JobSite Generator for trailer

[zooke]

I have been reading through the posts, and find people recommending Honda. If I had enough budget, I wouldn't think twice about buying a Honda. However, the budget is only so much, and I need to make the best 2nd best purchase possible.
I'm looking for enough generator to run a chop saw, skill saw, drills, lights, etc.. (not all at once).

Would like an electric/pull start.

The primary use is to take with me in the utility (tool) trailer but would also like to use it as a back up for freezer, tv, furnace if needed.

Anyone direct me to other discussions in the forum on this topic, or reply with some advice.

Please/Thanx
Zooke

 

[Jhoff310]

I have an older homelite 4400 watt and it has never failed to produce the power I have needed on jobsites and and home backup. I found my roadside 10+ years ago. I have seen similar generators on craigslist for around the $250 mark in my area.
volts X amps = watts.....circular saw for example---110 volts x 7.5 amps ==750 watts

 

[kelpaso1]

If you are going to use it for electronics, tv's, etc you will need an "inverter" type of gen.

 

[machsnell]

Just get one that has a honda motor. Sounds like a 3000 watt or better will do you.

Of all the generators I have owned thru work I dont think the power plants have gone bad just the motors.



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[Road Wrench]

All of the Champion brand generators I have run performed flawless. They have quite an following in rv and off grid for "cheap" units that hold up.

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[Interex]

The Harbor Freight Predator generators are huge value and run as quiet as the Honda EU series for a fraction of the cost ($600ish with coupon). I've got the Predator 3500 for my Travel Trailer and it's awesome. They've also got a 2000 watt version which you may be able to get by with but I'd recommend the 3500 in your case.

 

[Git]

All of the Champion brand generators I have run performed flawless. They have quite an following in rv and off grid for "cheap" units that hold up.

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I am just about ready to by a Champion Dual Fuel from Costco
https://www.costco.com/Champion-DUA...ertified,-Low-Decibels.product.100284958.html

Or they sell a very similar one on Amazon - little bigger, little more money
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FAWMMEY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Ryan (owner of the forum) recently bought a Champion generator. I love Honda but I can't really justify the price in this case

 

[A**holes Garage]

I have Champion,Honda and HF Predator. Each one have different wattages, weight, etc. for specific jobs or applications.

They all work fine, just get the right wattage generator for the job or future jobs, then it's all about withstanding the generator decibel level. Love my Honda, so quiet.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If a Honda is out of your budget, it'll do us no good to recommend one unless we know what your budget is.



I bought a very nice used Honda EU2000i from the local HD rental section for about half price

 

[BD1]

IF you weld maybe consider a welder/generator. I have a Miller 302 Trailblazer, it's my avatar . Great for welding and emergency power. Sadly , for power it will use about a gallon a hour running . It's 10,000 watts and does my whole house.

 

[A**holes Garage]

I use my HF 8750 watt generator for my Lincoln 210MP, and as auxiliary house power.

 

[oldmxracer]

The price on generators have come down so much over the years most all are imports, Hondas and Yamahas are great but come with a price tag to match.

In My area call it northern Ohio I see what seems to be great deals on pre owned around here they do not see much use for the average homeowner, just yesterday saw a Champion 4000 w start 3500 w run still new in the box asking $250 OBO

 

[In2toys]

I have 2 gennys, a Honda 3500 and a Generac 8000. I used to carry the Honda on my truck. Both were bought used, very reasonably priced on CL. Both have been flawless. Strictly due to space issues, I removed the Honda from my truck and now use a 3500 schumacher inverter. Works great for grinder and electric impact as long as truck is running.

 

[gemniii]

I have been reading through the posts, and find people recommending Honda. If I had enough budget, I wouldn't think twice about buying a Honda. However, the budget is only so much, and I need to make the best 2nd best purchase possible.
I'm looking for enough generator to run a chop saw, skill saw, drills, lights, etc.. (not all at once).

Would like an electric/pull start.

The primary use is to take with me in the utility (tool) trailer but would also like to use it as a back up for freezer, tv, furnace if needed.

Anyone direct me to other discussions in the forum on this topic, or reply with some advice.

Please/Thanx
Zooke

It doesn't appear you HAVE to have inverter clean power. No real sensitive electronics.
I've:
A 6.5K Honda powered bought in 2002 for $700, set up as an "emergency generator". Mainly so my wife doesn't burn the house down using candles when the power goes out for an hour. I try to fire it up once or twice a year but have only run it once during a power outage (since 2002) to power the frig & freezer after 6 hours of what turned out to be an 8 hour power outage.
A 10K dual fuel Duromax bought off ebay in 2015? for $650, run for a week or so keeping fridge and freezer and a/c (window unit) going during a local power outage and then maybe another 10 hours powering tools on a jobsite.
Mostly run it on propane.
A 12KW winco PTO generator bought for $600 about 2011, only run for testing.

