THIS ONE? OR THAT ONE?

[TGPILOT]

Okay, I have an older Honda 3000C with inverter, I've had it since about 2006 and I bought it used then. Except for firing it up now and then to make sure it would still run, I've never used it.

Now that I have another RV, I dug it out to use on my 5th Wheel. It run's the A/C, except today when we really needed it here in MT in the Glacier NP, it acted up some. It would run fine a few minutes, then cut back and drop off, then pick up again. Before I had to shut it down for the night it acted better but not happy.

The other day at Camping World they had the NEW Honda 3000 with inverter on sale for $2,200. I was tempted then, but since then I was wondering if the new one would work better being at least 15 years newer? I know a lot of guys are buying two 2K's and putting them together. I really don't want to go to that much trouble. I've looked at the Yamaha also, and even considered the Champion 3500/4000.

Yes, I know the Honda and the Yamaha are two of the quietest out there. How does the Champion stack up against them?

If I did replace the old Honda, what would you guys recommend. If the Honda or the Yamaha, which of them and should I stay with a 3000? Should the fifteen year newer Honda out preform my old one of the same size 3000?

Thanks for your input.

Tom

[jffnkrn]

I am not sure of the build, I have an electric start, remote, base of course and there is red paint on it with a HONDA decal. maybe that makes it weigh more. they have a lot of copper wire and such inside. the one I have is an inverter series so it has the engine, inverter and a 12 volt charge system in addition to the parallel kit option. probably makes it weigh more ???????I like it though.Jeff

[justafordguy]

I have a Chinese (can't remember the name) 3000 watt inverter generator with electric start and it only weighs 75 lbs with fuel. I guess the Honda must be built heavier so it will last longer?

[jffnkrn]

my EU3000IS weighs if I remember, right at 130 lbs add 3 1/2 gallons of gas at 6. 5 lbs and that gets me to about 150 lbs. I replaced the hitch on the back of my trailer and made my own rack and includes the spare tire for ease of operation, access etc. I have made a total of 6 racks for generators for me and family. little expense and no loading or unloading of the unit. Good Luck & Be Safe.

[TGPILOT]

The Honda 3000IS is electric start for one thing and I just put in a bit more than three gal. of gas at about 6 lbs. per gal, or is it eight, can't remember right now. The 3000I is not electric and I believe only weighs about 84 lbs.

I wanted the quietest one, so that was the IS version. Besides, the I version with out electric start was about three hundred more.

[justafordguy]

I wonder why the 3000 Honda is so heavy?

[2oldman]

Wow.. a couple of those in parallel would outpace 50a service! Huge picture, huge.

[TGPILOT]

thanks guys, the seven thousand is really what every RVer should have but cost and size prohibit it. I just hope the new 3k will do the job. It should have at least 20% more power than my old 3k.

[robert_at_honda]

ChopperBill wrote:

Surprisingly they haven't done fuel injection.

au contraire...last year, Honda introduced the EU7000is, an inverter-style generator with electronic fuel-injection.



Honda EU7000is Fuel-Injected Portable Generator

I'll fearlessly predict the technology will find its way onto smaller, more RV-appropriate sizes sooner rather than later.

While it is electric start, it can be pull-started.
The fuel pump delivers over 43 psi of unleaded directly to the injector, so pretty sure any gunk, slime, etc. are not going to get in the way 🙂

- - -
I work for Honda, but the preceding is my opinion alone.
Robert@Honda

[2oldman]

I'm sure you'll be very pleased with the 3000. Great choice! We thank you.

[TGPILOT]

Jiffnkrn, there was a time I could lift more than two hundred pounds. This thing weighs as you know around 148 lbs dry. So, I need all the help I can get. I lost the use of an arm in Viet Nam and now pushing 70 I can't do it anymore. My old open frame Honda 3000C weighs about 85 lbs, dry and it takes all I have to lift it in and out of the RV front bay.

I've only started this new one twice to show it off, next week will be the real test. After much research and thought I decided to pay the extra and get the Honda 300IS over the cheaper Champion of equal size. I really needed the quietest unit out there, and that was it. You are right, it seems like a nice unit especially with the electric start.

They told me the remote was more problems than it was worth and could run your battery down if not watched, so I didn't get it.

[CC-skipjack]

Nice job on the chart Dakota98!

[jffnkrn]

I think you made a good choice. I am not sure of the wheel kit, but never the less, I enjoy mine. I have a cord to the generator and run in into a gen switch over switch. This way I just hit the remote and away I go. Spoiled yes, but what the heck, better than not have our toys. Good Luck & Be Safe ! ! !

[TGPILOT]

Okay guys, today I bit the bullet and drove the three hours to Great Falls, MT and went to the North Forty store ( That is some candy store, stuff for everyone). There I bought the Honda 3000IS and had the wheel kit put on it and bought a cover for it. Hopefully, it will fit in the back of my truck with a large tool box and the fifth wheel. Will be trying it out in about a week when I go onto Yellowstone and the Teton's. Will let you know what I think then. Thanks for all your help guys.

[TGPILOT]

Thanks guys, I just left Apgar village camp ground in Glacier NP. There they had a two hour run time every two hours until 7:00 p.m. I went over because I was still on Pacific time and someone complained about my gen. So, I need a QUITE one....lol. I would love the Champion, but I am thinking it may be a bit two noisy.

I really need to get this one in the shop and gone through. It hardly runs the microwave with nothing else on. I will run the a/c and a couple of fans, but, it's a struggle for it. That is why I am thinking a newer one will not only be quieter, but also have a bit more power than my old one. I will get it fixed and keep it as a backup though.

[colliehauler]

ChopperBill wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
If your Honda has so little use I would just repair and use it. I don't know if they have changed that much in 15 years. If and when they go to fuel injection I would purchase a new one.

Surprisingly they haven't done fuel injection. I bought a new Suzuki 20 hp out board motor with fuel injection and its manual start no battery. Starts and idles instantly, no chokes, most always first pull. No jet changing between 9000' CO and 300' AZ.
Oh, two cylinder and only weighs about 95#.

I think it's just a matter of time before emission standards dictate fuel injection. I bought a small moped for the campground and it's fuel injected.