Posted 2010-12-08 5:51 AM (#127875) Subject: Champion generators
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Denton, TX
As a new LQ owner (and senior citizen female who is attempting to manage this rig by herself!), a Honda or Onan is not in my budget. Am looking at the Champion 4000/3500 or the Champion 6000/5000 generator to serve the needs of these appliances: microwave, heat pump, water pump, ac/heat strips, toilet/shower combo. I will use the electric plugs for occasional use of a crockpot or reading lamp. I do not plan to camp with a TV or computer! The caveat is that I am a low-end user of creature comfort and will be careful to limit use of appliances to taking the chill off in the winter and using the microwave for coffee in the morning or warming up of pre-prepared food. The Champion 4000/3500 reviews on the TSC site are very good. Am curious what the trailer owners out there think. I prefer to get the smaller one as I "think" it may be easier for me to handle--get it started, move it around, etc. (And I promise to be a good citizen, using the generator sparingly and closing it down early enough to preserve the country quiet in the evenings.)
Posted 2010-12-08 10:16 AM (#127884 - in reply to #127875) Subject: RE: Champion generators
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: Ohio
My dad has one of these generators. It's been a great trouble free generator and was inexpensive. My main complaint is that even though it' s 3500/4000 max watts, the amps just aren't there. Trying to use a circular saw or compound mitre saw with it is almost out of the question by yourself. It will pop the little breaker every time. If someone holds the breaker up while the saw(s) start, it will run them just fine. It is also fairly loud in comparison.
My little generac ix2000 inverter gen (2000 watts) will run both of these with no issues at all. The generac is a good generator and may be a good alternative for you compared to the Honda or Yamaha. It's quiet, but *not as quiet* by just a couple db's sitting side by side of a Honda.
Posted 2010-12-08 11:08 AM (#127885 - in reply to #127875) Subject: RE: Champion generators
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
We have a Generac 4500 that has been wonderful, cheap to operate (ran it 2.5 days in a snowstorm at Cedar Lake, OK last March on 6 gals of gas). It is quiet and convenient with the remote start....
Posted 2010-12-08 11:41 AM (#127886 - in reply to #127875) Subject: RE: Champion generators
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by trailyaya on 2010-12-08 6:51 AM
As a new LQ owner (and senior citizen female who is attempting to manage this rig by herself!), a Honda or Onan is not in my budget. Am looking at the Champion 4000/3500 or the Champion 6000/5000 generator to serve the needs of these appliances: microwave, heat pump, water pump, ac/heat strips, toilet/shower combo. I will use the electric plugs for occasional use of a crockpot or reading lamp. I do not plan to camp with a TV or computer! The caveat is that I am a low-end user of creature comfort and will be careful to limit use of appliances to taking the chill off in the winter and using the microwave for coffee in the morning or warming up of pre-prepared food. The Champion 4000/3500 reviews on the TSC site are very good. Am curious what the trailer owners out there think. I prefer to get the smaller one as I "think" it may be easier for me to handle--get it started, move it around, etc. (And I promise to be a good citizen, using the generator sparingly and closing it down early enough to preserve the country quiet in the evenings.)
The Champion 4000/3500 is rated at 69 dbl. This is too loud for a campground..... It may be OK to run at your home but not at a camp/show ground.
You make many enemies too fast with $299.00 Champion generator!!
Posted 2010-12-08 1:14 PM (#127887 - in reply to #127875) Subject: RE: Champion generators
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: Ohio
Retento,
I've seen similar posts like this from you in the past, and I have to disagree with you. Every campground that I've ever been to, out of 20+/- sites, there might be 5 (+/-1) campers with inverter quiet gens, myself and in-laws included. Most of the horse camping population uses standard gens like this and everyone is always friendly in my experiences.
