Small generator recommendation

Spend $ on a Honda or buy any off brand, Harbor Freight has a good one for cheap if you take care of it. I have the same 3500 but the Northern tool brand. had a better warranty. Works great for my 30 amp camper.

I love my Honda. It never gives me any trouble despite only being run a couple times a year. It’s very good on gas and it’s enough to run my refrigerator a lamp, my Wi-Fi router and portable air conditioner.

I've had a lot of generators this size and usually people operating them that don't take the best care.


Honda is the best but pricey.

I hate to say it but WEN would be my 100% recommendation if you don't want to spend for Honda.


I had a bad experience with the only Harbor Freight Predator I ever purchased but I see here many people have had better.


I have 3 WEN (3500 and 2x 4500 Inverter) and all three have outlasted Predator, Westinghouse, Champion by many years.

One has gotten 20+ hrs of use a week for about 6 years and still runs perfectly.

In my experience, things like push button start tend to break on all the brands over time (or immediately) and often better deal to buy the the no frills pull start only inverter ones.

I've never had a Pulsar nor Firmin. A friend of has had a Firmin for a while without any problems.

I've got about 5,800 hours on mine with (knock on wood) ZERO problems. I've yet to get a predator to last that long for me(have had 4 of them). Granted they are solid generators, just not quite as solid as the Honda IMO. But your right, you can buy 2-3 for the price of one, just depends on what you value.

Thank you.

I have 2 Honda 2000 inverters and I can link them together and get 4000 watts.

Those two are same price as a Honda 3500 inverter.

Also have a Ryobi 6500. It will not run my freezers/fridge (I have 2 upright freezers). They will trip the breaker on the Ryobi within a few seconds. The Hondas will run the freezers just fine. Something about the inverter vs non-inverter.

I don't have enough knowledge to understand why that is but it's the same as a freezer won't work on a circuit with a GCFI.

Anyone have a generac - portable say 3-4 k watts?

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Also have a Ryobi 6500. It will not run my freezers/fridge (I have 2 upright freezers). They will trip the breaker on the Ryobi within a few seconds. The Hondas will run the freezers just fine. Something about the inverter vs non-inverter.

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That's a GFCI issue with modern ice boxes and bonded neutrals I believe.

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The reality is while they may last long, many generators will with proper maintenance. I have several relatives that have 20-25 year old briggs, coleman, champion, etc.. generators that still run perfectly.

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My Briggs and Stratton was purchased in 2008 after Gustav. Never put ethanol in it. Always used Stabil in the gas, always turned it off by cutting the gas valve and letting it die that way. Changed the oil maybe 4 times.
That thing to this day still starts on the first crank every single time.

I’ve been wanting to get a bigger one but it’s hard to justify that when this one still works like it is brand new.