Anyone own a Champion Generator?

[Maxtar]

For anyone who owns this brand how about a review? I know they are louder than the Honda's, but how about reliability? (That would be my main concern.)

[braindead0]

I've got a 3100, been using it fairly often for several years and it works. Ran my house while getting a new service panel installed (Fridge, 3+ computers in Office and misc). Runs my 13.5k TT A/C fine, never a hiccup...

Customer service is good as well, called to get a high altitude jet and they sent one free of charge. Getting the jet installed was a bit of a pain, not much room to work around the carb but managed.

Around these parts it seems very common to run contractor style generators in campgrounds, compared to those these are super quiet.

[TomG2]

HaulinBass02 wrote:
Dang I forgot this was an old thread and I just pulled it out of the deep. My apologies, lets put this back to bed shall we?

Why? It is still relevant. (My joke for the day)

Another happy 3500/4000 Champion user here. I run mine mostly in parking lots while traveling. Not as loud as the trucks. Nice to have in the campground when the power goes off too.

[HaulinBass02]

Dang I forgot this was an old thread and I just pulled it out of the deep. My apologies, lets put this back to bed shall we?

[HaulinBass02]

I have two of the 2000W Champ inverter gens. When linked they ran my 15K A/C no problem in Texas April heat and humidity. They kicked up from eco to high then leveled off somewhere in between when the A/C compressor got up and running.
I last used them at a BBQ cookoff. The neighbor's stereo was louder than my gennys.
I've also had them in the back of the truck when camping overnight in a Walmart in Las Vegas, NM. I used them to run the heater fan so we wouldn't freeze. We fell asleep and could barely hear them running in the truck bed dang near under our bed! When I went inside the Wally World to get something, at about 60 ft from the truck they were barely audible.
Now, we have plans for dispersed camping in places in Colorado and elsewhere. I would only use them for running the micro or watching some TV at night. Probably won't need the AC up there....
I plan on using solar for the batteries. If we camp in a NF campground, I think they are quiet enough to not bother others if placed properly. Even at that, I still plan on building a collapsible hushbox for them. I just would like to make them as silent as I can. I would do this with a Honda or Yammy too.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

2oldman wrote:
Official 2kw Champ inverter thread

Champion search in heading in Tech

The above covered Champion *Inverter* gens - here's everything you ever wanted to know about the "standard" variety of Champion and some other brands, including noise.....

"3000W Chinese Gensets Info"

Since the thread is 987 pages, if you wish to "work backwards", this may help....

-go here-

~

And for more on noise suppression techniques & modifications.....

"My $500.00 almost silent gen with pics and db readings"

These threads are "years long" with lots (and lots) if info!.:C

~

[Racerchaser27]

I bought my 3500/4000 Electric Start Champion for one reason. Money! A Honda 3000i, $2500, My Champion 3500/4000, $350. For something I might use 2-3 times a years at Nascar races, power outages in winter, etc... I couldn't see tying up that much money on something that would do the exact same job over $2000 cheaper. (And for those saying not to use them around other campers, and that their too loud, let me say this....I have gotten many people in the campgrounds come by and make the comment "Wow, thats pretty quiet for a big generator!", including our immediate neighbors. And the funny part is, a friend bought the Honda because he wanted it quieter in his campsite, and everyone around him had bigger, old style generators. Couldn't hear his silent Honda over the drone of everyone elses. He admitted he wasted 2 grand! LOL

[JiminDenver]

Maxtar wrote:

It looks like the 3500/4000 will fit the bill. I think I'll be getting it. In case I use it with the RV at some point, so it's fine on the a/c unit too? I've got two units, it'll probably only run one at a time, right?

It'll run one, you'd need bigger for both I believe.

We've used ours boondocking with no neighbors to listen. I'd hate to have to run any generator in close quarters.

[Maxtar]

NC Hauler wrote:

jasult wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Since this is an RV forum . I assume the buyer plans to use the genset for camping purposes. Power Outages are a entirely different scenario and are irrelevant to the discussion.

