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.

[2112]

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.

[specta]

I LOVE using my generator for brewing coffee and everything else that uses 110v plus charging my two g29 batteries.

I boondock 99% of the time and for me solar would be a waste of money.

If you're looking for a portable then the Champion 2500 Watt Portable Generator weighing only 39 pounds sounds like a good way to go.

I have 78 hours on my generator in just a little over a year.

[pianotuna]

My choice would be the Champion 3400 with remote electric start. 2nd choice Predator 3500 electric start.

[jimh406]

I use pour over coffee filter as well. Fresh good coffee on demand after boiling water.

For those purposes, I’d skip the generator and add better batteries/solar/inverter and switch to LED light bulbs. No restrictions based on noise and no gasoline required. Also, I think a power station would be good as well.

[Sandia_Man]

We prefer boondocking, we have plenty of solar, couple pairs of golfcart batteries, extremely quick Iota IQ4 smart charging converter, alas without a genny we are just playing games. Wouldn't go RVing without one, prefer Onans as we like to be able to run our rig as if connected to shorepower, no power scrimping here, why have an RV if you can't use all the amenities onboard wherever you are.

Onans are wonderful but overkill for most situations. We needed something to occasionally give our onboard genny a break, something powerful enough to run at least a single RV AC unit, fuel efficient and quiet with inverter technology. Most of all it had to have remote start to mimic Onan ease of operation, the answer for us was the Champion 3100 inverter genny, after 5 years our answer to you is Champion.

Approaching 600 hours it has never failed to give us the power we need, high elevations, single or triple digit temps it just doesn't matter. Very easy to work on and maintain, plenty of parts availability, friendly customer service, and 3 year warranty made it a no brainer for us. Had cause to contact Champion for a high elevation jet as we primarily camp above 7K', a few days later it was at our doorstep.

[JimBollman]

We decided to ditch the coffee maker and to go with a Melitta Pour Over Coffee Cone Brewer that uses #4 cone filters. We have an insulated carafe that will hold about 4 mugs of coffee that we use to brew into. This allows us to use gas to boil water.

By eliminating our biggest power user we bought a WEN 56125i Super Quiet 1250 watt inverter generator to charge batteries and such. We went this way for less space, weight and gas usage. Because of our lost year of camping we have not used the WEN enough to give a review of the generator long term but it is quiet and sips gas.

[jaycocreek]

I have two Hondas also but last year I bought a camo Westinghouse Igen 2200 and so far it's a keeper...It's not A honda but darn close in noise...Quite impressed so far..

[KD4UPL]

I have 2 Honda EU2200 generators. They have performed flawlessly.
I don't buy anything at HF except storage totes, bungee cords, etc. I don't trust their power tools and I certainly wouldn't buy one of their generators.
I have no experience with either of the models you listed. I borrowed a champion 3100 open frame generator once; it had rather poor voltage regulation.

[curt12914]

I have two Honda EU2000i generators that I have had for many years, when Honda was the only inverter generator. They are expensive, but mostly trouble free. I say mostly, because anything mechanical will eventually have some kind of problem. My fear with most of the inverter generators on the market is obtaining parts or service.
My cousin has a 3100 watt Champion generator with remote start. He has had good luck with it. If I was going to buy anything other than a Honda, I, personally, would probably lean to the Champion,

[_1Flyboy]

We have solar on the roof & good AGM batteries; have only used our 2200 Honda less than 25 hours in 2 years of Full Timing; we also have a suitcase solar setup on a long cord for when parked in shady locations..... If’s you’re gonna be camping in really cold weather then you might have more need for a generator...Honda is more expensive, BUT, is repairable, has known reliability, higher resale value & not made in Communist China... Points to ponder.....

[Crazy_Ray]

HONDA 2000