HF misses the mark !

[theoldwizard1]

The small one misses the mark

 

[zendriver]

The Internet "beats" Harbor Freight! Still cheaper than Honda.

I've notice that more than a few of their products seem overpriced, for what can be purchased elsewhere.

so I purchase elsewhere, in those cases. Plasma cutters a good example.

They now get to compete, with lees expensive fare elsewhere.

 

[PittsburghTim]

Does the Champion go on sale for 30 or 40% off as do most HF items? Do they offer a no-hassle, walk-in return or exchange policy? I'm not defending HF, just saying that your post carries little weight without additional discussion. I would not consider either if they are truly needed in an emergency situation. I have never purchased anything from HF or made in China that my life or safety depends on. That includes jacks, jack stands, welding helmets, eye or ear protection.

 

[jblnut]

What did it miss the mark on ? Is it that the one that's less expensive is rated higher ?

They're both cheap junk IMO. I'll keep my Hondas.

 

[Jgaz]

I’d have to hear the Champion run (noise level) before I’d agree with it beats the predator.

And yes, I’m with @jblnut, I’ll keep my 15+ year old Honda.
However, I do know several people that have had good luck with the predator for occasional use.

 

[zendriver]

Guess I saw it as 2500w vs 4000w for about the same price.

 

[Jay870]

Champion misses the mark!



No, wait.... that worthless ************* also misses the mark!



Worthless thread.

 

[WhataTool]

Do they offer a no-hassle, walk-in return or exchange policy?

Returning a HF generator is easier said than done, and if you do get it accepted its a 20% restocking fee

 

[whateg01]

... I have never purchased anything from HF or made in China that my life or safety depends on. That includes jacks, jack stands, welding helmets, eye or ear protection.

 

[PCustoms]

Do they offer a no-hassle, walk-in return or exchange policy?

You think OP is banned from HF returns now too?

 

[Steve_P]

As someone who camps quite a bit, most cheap off-brand generators are LOUD. Drives me effing crazy. OTOH, Honda is fantastic. I really wish the imitations would spend another few dollars and copy the Honda's muffler.

 

[Renegade1LI]

You think OP is banned from HF returns now too?

He better hope HF & HD don't talk, believe or not champion makes a decent generator. I had one for years that I used with my snowmobile trailer, always started, quiet & just worked.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Does the Champion go on sale for 30 or 40% off as do most HF items? Do they offer a no-hassle, walk-in return or exchange policy? I'm not defending HF, just saying that your post carries little weight without additional discussion.

Guilty !

The point I was trying to drive home was that the Campion unit can output 3000W continuously. That 25A. More than enough to to run almost any 120VAC appliance ! It also comes with a 30A "trailer" outlet (NEMA TT-30R) !

The HF unit can output 2000W continuously About 17A. It MIGHT start an air conditioner or 120V compressor.

 

[finn]

As someone who camps quite a bit, most cheap off-brand generators are LOUD. Drives me effing crazy. OTOH, Honda is fantastic. I really wish the imitations would spend another few dollars and copy the Honda's muffler.

Don’t confuse an open frame construction generator with an inverter generator that has a noise containing shroud.

 

[M635_Guy]

 

[Aaron_W]

As someone who camps quite a bit, most cheap off-brand generators are LOUD. Drives me effing crazy. OTOH, Honda is fantastic. I really wish the imitations would spend another few dollars and copy the Honda's muffler.

I bought a Ryobi "Honda clone" generator a couple years ago in an emergency (PG&E shut the power off for an extended period of hot dry weather). It was all that was available at the time or I would have bought a Honda.

It has actually proven to be a decent, quiet generator.

 

[Steel_Rain]

I'll keep my Hondas.

I’ll keep my 15+ year old Honda.

Honda is fantastic.

Did someone say Honda?

 

[jblnut]

Did someone say Honda?

Holy **** that’s neat. Do they all run ?

 

[M.Brane]

I'm a Honda fan too, but I can't imagine the setup that would allow me to run all those together to power the whole house.

 

[whateg01]

...

...

 

[Steel_Rain]

Holy **** that’s neat. Do they all run ?

Yes. Bought or given to me by family members over the years. I’ve restored all of them in the last 2ish years.

 

[Steel_Rain]

I'm a Honda fan too, but I can't imagine the setup that would allow me to run all those together to power the whole house.

Eh, these are more for camping and small jobs.

This is the big boy I use for the house:

 

[txvwnut]

So lemme get this straight you're comparing a 2500 watt generator to a 4000 watt generator then stating the manufacturer missed the mark? Why don't you compare apples to apples.

 

[theoldwizard1]

So lemme get this straight you're comparing a 2500 watt generator to a 4000 watt generator then stating the manufacturer missed the mark? Why don't you compare apples to apples.

Maybe you should get new glasses !

The HF generator is about $6 less and has 1,500W LESS peak power !

 

[rd65]

Does the Champion go on sale for 30 or 40% off as do most HF items? Do they offer a no-hassle, walk-in return or exchange policy? I'm not defending HF, just saying that your post carries little weight without additional discussion. I would not consider either if they are truly needed in an emergency situation. I have never purchased anything from HF or made in China that my life or safety depends on. That includes jacks, jack stands, welding helmets, eye or ear protection.

Why is that? Have you met some of the clowns that pass as employees around here these days? I have and it scares the **** out of me.

 

[rd65]

Ran my Predator 3500 yesterday for a few hours, currently has 230something hours on it and it runs great. 3500 peak, 3000 running is questionable but for the price it is fine. Changed the oil twice within the first 5 hours, Stabil in the fuel, and it does ok. Plugged 2 refrigerators, 1 full size and 1 small freezer, the led tv w/ directv, and a floor lamp/led and it never missed a beat. Quiet as a Honda inverter, no BUT much, much quieter than an open generator.
It appears to be the same as this from Northern Tool but we have HF down the street. https://www.northerntool.com/produc...ated-watts-electric-start-model-lc4500i-96387
This is now rated at 4500 watts but when I bought mine in 2018 this was the same as the HF at 3500. Some things I am just afraid to buy online for shipping reasons.

 

[impactims]

The small one misses the mark

What mark exactly was missed?

 

[brtsvg]

When it comes to generators reliability is more important to me than a price difference with competing models. My Honda generator reliably starts on the first pull in the summer and on the second pull in the winter. This has always been the case over the 5 years that I have owned it.

 

[GeoBruin]

Predator fires back!

 

[Aileron]

Predator fires back!

only for a day!

 

[Aileron]

I bought the 11.500 Predator inverter last weekend with the 20% off ITC coupon. Here is the kicker though, the Predators only have a 90 day warranty. The 11,500, 2 year extended runs $645.00. This gen was 2199.99 and $1759 with the coupon. You can buy a Champion 11,000 inverter from Costco for $1999.00 shipped to your door .The Champion i believe comes with a 3 year warranty. Either way however those gens weight 250#s so you not shipping it to a repair center very easy. I'd rather repair it myself as long as i can source parts, although the Hf warranty is a swap out within 2 years but then I hear you have to re buy the warranty for the replacement. I still have 30 days to decide if i want to take it or not. All in all with the coupon and if i did pop for the warranty its only around 350 more total than what I would have payed for a champion and just swap it out.

 

[liliysdad]

I have never purchased anything from HF or made in China that my life or safety depends on. That includes jacks, jack stands, welding helmets, eye or ear protection.

I’m not the biggest HF cheerleader….but good Lord.


Dramatic much?

 

[Notgrownup]

That’s it you Sumbitches, I’m telling Mrs Notgrownup.

 

[PittsburghTim]

I’m not the biggest HF cheerleader….but good Lord.


Dramatic much?

These are the people who intentionally put melamine in baby food to fake protein content tests. You park your but under a 5000 lb vehicle held up by the jack stands they make or depend on their $30 welding shields if you like. I will do my best to avoid the things if at all possible.

Tim

 

[neophyte]

These are the people who intentionally put melamine in baby food to fake protein content tests. You park your but under a 5000 lb vehicle held up by the jack stands they make or depend on their $30 welding shields if you like. I will do my best to avoid the things if at all possible.

Tim

The point of the original post in this thread was that the Harbor Freight generator is listed as 2500 Watt, and an almost identically priced generator from Champion is listed as 4000 Watt, implying Harbor Freight is missing the value and performance of a competing product, while basically costing the same.

As far as “other safety equipment” goes, I can understand not wanting to trust “cheap ****”, which HF used to have a reputation for.
HF may nit gave a great reputation for some things, such as the jack stands that were recalled, with the replacements also being recalled, but then HF was also was basically getting jack parts from the same supplier as Snap-On at one point.
Harbor Freight also has a testing laboratory.

 

[whateg01]

I’m not the biggest HF cheerleader….but good Lord.


Dramatic much?

Funny that Pittsburgh is also the brand name of their cheap tools.

 

[zendriver]

These are the people who intentionally put melamine in baby food to fake protein content tests. You park your but under a 5000 lb vehicle held up by the jack stands they make or depend on their $30 welding shields if you like. I will do my best to avoid the things if at all possible.

Tim

You might want to start sleeping with one eye open since chances are good nearly everything in your home that is electric or electronic is made in China. It only takes one spark or one shock.

Regarding HF jack stands looking into the issue 99.99% of it was hysteria

 

[rd65]

When it comes to generators reliability is more important to me than a price difference with competing models. My Honda generator reliably starts on the first pull in the summer and on the second pull in the winter. This has always been the case over the 5 years that I have owned it.

but is that manufacturer reliability or owner maintenance? My HF generator has always started first or second pull. I do try to start and run it every six months for at least 15-30 minutes. Standard unleaded with Stabil always. That said, I also was given a Honda EM2200X that hadn't been run in years. I cleaned the carb and added fresh fuel and it started first or second pull.

 

[N_Jay]

Check the noise specs. Hondas are noticeably quieter than most others.

Not sure where that HF lands.

 

[whateg01]

Check the noise specs. Hondas are noticeably quieter than most others.

Not sure where that HF lands.

are the noise specs meaningful? air compressors, car audio amps, cordless tools, shop vacs all have specs, but when there isn't a standard, the specs can be pretty meaningless.