Stating that the genset is great in a power outage only brings confusion to the discussion.
Any genset you can get your hands on is great during a power outage:S

Agreed

To OP and fellow NJ RV'r
I have 3 different Champs and they are reliable.
As I stated, their customer support is great when I had some questions.
They answer the phone and talk too you.
I had one small problem that was simple over the phone resolved.
I have never been in situation where I was asked to turn off generator at RV events or parks that had no power and that would be when we needed the genny.

I don't see where purchasing a generator for power outage is "irrelevant"...Most rv'ers for years purchased generators for their rv's to have "IN CASE" they lost power to their camper. How do you figure a power outage is "irrelevant"

This is an rv forum and MOST people purchase generators in case they have a power outage and absolutely have to fire it up to supply power to their rv...WHEN did that change?

How in the world does bringing up that the Champion generator works great in a power outage situation causes confusion and is "irrelevant????

Sure ANY of them would be great to have in case of a power outage, but it's absurb to say that the Champion is as loud as a contractors gen set...ridiculous!!

For YEARS, ( for me, since 75)...campers purchased generators to supply power to anything they camped in in case they had no power...there were some boon docking which WOULD be an entirely different situation...but no where did OP say, "I'm going to be boon docking , what is the best generator, I will be using it a lot"...I would have NEVER posted that I would recommend a Champion for that, as I stated. BUT AGAIN, MOST campers, like myself, want BACK UP POWER, ie (in case of power outage), to provide AC/ lights, whatever to their rv if they lose electrical power...

So, WRONG that it isn't relevant...it was relevant when we lost power at Lake Keowee while camping for 2 day's in SC....needed a generator....It was relevant when we lost all power for a week while camping in WVA as a back up power supply...so how is it NOT relevant on an rv forum????? REally PLEASE explain that one to me because it would be a FIRST!!!

How could it cause confusion????? DId OP say they were going to be boon docking a lot? Did they say they would be running the generator more often than not? NO, they asked if anyone owned one.... So those of us who do, posted and I went as far to tell WHY...

Sorry to have gone on, but to say talking about a Champion gen, when that was the topic was either irrelevant or would cause confusion is nonsense.

We probably will be doing some boon docking from time to time, and for this and becuse they are so quiet (from what I've heard), I'm probably gonna buy the Honda's. But for my camp I think the Champion will do just fine as I wouldn't be running it much as I've got complete solar and wind generation at my camp. From the responses so far I believe the Champion would give me some good reliable service.

[Maxtar]

JiminDenver wrote:

Maxtar wrote:
I was just looking for one to put up at my camp and not spend a whole lot of cash. I will not be running it much, just when I need some electric for power tools, (skill saw and such) Would the 4000 watt model be suffucient for this application?

My 3500/4000 has run my table saw, skill saw, sawzall, and miter saw without effort. None of those pull the amps my 13.5 btu AC unit on the trailer does, especially at start up.

It looks like the 3500/4000 will fit the bill. I think I'll be getting it. In case I use it with the RV at some point, so it's fine on the a/c unit too? I've got two units, it'll probably only run one at a time, right?

[Lantley]

NC Hauler wrote:

jasult wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Since this is an RV forum . I assume the buyer plans to use the genset for camping purposes. Power Outages are a entirely different scenario and are irrelevant to the discussion.

Stating that the genset is great in a power outage only brings confusion to the discussion.
Any genset you can get your hands on is great during a power outage:S

Agreed

To OP and fellow NJ RV'r
I have 3 different Champs and they are reliable.
As I stated, their customer support is great when I had some questions.
They answer the phone and talk too you.
I had one small problem that was simple over the phone resolved.
I have never been in situation where I was asked to turn off generator at RV events or parks that had no power and that would be when we needed the genny.

I don't see where purchasing a generator for power outage is "irrelevant"...Most rv'ers for years purchased generators for their rv's to have "IN CASE" they lost power to their camper. How do you figure a power outage is "irrelevant"

This is an rv forum and MOST people purchase generators in case they have a power outage and absolutely have to fire it up to supply power to their rv...WHEN did that change?

