firman VS champion

[lightning02]

wanted to know what everyone thinks is better when it comes to firman VS champion in generators. pros and cons about both.

 

[Bretny]

There both prob made in china so about the same as all the others made in china.

For me its sportsman..because thats what was cheapest.

 

[Airma]

There both prob made in china so about the same as all the others made in china.

For me its sportsman..because thats what was cheapest.

+1

 

[theoldwizard1]

Champion has been around for awhile. If they were ****, they would be out of business.

 

[Git]

Earlier in the year I bought a Champion dual fuel generator. One of the main selling points was I bought it from Costco, but I know they also sell Firman, so that is a plus in my book for both brands

I have had no issues with my Champion Generator and while doing the 5 hour oil change, I noticed some of the other Champion Generators had a rubber hose instead of a standard type drainplug, which would make changing the oil a lot easier. I emailed Champion asking to buy the parts - they are located in S Cal - (Sante Fe Springs), and they just sent them to me for free

Right now they have a generator similar to the dual fuel Champion that I bought and it's priced about $70 cheaper - pretty good deal and it looks like it got good reviews. If I was going to buy a generator this week, I would probably have bought that one.

So with that being said, I would buy whichever generator Costco sold that fit my needs, because I know Costco will stand behind it. I would make sure only to by an inverter type generator though

https://www.costco.com/Firman-2900W-Running--3200W-Peak-Dual-Fuel-Inverter.product.100481637.html

 

[lightning02]

That's actually the one I was looking at on the firman site but the one at 3300 watts. Not sure what exactly is the difference between the two. Cant be the made one just to have 100 less watts.

 

[Git]

It looks like for one, it is the type of start used - electric or pull and the 3300 can be used in parallell

I still have a screengrab of the Champion I bought back in Feb as a comparison - pretty much the same thing

 

[lightning02]

What have you powered with your unit? Also what's the run time like? Ever wish you got the next size bigger?

 

[Indexmill]

For a thousand damn dollars, you can get a Honda 3500W inverter...

 

[lightning02]

For a thousand damn dollars, you can get a Honda 3500W inverter...

Link me to those brand new 3500watt honda that's has a propane opt. Thanks

 

[buckwheat_la]

Champion gets lots of recommendations from RV users. I am pretty sure that Firman is a rebrand. I see that exactly generator under different names.

 

[lightning02]

after some looking around it seems like champion def has the better customer service. most of the problems with firman have come about with people trying to get in touch with them and not being able to.

 

[Git]

What have you powered with your unit? Also what's the run time like? Ever wish you got the next size bigger?

Not much really - bought it primarily for 'emergency use'. I bought a new 20lb propane tank to avoid the problems with stale gas. Champion claims it will run for about 14 hours on a 25% load using a 20 gal tank of propane

No, don't need any bigger. I wanted it to be portable and perhaps be able to throw it in the car to go camping or something similar

You can convert any generator to dual fuel. Cost is from $150 to $250, but I liked the fact that Champion comes from the factory with the conversion already

https://www.motorsnorkel.com/

 

[Git]

For a thousand damn dollars, you can get a Honda 3500W inverter...

Ya, please provide a link to any 3500w Inverter type Honda Generator, let along dual fuel...

 

[lightning02]

Not much really - bought it primarily for 'emergency use'. I bought a new 20lb propane tank to avoid the problems with stale gas. Champion claims it will run for about 14 hours on a 25% load using a 20 gal tank of propane

No, don't need any bigger. I wanted it to be portable and perhaps be able to throw it in the car to go camping or something similar

You can convert any generator to dual fuel. Cost is from $150 to $250, but I liked the fact that Champion comes from the factory with the conversion already

https://www.motorsnorkel.com/

iv had some friends that have done the propane swap and some that have a factory dual feed gens. the ones that come from the factory seem to run better and longer hr wise so thats why i rather have it set like that from the get go

im wanting to store 2-40gal propane tanks. trying to find out how long it will run off that about 20hrs aday.

Ya, please provide a link to any 3500w Inverter type Honda Generator, let along dual fuel...

facebook market im sure LMAO!!!

 

[Git]

after some looking around it seems like champion def has the better customer service. most of the problems with firman have come about with people trying to get in touch with them and not being able to.

I forgot to add

This is why I bought my generator from Costco - especially their online site Costco.com. If I was having issues, and I couldn't get a hold of Firman, a couple of clicks on the Costco Web Site and UPS would be on their way to my house to pick it up for a full refund (or I could take it back to the nearest Costco)

Costco for the win - either brand

 

[lightning02]

I forgot to add

This is why I bought my generator from Costco - especially their online site Costco.com. If I was having issues, and I couldn't get a hold of Firman, a couple of clicks on the Costco Web Site and UPS would be on their way to my house to pick it up for a full refund (or I could take it back to the nearest Costco)

Costco for the win - either brand

yea that seems to be the best way. guess i need to setup a costco account since the costest one to me is an hr away but if it saves me the ******** just one time its worth it.

 

[Git]

Costco.com and the actual Costco stores almost reminds me of Sears and Sears Catalog.

You can find things online with free shipping that they don't carry in the store. But, sometimes they will also have it in the store and a lower price. And you have to remember their return policy on most items - 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. There are now limits on electronics, computers and some other things due to abuse, but this policy applies to most of their items - more info

https://customerservice.costco.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1191/~/what-is-costcos-return-policy?

Costco is a pretty good company and vendors love to get their foot in the door to sell at Costco. One of Costco policies is the vendor can not sell the same exact item, anywhere else, cheaper than Costco. (They do play some games, slight changing model numbers, etc - but overall, Costco has very good prices)

I hate to see abuses like this, because it effects all Costco Members - but here is a pic of a returned generator they accepted:


https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/aat054/i_heard_yall_were_complaining_about_christmas/

 

[lightning02]

WTF!!!! thats ******* crazy

 

[Bretny]

$1k is prety pricy for a 3500w chinese made generator. The ability to burn propane can be handy but limits your running watts to about 80* i believe. You also need to be carefull with 20-40lbs tanks as sometimes if your taking to much propane out of the tank it cant vaporize thus limiting the propane actualy coming out of the tank.

You should at least have more than one 20lb tank. They can be had free if you keep an eye out. I have 21 20lb tanks and have about $50-60 into all of them. Exchange places are wonderfull.

 

[Git]

$1k is prety pricy for a 3500w chinese made generator. The ability to burn propane can be handy but limits your running watts to about 80* i believe. You also need to be carefull with 20-40lbs tanks as sometimes if your taking to much propane out of the tank it cant vaporize thus limiting the propane actualy coming out of the tank.

You should at least have more than one 20lb tank. They can be had free if you keep an eye out. I have 21 20lb tanks and have about $50-60 into all of them. Exchange places are wonderfull.

Ya, you can get a HarborFreight 4000w generator for less than $400. But, it won't be an inverter or dual fuel, and the warranty is 90 days...

Or you can get this generator, pretty similar to what we are talking about in this thread for $800, but again, 90-day warranty and only runs on gas....

 

[Phantomd]

You can buy aftermarket propane kits if that's important to you.

 

[Git]

You can buy aftermarket propane kits if that's important to you.

Yep, posted a link to the MotorSnorkel in post #13

Not sure why you would spend $800 on a HarborFreight 90-day warranty generator and then another $150 or so on a dual view kit, but hey - suit yourself. Me, I still with what Costco sells whenever possible

 

[Indexmill]

Link me to those brand new 3500watt honda that's has a propane opt. Thanks

Okay, okay. The Honda is not dual fuel and is 2800 watts. I'm sorry.