If I were in your situation I'd probably get the HF Predator 3500 Watt Super Quiet Inverter Generator, with the thought that I could always parallel it with a second one if I needed more power.

/edit - I also have a dewalt DCB1800B
1800 WATT PORTABLE POWER STATION AND SIMULTANEOUS BATTERY CHARGER which I really like. I've got plenty of 5AH batteries and use it during power outages. It's nice and very portable.

 

[Norcal]

I have an older homelite 4400 watt and it has never failed to produce the power I have needed on jobsites and and home backup. I found my roadside 10+ years ago. I have seen similar generators on craigslist for around the $250 mark in my area.
volts X amps = watts.....circular saw for example---110 volts x 7.5 amps ==750 watts

I bought a Miller Bobcat 225 NT instead of a Honda, besides being a welder, that model also has 8 KW* of power @ 120/240V, bought because wanted power for the well in the event of a power failure, water heater is gas, & furnace is gravity flow, so water is the major thing that would be out without power.

110V is not suitable for load calc's unless the data plate actually states that on a tool & it won't unless it's really old, or a cheap ChiCom item.

*Later models are 10KW.

 

[finn]

I know this is the GJ, and overkill is part of the mantra here, but I think it’s sort of dumb to recommend an 8k generator to run a 10 amp circular saw when a light, portable, 2000 watt Champion inverter for $400 will do the job.

Two of them can de ganged with a kit
A 3250 version would work too.

 

[nes999]

All of the Champion brand generators I have run performed flawless. They have quite an following in rv and off grid for "cheap" units that hold up.

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I second this. All we use at work are champions. Our guys dont maintain them and they keep on ticking. Downside? They are loud.

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[ddurrett896]

Just picked up one of these. They were shipped for Black Friday and sold at $400. They wre marked down to $350 and for a day they dropped to $300. Still not a bad deal at $400.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Champio...-Portable-Inverter-Generator-100565/306113176

 

[Bretny]

If you need electric start thst really lowers your choices and raises the price/kw. Sounds like a 3500w would be more than enough to run what you want but they make very few electric start 3.5kw generators.

Westinghouse and champion both make open frame 3.5kw that are very fuel efficient but not as quiet as a honda. Both are pull start. I would have bought one but i got a really good deal on a hardly used briggs 3.5kw.

Have you searched the used market? I see many generators that people hardly use and sell for verious reasons. "Dont need them any more", moving, the power dosnt go out any more...many more.

 

[Git]

The reviews that I have read on the Harbor Freight generators are actually quite good. I just can't understand why they only offer a 90-day warranty? It makes me feel that they do not have very much confidence in their products and for that reason, I would not buy one.

The Champion generators come with a 3-year warranty and my credit card will extend it out to 4 years for free. Also, with Costco being the seller, I have no concerns it if turns out to be 'too loud' or doesn't work out for me, I will easily be able to return it. I went ahead and ordered the Champion dual fuel inverter from Costco last night, should be here in a couple of days. I plan on just running it on propane, that way I never have to worry about gasoline problems and propane has a shelf life of 12 years

 

[nadogail]

Enjoy your new Champion generator in good health.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Just picked up one of these. They were shipped for Black Friday and sold at $400. They wre marked down to $350 and for a day they dropped to $300. Still not a bad deal at $400.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Champio...-Portable-Inverter-Generator-100565/306113176

This has to be the "best bang for the buck" out there these days ! Even though it is a rope start, it is not hard to pull.

 

[Git]

Bought the Champion Generator from Costco. It's the dual fuel model with electric start (no remote). So far very pleased. I am sure it is not as quiet as the Honda, but for the price and the number of times I am expecting to use it, I am very pleased.

Also picked up this hour gauge from Amazon for $11. Extremely easy to install. You wrap one end of the wire around the spark plug lead and the other just goes into a slot in the back of the device. And it's waterproof

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A43PKOY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[RocketScott]

No mention of an air compressor? That's usually the biggest draw and why I went with a 7500 Generac

Seems like the times I've run on anything less than that I ended up having to replace burned up switches in saws and the contacts on the compressor

 

[Falcon67]

X2.5 on all the above. I have used Champions and run the hell out of them with no issue. The 3500/400 is not too loud after some break in time -maybe 72~74 dB @ 20' . The 6500/8250 is loud. We currently use a Honda EU7000is. Very quiet, variable speed based on load, really good on fuel, expensive.

 

[ishiboo]

If you are going to use it for electronics, tv's, etc you will need an "inverter" type of gen.

Run lots of electronics on regular generators for the last 20 years without issue. Inverters are great because they are normally quiet, fuel efficient and do put out clean power... but not a necessity.

All your home backup gensets that run everything in your house are conventional not inverters.

 

[zooke]

Enjoy your new Champion generator in good health.

 

[zooke]

Starting to get quite interested in the Champion 6500-8170 dual fuel; on sale locally (Canada)

 

[Falcon67]

As above - solid unit, not the least bit quiet. Ours is gas only but same difference.