My buddy went though several of those predators generators. They get pretty regular use. He started out a 3500, and had to go bad, the second time. They let him get credit towards two of the smaller ones and had to replace one of those. To harbor frights credit, they never gave him any issues replacing it.

He finally broke down and purchased a honda 7000 and had been going strong since.

I have a honda 3000 eu. I bought it used 12 years ago and it's still going strong. All I do is change the oil and air filter every season. I use it pretty regularly. If it died today, I would replace it it with the same thing.

I think ultimately you get what you pay for.

quote:

Originally posted by banjo:
I think ultimately you get what you pay for.

Simply no way to argue with that

Well I don't have a Predator or Honda or Champion. I went a got a Troy Built from Lowes. I know its not the most quiet out there but its far from the loudest, for under 1000 it's been running flawlessly for 12 years now. Only an oil change a filter change in off season. It has a 10800 peak with a 7000 running. Has a detachable 4 outlet panel with about 20ft of cord and a 220 outlet on the chassis. I rewired my 220 cord to split into 2 110s that plug directly in to my trailer. It runs my 15000 BTU AC, 4 6ft fluorescents, Air Compressor, mini Fridge, Computer, Car battery charger, Trailer battery charger. Box Fan, Micro wave and a few others. The panel also has the read out screen to remind you of oil, Filter and spark plug change based on Hrs. used. Key start. It works very well with no issues but like I mentioned its not the quietest but it's far from the loudest. I put it at the front of my truck and never hear it. Tank has a fuel gauge on it, I've run it all day at the races (8hrs at least) and only use about a half a tank (5 gal tank). Works great for me and would easily run a motor home. I would think you could re muffler it to be more quiet as there isn't really that much engine noise only exhaust. My 2 cents.

Success is only the last failure tried one more time.

Good isn't cheap and cheap usually isn't good.

That being said, I have two Predators. One is a 4000, the other is smaller. I took the wheels off both and built my own slide outs for both trailers, they work fine. I only use them to run a small air compressor, lights at night if needed, and my George Forman grill a few times a day. No A/C units, I don't sleep in the trailers.

They are decent on noise output, certainly no Honda or Yamaha Invertors, but nothing like the old Sears generator I had. People five spots down would give me a long extension cord to plug into theirs and shut mine off!

Laughed my butt off at that Mike Beck. I had one of those loud azz generators. I started it one time and the guy's poodle next to me had a seizure, so I sold it and bought the Troy Built. On another note I heard of a guy that had a alternator set up on a lawnmower frame using the Briggs to run it. Apparently it was very loud and annoying. the Pro Stock team that was close to him told him it was a very ingenious idea and was impressed. Offered to by it from him and allow him to plug into their trailer. The guy sold it to him and they promptly threw it in the trash after permanently disabling the engine.

I've seen plenty of Predators and Champions at the track. I have the standard Champion from Tractor supply and it's been a great generator. Ythe one thing I can tell you about is Champion's customer service. They have bent over backwards for me over the little things that I have had to do on this generator! It's never given me a minutes trouble just general maintenance. I pulled it off of the trailer to adjust the valves and needed a new valve cover gasket, called them and they sent it free of charge despite me wanting to pay. After years of sitting on the front of my trailer the volt gauge lens fell off, again called them and they insisted on sending me one free of charge again I expected to pay but no charge. There was another time I called for some small item and again no charge and the sent me a T shirt! Now keep in mind this generator is getting pretty old by now and this is over the course of years. Last week I called them about a fuel line, my hose from tank to carb started leaking. Again they insisted on sending it no charge despite my insistence that it's an older generator and I expect to pay. If that's not enough to convince someone to buy a Champion I don't know what would be.
If I invest any money in a generator again it will be an inverter style. The difference in noise output is amazing, my Champion is great compared to the B&S style motors but no comparison to the inverters. The best part about the inverters is you can link them together. I've see a frame where you can stack them and link them if you have an AC to run.

I bit the bullet and bought this Yamaha EF6300ISDE Inverter Generator and I'm very pleased with my purchase. It powers my living quarters trailer with no problems (including running the A/C). A little heavy but super quiet.

quote:

Originally posted by Eman:
The best part about the inverters is you can link them together. I've see a frame where you can stack them and link them if you have an AC to run.

It's built into the design of the square 2000 generators. The piece that goes between them doesn't make it where they will stack, they already to that. It is just the mounting of the plug and electric parts of the parallel kit. These are what I have.

i have an older predator 2000 bad gas has killed it a couple times, just need to take the damn thing apart to clean it out and it runs good again.

got a 3500 predator not to long ago and its a good unit for the money.

if i was a full timer id probably buy a honda. but part time here and there the predators should be just fine.

just need to buy some ethanol free gas for them.


.

My Honda is 12 years old and gets used about 20-25 weekends a years and the only thing I have done is new battery and change oil once a year. I doubt you will ever find some one with a Honda or Yamaha who says I wish I had bought a cheaper generator.

quote:

Originally posted by Eman:
I've seen plenty of Predators and Champions at the track. I have the standard Champion from Tractor supply and it's been a great generator. Ythe one thing I can tell you about is Champion's customer service. They have bent over backwards for me over the little things that I have had to do on this generator! It's never given me a minutes trouble just general maintenance. I pulled it off of the trailer to adjust the valves and needed a new valve cover gasket, called them and they sent it free of charge despite me wanting to pay. After years of sitting on the front of my trailer the volt gauge lens fell off, again called them and they insisted on sending me one free of charge again I expected to pay but no charge. There was another time I called for some small item and again no charge and the sent me a T shirt! Now keep in mind this generator is getting pretty old by now and this is over the course of years. Last week I called them about a fuel line, my hose from tank to carb started leaking. Again they insisted on sending it no charge despite my insistence that it's an older generator and I expect to pay. If that's not enough to convince someone to buy a Champion I don't know what would be.
If I invest any money in a generator again it will be an inverter style. The difference in noise output is amazing, my Champion is great compared to the B&S style motors but no comparison to the inverters. The best part about the inverters is you can link them together. I've see a frame where you can stack them and link them if you have an AC to run.

