Opinions on lightweight portable inverter/generators

[bfacklam]

I am looking at purchasing a lightweight inverter/generator for my pickup camper. Looking at 2,000 to 2,500 watts. Mainly for coffee maker, nebulizer and recharging phones and computers. After reading many review and reviews, I have settled on either a Westinghouse IGen 2200 (46 pounds) Inverter Generator or Champion 2500 Watt Portable Generator (39 pounds). Thought about Harbor Freight Predator. Can some of you that own either of these give me any advise on which one of these would be a good purchase. Or do you own a different brand that you are happy with. Final question, do most of you purchase from big box stores, or try to find a place that will service what you purchase. Thanks for any advise.

[notsobigjoe]

I chose these and have yet to regret it. They are the IPOWER SUA 2000i Easy to start, has the jumper cable to run the AC. About 50 LB's each. I keep 3 gallons of non ethanol gas in the compartment with them. I have yet to run them all night but I have run them for several hours in our Florida thunderstorms. Bought them from Home Depot.

[ldsmith48]

I purchased the westinghouse WH2400I 5 yrs ago have 386 hrs have had no problems, still starts on 2nd pull. Used it for 7 days straight in Texas 2 yrs ago.Ran it almost 24 hrs only shut it down to refuel, and change oil. change it every 50 hrs. Runs our Coleman 9000 in truck camper, and refrigerator. Have been very happy, bought on amazon for under $400.00

[Grit_dog]

specta wrote:
It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that's all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.

John Ruskin 1819-1900

Still true today....

[specta]

It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that's all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.

John Ruskin 1819-1900

[bwc]

Honda all day long. Yamaha as well. Like others have said, where do you get parts for the "others". My buddy bought a Hyundai 2000W at Walmart a few years ago. Ran well for one season but then was having surging issues, stalling etc. He had no luck obviously getting help at Walmart and in the end sold it as is where is. Bought a new Honda 3000, priceless. No issues at all plus the Honda shop is just down the road. We have a 2008 Honda EU2000. Not one problem. Starts easily and runs the a/c in our Northstar. Enough said.

[MORSNOW]

Grit dog wrote:
Personal opinion but I try to purchase reliability. And I’d spend $600 for a used Honda before $500 on an off brand.
Although used ones might be less plentiful this year again...

I’ve beat the tar out of probably hundreds of Honda generators, commercially. In my experience they last 1000s of hours in less than ideal conditions. And retain their value.
Something to consider.
That, and my one experience with the Costco Yamaha knockoff 2k, one of my employees bought one to run his camper and it wouldn’t even come close to running his AC, but an old Honda and a newer Yamaha 2k would.
He returned it twice so tried 3 separate units and none would put out the power that the real name brand ones do. The other brands may be better though?

I had the same experience with the Costco Yamaha knockoff and sold it for a genuine Honda 2200. The Honda runs my A/C without an issue and will hopefully outlast me.

[curt12914]

The problem with all these inexpensive inverter generators is the lack of an extensive dealer network for parts, service and repairs.

With Honda or Yamaha, there are dealers in every town. Where would you start looking for brand specific parts on any of these inexpensive generators. We have chain stores locally that have sold Champion generators for years. Other than spark plugs, I have never seen a Champion part on their shelves.

I guess it's one of those deals that you look like a genius when it's working good, but an idiot when it's broke and parts are unavailable for weeks.

I guess you have to ask yourself if you are willing to take that chance, to save money.

[valhalla360]

mkirsch wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
If you walk funny because your wallet is so thick with cash, Hondas are a great option.

But gone are the days of Red vs Blue (Honda vs Yamaha ) for quiet inverter generators.

There is also the "buy once cry once" view.

This is your leisure time we're talking about. If you enjoy tinkering with orphan off-brand generators while you're nowhere near help, and enjoy improvising when your generator lets you down, then an off brand might be for you.

God forbid you're full-timing or spending several weeks or months where you are depending on your generator for power.

