Need recommendations for a backup generator

ThinkFast

ThinkFast

Live Long
Figure now is a good time to be thinking about this, rather than waiting for the first power safety shutdown to be announced.

Looking for something on small side. Leaning toward quiet models that run on dual fuel - gasoline or propane. Something between 2200W and 3500W. Also would prefer one that will run for 8 hours at half or less load (we're only needing to run our fridge/freezer and TV - a 900W inverter hooked up to the car battery worked fine last year).

A big question is whether to look for a name brand, or go with specs/user reviews. Lots of brands I've never heard of on Amazon and Home Depot - seem like they may be good deals.

Thoughts? Any experience with the cheapie brands?
Thanks!
 
planegray

planegray

Redwood Original
Staff member
You might want to include the noise level as a consideration.

I certainly am, after running the generator for 3 days last year...yikes it was annoying.
 
Last edited:
Pushrod

Pushrod

Well-known member
Costco

Champion 5000w, gasoline, $800.

(Generac has the worst customer service in the business)
 
Mario

Mario

Well-known member
I use a combination of Yamaha EF2000 (inverter, very quiet) and a 2x 300W solar panels connected to 2x deep cycle large marine batts. During the day I can use the genny (still noisy) and at night I run the refrigerator on battery power.
 
byke

byke

Well-known member
planegray said:
You might want to include the noise level as a consideration.

I certainly am, after running the generator for 3 days last year...yikes it was annoying.
Click to expand...

Big +1. My only thought was that I wanted something with a Honda/Yamaha engine and we ended up with a Rigid 6800w, which is really a construction site generator. Works great, but I find myself wondering why I'm getting cranky for no reason and it's that fkn thing!
 
ThinkFast

ThinkFast

Live Long
Yeah - definitely looking at quieter ones. OK with off brand ones - save some $$. 3500W or so should get it done. HF, HD, Lowes, Amazon, CostCo, WM. where else??
 
byke

byke

Well-known member
The default is to just get a Honda, but if you're cool with off brand and wanting to save some bucks, I'd probably get the HF super quiet 3500. They get really good reviews.
 
Jalopyshoppe

Jalopyshoppe

idiot
dtrides said:
This is the one I have been looking at:https://www.harborfreight.com/3500-...Us+-+Generators+(Main)|63584+-+Predator+3500+
The reviews have been really good and quieter than the comparable Honda I believe.
DT
Click to expand...

I have this unt, and it's performed fantastic for 3 years. I use it for long campouts at least 3 times a year (think 10 days). It replaced a Honda Eu3000i that had a carb fire after 5 years of service. I bought it while I was at King of the Hammers, figuring it would do in a pinch for that week. It then went to a private campout in the Mojave for a week. Then a Black Rock desert 10 day run. Then Burning Man. Then a Johnson valley Thanksgiving campout. Then another Hammers...
That was 3 years ago, and it's been trouble free since then. It ran my house during the power shut off this winter. It's seen 3 Burning Man events, 3 KOH's, and so many other campouts. It's light enough to deal with alone. It runs my A/C in the summer, needing only one tank of gas a day (assuming you only need A/C for 6-8 hours). The fuel economy gets better if you're running a light load.
I hate to admit it, but HF really did this one right.
 
aminalmutha

aminalmutha

Well-known member
Whatever you get, I would recommend 3500W or higher. Gives you some headspace.

Sometimes you can find refurb name brand stuff at Home Depot or Lowes for good prices and sometimes even still have warranties.

I like the idea of deep cycle batteries at night.
 
Starpower

Starpower

Well-known member
The Honda's are great (I own the 2K and 3.5k EUi's) but I'm not sure they are worth the money compared to their clones where you can buy 2 for the same price at HF. I did just see some at Costco that surprised me with their lifetime warranty - pretty amazing for a genny.
 
ThinkFast

ThinkFast

Live Long
Jalopyshoppe said:
I have this unt, and it's performed fantastic for 3 years. I use it for long campouts at least 3 times a year (think 10 days). It replaced a Honda Eu3000i that had a carb fire after 5 years of service. I bought it while I was at King of the Hammers, figuring it would do in a pinch for that week. It then went to a private campout in the Mojave for a week. Then a Black Rock desert 10 day run. Then Burning Man. Then a Johnson valley Thanksgiving campout. Then another Hammers...
That was 3 years ago, and it's been trouble free since then. It ran my house during the power shut off this winter. It's seen 3 Burning Man events, 3 KOH's, and so many other campouts. It's light enough to deal with alone. It runs my A/C in the summer, needing only one tank of gas a day (assuming you only need A/C for 6-8 hours). The fuel economy gets better if you're running a light load.
I hate to admit it, but HF really did this one right.
Click to expand...

Great input - thanks, all!! Refurb would be great, too, if I can find one.
 
CDONA

CDONA

Home of Vortex tuning
In the RV world, weight is an issue along with noise, cost, power.
How much can you move yourself?
Most go for the 2200, single or pairs, the 3500 size usually stay in the truck bed.
 
RightCoastBias

RightCoastBias

F8TRED
Starpower said:
The Honda's are great (I own the 2K and 3.5k EUi's) but I'm not sure they are worth the money compared to their clones where you can buy 2 for the same price at HF. I did just see some at Costco that surprised me with their lifetime warranty - pretty amazing for a genny.
Click to expand...

I'd rather have my EU2200 than 2 knock offs. The warranty is great, but when the generator fails on me when I actually need it, the warranty doesn't mean jack. It's great I can get a new one in a couple weeks, but that doesn't serve me in the moment if need, at that point I've just got a dead generator.

Track days, bouncy houses and the like are fine for cheaper gennies, aas their failure is just an inconvenience. But my generator is mainly for emergency use. So a failure after a natural disaster, or something of the like, would be a lot shittier.
 
wannabe

wannabe

"Insignificant Other"
I've had my Honda 2.2kW for about 15 years now. Never an issue starting even after sitting forever and a day in my garage. My only gripe about it is that I still wish that I would have gone with the bigger one.

You find out quickly just how little juice 2.2kW is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top