What generator to buy.

No generator is good for watching TV. That's best done with batteries and an inverter.

Have a Honda now but if I had it to do over, I would get one of the new 3500 watt inverter type Champions with electric start. Champion has proven itself.

George3037 wrote:
I have the HF 3500W and a Champion 4750W dual fuel to choose from. I've used them both on my TT on 90 plus degree days to run my 13,500 AC, microwave, fridge, and TV. Both are electric or pull start and either one will power the camper. The HF unit is very quiet running around 52db @25' and the Champion is louder running 67db at 25' which is not a campground friendly noise level.

I probably wasted money buying the extended warranty on each but both combined were still less than a Honda 3500W.

The HF comes with a 30A trailer direct plug-in and the Champ came with an adapter from twist lock to TT plug.

I had and sold a Yamaha that ran flawlessly for a decade but I was getting concerned about the electronics end. Sold it and for what I received from it, bought a new Champion. That was 4 years ago and it's not even hiccupped once. I'm happy. Mine is the fully enclosed unit and mine is very quiet.

I forgot about the electric start thing but starting has never been an issue and I'm almost 70.

All the manual start ones have ACR (automatic Compression Release) and digital ignition so starting is always a snap with me at least.

ACR, which Kohler Engine Company developed in the 50's has to be the most copied feature on small engines. Everyone uses it.

I have the HF 3500W and a Champion 4750W dual fuel to choose from. I've used them both on my TT on 90 plus degree days to run my 13,500 AC, microwave, fridge, and TV. Both are electric or pull start and either one will power the camper. The HF unit is very quiet running around 52db @25' and the Champion is louder running 67db at 25' which is not a campground friendly noise level.

I probably wasted money buying the extended warranty on each but both combined were still less than a Honda 3500W.

The HF comes with a 30A trailer direct plug-in and the Champ came with an adapter from twist lock to TT plug.

Easiest way to narrow that field boils down to ,,,
Do you want electric start, or pull start?
Honda and Yammy build the best units, and the most expensive, but they are all manual/pull start until you get into the $2000 price range.
Champion and a few others build units in the 3000 to 4500 watt range that are either electric start or remote start, at about half the cost of the premium brands.
In any case you will need to look for a unit rated for at least 2800 and likely 3000 watts for reliable AC coverage, especially if you are going into higher elevations.

Dennis12 wrote:
Make sure you get your 30 day warranty if you purchase a Harbor Freight 3500 peak, and hopefully your not planning to use it for 31 days. They are junk.

Oh boy, here we go again with yet another generator bashing thread.

To the OP, buy what you can afford but buy the most wattage you can afford in an Inverter Generator.

if you want a Honda, buy one. If you want a Harbor Freight, buy one of those or if you want a Champion (like I have) buy one of those.

They are all good. Some fail, most don't It's a piece of machinery and it's complex. A Honda has the same chance of failing as say a Champion or a Harbor Freight. Pick one (by wattage) and be happy.

I find generator bashing threads to be: 1, tedious and 2, to show just how ignorant the basher is.

Make sure you get your 30 day warranty if you purchase a Harbor Freight 3500 peak, and hopefully your not planning to use it for 31 days. They are junk.

This would be a good choice. Fairly quiet at 57 decibels
Harbor Freight 3500 peak