inverter generators

[thebearded1]

Looking to get an inverter generator for my race/camping trailer to power the mini split and some outlets so thinking around a 3500-4000 watt inverter generator. Anybody have any suggestions of ones that have worked well for them. I'm in between the Harbor Freight 3500 or Wen DF360ix. or Wen 56380i. The Honda one is too expensive for only using it a few times a year. I plan on using only non ethanol fuel and using stabil as well. It will be nice to have as well as a backup for a fridge. The fireplace can handle the heat in the winter so we are just worried about the food in fridge.

Thanks
Gene

 

[gthomas785]

Both of those generators you are looking at are pretty much identical and have Chinese made Honda-clone engines. Should be fine for occasional use. The biggest key to longevity for any generator is to drain the tank and carb before storing it.

 

[thebearded1]

Yup I always make sure to run the carbs dry in my motorcycle and old car before storing them.

 

[begreen]

A lot of RVers report that Champion is a good brand with good service in the US.

 

[ABMax24]

Can confirm the Champions are pretty good. I've got a 3100 watt that works well. It's not as quiet as a Honda, but it was 1/3 the price.

Champions new suitcase style 2500 watt units are very quiet. I often mistake them for a Honda when in the campgrounds.

The Cummins Onan generators have a good reputation around here too.

Just don't buy one of the "open frame" inverters, there is nothing quiet about them.

 

[begreen]

I would have picked up a Champion if it had been available when I got my Yamaha. Unfortunately they came out with the dual-fuel models in the US a couple years after my purchase. The Yamaha is great but the Champion does the job for half the price.

 

[zrock]

I have one of the CFmoto units for camping went bigger than i really needed at 4500. Great unit nice and quiet i can barely hear it running and would put the noise level the same as honda. Unit has remote/electric start with pull cord backup that barely needs a pull to start. Warranty is excellent at 5 years already had a warranty claim on the battery and it was done no questions. A little more money than the champion but in my opinion a better machine. The selling feature for me is that it came with a actual 30amp RV connection and not a 30amp twist lock style plug that most the other generators come with, only down fall to that is if i want to use the 30 amp at home.

 

[brenndatomu]

Can confirm the Champions are pretty good

X2...I bought a lil 2400 used and they still sent me warranty parts for it when I called their techline for some help with a problem on it...said they knew from the serial # it was less than 1 YO, so they would send me parts, but not pay a shop to work on it...I was good with that! I thought I was gonna be on my own on paying for stuff!

 

[RockCastile]

Can't speak for the Champion or Wen but if you plan to own one long enough to need to do maintenance, can confirm the Predator 2000w is annoying. You about need elf hands just to get the spark plug connector off. If you ever needed to remove the carb to clean/rebuild/replace, can say from experience you pretty much have to halfway disassemble the machine to get the thing off.

 

[thebearded1]

Thanks yall! I will look into the Champion and CFmoto. Knowing these companies have warranties that actually provide parts and not question is great to know!

 

[zrock]

X2...I bought a lil 2400 used and they still sent me warranty parts for it when I called their techline for some help with a problem on it...said they knew from the serial # it was less than 1 YO, so they would send me parts, but not pay a shop to work on it...I was good with that! I thought I was gonna be on my own on paying for stuff!

Nice to see a company that takes care of warranty by the serial# dealing with another company's for warranty issues and its pointless and i even noticed that the 2 components im having issues with have disappeared off my account where i registered them for warranty, how convenient eh.. They both want receipts but the receipts are those magic ones where the print disappears after 6 months..LOL

Now when i purchase things i look for reviews on their warranty's and also look for any company forums and look through their for warranty issues and walk away if i see to many complaint's

 

[xman23]

I have a Champion 2000 watt inverter pure sine wave. It can run the fridge, house lights and TV. This summer we had an outage for about 8 hours. The generator ran on about 1/2 gallon of gas.