What's up with generators?

[gearhead]

So I've been saying I wanted to go to 2 smaller gens. I've got a 3500 Champion that is too heavy for me to move around by myself. I want 2 small gens that I can load in and out of the truck by myself. So after a lot of research I settled on the Smarter Tools 2000 watt gens. I could order them from Home Depot, WalMart, Costco, or Amazon. I thought I would wait till late spring to buy them to stretch the warranty period out. Well now the only place I can find them is Amazon, and the price went up $150. At this price I may as well buy Hondas.
Anyone want to guess what is happening?? Smarter Tools going out of business? They had Yamaha engines, I wonder if Yamaha refused to sell them any more engines??

[JRTJH]

Generator models come and go, as you've illustrated. The Smarter Tools model apparently has been discontinued by Costco. You may find some still in stock at an individual Costco, but without active sales, I question whether Costco will be able to support the product. Additionally, I'd question if Smarter Tools will still be in business in the future. I have no idea and certainly no information to support that, but if their generators are becoming harder to find, I'd ask, "why?"

If you want them, they are available for $649 each at this website: http://www.hardwaretools.com/product...FYU9aQodE_wGYQ

I have no idea about the reliability of that business, nor have I ever done any business with them, I just found them to have the lowest price on the Smarter Tool 2000 watt generator.

As an alternative, I've had very good service with Champion's 4000/3500 watt generator and currently am using a Champion 2000 watt inverter generator that has performed flawlessly for 2 years. That model is still available for less than $500 each on the internet with a 2 year warranty. Like you, I believe Honda is probably the best, but the price simply puts it out of consideration for the amount of use I'd get from them.

[gearhead]

I'm afraid the Smarter Tools gen is being discontinued. If that ends up being the case, I suppose it is a blessing I didn't buy them.
I had some initial issues with my Champion but its been great since. The Champ 2000 is on my short list. I probably won't put 50 hours a year on them. One or two NASCAR races and maybe a national park campground for a few days.

[Mike484]

Not to rob the thread, but I have a question about the use of two generators over one.
I need to get a generator and know that I need at least a 3000 to run the A/C. I have seen a lot of people talk about useing two and running them together. I do see where you can purchase 2 - 2000s for less than 1 - 3000, and the 2000s weigh much less than a 3000, but other than that, to run your A/C you have to run both generators. With me living in the south, I see a need to run my A/C much more than not so I will have to almost always be running both generators. Sounds like a pain in the butt to have to fuel and maintain 2 rather than just 1.
Is there any other benefit to running 2 other than 1?
And just to make sure, I have a 15,000 BTU A/C, so a 3000 is sufficient or do I need to go a little bigger?

BTW gear head, if you end up going with 2 generators and want to get rid of the one you have, I might be interested in it.

[jsmith948]

Originally Posted by Mike484

Not to rob the thread, but I have a question about the use of two generators over one.
I need to get a generator and know that I need at least a 3000 to run the A/C. I have seen a lot of people talk about useing two and running them together. I do see where you can purchase 2 - 2000s for less than 1 - 3000, and the 2000s weigh much less than a 3000, but other than that, to run your A/C you have to run both generators. With me living in the south, I see a need to run my A/C much more than not so I will have to almost always be running both generators. Sounds like a pain in the butt to have to fuel and maintain 2 rather than just 1.
Is there any other benefit to running 2 other than 1?
And just to make sure, I have a 15,000 BTU A/C, so a 3000 is sufficient or do I need to go a little bigger?

BTW gear head, if you end up going with 2 generators and want to get rid of the one you have, I might be interested in it.

I have the same questions regarding the use of 2 - 2000 watt generators as opposed to 1 - 3000 watt. Planning a trip back east this fall and want to have a generator for those times when FHUs are not available. Champion advertises their 3100i (2800 running/3000 starting) as being capable of powering a 15,000 BTU a/c. As far as weight is concerned - don't 2 - 2000 watt weigh the same (or more) than 1 - 3000 watt?

[bsmith0404]

I'm sure it's not the combined weight he's concerned about, it's the single weight of loading/unloading the generator into the back of the truck. I have the Champion 3000, I'm in pretty good shape, have spent my fair share of time in the gym, but it is getting harder to lift it into the back of the truck by myself and is absolutely not safe as a one man lift. Loading this thing could very easily ruin a planned trip and lead me to the hospital and a back surgery. IMO, if you have a Champion 3000, you need help to load it or need a receiver hitch cargo rack on the back of the RV for transporting it. The lower height is still not a safe lift, but much easier to do lifting with your legs instead of your back.

[gearhead]

I can't lift a 100 pound generator into the back of my truck, I use a engine lift to get it in there. Once I get to a destination I use extension cords from the truck to the 5th. I would like more flexibility as to where I have the gen. If I'm sitting under the awning I would like to have the gen on the opposite side of the 5th, if I'm inside trying to sleep I would like to have the gen at the back of the 5th.
I want to camp in national parks and use the gens if I need A/C (usually not, where I want to go). If not using A/C, I will need to charge the batteries occasionally; I think one of the 2,000 watt gens will do that. I don't want to run the noisy 4,000 watt gen for hours to just charge batteries.
I've been camped next to folks with the smaller pairs of gens and it is so much quieter than my gen screaming all afternoon.
edit: I've had 2 back surgeries and have a titanium plate in my neck, I don't want a 3rd surgery.
There are extended run kits that can be used on the small gens to get about 36 hours run time. Basically uses a boat outboard motor gas tank. I think Berg or IPI makes them.

