non-Honda generators

nayther wrote:
As we all know Honda and Yamaha are very proud of their generators and they are very good products. However for as often as most of us use them for camping only I've been looking for alternatives, anyone had personal experience with this one:

Champion

Nice because it has wireless remote start and states 58db and sine wave technology.

Though I bought a Honda about 11 years ago, Champion has a very good reputation and a big following. They seem to have good customer support too. I would not hesitate to buy one.

2oldman wrote:

4X4Dodger wrote:
and Honda has cynically decided that RV'ers will pay whatever they ask just to have that name.

Oh, it's a little more than just that name.

Agree, 2oldman, it's more than just the name. The Hondas do offer better overall performance than nearly all of their competitors.

But, 4x4Dodger still has a point. Is it worth spending 2 to 3 times more for this difference in performance? For some, yes. For others, no.

The EU2000i and EU3000iS have been in production close to 10 years with very little change. Honda long ago recouped their initial R&D costs. At this point and time, odds are high that Honda's per unit production costs are probably as low as some of their MIC competitors that offer less performance. Bottom line, Honda is charging what the market will bear . . . and making an absolute killing in the process.

Hey, that's capitalism at its best. Good for Honda and their stockholders.

I believe the frustration that 4x4Dodger expressed is based on why a hungry, industrious company somewhere hasn't seen fit to make a more serious effort to grab some of this windfall profit from Honda during the last 10 years. The Dream Machine(s): As quiet or quieter than the EU3000iS, with proportionally the same or higher inrush current capability as the EU2000i.

We'd ALL benefit if Honda had more serious competition.

4X4Dodger wrote:
and Honda has cynically decided that RV'ers will pay whatever they ask just to have that name.

Oh, it's a little more than just that name.

The main problem with Honda is that it is so incredibly overpriced.

I believe in the concept of You Get What You Pay For, but when I can buy any two of the other generators for the price of one Honda the equation changes.

Where I lived in Asia you could buy these small Hondas for about the price of a lower end Champion here. These prices are set for the intended market and Honda has cynically decided that RV'ers will pay whatever they ask just to have that name.

I just wont play that game. I have a new Champion Dual Fuel 76533 which is 4750 Starting Watts with gas and 4275 SW on Propane. I have run it only on propane so far and it has worked perfectly. It will run my aircon and anything else I have on at the same time. However I never use the microwave (it is used for storage) When the aircon starts there is no audible difference in the generators load. I am very happy with it.

otrfun wrote:

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
You might want to GOOGLE

Champion generator (model) REVIEWS plus check Amazon. A twitch of common sense can separate the real from the absurd comments.

Just reread this short thread. I certainly didn't see any "absurd comments". It might be more helpful and productive to some if you addressed the specific absurdity you speak of with a direct, convincing rebuttal.

x2 hear hear! I tire of the obtuse, the cynical and the hyperbole.

Thanks for the move on this thread, got more responses here than in Toy Haulers. I think I'll pull the trigger on one.

Strabo wrote:

Mobile sport wrote:
Costco sells name brand "Smarter tools" 2000 watt and 1000 watt gensets , I believe there powered by Yamaha engines.
When I buy generators I choose whichever is quieter.
I want a Honda or Yamaha 1000 but the 2000 models are quieter.
A 1000 would take up almost no space and you could just run a fuel line to the vehicle tank

I've seen them too are they quiet?

Very quiet
Also Honeywell 2000i inverter generator very quiet but heavier and harder to start

Mobile sport wrote:
Costco sells name brand "Smarter tools" 2000 watt and 1000 watt gensets , I believe there powered by Yamaha engines.
When I buy generators I choose whichever is quieter.
I want a Honda or Yamaha 1000 but the 2000 models are quieter.
A 1000 would take up almost no space and you could just run a fuel line to the vehicle tank

I've seen them too are they quiet?

Costco sells name brand "Smarter tools" 2000 watt and 1000 watt gensets , I believe there powered by Yamaha engines.
When I buy generators I choose whichever is quieter.
I want a Honda or Yamaha 1000 but the 2000 models are quieter.
A 1000 would take up almost no space and you could just run a fuel line to the vehicle tank

nayther wrote:
I've read a few reviews from RV users and they all say it will run their A/C no problem, won't run A/C and microwave together but neither will my 5500 ONAN as the entire coach runs off a single 30 amp breaker, so 30 amps is the key I guess except I have no problem when hooked up.

Huuuuh?? I must be not understanding something in this statememt.

The Onan 4000 in our Class C will run the microwave and the A/C at the same time - no problem. Our Class C is a 30 amp RV and the Onan 4000 installed in it will run everything in it that 30 amp hookups will run. That's why the Onan 4000 33.3 amp generator was installed in it by Winnebago.