What generator to buy

[Dennis878]

I purchased the Champion portable inverter generator with remote start, 3400 staring watts and 3100 running. Model 100261. Love the remote start. Cost last year from Walmart $800.00. Does everything I need it to do and pretty quite. Has an RV ready outlet. Downside heavy about 100 pounds. It’s a bear lifting into my truck.

[sherman12]

Taking a look a the Onan and the Westinghouse, to me they look exactly the same except for the name, and the Onan costing more I would guess because of the name.

Although I have a motorhome with an onboard Cummins/Onan, I like to read these generator threads just to have a little knowledge to maybe pass along if asked.

A camping buddy has the 2000 watt Honda, and yeah it's a nice little unit, but at $1000+. We were boondocking one time and he let a girl camping in a tent next him plug in her hairdryer into the Honda. I thought my buddy was going to crap his pants when he heard his little Honda screaming for help, and, it wasn't so quiet with that load on it either! Another of our friends went with two 2000 watt Champions, using only one to essentially run the lights in his 32 ft. 5'er.

I would go with either a Champion or Predator 3500/4500 offering far more power, comparable noise level, and keep $300-$350 in my wallet, or $1300-$1350 if comparing to two 2000 watt Honda's.

[Doppleganger]

Bought a Firman 2900/3200. It's not too bad getting it in the back of the Jeep, can lift it myself. It had some shipping damage, funnel, battery charger cables & the recoil unit. Firman sent me replacement parts, and I installed myself. Had to drain the bowl on the carb to get it to start, though. It was $550 at Costco. Pretty quiet, louder than my dad's 1800/2300 watt Pulsar, but, that's to be expected. We'll see how it works down the road, but it has the 30A RV plug, plus a voltage/frequency/hour meter on the side of it.

[14apex]

We've been attending two major aviation events for almost 40 years that host thousands of campers...all sizes. Many have generators. In the early years we saw only 2-cycle gens and a few "contractor" units -- then, Honda 2000i's & 3000i's began to make the scene. Great quality, long lasting equipment! (We've had a bullet proof 2000 for 14+ years.) Several other well known brand named inverters have appeared since, most China Mfg'd., no doubt. That said (and, this is not a scientific study), we've seen an overwhelming number of Predator 3500's seemingly "replacing" virtually every other generator as we walk among the many campers. They seem as quiet (or, quieter?) than their Honda counterparts. Who knows if they'll last...but price & a growing reputation sure makes them seem worth a shot, 'though I notice that HF's prices are trending up, too. Opinions and experience with generators are many and varied, all valid and based on individual use, no doubt. If money and weight are not an issue, and if "around" 3000 watts will fit the mission, the Honda still seems a no-brainer. 2-Honda 2000's may work if weight is an issue and "double maintenance" isn't? Higher output Honda units may be even better IF weight/space/cost is no challenge. In any event, and as indicated already, it's vital to use fuel stabilizer and if at all possible, to NEVER put anything but ethanol free fuel in ANY "small" engine. Finally, we've just started using our new etrailer ("Firman") 3200 w/remote start/stop...so far, so good all 'round, but the jury is still out and their prices are skyrocketing, too. Some practical research, an informed purchase of what "fits best" & enjoying "full electric" is a realistic goal. YMMV.

[kjlars]

I purchased an I-Power with the Senci engine on Amazon for under $400. The engine is a copy of the Yamaha found in the I-Power that Costco and Amazon sells for $500. The advantages we liked was that it is 1600 watts running with 2000 watt surge, has a 30 amp plug build in, is quiet and easy to start. We were even able to run the TT A/C off it. We have used it to power our TT and home when the power goes out. Very thrifty on gas, ran nearly 8 hours on one tank full. Highly recommend this inverter generator vs the Honda's and pricier generators.

[Nightfighter]

Don't know how many AC units you have but consider getting the Soft-Start electronics put in them. During this past hurricane, the wife and I used our camper (32ft Coachmen Freedom Express) as our hotel till power came back on. I can power both AC units and our big screen tv with one Predator 3500. I phase two Predators together and plug in the 50 amp cord directly to the phaser. Both inverters running together are quieter than one 3500 open frame generator.