RV Generator – The Champion 3500 Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator

Ever since we bought our Travel Trailer, we’ve wanted to get an RV generator. If you’re going to live the RV lifestyle and want the option to go off grid as we do, you want to own an RV Ready inverter generator. This post is about why we’ve chosen – the powerful Champion 3500/3200 Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator with electric start.

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We needed an RV generator that:

1. Had the power to do the job,
2. Had a high value for the dollar, and
3. Was easy to use.

Our choice of the Champion RV Ready Portable Generator was further enhanced by its RV friendly traits:

• Direct to RV 30 Amp Power Plug,
• its easy portability, and
• Dual Fuel properties allowing the use of either gasoline or propane.

Power for the job

Like the decision to purchase our truck to tow the travel trailer, our generator had to start and power our RV appliances without the risk of damaging sensitive electrical equipment without question – particularly the pricey air conditioner (a 13,500BTU unit).

We looked for a generator that was either clearly at least a 3,000 watt unit (generally agreed as suitable to start and operate a 13.5BTU a/c) or a unit that had an “intelligent” start system that would boost output for high energy needs.

We evaluated the Yamaha EF3000iSEB, the Honda EU3000iS, Briggs and Stratton P3000 Powersmart and the multiple Inverter Generator options from Champion including units rated at 2,800-watt to 3,500 watts in output.

In the end, the Champion 3,500/3200 Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator (Model Number 100264) could not be beat in power output.

Champion rates it to satisfactorily start and run a 15,000BTU a/c.

Also note that Per Champion’s website, “All Champion generators use a sine wave, not a modified or square waveform. All Champion inverters produce this sine wave with a total harmonic distortion (THD) rating of 3% or less making it a true/pure sine wave.”

Output details for the Champion Model 100264 Electric Start Dual Fuel Generator :

• Starting Watts – Gasoline:  3,500 / Running Watts – Gasoline: 3,200
• Starting Watts – Propane:  3,150 / Running Watts – Propane: 2,880

The 3,500 Watt Model #100264 version we have can only (as of this writing) be bought from Cabela’s or Camping World.

If that is not convenient for you, the identical but 3,400 Watt version of the Dual Fuel Electric Start Model #100263 is available at Amazon, here at this link (and at a cheaper price!).

Our first impression video (Reason 2 & 3 below):

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHpwOO_MDME[/embedyt]

Value for the dollar

Money and careful budgeting are always on our mind.

In addition to having a raw power advantage over the other 3,000-watt class generators we were interested in, the Champion 3,500 watt generator was also very competitive on price.

We purchased our RV Ready Generator at Camping World for $1,199 as “Club Members”.

Only the Briggs and Stratton P3000 was priced competitively here at around $1,150, while the Honda EF3000iSEB and Yamaha EF3000iSEB each were priced at over $2,100 (Pricing per Amazon).

It appears that anecdotally, the Honda and Yamaha’s are the gold standard for 3,000-watt class RV Generators in terms of reliability and performance.

I’m just not sure that they’re $1,000 more reliable.

Below are Amazon links on those other 3 generators we were considering. Anyhow, KEEP READING AFTER THE LINKS!

Ease of Use

It was important to us that whatever generator we bought was going to be easy to use.

While we’re on our big trip, I’ll be taking care of any dirty or hot work naturally, but in the event that I am away, Jessica is going to have to take care of business.

That said, we bought the unit with the Electric Start option! (Both Model 100263 (3,400 watt) and Model 100264 (3,500 watt) have this excellent feature.

Under normal circumstances, starting is as easy as turning on the battery master, pulling the choke switch, and pushing “Start”!

Additionally, for longer periods of time when we may not use the generator, we don’t have to worry about gasoline storage or deterioration because we can simply plug a propane bottle directly into the RV Ready Generator!

Lastly, to switch from propane to gasoline and back, there are no adapter kits, or complex directions to follow. It again is as simple as moving a switch to and from the type of fuel you need!

The Oil Change is simple too!

After months of use, we share our oil change how to: