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.

[Huntindog]

Sorry, DP

[Huntindog]

Yes my brother's ALWAYS starts on the first pull. It's actually a tad better than our 3 Honda 2000s are in that regard.
We camp a lot in below freezing temps, and run the gennys at night to keep the battehries up for the heaters.. Under such use, my broter would only put what gas he wanted to use that night into his Champion. It would run out sometime during the night and his battery would have to carry the load till morning. Sometimes he would under estimate how much gas was needed for the night, and the battery wouldn't last.
Now with his Honda, he just lets it run all night like I do. A gallon lasts about 10 hours under that use. The Champion uses about 4 times the fuel under identical conditions. Rare to see side by side comparisons quoted on this forum, but this is one.

Not dogging the Champion one bit. It is a GREAT value, and if it suits YOUR needs, buy it.
Others may be poo pooing your decision but...It's not their money.

[2oldman]

JiminDenver wrote:
The one time mine didn't start that easy was when I forgot to turn on the gas valve.

The only time my Hondas start first pull is if I run them almost every day. Even then, if I shut them down, then after a while try to restart on a warm day, they will not start with the choke on (which is normal starting procedure.) Took me a while to figure that one out.

I do not *ever* store them full of fuel for more that a few weeks, so I can't say how they'd start if I left fuel in them. But, if they've been drained -tank and carburetor -and I fill with gas, there's no way they're starting first pull. After that, no problemo.

[JiminDenver]

2oldman wrote:

rexford wrote:
2. Starts first pull every time

Every time, meaning every single time, no matter how long it's been stored, or the temperature?

The one time mine didn't start that easy was when I forgot to turn on the gas valve. We were both so surprised that it didn't start that we thought we needed a new generator.

Cold hasn't had a effect either. Where we camp it gets to freezing and below spring and fall. It is stored in a shed in the winter too and always starts easy.

No one is trying to blow smoke about what the 3500/4000 is or isn't. It may be louder but that doesn't discount the fact that it is easy to start or dependable. Compared to a Powermate, it's down right quiet. 😉

[2oldman]

rexford wrote:
2. Starts first pull every time

Every time, meaning every single time, no matter how long it's been stored, or the temperature?

[Desert_Captain]

The simple fact is you get what you pay for. Picture two TT's: One costs $20,000 and the other $6,000. Obviously there are many valid reasons for the price disparity. You can buy either one so which do you think is going to perform the best, have the fewest problems and ultimately represent the greatest value?

Lots of places where a Champion can be run such as motor events, middle of nowhere etc., but you will still have to listen to it. Before you buy spend a little time on the internet checking the reviews regarding service issues. I find it interesting and revealing that most of the defenders of the Champion line usually are damning with faint praise.... :R

[Rolling_Condo]

Supergen makes a sound enclosure for the Champion.

[rexford]

I inherited a Champion 4000 and it has served me well. It is loud so If I need prolonged power in a public area I switch to my Honda.

Pros.
1. For 5 years it has lived in the back of my truck in the elements without complaint.
2. Starts first pull every time
3. Runs on bad or old gas that my Honda won't.
4, I do not worry about someone stealing it
5. Around $350

Cons.
1. Loud
2. I don't have to worry about someone stealing it.
3. Some screws vibrate loose. Needs occasional maintenance.

[JimM68]

We do a certain amount of Nascar infield camping, and there are not a lot of rules.

Nieghbors (not just mine) with champion generators have been known to have their fuel lines cut.

When you can hear a 3000 watt genny over the screaming of 43 race motors, something is very very wrong.

And when they run the damned thing at night so they can watch TV, well it ain't gonna run all night.....

[JiminDenver]

I have to agree that when running a AC that the 3500/4000 is a thirsty beast but we used it for charging last year a few hours a day plus some AC and microwave use and never went through 5 gal in two weeks.

[mlts22]

I've sat in my truck's bed with my 3000 watt Yamaha on, and was not able to hear it (was able to feel its vibrations) over a Harbor Freight open-frame model 100 feet away.

It makes a difference.

[old_guy]

many seem to like the gen you are looking at.BUT, I have to challenge the noise level of this machine. we were at a star party last year the guy about 6 TT's down had one and he drove the rest of us nuts with the noise. If you are deaf and have a 500 ft cord then I say go for it, yes Honda's and Yamaha's are spendy but they are worth it as far as over all performance.

[Huntindog]

I had a single Honda 2000. On a Elk hunt my brothers no name genny quit. He ran into town and picked up the Champion 3500 for 299.00.
Great value. He ran it for about 6 years. I came across a deal on a dual Honda 2000 setup that was to good to pass up. So I bought it. I gave the old Honda to my brother. He still has the Champion, but rarely uses it any more. Not because of the noise, but the fuel economy. He has a truck camper without AC, and the Honda does everything he needs using about 75% less fuel. While the money savings is nice, he really appreciates the room he saves by not having to bring a lot of fuel. (Many of our hunts are in remote locations).
So IMO there is nothing really wrong with the Champions. They are just a little louder and a lot more thirsty... But if you need AC, then it is by far the best deal. If you don"t, then the fuel savings may quickly make the Honda a better deal, depending of course on just how much you use it.

Also They make a remote start model. It usually goes for about 450.00.
The pull starts are about 299.00

[boosTT]

I would agree... Don't use it at a campground.

I have a cheap generator I used when atv'ing. Its too loud for that even, IMO.

[sgrizzle]

HA HA! I knew there would be some "slamming" going on...that's why I prefaced my OP with the two items:

1. i'm not trying to compare the Champion to Honda or Yamaha
2. I know generators can be loud...but if the CG has rules on them and you follow them...you are being respectful to the others.

When I camped at Gros Ventre (Tetons) they asked me if we had a generator...we said no, so they put us in an area where no generators were allowed. No problems!

It sounds like the Champion is a pretty good buy...