Champion VS Generac Generator

In 2011, I asked this same question. There were posted concerns about Generac's service.

Champion's products are from China... but the difference is that if something breaks, they will warranty repair it, and they have a decent dealer network.

Of course, Honda is by far the best in the business... you get what you pay for.

gunny357 wrote:
Seeing as you asked....

Generac has a poor reputation for service and support.

No personal experience with Champion.

I had that experience. I purchased one of their lower cost models from Lowes or Home Depot (don't recall which). The unit was fine except the run time tracker didn't work.

The place I purchased it from couldn't help. All they could do was take it, box it it and send it out for repairs.

The closest shop that could do warranty work wanted me to take it there (2 hour round trip + fuel) leave it and then pick it up. I told them I would be happy to replace the defective part or to take it off and send it to them via mail. They said they needed the whole unit.

I called Generac directly and explained my problem and that I simply wanted them to send me the repair part so I could have everything working and that it was unacceptable for me to spend many times the cost of the part in fuel to take it in for service. They said that all repairs had to be done via an authorized service center. I told them that it was more convenient to return the unit as defective than to try to have it fixed. They said then take it back, so that's what I did.

I bought a Champion for 1/3 the price (also lower KW rating) and am happy with that purchase.

Also be aware that the lower cost Generac units are made in China.

JayGee wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

JayGee wrote:
Why not just rent a honda or some other quieter brand if you are only going to use it a few times a year? Both you and your neighbors will appreciate the quieter brand. And you will not need to store or maintain it the rest of the time.

I don't care who you are but that statement is just plain funny..

I guess you have never "rented" anything?

Rentals tend to get way over abused, never serviced and you get charged too much.

Last time I rented a expensive $250 name brand tool I was only going to need for one use it cost me $25 deposit, and $25 per day and ended up the tool was MISSING the very piece I needed to make it work correctly. I ended up makeshifting a piece to get the tool to work, took hrs extra time. Otherwise I would have had to drive a half hr to the rental place, find another tool with the parts I needed then drive back home a half hr then turn around and return the tool..

Sometimes it is BEST just to go BUY the item you need rather than deal with severally abuse, beaten, broken rented junk..

The NEXT time I need that tool I WILL be buying one from Harbor Freight for $100.

I would doubt you could rent a "Honda" gen for under $100 per day now days.. Then take the chances it wasn't abused by the last renter..

I would take the chance on buying a Chinese knockoff that it will last long enough to do what I need..

Glad you got a laugh out of it, maybe that will help you forget your bad experience. I have rented with a positive experience every time so far. Guess it's different where I live.

To the OP
I have owned generac and would probably try the champion choosing between the two. However, I own Honda now.

Wasn't funny at the time but was a "learning experience" to say the least.. Pretty hard to drive a vehicle when you have the front end dismantled and discovered the tool you rented is missing a vital piece.

I would hate to rent a genny, go on a 1000 mile trip and to only have it quit on you during that trip.. That IS the reality of renting items like a generator or pretty much anything else you really need to depend on.

For the money that would be spent on one or two rentals you can easily buy a Champion 4Kw gen..

Rentals are more for the times when you will only need it ONCE for a "project" or it is not cost effective to buy. Pretty much eliminates the majority of RV owners which tend to boondock a lot.

I put a generator HIGH on my list to buy and own, in fact I have two Chinese import gens. I have a 2Kw and a 4Kw, the 2Kw was for the times I might camp and not need A/C plus it is smaller and lighter weight.

The 4Kw is was for anytime I was planning to camp and need A/C plus it can power needed items in my house during power outages.

The reality is I use the 4Kw MORE than the 2Kw.

Planning to eventually sell the 2Kw and replace with a 7KW-8KW Chinese import gen for my home backup power. The 4KW gen is not big enough to run my deep water well pump plus other items like my woodburner fan and some lights.

