Best generator

[Bfrnk]

I'm new at rving but I've researched every site about best or quieter generators and I'm still at odds. What do y'all recommend? My bro in law just ought an Onan but just inot sure!

[Skibane]

aftermath wrote:
My cousin saved something like $500 when purchasing a different brand on sale at COSTCO. His lasted about a year and a half. Couldn't get it serviced and no one had parts.

Yep - Some brands aren't much more than importers who buy a few CONEX boxes of generators from a factory in China, and slap their own label on the product before shipping it to customers.

I would emphasize that Champion is NOT in that category. They have an extensive parts inventory in Santa Fe Springs, CA, with many of those parts available for order online.

I've ordered parts from them several times online - they ship quick, and their prices (including shipping) are very reasonable.

Their service techs are also US-based, and are knowledgeable and helpful.

[aftermath]

Here is one of those areas where I do believe, you will get what you pay for. Granted, there are lots of options out there and some are more affordable than others. Does that make them a "better deal"? I purchased my Honda 2000i just about 16 years ago. I always have used premium fuel mixed with a stabilizer. I always drain it each fall and run it dry. In the spring it does take a few pulls to get it all going but after that, only a pull or two each time.

My cousin saved something like $500 when purchasing a different brand on sale at COSTCO. His lasted about a year and a half. Couldn't get it serviced and no one had parts. He went out and got a Honda and is still using it. So....in the long run....how much money did he save? I am also in favor of getting the quietest generator you can find. Decibel ratings are confusing. These are measurements of SOUND created by the energy produced by sound waves. There is a huge difference between 80 and 90 decibels. It is a logarithmic scale. Research this a bit before you make your decision.

[jdc1]

My Honda 2000i was 20 years old when I sold it this year. Always started on the first or second pull. I moved up the the Honda 3000i. One thing to always remember, no matter what you end up with is drain the gas (or add Stabil) when not in use. That Honda 2000 will run for another 20 years, easily.

[pianotuna]

Skibane wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
If the RV is a 30 amp--then a 2800 watt generator is a great size.

Yes, it is - But it also weighs around 100 pounds.

Most of the 2000 watt models weigh under 50 pounds - which makes them a lot easier to move around.

Dry weight is 152 pounds for the Yamaha 3000 sieb.

[Grit_dog]

IDman wrote:
We had a Yamaha 2000 for 8-9 years and never had a nickels worth of trouble with it. Sold it to a friend and bought a new Honda 2000 (in the box). It was in the shop after our first use as the tech said it was clogged from stale gas! He said the factory puts some gas in, runs it a bit, and packs and ships them. Some sit for months before being sold. Cost me $70 or so for service as Honda would not honor the warranty.

Wish I had kept my Yamaha.

LOL. At that point I’d have wished I could clean a carburetor…..

I couldn’t say if I’ve ever bought one with stale gas in it, but I’ve probably bought a few dozen Honda gennys myself and several times that many just in my division or projects.
(Some of them last a long time. A lot of them get stolen or smashed)

I don’t recall any not starting. Not to say it doesn’t happen, but that’s a strange reason to not want it anymore.

But then again, I’d never have bought the one you did, if I had a perfectly good one still.

[valhalla360]

Tvov wrote:
Remember that a small change in "DB level" or noise level is actually big sound-wise - it sounds a lot louder.

It's actually the opposite. dB is a measure of power but to hear a difference in noise level is not linear.

[IDman]

We had a Yamaha 2000 for 8-9 years and never had a nickels worth of trouble with it. Sold it to a friend and bought a new Honda 2000 (in the box). It was in the shop after our first use as the tech said it was clogged from stale gas! He said the factory puts some gas in, runs it a bit, and packs and ships them. Some sit for months before being sold. Cost me $70 or so for service as Honda would not honor the warranty.

Wish I had kept my Yamaha.

[bgum]

Look at Westinghouse igen2500. Good quality, good price. 2500 max watts 2200 running watts. It is an inverter generator quiet and clean electricity. Weight is 48 pounds. Can be found at $500. We have two. Can be combined.

[Tvov]

Remember that a small change in "DB level" or noise level is actually big sound-wise - it sounds a lot louder.

[hondapro]

If you want the best quality get the Honda.

[Skibane]

pianotuna wrote:
If the RV is a 30 amp--then a 2800 watt generator is a great size.

Yes, it is - But it also weighs around 100 pounds.

Most of the 2000 watt models weigh under 50 pounds - which makes them a lot easier to move around.

Incidentally, if you only need a small generator for charging your house batteries or powering small loads - At less than $180, this 800 watt inverter model is a ridiculously good deal.

[valhalla360]

The best quality is Honda with Yamaha right there with them...but the prices are way beyond the additional quality.

We have a Yamaha and it's served us well but the downside is parts and service aren't commonly available.

As mentioned, Champion seems to be the sweet spot between good quality and good price...ie: the best value.

[pianotuna]

If the RV is a 30 amp--then a 2800 watt generator is a great size.

Look at features. Do not buy and open frame generator. They are too noisy. Inverter generators produce excellent clean power.

My Yamaha 3000 sieb does 23.3 amps, which is close to the maximum continuous load. (80% of 30 amps).

I like the Champion 3400 because it comes with remote electric start.

I like the Predator 3500 because it is cheap and has electric start.

[Skibane]

Onan's portable models are Chinese-made.

There are plenty of other Chinese-made brands - many with comparable specs - most of which are much more affordable.

Price-wise, the sweet spot in inverter generators seems to be the models with roughly 2KW of power output - They seem to offer the best trade-off between cost, noise level, portability and power output. There are hundreds of models available in that size category, including dual-fuel versions that can operate on either gasoline or propane.

Many of them can be connected in tandem ("paralleled"), so that several generators can be used simultaneously to provide more power than one by itself could - very handy for running large roof air conditioners.

For good value, my personal favorite brand is Champion Power Equipment. Their stuff is Chinese-made, but backed by excellent US-based customer support. Most of their models also have a 3 year warranty.

Here's a chart that can be useful in comparing any model under consideration against the rest: