Thoughts on Champion Generator (not Yamaha or Honda)

[sgrizzle]

I would like your opinion on the Champion 3500W (4000 peak) generator that Cabela's has on-line. I believe it is around $450.00. I am not willing to spend $1300.00 on a Honda or Yamaha 1100W generator and I know "they are the best and quietest."

What I want to know, from experienced RVers, would the Champion be a decent value of reliability, power and "not incredibly loud" option.

One more note...I agree that as long as you follow the CG rules for generators, use of your generator is acceptable.

Thanks for your input.

[kearlms]

JiminDenver wrote:
The loudest was a open frame I could hear from across the lake, the most annoying was a Honda 3000 that never shut off. At first I was impressed with how much quieter it was than the Champ but the sound cut right into our trailer day and night. I would have happily listened to a Champ for a few hours over that inverter 24/7

I do have to agree with you on this one. We only run ours for an hour or so during the day. I have had that neighbor that ran their Honda all day and all night and it is quite annoying. I rather hear it for an hour or so during the day then keep me up all night.

[JiminDenver]

Baidy wrote:

SWD wrote:
My cousin has one and likes it. He always sets it up away from the main site. I have other Champion products that I've owned over the last 5-6 years. Just like anything else, they need to be maintained well. It is louder than an RV type unit, no getting around that, but if you are considerate to other campers I think it will be fine.

My opinion. They should not be allowed near a campsite. I'm so sick of listening to loud gennys. If their loud, use them on a construction site. If you can afford a trailer you can afford a decent generator. Let the fire fly!!!

I'd like to agree with you but change it to any generator because if you can afford a trailer and a pricy inverter generator, then you can afford a hook up site too.

Then again that's unreasonable isn't it. The two key things needed around others is respect and tolerance. We did use a dry CG last trip and heard 5 generators. The loudest was a open frame I could hear from across the lake, the most annoying was a Honda 3000 that never shut off. At first I was impressed with how much quieter it was than the Champ but the sound cut right into our trailer day and night. I would have happily listened to a Champ for a few hours over that inverter 24/7

[2oldman]

Many 3500 posts here

If the OP doesn't return, I'll assume he made this post to incite a riot.

[kearlms]

We have both the 1200 and 3500 units. We love both. They have been very reliable and really not to loud. We can stand by them and have a normal conversation without raising our voices. Good reliable units for a good price. We usually boondock and don't have close neighbors that have to listen to us.

[TheGriswolds]

We bought one of these almost 2 years ago for $300. Add another $49 for the wheel kit (very handy) and put gas in it. It powers the whole trailer just fine, 15k A/C included (just don't fire the microwave at the same time). We only use it at motorcycle races and one nascar race though. Haven't had the need to use it anywhere else as all campsites we stay at have electric in this part of the country. It's not nearly as quiet as the Honda or Yamaha, but it's not the loudest by far either. In my experience, the area is only as quiet as the loudest generator that someone is using and that is never mine. When you're in a field at a racetrack though, nobody cares at all. The thing will run all night to keep the A/C running if you put gas in it before you go to bed. The oil sensor is pretty sensitive and as long as you keep plenty of oil in it it'll run fine and not shut off. If it shuts off on you and it has gas in it, it more than likely is low on oil or not very level. I'd buy it again if I had to.

[RonWSl]

I got one of these in August for a month long trip in Sept. Was Ok but not Great. We would have to let it run for a bit - 30 minutes or so - befoe we could use the AC - someone told us that when we first fired it up the converter was taking all the electric to recharge the batteries. It would run our front AC but not the rear. Couldn't run much else if the AC was on with it. Although, on the plus side, it did the job - I didn't think it was too loud - it would run all night on a tank of gas. I just saw it at Lowes for $329 and at Campers World in Summerfield Fl for around $295. I got mine from Amazon for about $325 with free 2 dAY shipping with Amazon Prime. Would I buy it again - Probably. WOuld I prefer an Onan of abotu 5K or better, Yes.

[JiminDenver]

We bought a older well used 3500/4000 a few years back and it's great. For the money it has to be the easiest starting, most dependable, RV ready generator out there.

The money I saved NOT buying a pricy inverter model allowed us to buy solar and extra battery. Believe me when I say there isn't a inverter generator out there that can compete with silence.

We use ours while boondocking for AC and as a back up to our solar system for charging. It is louder than the inverters for sure but I've owned louder. As rare as it is that we need it, I can't justify replacing it even with the $800 Champion 3100 inverter. We only ran ours once this year in a test of the AC.

I'd hate to have to run it in a campground but that wouldn't change if it were a inverter model. That said from what I've read, it is within spec for most dry campgrounds but I would check first.

[BillB800si]

Don't use it in a campground. Noise is NOT what campers want to hear. If you're out dry camping in a area with no one around- be my guest....

One reason we rarely camp in State Parks is due to campers who love to listen to their "RV Outside Speakers" and their excessive drinking habits.
A well run campground is a clean quiet campground..
Happy trails,

[Baidy]

SWD wrote:
My cousin has one and likes it. He always sets it up away from the main site. I have other Champion products that I've owned over the last 5-6 years. Just like anything else, they need to be maintained well. It is louder than an RV type unit, no getting around that, but if you are considerate to other campers I think it will be fine.

My opinion. They should not be allowed near a campsite. I'm so sick of listening to loud gennys. If their loud, use them on a construction site. If you can afford a trailer you can afford a decent generator. Let the fire fly!!!

[4AggiesMom]

TucsonJim,

Could you post a picture (or description) of your son's enclosure? Do you think the muffler or the enclosure helps the most?

I have been thinking about making some sort of enclosure for my generator. I would want it to be able to be stored flat in my truck for transport and not be too heavy or hard to set up. Hubby and I have come up with all sorts of ideas, but cannot settle on one. We have looked at HD for soundproofing. There is a sheet of some material that is lightweight, but seems like it might not do the job. So we were thinking about glueing it to some plywood. Any thoughts?

I have searched this website and gotten some ideas on dampening the noise, but can't find much definitive information.

[GrandpaKip]

Depends on how long you plan to keep it. I have a 5000W Generac that is over 25 years old that runs great. Talked to a small engine mechanic about Chinese generators a year ago or so. He said the best thing about them was the price. I think that you get what you pay for.

[TucsonJim]

My son uses one when he's boondocking, and the noise was pretty loud. So he built a plywood enclosure that's easy to set up and tear down. To that, he added a muffler and intake that brings in fresh air and muffles the exhaust. On the top, he put vent slots so the heat doesn't build up. When he's set up, it is actually quieter than my Honda 3000i. His solution was MUCH less expensive than buying a Honda or Yamaha.

[Cecilt]

I bought one last January when the power went out at our house and not expected to be on for a few days. Worked great. Since we have a TT I wanted one with a 30 amp plug. Got the Champion 3500. Gander Mtn has them for $299. I think I paid about $250 with free shipping after searching online a few minutes.

[4AggiesMom]

We just purchased the Champion 3500/4000 generator from Walmart. We got the one with the wheels for $372 (plus tax and Walmart's new $2.97 delivery fee). It is "rv ready" with the 30amp outlet plus a couple of other outlets on the panel.

We used it for the first time while tailgating last weekend. It is not as quiet as we would have liked, but we were able to baffle the noise somewhat. The noise was tolerable and what I would consider not excessive when compared to others around us.

It ran our whole trailer very nicely.

[Turbo_Diesel_Du]

Should cost around $300 or so from Tractor Supply. JMHO