Quote:
Originally Posted by cospilot
so i got this email this morning from cabelas on a 3500 watt generator now on sale.
right off the bat i am thinking ok whats the catch?
yes i know its a name brand I've never heard of
but 3500 watts for $329 bucks?
i am sure its not whisper quiet but hey if you wanted to run your AC or microwave (not at the same time probably) wouldn't one of these babies do the trick?
what am i missing?
http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/produ...4&type=product
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Just a couple of thoughts on purchasing a generator.
First, how loud is it? You'll almost certainly want to use it where there are other campers, and if it's too loud, well, you get the idea. If it was me, I'd want to hear it run before buying it.
Second, it weighs 104 pounds. The cost to ship it to you might push the price back up where you could consider other generators. That's unless you are near or planning to visit a Cabela's store. If you can get it at that price at a store, it could be a real bargain.
Third, given its weight, you'd want to think about how you're going to carry it and how you are going to get it in and out of your truck or whatever.
Fourth, the Hondas (kind of the gold standard for RVers) use inverter technology to produce electricity which is very clean and best for computers and other high tech devices. You may want to do some checking on what and how this model produces its output. I saw a Champion 3,100 watt inverter generator listed on Cabela's web site for $999 on sale so there are obviously some differences. Food for thought.
Fifth, 3,500 watts continuous output with 4,375 watts of starting output is very hefty compared to the 2,000 or 2,400 watt models from Honda or Yamaha. It'll surely power one A/C and the microwave, almost certainly concurrently.
Sixth, I'd personally be very leery of an engine in a generator that isn't Briggs & Stratton or Honda or other brand name. YMMV and caveat emptor on that point.