I had the same generator for several years and had the same experience with their customer service (I'm hard on recoil assemblies). Unfortunately, the generators are so good that a thief knew how good they were and stole it off my trailer.

I replaced it with a Honda EU3000 just because I got a screaming deal on a brand new one that had never been started ($1100).

first I agree 100% on bet what you pay for theory . I also agree that waiting to get the money to go top of line would mean lot longer not getting to play. Have to do what you have to do sometimes.

Looking really hard at Champion 4500 ,Not a super quite but at 68 Db at 23 feet(two pits away) its only 6 higher than their quieter
ones.

Sounds like might be case of getting what I pay for plus more. I mean dang nobody here calling it junk? Thats like gold stars across the board. LMAO

Well the inverter type are usually much quieter and that is HUGE for me. I can not stand a loud generator. Also the inverter type usually get real good gas mileage.

I currently have a Champion 2000 and a Champion 3100 inverter but going to sell the 3100 I got a deal on a 8750 Predator generator and that can run both air conditioners and everything on my motorhome and trailer. And it is cheap from a friend.

you guys with the predator 3500 take time and clean the carbon off the spark arrestor in the muffler once in awhile. Ask me how I know.lol

The Honda needs a cleaning every now and then too. One thing no matter which one you decide on is I highly recommend the Lucas ethanol additive. We used to have to replace a spark plug in Denver every now and then. Started using the Lucas and no issues since.

I brought a Honda eu6500 used with 12 hours on it a few years ago. Made a slide for my trailer. Powered my old motorhome accessories and the trailer without issues. Sold.the mh and still have it in the trailer
I bought a eu2000 to run the trailer. Never a problem, and both are very quiet.

My brother just bought a Westinghouse 4700w invereter generator, for right around 1k. Not quite as quiet as my honda, but not bad for the money, and he used it to power up.his motorhome as well. This was the first weekend he used it

With any of these generators maintenance is important. There's not a lot of maintenance but if you neglect it you'll be the guy running the long extension cords to your friend's trailer.
The Honda knockoffs like my Champion require valve adjustment, easy to do but few do it. Seafoam is your friend and adding it to the gas cuts down on the carbon buildup. I run cheap Walmart gas with ethanol and never have any problems. I clean the fuel system, run it on race gas and then drain it for the winter. I use Mobil 1 10w-30 oil, and change it twice a year if I race a lot. My Champion has a low oil shutoff, if you have to raise the trailer to get a low car out it will make it shut off, don't ask how I know.

I’m an Onan repair Guru so you know I have Onan(s)

2 4kw units.

1 in trailer, 1 in MH

Remote start and I primarily use the old trailer unit. Plug MH into trailer or trailer into MH if running MH generator.

Both will power everything no problem.

To save wear and Gas I also have an inverter in trailer.

I often plug weather station and phone into inverter.

If I’m in the lanes getting pages from WS, even if generator quits, I’m not losing WS info or pages.

Inverter battery gets charged anytime either generator is running.

The trailer generator was a take out and had a lot of hours on it. Still going, just change the oil, plug once a year and drain the gas anytime it sits. Carb has a drain screw, takes 5 minutes.

Onan’s pay the bills.....lol

I have an inverter B&S
https://www.electricgenerators...iEAQYAiABEgJ9OfD_BwE
Not loud. Not like a Honda. Wanted something that I could run both airs in the MH.

Onan will be selling 3 new portables this fall or sooner.

P2500I....2500 peak,2200 watts running small portable enclosed cover 48lbs. and has usb ports and can be paralleled with a second unit.
P4500I....4500 peak, 3700 watts running, larger unit with wheels on one end, enclosed cover 98lbs. usb ports can be paralleled has 1 30amp RV outlet..
P7500Df...open metal frame with wheels one end...9500 peak, 7500 watts running usb ports battery charging port, 1 30amp RV outlet


Their RV units are

4KY....4000 watts, single cylinder 3600 rpm....33 amps output...Probably the unit they sell the most. Class C Motorhomes pretty much all have them.
5.5KW....5500 watts..twin cylinder...2880 rpm....45 amps output...Class A gas motorhomes
7KW......Similar to the 5.5 but with higher engine speed at 3600 to get more amperage output....53amps...Class A gas motorhomes.....

These are RV units and they also sell Commercial Mobile versions with some added features...…

Most any trailer has a generator ready compartment....and the 4KY will fit in any trailer.
The larger units would have to be checked for enough room size wise....

All need a separate fuel tank and starting battery and can easily be made remote start from inside the trailer...

I have had gas machines with 7-8-9 thousand hours used everyday in commercial vans. The record was 12,500 hours on a 7KW gas unit....Had major repairs along the way.....

Yes they had major repairs usually but they get used constantly...

Just had a customer with a machine I installed this past Feb. a 7KW commercial mobile machine and she came in for service and the machine has 1100hrs on it since Feb. and had nothing but oil changes...and she never changes the filter !

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