You only make people mad when you run them overnight, inverter gens included--which most horse people are blunt enough to tell you to not run it the next night. I've never seen other horse campers p'd off and 'not make friends' because someone was using their generator during the day. Chances are they have one and use it, too. Most of us only use them when we have to..microwave, heat, battery charging, etc. Most cook over the fire anyway..
Most of us want to enjoy ourselves and horses and if that means not taking out a 2nd mortgage to buy a Honda eu series, then that's what it means. I got lucky on my inverter gen purchase and had it not been for that, I'd still be using the ole briggs.
Posted 2010-12-08 2:09 PM (#127890 - in reply to #127875) Subject: RE: Champion generators
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
I actually have one of these, the 4000 watt, and used it this weekend as I was having a battery issue, and replaced my 2 trailer batteries when I got home. Whatever the rating, this generator is really not THAT loud. I actually had 2 gentlemen help me load it back in the truck and I cranked it back up to charge my batteries more to head home. (they wouldnt hold the charge long) and both guys remarked how quiet it was. They were amazed a "cheap" gen could be that quiet. We dont need to run ours often either, and I just couldnt quite swing $2000 for a whisper quiet one. I usually leave it in back of truck and unhitch to muffle sound. This time I unloaded and set it directly behind my trailer next to the tack door to muffle sound. A lady next to me in an Elite trailer had a rear tack mounted gen that sounded as loud as mine. Dont know what she had except it came in the new trailer. She had alot of vibration with it though. Anyhow my point is, if you must buy an inexpensive generator, this one is amazingly quiet. You know I have never agreed with the operating hours rules. LOL To me I would rather not hear a gen when I am outside during the day doing things. At night in the trailer sleeping it makes nice white noise to put me to sleep. LOL Hope I havent made anyone mad. Oh and I ended up with 2 AC Delco deep cycle marine/rv batteries so hope some heating issues are now solved.
Posted 2010-12-08 3:13 PM (#127891 - in reply to #127875) Subject: RE: Champion generators
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
What's the distance on the 69db rating? My Onan 4000 is rated at 66db @ 10 feet. National Parks require 60db @ 50 feet. It's all relative to the distance.
Posted 2010-12-08 3:27 PM (#127893 - in reply to #127875) Subject: RE: Champion generators
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Denton, TX
With gratitude to all for clear explanations and responses. I'm learning a lot, bumping the learning curve on wattage estimates and power management along the way. Now for an additional question regarding the Champion 3500/4000 model: Can I keep this in my tack room (at the back of a 3-horse slant) and then open the door while it is running? It will fit if the generator is inserted lengthwise rather than widthwise. Is that safe to do so? If not, can I keep it in the stud stall on a permanent basis (I use this area for storage), and then roll it out to the back of the trailer, leaving the load door open while running? Is that safe?
Posted 2010-12-08 3:34 PM (#127894 - in reply to #127891) Subject: RE: Champion generators
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by Tresvolte on 2010-12-08 4:13 PM
What's the distance on the 69db rating? My Onan 4000 is rated at 66db @ 10 feet. National Parks require 60db @ 50 feet. It's all relative to the distance.
I think that 69db is at 21 feet.... Some noise examples below...
Posted 2010-12-08 3:37 PM (#127895 - in reply to #127875) Subject: RE: Champion generators
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: Ohio
I tried leaving my Generac in the tack storage last time out, but it created an "ampitheater" affect and actually seemed louder. The same might occur in the trailer (not to mention drive you insane if you're in the LQ while its running).
You may want to look at the wheel kit with handle that is available for these so you are able to maneuver it easier. You could always make a set of ramps for it out of some 6" wide decking board that way you don't have to lift it into the trailer.
Posted 2010-12-08 6:36 PM (#127901 - in reply to #127885) Subject: RE: Champion generators
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by calamityj on 2010-12-08 12:08 PM
We have a Generac 4500 that has been wonderful, cheap to operate (ran it 2.5 days in a snowstorm at Cedar Lake, OK last March on 6 gals of gas). It is quiet and convenient with the remote start....
Champion generators
