakers
• 3500 running watts / 4000 peak watts
• Low oil shut-off, overload protection and circuit breakers for safe operation
• Includes volt meter
• 1-year residential / 3-month commercial warranty

Whether you are looking to protect your family and possessions during a power outage, run a few tools or venture into the great outdoors, there's no better feeling than taking control of your power needs with a Champion™ generator. Portable generators are an affordable way to have power when you need it most. While being easy to start and use, they offer a premium combination of power, performance and value.

[flyinguy68]

Originally Posted by svamarlins

Hi there
We purchased the powerhouse gen from our dealer with our trailer and we love it. Not too loud and comes with a remote start.
We orig ordered the 2700 which is 2600 watts but they messed up the order and gave us the 3500 instead.
What's nice about the 2700 model is you can tether them together like the Honda and it's more wattage and about 900.

Both models have remote start

X2.....I went with the "Powerhouse" Inverter generator as well except I got the 2100's x2 to run in parallel just like the Honda 2000w. I've used 1 and found the noise level very acceptable. as far as the remote start, couldn't get mine to work, but then again from what I've read- you aren't doing the gen any favors by starting them with loads on them anyway. So that kind of makes the remote start pointless imho.
Also if someone will correct me if I'm wrong - a 13.5 AC needs a min of 2800w all by itself to start, which is why most people grab the 3000's or as I did get two 2000's to run together.
BTW I got the Powerhouse 2100 for $649 online, no tax free shipping and they have a 2 year warranty.
Hope that helps, good luck!

[sherdep]

Originally Posted by brentnrobin

I have a DuroPower DP2000S 2000W Generator. It's quiet, lightweight, and low priced. DuroPower® - DP2000S 2000W Silent Camping Generators w Free Shipping!

thats pretty cheap at $299 shipped - the 2000 watt only does 13amps though

[caleb]

The Champions are great gennies. The ones that will say otherwise are the ones that got suckered in to spending the money on a Honda or Yamaha I'm not discounting the quality of the Hondas or Yamaha, but to think you have to have one of them to have a quiet/reliable generator is incorrect.

Here's a chart that gives some good examples for different sound levels. While the Champion 4000, at 68dB, is louder than the Honda, 68dB is far from loud. A normal conversation is between 60-70dB. Bang for the buck, it's tough to beat the Champions.