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.

[time2roll]

Since this is about small and light weight generators.... I have this 700w propane inverter generator that weighs 25 lbs. and runs 58 to 65 db. I only use it for battery charging if the solar does not hold up. Glad to not carry a gas can since I already have propane. No issues with extended storage.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Baja-900-Watt-Propane-Powered-Inverter-Generator-BAI911LP/306283803Try to find it on sale or with a coupon.

[towpro]

Kayteg1 wrote:
I can sit on my Honda EU3000 having it under lower load and I can make conversation in normal voice.
Seem the 1000W Sportsman is louder, but that might be due that is always running on loads above 50%.
Most of the time I can hear camping noises from spots hundred ft away louder, than my generators.
Do you snore?

some years ago I was out walking around a sea of campers sitting in a field with generators running at the first motorcycle race of the year (it was cold). I walked up to this one Group and the conversation moved to generators. I asked if he was going to start his Honda 3000 later that night? he laughed at me, it was already running. could not hear it over the lawn mower generators all around him.

[Camper_Jeff___K]

specta wrote:

Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:
Few things I detest more when camping out in the sticks than the sound of a generator drawling away for hours at a time. Can't hear the sasquatch sneaking up on me.

It sucks when it not your generator. 😉

I have my solar setup which does the trick most of the year. The closest I come to a generator is idling the truck for a while. Not efficient I know but it works well enough for the short periods of time I do it. Far quieter too.

[2112]

curt12914 wrote:
A friend of mine has a 2400 watt Champion with remote start. The generator has been really good and I would love the remote start over going out to pull start my Hondas.

My biggest concern with the Champion (and many other brands) is parts and labor availability. if I have trouble with my Hondas (and I have had very little), I can always find a Honda dealer close by. To me, the dollars I could save are not worth one ruined trip.

Just call 1 877-338-0999 for Champion parts and local service. They sent me a pull cord assembly free of charge.

[Kayteg1]

I can sit on my Honda EU3000 having it under lower load and I can make conversation in normal voice.
Seem the 1000W Sportsman is louder, but that might be due that is always running on loads above 50%.
Most of the time I can hear camping noises from spots hundred ft away louder, than my generators.
Do you snore?

[specta]

Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:
Few things I detest more when camping out in the sticks than the sound of a generator drawling away for hours at a time. Can't hear the sasquatch sneaking up on me.

It sucks when it not your generator. 😉

[Camper_Jeff___K]

Few things I detest more when camping out in the sticks than the sound of a generator drawling away for hours at a time. Can't hear the sasquatch sneaking up on me.

[Supercharged111]

You guys got me curious about my Briggs and Stratton for parts availability. Generically speaking there looks to be a good bit. I need to get my hands on the manual for my particular model to see if what they do carry actually fits my model. Got mine back in 2016. The gas gauge immediately fogged over once I splashed a little gas on it, the display flashes but still functions, and the wheels are pathetically cheap. Aside from that it's faithfully chugged along, I'm nearing 1000 hours on it. I think I want a name brand 4000kw unit to replace it when the time comes. Got a camper and a trailer to feed now that the trailer is wired.

[Lantley]

curt12914 wrote:
A friend of mine has a 2400 watt Champion with remote start. The generator has been really good and I would love the remote start over going out to pull start my Hondas.

My biggest concern with the Champion (and many other brands) is parts and labor availability. if I have trouble with my Hondas (and I have had very little), I can always find a Honda dealer close by. To me, the dollars I could save are not worth one ruined trip.

Good Point.
One ruined trip due to a faulty genset will wipe out all your savings real quit.
Even worse is a ruined/cancelled trip because you could not obtain parts or service in a timely manner.

[curt12914]

A friend of mine has a 2400 watt Champion with remote start. The generator has been really good and I would love the remote start over going out to pull start my Hondas.

My biggest concern with the Champion (and many other brands) is parts and labor availability. if I have trouble with my Hondas (and I have had very little), I can always find a Honda dealer close by. To me, the dollars I could save are not worth one ruined trip.

[jimh406]

On the other hand, there’s probably a lot of failing Harbor Freight generators for them to give him a new one so easy.

[memilanuk]

Bird Freak wrote:
Friend of mine bought a Harbor Freight generator with replacement warranty. never had a problem but every couple of years he takes it back and say's it dies after running a couple of hours. They give him a new one. repeat process!

I don't think I'd be claiming someone like that as a 'friend'. Just sayin'...

[Grit_dog]

jimh425 wrote:
Fwiw, I couldn’t even run my 9000 watt AC with a 2000 watt Cosco brand that my wife’s uncle had. I did try including turning everything off.

Watts aren’t equal to watts more importantly the starting capability is not the same with a Honda vs other brands.

Whenever I think about buying something else even much cheaper, my wife reminds me that I said I’d only buy a Honda. 😄

While I haven't run the gamut of china-bomb generators, one of my engineers on a project bought a Costco Yamaha knockoff special. Same thing, it "worked", but it didn't put out near the power that it should. It wouldn't even think about running his camper AC, and it wouldn't run his microwave very well with anything else pulling power. He exchanged it twice before just getting his money back.
Actually had a new real Yamaha 2000 that we bought on that job. Side by side, the Yamaha would run everything the Yamanot would not. Same loads would also run off of a 20A 120V circuit hooked to our 30kva office gen set through 200' of extension cord and not pop the breaker on the gen set.

[Grit_dog]

NVR2L82AV8 wrote:
Numerous Campgrounds, and even National Parks, are getting real testy on Generator noise.

I just saw that Yellowstone National Park has LIMITED Generators from 8am until 8pm in Seven parks (Bay Bridge, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Grant Village, Madison, Mammoth and Norris). There is a noise limit of 60 decibels.

I know just ONE Genny that can operate under load at that noise level.

Check out the dBA Chart at 100% Load

And for all the people singing the praises of the Chinabomb Maypop equivalent in generators, now not only are they more failure prone, don't always output the advertised power, have little to no parts or service availability, but now they aren't even quiet enough for "new" standards!

Guess my trusty old Honda that I could sell today for more than I paid for it, used, several years ago is STILL the ticket to generator success!

[Kayteg1]

I still keep the $60 HF generator that I bought before small inverter generators become available.
It is 2-cycle, but CA legal, so no worry about oil change and good for emergencies.
Since I bough 1000W inverter generator since, I don't really need it, but should I put perfectly good generator in trash can?