Last week we picked up our new GMC diesel P/U and 35 ft fifthwheel "home." Being used to having a generator, my wife was not at all happy about living full time in our new home without any electrical backup. Lo and behold, the RV dealer had a large stock of Champion brand 3500 watt continous, 4000 watt surge, generators in stock, for a whopping $395! Less than 60db when running, it seems like a very inexpensive alternative to the $2000 Honda 3000. So we bought one. Runs like a top. Anyone thinking about emergency power for their home might check them out...

Congratulations again on the new "house". I have seen a few of the generators like this and i have wondered about the durability of the unit as well as the fuel consumption. Post again in a few months and let us know how it holds up. Have been looking for a small unit for the back of the truck but have not been willing to part with the money for a honda/yamaha gen set for occasional use.

I have a Kipor 2kw genset. Had it about a year and have not used it much until recently. The last several months we have been on the Az. Rim (7500'). The "monsoon" season is in full The sun has not been sufficient to solar charge my batteries. Been running the gen about 2 hrs per day. So far so good.

It appears to be a direct clone of the Honda. Parts are interchangeable according to some RV forum folks. Mine cost $320 delivered.

It might be a while before I can give a real report, we are hooked to shore power here, and will be until we leave in about six weeks, heading to a warmer climate for the winter. I have only run it for an hour or so, and so far so good. The dealer said that it had a "Honda" engine, even tho the label says that it was made in China, so I don't know about that...

Most likely a honda clone, some of the engines are close enough to the original that parts are interchangeable or so i here tell.

Hey OBG, this should probably in another thread, but I'd love to see what your monthly costs are in terms of food, shelter, and utilities, if you wouldnt mind sharing. Also, do you have any income, or are you living on savings/retirement money? Your situation is something my wife and I have considered countless times.

Thanks!

That will be kind of hard to figure out. We normally spend three-four months volunteering at state/fed campgrounds, where full hookups, sometimes propane, sometimes laundry are provided. So, other that the monthly payments we now have (12 year loan on the new tlr!!!), our only expenses are food and "entertainment," which of course includes fuel to drive around. We are currently in the last weeks (thank God) of our first "workamper" experience, working at a mom and pop stop and rob in the wilds of Wyoming. Here we are actually paid a small salary, in addition to hookups/propane/laundry/ice/and the occassional filched meal, but all added together, we are being paid a whopping $7 an hour! The "regular" help, doing the same job, same hours, start at $12. We will not make this mistake again! I have my state retirement, minus the 44% that my ex gets, and my wife has her tiny state retirement. That, along with the volunteering thing, allows us to travel and see some country. We try to average three months at one place, no more than one month off, then another location. Naturally we try to be north in the summer and south in the winter, altho that does not always work out. Try it, you will like it...