Worth buying a generator with a motorhome with an Onan?

[mlts22]

At the Austin RV show, one place was offering a Yeti cooler or a Champion 4000 generator. What would you choose?

If I were out boondocking, the Champion 4000 generator, if jammed in a doghouse and well away from my rig might be OK, but it isn't my idea of fun. The Yeti cooler is nice, but since I'm not really passively hunting, it might just wind up not that useful.

What would you choose?

[wa8yxm]

I would choose the Champion.. IF it is an inverter model that is.
My Onan sucks around 1 GPH out of the fuel tank, That Champanion can run many hours on one gallon. IT is very quiet (At low load many can not hear it, I can but I have to listen close) and it is enough to keep the batteries charged all night even with full furnace operation.

[mlts22]

It definitely isn't "free"... it was mainly a show incentive.

Next to a price reduction, if I had to have something tossed in, I'd rather have a Dometic/Waeco or Norcold cooler style fridge (with compressor), as those would quickly cool food items before going in the RV's fridge.

It looks like the cooler might be the best bet, although I may see if I can get a "real" generator included in the deal (a Honda eu2000i) for a reasonable price bump, just because the inverter generator can be located away from the vehicle (less noise/vibration), it uses less gas when running to top off the batteries, and because the Onan generator won't run if the house batteries are too low, it would help with getting enough charge there.

Are those Champion 3500/4000 generators that loud? I currently use a Yamaha 3000 watt inverter model, and it will spin at 3800 RPM solidly until I flip the econ switch, then will run at lower revs.

[TomG2]

My Champion 3500/4000 can be heard about 300 feet away or about 100 feet farther than my Honda 2000 under similar conditions. No big deal.

[RJsfishin]

I'm slow at catching on, but if ya don't want it, or don't need it why wouldn't just have them subtract it from the price of the RV,.......kinda like a rebate that you don't need ?

[joebedford]

To me, inverter generators are noisier. I can block the background drone of an Onan but not revving and slowing revving and slowing of an inverter.

Champion I couldn't block out unless it was 1/2 mile away.

[Bumpyroad]

get the champion, you can always buy a yeti clone a lot cheaper.
bumpy

[road-runner]

I have a built-on Onan and always carry a portable generator when boondocking, because:

- It makes less noise than the Onan (an eu2000i), and
- It uses less fuel.

Yes it's one more thing to maintain, but I occasionally use it at home when it's easier than running an extension cord, or when the power is out. I've never carried extra fuel because a full tank on the generator has always met my needs, and if I did run out I could use the Onan until getting fuel. Yes, it does take up more room, and that's the biggest drawback for me. For me, the portable generator is primary and the built-in is the backup.

It's really a question of your needs and preferences. Running a "big" generator to top off the battery seems very wasteful to me. To somebody else it might make perfect sense.

[time2roll]

I would take the Champ and sell it. I assume the Onan works.

[AJBert]

Trust me on this, regardless of which you choose, neither will be "free". Unless you really want the RV I wouldn't even think about buying an RV to get a "free" cooler or generator.

All that being said, depending on the size of the Yeti, I'd take the cooler. Hard to beat a Yeti.

[CJW8]

I often go to the dunes in So Cal. Loosing the Onan due to a mechanical failure would ruin the week. I always carry a backup. In my case it is a 2K Kipor inverter generator. I did take my Champion 3500/4000 once. The down side was it is heavier, takes more space in the toyhauler garage and it is louder. The little Kipor gets used every time not because of a main gen failure but because it is better on gas than the Onan and I seldom need all the power the Onan will provide.

Unless you have a place to haul it, the offered Champion is not a viable backup. So unless you have another use for it, I'd take the Yeti.

I have a big Yeti and they are amazing coolers. They'll keep ice for a week or more. They are heavy though.

[gbopp]

Trackrig wrote:
Take which ever one you think you can sell the easiest or give away as a gift?

That's why I would take the generator. I think it would sell quicker. 🙂

[Trackrig]

If you have the Onan, I don't know why you'd want the Champion to use with the MH?

* It's going to be nosier than the Onan
* It's going to use as much fuel as the Onan
* It's one more thing to maintain
* It's going to take up room
* If you used the Champion all of the time, you'd still have to run the Onan every so often anyway.
* I assume the Onan is plumbed into the MH fuel tank? You'd have to carry extra fuel for the Champion.

I'm not coming up with any pluses for taking the Champion unless you want a generator around the house - I have several. Take which ever one you think you can sell the easiest or give away as a gift?

Bill

[gbopp]

mlts22 wrote:
At the Austin RV show, one place was offering a Yeti cooler or a Champion 4000 generator. What would you choose?

If I were out boondocking, the Champion 4000 generator, if jammed in a doghouse and well away from my rig might be OK, but it isn't my idea of fun. The Yeti cooler is nice, but since I'm not really passively hunting, it might just wind up not that useful.

What would you choose?

You lost me. Your title indicates buying a motorhome with an Onan.
Your post is about a Yeti cooler or a Champion generator.:h

Or do you mean if you buy a motorhome equipped with an Onan, would you get a free (I assume) Yeti cooler or a Champion generator.
If that's the case, I would take the generator.