MFinCA
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
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Joined: 06/09/2004
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I bought one in 2007 for about $300 to take when I go to NASCAR races and BBQ competitions. Most of the time we go to full hook-up RV places, so we don't take it along with us.
I ran my 3500/4000 Champion Generator a lot when I first got it. Several NASCAR races and quite a few BBQ competitions. It always started up with a pull or two and just ran and ran.
Starting around 2009, I haven't had the chance to go to NASCAR or BBQ competitions.  So it has been sitting in my garage a lot. I put Stabil in the gas tank and it sat there.
I think I used it a couple of times in 2010 and earlier this year to run my electric mower just to give it some exercise. I changed the oil in the spring of 2011.
Yesterday I needed to re-charge the batteries in my TT. I had accidently forgot to activate the kill switch after my last trip.  So I took the generator out to the RV storage lot. It started on the first pull and I ran it for around 2 hours. During that time I went grocery shopping and to WalMart. I returned and the generator was still running just fine.
It has now been put back in the garage and is ready for the next time I need it. I'm really pleased with how reliable it has been over the last 4+ years.
I only use it when I'm at a venue where noise isn't a concern. I leave it unused most of the time--which I suppose it isn't good for it. But it hasn't seem to bother it at all.
But I would say that it has been a very reliable piece of equipment for me, and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a generator. I don't like the weight of it, and I struggle to move it around and get it on my carrying rack.
If I used a generator all the time, I would buy the Honda 2000 tandem as they are a lot lighter to carry. But for the infrequent times that I need one, it has been a good generator for the money. Based on my current usage, if my Champion did die, I would simply go out and get another one.
MFinCA
2004 Homestead Settler 255RS
1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500
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jasult
Central NJ
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Joined: 05/25/2009
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mine has been fantastic and I never leave with out it. We are boondocking in Central PA in 2 weeks and it will be working.
Jim & Georgeanne + Lucie the beagle
"excavator" on the DieselStop.Com
1996 F250 Powerstroke, Baby Swamp injectors, Tony Wildman Chip,210,000 miles,
1995 Fleetwood Wildness 30 ft 5ver
Our Camping Pics and 5ver Album here
Our Gettysburg trip 2010
Williamsburg, Va
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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Joined: 04/19/2005
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I added the wheel kit to mine, it has been a great piece of equipment and a great value
09 SuperDuty Crew Cab 6.8L/4.10(The Black Pearl)
06 Keystone Hornet 29 RLS/(The Cracker Cabana)
Camping Photos
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goreds2
OH H ..... EYE OH !
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Joined: 09/01/2008
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The Champion was a great selling point when I sold my Class C last year. It cranked up first pull everytime and I would show them how the AC and microwave could run at the same time etc. I would keep it outside during during the winter with just a BBQ cover on it.
See Picture In My Profile
1990 Dodge XPLORER RV Van- Purchased 10/15/10
Chick Magnet !
* Sportsman GEN154 2000 Watt 80cc Portable Generator *
XM Satellite Radio since 12/25/2004
Sold my Class C 1976 Dodge TEC Motor Home 9/25/10
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lzasitko
Regina, SK Canada
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Joined: 11/30/2005
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I just bought one a couple weeks ago so have not had a chance to use it very much. We had a family reunion to go to and forecast was mid 30's C so plenty warm. I looked at a lot around here from time to time but never bought one. Went online and still didn't find much, best seemed to be wallmart and Hyundai 3500watt online it said 389 bit in the store 449 for the same thing.....
My son wanted to go to Costco so I went with him and while I was there thought I would look at what they had even though online they didn't show much. Anyways walked over and they had a 3000/3500 for 299 so went back the next day and picked it up. Ran it a couple hrs a day with the air on in the MH until it was through the 5hr break-in (by the hr meter) period and then changed the oil. Never missed a beat and seemed to much better on gas than I thought it would, they say 10 hrs on a tank but I ran it the 5 hrs and not even close to half a tank. Hr meter seems to be a little optimistic as well, the first day I started it at 12:30 and shut it off close to 5 and yet the meter said it had run only 2 hrs. We will mostly be using it at the races so no problem with a bit more noise, not that it is really bad to start with. It is almost as quiet as our old little 1200watt.
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retired4fun2002
Ellenton, FL
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Joined: 07/22/2003
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They are great generators for the money paid. I would recommend that you put some SeaFoam in your gas or you could have problems somewhere in the future. With that ethanol in our gas, it is slowing but surely messing up fuel lines and carbs of these small engines. My generator is about 6 years old, only used when the power goes out (one to two x per yr) and it fires immediately an I attribute it to the SeaFoam which is a super product. Safe travels.
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