Community Forums

superduty · 07-13-2006, 05:39 AM

Hi,

I am soon to be new to the TT side of camping. I am looking at this generator, based solely because it is cheap ($329). What do you think? Will it run my new trailer with a/c? I only have a 30 amp service to the trailer.

The generator is a champion 3500 watt(peak 4000)

http://www.cpeauto.com/de3500RV_gen.htm

Or should I buy something different?

superduty · 07-13-2006, 05:39 AM

Hi,

I am soon to be new to the TT side of camping. I am looking at this generator, based solely because it is cheap ($329). What do you think? Will it run my new trailer with a/c? I only have a 30 amp service to the trailer.

The generator is a champion 3500 watt(peak 4000)

http://www.cpeauto.com/de3500RV_gen.htm

Or should I buy something different?

partsman01 · 07-13-2006, 07:37 AM

I would think that would be plenty for running everything.
Maybe more than you really need.
I am no expert.

Frankie · 07-13-2006, 07:53 AM

I have learned my lesson with cheap generators.But , if you were going to use it once in awhile and noise was not a prob,and wont expect the performance of a better line,go for it.Price seems great. My coleman became a hassle ,too loud!!

Ray,IN · 07-14-2006, 06:26 PM

I agree with Frankie. I bought a 4KW Coleman genset for home use and when dry camping. I even bought the quiet muffler kit from B&S($100). It handled my needs well, but the noise is/was very annoying, not only to me but anyone within 100ft of it. seems it's not the exhaust noise, it's the engine itself making most of the noise that's the problem. Save up about $1,760 and buy aYamaha . You'll regret buying a construction type genset, I do anyway.

Sundevil · 07-16-2006, 11:40 AM

I agree with the others. If your budget can afford it, get a Yamaha or Honda inverter type generator. I personally have a Honda and love it. Starts every time with just a pull or two and it's nice and quiet. I wouldn't be able to stand the noise of a construction type genny. You pay more money for the inverter type but they run great and are well worth it IMO.

V10 man · 07-18-2006, 09:23 PM

If you don't care about the noise then it will probably be OK. I have a PepBoys model and it is reasonably quiet but then I mostly dry camp so noise isn't an issue. I'm thinking of changing to this unit. Checker Auto runs adds for it and sometimes a coupon for $299. Next coupon that comes out I'm buying one. Only issue I can see is it may not run the A/C and micro at the same time. Read this post on another site: generator

powerboatr · 07-19-2006, 08:06 AM

juic box

you guys see this new one from onan

eandy · 07-20-2006, 11:41 AM

Robert,
I looked at juic box and bookmarked for future reference. Only took time to scan specs, didn't see noise dbs listed. Some day I've gotta swap my "wakes the dead" Guardian.

Stylin' · 07-30-2006, 02:43 AM

Not wanting to hijack this thread but...........don't most of the cheaper non RV generators only have 20A 110V outlets? Can an A/C be safely run off of that? Using a 30A service will usually run anything you want without issues.

Loren · 07-30-2006, 05:58 AM

Stylin',
The Champion generator that superduty gave a link to has a 30 amp RV recepticle.
Loren

superduty · 07-31-2006, 03:10 PM

That generator did have 30A service and a "rv" style outlet built in to it. I decided to pass on that model since it was a little low on wattage.

I read somewhere that a generator loses 3.5% for every 1,000 feet above sea level. Since I mainly camp between 8,000-10,000 feet, I felt I needed something more so that I would still have near 3000 watts @ 30amps @ 10,000 feet. I ended up buying the next model up which is a 5500 watt generator. I found the 30amp plug to be a big factor in many of the cheaper generators that I looked at. Most of them were only 20A.

While I haven't tried this generator in the field yet (trailer hasn't come in yet) I did run it with a hair dryer(1900 watt) and an air compressor (1600 watt) It ran both of them just fine, even when starting both of them at the same time, which I assume would simulate a 13.5K btu a/c unit. While starting both of them I was measuring voltage with a meter. The voltage was steady at 125V with and without the load and didn't dip during startup. This was done at 4500 feet above sea level. I can only hope that the real test in the trailer at 10,000 feet will work as well.

BlauMax · 09-11-2006, 07:21 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by superduty:
Hi,

I am soon to be new to the TT side of camping. I am looking at this generator, based solely because it is cheap ($329). What do you think? Will it run my new trailer with a/c? I only have a 30 amp service to the trailer.

The generator is a champion 3500 watt(peak 4000)

http://www.cpeauto.com/de3500RV_gen.htm

Or should I buy something different? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

My son bought one of these from Kragen Auto Parts.. part of a national chain that goes by different names in different parts of the country.. Checker, Schuck's, etc. He was using it as a power source for tools and lighting while building his house.

Anyhow, his worked fine for a while and then he had problems.. took it back to Kragen and they replaced it with no question. The new one ran fine for the rest of the build.

Caviat.. it's noisy, as are just about all of the genny's that are not of the superquiet variety. If you are usually camping in an area that has noisy genny's.. no big deal.

I was camped with my F-i-L at the ocean a few weeks ago and he was bragging about his new (to him) genny. I believe it is a Makita. It is an open generator as are other similar units, including most Hondas, and WOW, did it interrupt the peace and quiet of the serenity of this campground. It didn't bother him because he's almost as deaf as a post.. but, others were coming out of their campspots so see what was making all this noise. I'd have been embarrassed if it was mine.

YMMV.. good luck with your choice.

CoastalDav · 09-14-2006, 08:28 AM

I use the Generac 4000xl for the house and the RV when on long trips. It will run everything in the trailer you would normally use on a one night stay in the boonies.

With the wheels off it sits in the front part of the passenger side of the truck bed with a cover. I have a 50ft 30amp power cord with one end changed to fit the generator power plug.

Its electric start, has a spin on oil filter, 20amp/220V, 30amp/110V, 12V charger and will run all night (14 plus hours on one tank)It will run both my 15,000 btu Carrier and the 13,500 btu Coleman bedroom unit, with power saver compressor plus the TV, Frig, Etc. Hot water stays on Gas. Has a 6.6kw surge capacity and will operate above its 4kw rating.

I'm working on another muffler assembly and a hush box that will sit on a aluminum frame of
angle to hold and contain the generator. 12V electric ventilation fan will be installed in the box. Luvers in the other side of the box.

Here is the link for the unit for additional info.
http://www.generacportables.com/generators/generator.cf...ce=&wattage=&order=3

I paid $850.00 in 2004 for the unit. It works good!

Dave