Gdetrailer wrote:

JayGee wrote:
Why not just rent a honda or some other quieter brand if you are only going to use it a few times a year? Both you and your neighbors will appreciate the quieter brand. And you will not need to store or maintain it the rest of the time.

I don't care who you are but that statement is just plain funny..

I guess you have never "rented" anything?

Rentals tend to get way over abused, never serviced and you get charged too much.

Last time I rented a expensive $250 name brand tool I was only going to need for one use it cost me $25 deposit, and $25 per day and ended up the tool was MISSING the very piece I needed to make it work correctly. I ended up makeshifting a piece to get the tool to work, took hrs extra time. Otherwise I would have had to drive a half hr to the rental place, find another tool with the parts I needed then drive back home a half hr then turn around and return the tool..

Sometimes it is BEST just to go BUY the item you need rather than deal with severally abuse, beaten, broken rented junk..

The NEXT time I need that tool I WILL be buying one from Harbor Freight for $100.

I would doubt you could rent a "Honda" gen for under $100 per day now days.. Then take the chances it wasn't abused by the last renter..

I would take the chance on buying a Chinese knockoff that it will last long enough to do what I need..

Glad you got a laugh out of it, maybe that will help you forget your bad experience. I have rented with a positive experience every time so far. Guess it's different where I live.

To the OP
I have owned generac and would probably try the champion choosing between the two. However, I own Honda now.

Seeing as you asked....

Generac has a poor reputation for service and support.

No personal experience with Champion.

rush2112_2112 wrote:
Are you guys running this Champion with electronics or just the AC. I thought you could damage electronics with this type of Gen.

Actually the newer 120v only 3500/4000 has a very clean sine wave. Some posted it in the 3000w genset thread. The wave to my older 240/120v unit was dirty with jagged spikes.

When I upgraded I wanted to go inverter. The 3100i was being cleared out for the new model at under $700. Then I found out a 2800w generator or even two 2000w generators wouldn't run the air at the altitude we camp at. I would have needed a 4500w unit costing over $3000 and weighing 200 pounds. Since it only gets hot mid summer and only for a few hours a day, we have solar to cover anything but the air and camp by ourselves, I just can't justify the expense. We didn't even take one last trip for a week and haven't needed it in over a year.

You just wont spend less and get anything as powerful, dependable, easy starting and as quiet as the 3500/4000.

JayGee wrote:
Why not just rent a honda or some other quieter brand if you are only going to use it a few times a year? Both you and your neighbors will appreciate the quieter brand. And you will not need to store or maintain it the rest of the time.

I don't care who you are but that statement is just plain funny..

I guess you have never "rented" anything?

Rentals tend to get way over abused, never serviced and you get charged too much.

Last time I rented a expensive $250 name brand tool I was only going to need for one use it cost me $25 deposit, and $25 per day and ended up the tool was MISSING the very piece I needed to make it work correctly. I ended up makeshifting a piece to get the tool to work, took hrs extra time. Otherwise I would have had to drive a half hr to the rental place, find another tool with the parts I needed then drive back home a half hr then turn around and return the tool..

Sometimes it is BEST just to go BUY the item you need rather than deal with severally abuse, beaten, broken rented junk..

The NEXT time I need that tool I WILL be buying one from Harbor Freight for $100.

I would doubt you could rent a "Honda" gen for under $100 per day now days.. Then take the chances it wasn't abused by the last renter..

I would take the chance on buying a Chinese knockoff that it will last long enough to do what I need..

rush2112_2112 wrote:
Are you guys running this Champion with electronics or just the AC. I thought you could damage electronics with this type of Gen.

What kind of damage to electronics are you referring too?

Any electronic device I have like fridge board or water heater board work great.
All my portables like my laptop have an inline "brick" in the charger cord and work great too.
Don't know what would happen with a desktop computer.
All my stuff at home work fine hooked to it during power outages.
Good Luck, Mike

Are you guys running this Champion with electronics or just the AC. I thought you could damage electronics with this type of Gen.