Champion generators, any good?

[dschwandt]

No experience with generators except for the 2500 watt unit in my camper which has it's limitations as to portability as you might imagine.

Found a Champion unit w/80 hrs, wheels/handle kit and cover, New never used 25ft 30amp Rv generator cord with a 125v twist lock on one end and a triple multiplug/multiplex on the other end.
Seller claims they used it one weekend and bought it new for $400 and asking $385

What say you guys?
Thanks!

 

[bjames]

I would rather buy at a store to get the warranty.

https://www.farmandfleet.com/produc...MIwc_-m6bg-QIV1f6zCh2FFwTIEAQYBiABEgK1lPD_BwE
https://www.ruralking.com/champion-...V1f6zCh2FFwTIEAQYBSABEgJGVPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[lpalma]

What he said, You should by a betterer one though...

 

[gary noblit]

David ,my question is about intended use...If it is to run a household in case of storm damage it may not be enough..I've had 2 5000 over the yrs and they were barely enough.If I were buying new I would most definitely get a dual fuel and use lp.I drain and change gas 2 times a yr to keep it fresh..That's a good price if it will do the job intended...I used to haul mine to do work but have since gone to battery powered tools...

 

[lhinds]

I had problems starting my Champion and went back to tractor supply where i bought it. They said i had to ship it to California at my expense for warranty work. So, i fixed it myself.

 

[bthein]

I bought a 3800 watt unit after a big storm knocked out my mains for five days . Never had a generator before waited in a long line at Cabbella's took what I could get . Took it home set it up and it started on the first pull and ran 5 days without rest . I only used it for the furnace and fridge , some lights at night and switched the fridge and microwave off with one another . I have bought a bigger unit now , but keep this one in case or for short storm related outages . I change the oil after a use and always run it out empty also and it has worked well for me . But as others have said for the close money get new with papers in case you have trouble .

FWIW , Bob

 

[gpapa]

Winco

 

[dschwandt]

Found the same unit on sale new, same place the seller bought theirs but without the extras the seller had which I really don't need anyway although the twist lock cord would be nice. I asked the seller about whether the warrantee had been filed and if it was transferable but got no response on that.
Told them about the sale, they got snippy right away and told me to go there then!
My answer, "Will do!"
W/my 10% vet discount will be less that what the seller was asking.
Going to use it to power a hammer drill and impact hammer for use at the cemetery.
It can live on my flat bed when in use.
The reviews seem good on the web site for and they claim to have a dealer network.
Company is based in Milwaukee, WI

Thanks guys for the input

 

[PACub100]

I asked the seller about whether the warrantee had been filed and if it was transferable but got no response on that.
Told them about the sale, they got snippy right away and told me to go there then!

These type of people crack me up..."slightly used but we want to sell it for what we paid for it"
Yeah... Ok.

 

[dschwandt]

Leaning now towards a Honda.
Did read some bad reviews on the Champion this morning.
And read a little further on their site and they came right out and said they are manufactured, wait for it.....you know where! even though they have a new facility here is the US

 

[PACub100]

How much are you using your hammer drill and impact gun??
Is it too much for cordless with an extra battery and charger plugged into your vehicle?

 

[JPrattico]

say what you want, but this guy has a very strong opinion about Champion (and most other modern Chinese generators) and apparent evidence to back it up!






Death Match Final Results - USA Wins!

I personally don't think it would be a terrible generator if you aren't using it a whole lot. No personal experience with any of them however.

 

[-CӞ]

No personal experience with generators, but I have observed that the Honda is noticeably quieter than the farm store/Harbor Freight/big box store brands. Depending on the intended use, the noise factor could be well-worth considering.
Good idea Gary RE dual-fuel unit + LP!

 

[kzintner]

In our area for some reason we can lose power easily. Since super storm Sandy have lost power too much. Bought a 7.5 kw Generac, had plug and breaker panel for over from utility company (PECO/Excelon) installed. All good so far.

 

[dschwandt]

Good videos but man, why can't that guy hold the damn camera STILL!!!
Geesh, make me car sick just trying to focus on WTH he is trying to describe and talk about.
Sounds like the Champion is not what it's name implies!!

I came home empty handed yesterday, the unit (Champion) I thought was on sale was not but a larger one was!
I must have confused the two the night before.

Lowes only had Craftsman brands and they were all larger heavier units.
Menards only had heavier units as well, namely Generac
Blain's had the Champions, Generac and Honda, all out of my price range and not a very large selection either.

Will have to keep my eyes open for F/B & C/L on the better brands
Appreciate the feed back guys!!

 

[Bret McFarland]

The Northern Tool Powerhorse 13kw generator I have has been good and reliable, made in China. Unlike Champion — NT has a strong reputation to protect for their other products and I thought it was a good compromise between expensive and cheap. Champion is at the bottom of the scale, I would be wary.

 

[dschwandt]

How much are you using your hammer drill and impact gun??
Is it too much for cordless with an extra battery and charger plugged into your vehicle?

Not much yet.
Some of the work is just drilling 4 holes to insert expandable anchors when the existing foundation is solid for which the hammer drill is used.
Then others where the foundation is disintegrating to the point of falling apart the Milwaukee impact hammer comes in really handy for breaking up the rotten mat'l for removal.

I have neither a battery powered hammer drill or an impact hammer.
Luckily, so far the work has been in area where I can get the camper near by and use the gen set on it for power.

 

[dschwandt]

The Northern Tool Powerhorse 13kw generator I have has been good and reliable, made in China. Unlike Champion — NT has a strong reputation to protect for their other products and I thought it was a good compromise between expensive and cheap. Champion is at the bottom of the scale, I would be wary.

Thanks Bret,
Unfortunately, the nearest NT store is 100 miles away.
Starting to realize the Champion is indeed not a champ!!

 

[bpientka]

This past spring I used the same champion generator for work. We used it 3 days a week for 4+ hours a day for over 6 weeks. The unit works well. It started right up with a few pulls. Didn’t seem to burn a bunch of fuel. I will say it seemed that the rated output on the box might be slightly high than what the unit actually puts out. I had to develop and follow a specific starting order of equipment. If I started everything is that order the generator handled it fine.

I will also say we run a Honda eu6500 and these are night and day differences. The Honda is a lot more money but is significantly quieter and handle loads way better. $3000 vs $500

Overall I would say for the price the champion is not bad. You might want to look at a harbor freight inverter generator. Slightly more money than the Champion but the inverter generator seems to run quieter.

 

[dschwandt]

This one popped up about 30 miles away
Has honda engine, 5.5
What do you think?