It may well be worth saving up to buy the "gold standard" of portable generators if only for peace of mind.

15-20yrs ago, your digs at "orphans" had a claim. Now, it's no longer the case.

[1320Fastback]

I have two 2014 Yamaha 2Ks. Other than cleaning out the carburators and oil changes I have done nothing to them. When we are camping alone I will leave one of the them running on Eco all night long to run a box fan for white noise, charge our phones and devices and provide power for the Keurig in the morning. I alternate which one runs each night. No idea how many hours are on them but would guess its in the hundreds.

[specta]

This is the Yamaha generator we provide for our camp host in our primitive campground.
Other than one battery last year that's 4112 trouble free hours.

We have two old Honda 1000s that have been 100% trouble free and I can't even imagine how many hours they have on them. They never have been for camp hosts.

I have no idea what I would buy today to use as a portable generator but it would probably be one of these two brands.

[Grit_dog]

Personal opinion but I try to purchase reliability. And I’d spend $600 for a used Honda before $500 on an off brand.
Although used ones might be less plentiful this year again...

I’ve beat the tar out of probably hundreds of Honda generators, commercially. In my experience they last 1000s of hours in less than ideal conditions. And retain their value.
Something to consider.
That, and my one experience with the Costco Yamaha knockoff 2k, one of my employees bought one to run his camper and it wouldn’t even come close to running his AC, but an old Honda and a newer Yamaha 2k would.
He returned it twice so tried 3 separate units and none would put out the power that the real name brand ones do. The other brands may be better though?

[mkirsch]

valhalla360 wrote:
If you walk funny because your wallet is so thick with cash, Hondas are a great option.

But gone are the days of Red vs Blue (Honda vs Yamaha ) for quiet inverter generators.

There is also the "buy once cry once" view.

This is your leisure time we're talking about. If you enjoy tinkering with orphan off-brand generators while you're nowhere near help, and enjoy improvising when your generator lets you down, then an off brand might be for you.

God forbid you're full-timing or spending several weeks or months where you are depending on your generator for power.

It may well be worth saving up to buy the "gold standard" of portable generators if only for peace of mind.

[bfacklam]

Thanks for all of the opinions. Most of you agree that Honda is probably best, but the Champion at its cost and weight is a good option. Here's wishing everyone a great camping year. Our plans are to take our pickup camper on the Alaska Ferry System and stop and spend a week at six different places. Tried to do this two years ago, but plans canceled when the ferry workers went on strikes. Hopefully by late August the US Canada border will be open so we can drive home. If not, the ferry does also run south. Happy Camping!!!!

[valhalla360]

Crazy Ray wrote:
HONDA 2000

If you walk funny because your wallet is so thick with cash, Hondas are a great option.

But gone are the days of Red vs Blue (Honda vs Yamaha ) for quiet inverter generators.

My personal preference would be Champion. Unless weight and space were at a real premium, I would get one up around 3000w so when you get that hot day and want to run the air/con, you can without having to modify the air/con unit.

Disclosure: We have a 2007 Yamaha 2400 which has served us well but that was bought in 2007 when the other brands weren't available.

[curt12914]

2112 wrote:
Call Westinghouse and Harbor Freight to see if you can get parts specific to that model or if they have an authorized service center near you. Then call Champion. You'll want the Champion.

I have gone through that several times with Harbor Freight on other things they sell.

I tried to get blades for a power hand planer that I bought from HF. They have no blades or no info on where to get them. I did find some online that I am hoping will work.

I tried to get the protective plastic shields for a sand blasting cabinet that I bought from HF. They are not available from HF.

A few years back, we were in Richmond, VA for the September NASCAR race, when one of my Honda EU2000i generators wouldn't run. I took it to Northern Tool, who is a Honda dealer. A couple hours later, I was back with my generator repaired (the plastic part between the block and the carburetor replaced).

I wouldn't have much confidence in getting generator parts from Harbor Freight.