[nellie1289]

this one might be a good compromise for some of you. it has pretty good reviews. I have seen it as cheap as $649 on Costco special

http://www.costco.com/Champion-2%2c8...100139466.html

[JRTJH]

Gearhead,

Here is a link to the Champion 2000i generator for $499 (with $1 shipping). I think the shipping for a buck ends tomorrow, but not sure about the generator sale. They have had this model on sale several times this past year for $499. The parallel cable kit is $79. This is where I bought my generator.
http://www.farmandfleet.com/products...generator.html

This sale price makes buying two generators and the parallel kit essentially the same price as one Honda 2000i.

Just sayin'

[gearhead]

Thanks folks. I'm packing for a 5 day trip to Louisiana right now. When I get back I'll dig more.
Leaning to Honda, but........$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Oh...if anyone else is looking at Honda I think Mayberry in New Jersey might have the best price. They also have the extended run gas tanks. Free shipping.

http://www.mayberrys.com/Honda/generators/eu2combo.aspx

And the tank:
http://www.mayberrys.com/Honda/acces...ergs-dual.aspx

[larry337]

I have 2 Yamaha 2000's. If I remember right they weigh about 45 lbs each. A single 3000 Honda/Yamaha weighs around 130 lbs. So, less weight, more power, and easier to handle. I have been around the Yamahas and the Hondas and they sound and perform nearly identical. However I will say the single 3000's in both brands are quieter then twin 2000's. Between my friends and I we own them all. Mine are about 5 years old with no issues. I chose the Yamaha for the fuel gauge and fuel cutoff switch. Maybe Honda has zinc added them. I also have a friend with the twin Champion 2000w inverters and they have been flawless for about 2 years now. Not much louder, if at all, then my Yammies. For half the price are a great deal.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[B-O-B'03]

Originally Posted by nellie1289

this one might be a good compromise for some of you. it has pretty good reviews. I have seen it as cheap as $649 on Costco special

http://www.costco.com/Champion-2%2c8...100139466.html

I have that model, it runs my 15K BTU AC unit just fine and I can load it into the bed of the truck by myself (at almost 62 years of age), I think it weighs around 80 pounds.

I like that it has an RV outlet, fuel shut off, economy mode switch, is fairly quiet and 99% of the time starts on the first pull.

Costco has had them for $100 off twice in the last year and offers free shipping.

-Brian

[Sarvi]

Originally Posted by B-O-B'03

Costco has had them for $100 off twice in the last year and offers free shipping.

-Brian

I keep watching for the sale again, and am going to snag one up when it happens. I've read tons of reviews and they are pretty much all positive.

[vampress_me]

Here's another idea for those who may want the Honda generators.
http://www.murdochs.com/shop/power-e...=1363716828170

It's my favorite store in Missoula, and has been for many years even when they were still called Quality Supply. And we still stop in to shop every year when we are out there since Montana has no sales tax. They also do free shipping often throughout the year, and are right now I think.

[x96mnn]

Originally Posted by Mike484

Not to rob the thread, but I have a question about the use of two generators over one.
I need to get a generator and know that I need at least a 3000 to run the A/C. I have seen a lot of people talk about useing two and running them together. I do see where you can purchase 2 - 2000s for less than 1 - 3000, and the 2000s weigh much less than a 3000, but other than that, to run your A/C you have to run both generators. With me living in the south, I see a need to run my A/C much more than not so I will have to almost always be running both generators. Sounds like a pain in the butt to have to fuel and maintain 2 rather than just 1.
Is there any other benefit to running 2 other than 1?
And just to make sure, I have a 15,000 BTU A/C, so a 3000 is sufficient or do I need to go a little bigger?

BTW gear head, if you end up going with 2 generators and want to get rid of the one you have, I might be interested in it.

Pros:
Easier to lift in and out of the truck
2 2000 put out more power then the 1 3000, ( my comparison is on Kipor 2000)
When I am not running AC 1 is plenty but as you point out may not be a value add.
Found the 2 2000s with smarts throttle easier on fuel

Cons
Your filling two generators
Your maintaining two generators

Now my question to add on, has anyone used a non invertertor generator with a APC UPS that has voltage regulation built in? Read online a lot of people are using this set up in their home, APC1300 with a generator with great success saving thousands.

[PerryB]

I went the route of (2) 2000's because of weight/portability and redundancy. If one has an issue you have a spare. Obviously you need both for A/C.

[mazboy123]

two words: honda or yamaha

[SADLY]

Originally Posted by mazboy123

two words: honda or yamaha

thats 3 words

[GmaPaTime]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Gearhead,

Here is a link to the Champion 2000i generator for $499 (with $1 shipping). I think the shipping for a buck ends tomorrow, but not sure about the generator sale. They have had this model on sale several times this past year for $499. The parallel cable kit is $79. This is where I bought my generator.
http://www.farmandfleet.com/products...generator.html

This sale price makes buying two generators and the parallel kit essentially the same price as one Honda 2000i.

Just sayin'

X2 JRTJH.......

We've been very happy with our Champion since getting it and for the reasons John states, buy 2 for the same $$ as 1 Honda.

Steve

[Sarvi]

The Champion 2800/3100 is on sale at Costco through March 21, $100 off.

I will be getting one for sure!

http://www.costco.com/Champion-2%2c8...100139466.html