Best Portable Generators?

[6.5 forever]

I'm a prepper that loves to camp. Experience says go with Honda.

 

[Fuj]

Cummins / Onan

 

[Bob3700]

I am a person who buys carefully n keeps what I buy. My Honda 2500 was purchased in1990 n still starts on the first pull. Just remember to drain the fuel n run the unit out of gas’s before u put it away for the season.. Expensive, yes. Still have tie original invoice for $750. That was a chunk of change back then!

 

[flintcreek6412]

Honda is without a doubt the gold standard. The issue now is availability. Good luck finding one.

If I was to buy one for pure recreational use I wouldn't have a problem with the predator. While a failure might be inconvenient it would not be catastrophic. If I was buying one to keep my furnace running during winter storms or other emergency use I would try to find a Honda....

 

[brokeasajoke]

Briggs & Stratton left a bad taste in my mouth after I had two fuel tanks crack on their horizontal shaft engines. Turns out it was a know problem which is easy enough fix but at $70 per tank for a piece of subpar plastic? My generator may last forever and it does all I ask of it but it's the point of my fuel tank on my tiller and generator. My old Tecumseh powered generator does well too. Those small Hondas are awesome. We keep one on each first out engine at the fire department to power scene lights and ventilation fans. Super quiet.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I know you're looking for something other than Honda, but all my hunting, fishing and camping generator chores have been handled for the past six years with a Honda 3000eu. Handle and wheels, super quiet, dependable, and parts availability is excellent.

When camping sometimes we hear excessively loud and obnoxious gennys, and most often it is a ChiCom unit from Harbor Freight or like venue. Buy once, cry once and be done with it. If I had to do it all over again, it would be the same Honda 3000eu. In the past 40 years of outdoor activities, it's been Honda with zero regrets. Besides, why help the damn commies?

 

[FNSafari]

I have new respect for B&S engines, my friend let me use his John Deere mower while we were building a motor for my dixie chopper. It ran like a clock and always started easy. B&S engines in the 80s made you think that Honda was the only choice. If I knew then what i know now I would not have built a Kohler for the chopper, I would have bought one of several B&S engines I could have had for $100 each

Was the mower from WalMart, Home Depot or Lowe's?

 

[FNSafari]

I know you're looking for something other than Honda, but all my hunting, fishing and camping generator chores have been handled for the past six years with a Honda 3000eu. Handle and wheels, super quiet, dependable, and parts availability is excellent.

When camping sometimes we hear excessively loud and obnoxious gennys, and most often it is a ChiCom unit from Harbor Freight or like venue. Buy once, cry once and be done with it. If I had to do it all over again, it would be the same Honda 3000eu. In the past 40 years of outdoor activities, it's been Honda with zero regrets. Besides, why help the damn commies?

Amen. Why help the chi comms. They are not our friends. Enemies? Perhaps not at this time.

 

[Old Navy]

Just for reference some Honda generators are made in China.

 

[DRNewcomb]

Generac.

Generac, as a brand, has a bit of bad history with me. At one time, I owned one and they completely abandoned (stopped supporting) their entire line of portable generators. Not saying they'd be worse that Harbor Freight. It just left a bad taste in my mouth for an American brand.

I've watched my nephew's Honda inverter generator work and was amazed and how quite and fuel-efficient it was. But it takes deep pockets to buy.

 

[dbduff]

Funny how folks will argue over a generator but not so much if we’re talking Borden or a Savage action. You get what you pay for.

 

[justpassinthru]

I bought a 6500 watt Generac in 1999 and it’s been starting on the 1st pull and providing power to my house during outages all these years. Got to be one of the best products I’ve ever purchased. Cant speak about parts, I’ve never needed any. I turn the gas off and run the carb dry each time it’s used.

 

[redrockranger]

Just for reference some Honda generators are made in China.

My dealer says all small engines are made in China. Doesn't make a difference what the nameplate says.

 

[Chiquita]

My usage will be minimal and for camping and sometimes on job sites. I really like the Honda and know that it will last. But I also consider the generators that have lasted 20+ years were made with better quality parts and with pride.

 

[ChesterS]

When asking for recommendations you can't rely on experience on any from units 10 years or older. EVERYTHING now is cheaper! I replaced my Maytag washer and dryer that was over thirty yeas old, my water heater is still in use was bought from Hechingers in 1998, going on 23 years old! Now you are lucky to get 6 years from each.

 

[Old Navy]

My dealer says all small engines are made in China. Doesn't make a difference what the nameplate says.

B&S has several plants right here in the USA as well as Japan, China etc. Being made in the USA is slowly catching on even though the price is usually higher.

 

[Chiquita]

One nice feature about Champion generators is the Dual Fuel option.

 

[DirtySteve]

Ok I run a Harbor Freight generator all winter to keep my horses water tank ice free. No issues yet other than the cheap a$$ pull cord broke. The thing is quite. I may buy one of the larger electric start inverter generators next fall. For the price of them you really can not go wrong. Say each one lasts you 4 years… will you still need it in 12 years.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

B&S has several plants right here in the USA as well as Japan, China etc. Being made in the USA is slowly catching on even though the price is usually higher.

Didnt briggs go out of business? Their chinese big blocks put them under. No telling how many ive pulled out of the duck woods with a hole in the block. They were cast from the most porous pot metal ive ever seen. Some leaked oil before the first fire just out of the block. Relying on china ruined that great american company

 

[lb-ft]

I have a 1972 Honda generator that still runs like a dream.
I also have an eu2000i Honda.
Lastly I have a chi-com clone Honda 1000 unit I bought only because they had it marked down to $124 on clearance.
I might need a generator once a year.
I keep no gas in any of them. I drain the tanks and drain the carburetors after every use. I use only ethanol free premium. I don’t deviate from any of this, ever.
there is absolutely no comparison whatsoever in operation or build quality.

Quality:
Will it run 24/7 for a week during hurricane season? How much $ meat is in your deep freeze?
How much is my 40-hr old, 10 yr old Honda worth? Well it’s mint and I could probably get back the $800 it cost. New they’re $1150 now.
And when it comes to quality, the quality of even the pull cord or fuel tank or on off switch matters. It’s not usually connecting rods that leave you stranded with a cheap generator.

Operation:
Don’t have to fiddle with a Honda. They are considerably quieter than a cheap inverter unit. Also, how much do you care about the stuff you plug into your generator? The ability of your generator to quickly respond to continuously varying loads and the quality of those pesky sine waves and Hz matters.

If you just can’t swing a Honda, Echo power equipment recently came out with inverter generators. They are priced VERY aggressively, come from a quality Japanese brand, have a warranty and a great nationwide parts network.

if nothing else, buy what suits you, always run no ethanol premium, always drain the carb and tank, and store it properly.

Best of luck with all your adventures.