How in the world does bringing up that the Champion generator works great in a power outage situation causes confusion and is "irrelevant????

Sure ANY of them would be great to have in case of a power outage, but it's absurb to say that the Champion is as loud as a contractors gen set...ridiculous!!

For YEARS, ( for me, since 75)...campers purchased generators to supply power to anything they camped in in case they had no power...there were some boon docking which WOULD be an entirely different situation...but no where did OP say, "I'm going to be boon docking , what is the best generator, I will be using it a lot"...I would have NEVER posted that I would recommend a Champion for that, as I stated. BUT AGAIN, MOST campers, like myself, want BACK UP POWER, ie (in case of power outage), to provide AC/ lights, whatever to their rv if they lose electrical power...

So, WRONG that it isn't relevant...it was relevant when we lost power at Lake Keowee while camping for 2 day's in SC....needed a generator....It was relevant when we lost all power for a week while camping in WVA as a back up power supply...so how is it NOT relevant on an rv forum????? REally PLEASE explain that one to me because it would be a FIRST!!!

How could it cause confusion????? DId OP say they were going to be boon docking a lot? Did they say they would be running the generator more often than not? NO, they asked if anyone owned one.... So those of us who do, posted and I went as far to tell WHY...

Sorry to have gone on, but to say talking about a Champion gen, when that was the topic was either irrelevant or would cause confusion is nonsense.

Hey NC The Honda and Yamaha's are king of the RV genset world because they provide clean quiet power.
The Champion inverter models are a nice option as well.
The standard Champion are also quality products however if you are camping within earshot of someone else I believe an inverter type genset should be used period.
If we are talking generators at large. The champion maybe the best value out there. I don't think the Champion is a bad product, however there are better options if the genset is intended for camping use around others.
In the end the real attraction to the Champ is the price I understand that. In the end value is the only advantage the Champ has over any inverter genset. Quietness,fuel efficiency, portability, weight all favor inverter gensets.
You be the judge. Many do choose the Champion which is fine if you are not around others. However if you are within ear shot of me I prefer you get an inverter type and not take the Champion savings at the expense of my peace and quiet.
If you believe there is no difference between camping use and other use then we just have to agree to disagree.
Finally I don't believe mentioning a Champion is irrelevant, but I do believe stating it's great during power outages adds nothing to a camping discussion.
As I said above any genset you can get your hands on is great during a power outage however any genset you can get your hands may not be so great if you are camping around others.

[JiminDenver]

jasult wrote:
Maxtar - You can get the Champion 3500/4000 pull start at Tractor Supply for 279.00 and it will be more then enough. You can also find them on craigs list as since storm sandy people are selling them after using them for a few days and want to recover their gouged price paid.

I paid 600 cash for a new never used Champion electric remote start 7000/9000 12 days after the storm

There is a 6000/7000 electric start Champ for $250 on CL now that if it were not for the weight, would be in my garage . I've seen the bigger remote start units for $500 but they are even heavier.

[JiminDenver]

Maxtar wrote:
I was just looking for one to put up at my camp and not spend a whole lot of cash. I will not be running it much, just when I need some electric for power tools, (skill saw and such) Would the 4000 watt model be suffucient for this application?

My 3500/4000 has run my table saw, skill saw, sawzall, and miter saw without effort. None of those pull the amps my 13.5 btu AC unit on the trailer does, especially at start up.

[2112]

Hello. My name is Dave and I'm a Champ 3500/4000 user!
My problem started over 4 years ago when I bought this heavy, loud yellow machine. I have abused yellow for maybe 500 hours now and have not had one problem with it. I hope to break this habit someday by upgrading to a quieter, lighter red or blue but for now I'm hooked on the yellows.

Best $300 ever spent. I'm a happy Champer

[Foy_R__Smith]

We boon-dock for a month for deer camp last fall. We would run our Champion 3500-4000 every night to watch our TV, lights and charge our batterys back up. I would run the generator the length of 1 movie every night. I have had contractor type generators before and they are noisy. This Champion is much quieter. It is the best $300 that my family ever spent and it fits our budget!