Can a Harbor Freight Generator Really Beat a Honda?

[Community Alumni]

From Consumer Reports

Can a Harbor Freight Generator Really Beat a Honda?

[Ron3rd]

I think it's a bit misleading to say HF "beats" Honda. What might be true is the HF genny might be a good value for the money. I paid about $720.00 for my Honda EU2000 back in 2004 making it about 14 years old. Never a problem with it.

Having said that, if I was buying now, I would be tempted with one of the Champion gennys. That's the brand I would buy if going with Honda clone type genny. Lots of off-brands out their selling for close to the Champion brand with results unknown. For the price, I think the Champion line is very hard to beat.

Daughter recently bought a Champion 3400 inverter genny with electric start for $999 online, no shipping charge and no sales tax. It's a very nice generator.

[caver]

The name brand will hold its value much longer if you might have to sell it. People love Kubota but I bought the other orange Kioti. Kioti is a solid tractor and in some ways I think it is better than a Kubota but you can't beat a Kubota for resale. Harbor freight has garbage electronic stuff. Infrared heat gun...failed in less than two years. Borescope...failed in 6 months and I hardly used it. I own a Honda but I'm a Yamaha fan myself. Yamaha wasn't on the inverter genny bandwagon when I bought mine. The HF fans crack me up when they brag on some YT video about the great deal BUT they have to make all these tweaks to it to make it work. It reminds of the Kawasaki KL650 motorcycle crowd talking about how much cheaper it is than Yamaha or Honda yet then they have to add $2K in aftermarket farkles to make it a decent bike. Speaking of Honda, I need to load mine up for a road trip. 🙂

[orion1968]

Those same people who HAVE to have name brand have never tried the HF inverter generator. There are a lot of things at HF that are just junk but there are also some diamonds in the rough. There are numerous people that have used this generator without issue just like the NAME brands and just like the NAME brands there are people that complain. I have used mine for almost a year now and the 3500 watt unit I have runs my 35' 5th wheel just fine (ac an all)even through my EMS. The first batch that came across the pond had stuttering issue that were caused by the factory testing the unit and not completely running the fuel dry so it was stale in the tank. A good cleaning with some sea foam takes care of the issue.

mountainkowboy wrote:
My Champion 3500 is 7 years old now and still runs like a top, I'd have no problems using the HF jenny. But as others have said...there will be those that HAVE to have the name.

[Veebyes]

fj12ryder wrote:
Was it one of the inverter generators, or one of the others? HF makes several kinds and sizes.

Looked like an inverter type. Was not an open frame.

[mich800]

mountainkowboy wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
A couple weeks ago I was in a HF store checking out while another customer was in the process of returning a HF generator. I'll be polite. He was not a very happy customer. The genny looked new.

Could have been a "rental", I worked retail for decades, it's pretty common. Buy it, use it for whatever you needed it for, return it.

And that is why many stores implemented the no return of big screen tv's purchased within x number of days before the super bowl.

Plus, I have spent my share of time in various auto dealerships and there is no shortage of unhappy customers from any of the brands. So I would not place a lot of weight in the opinion of a disgruntled customer in a return line.

[mountainkowboy]

Veebyes wrote:
A couple weeks ago I was in a HF store checking out while another customer was in the process of returning a HF generator. I'll be polite. He was not a very happy customer. The genny looked new.

Could have been a "rental", I worked retail for decades, it's pretty common. Buy it, use it for whatever you needed it for, return it.

[Bumpyroad]

fj12ryder wrote:
Was it one of the inverter generators, or one of the others? HF makes several kinds and sizes.

to be more meaningful I would also like to know this and what the reason for the return was. how was the return/exchange? handled, assuming it was still within the warranty period. I don't think I have actually looked "happy" whenever I had to return an item at any store.
bumpy

[fj12ryder]

Was it one of the inverter generators, or one of the others? HF makes several kinds and sizes.

[Veebyes]

A couple weeks ago I was in a HF store checking out while another customer was in the process of returning a HF generator. I'll be polite. He was not a very happy customer. The genny looked new.

[okhmbldr]

"For around $120 I can buy a BERGS extended run system and use and external fuel tank on the HF generator."

I looked the BERG system up online and it looks impressive. But, I'm wondering; if you could use the fuel tank from your motorhome as the fuel source for the BERG system? (original generator is missing, and I'm thinking about putting a Harbor Freight 3500 inverter generator in the compartment but it really needs a reliable fuel source).

[BBQYaker]

wa8yxm wrote:
As I said up-thread the Honda has a real live honest to goodness fuel pump. So it can "Suck" fuel out of an external tank.

Far as I know that is unique to hondas.. So non can beat them for that reason.

For around $120 I can buy a BERGS extended run system and use and external fuel tank on the HF generator.

[Bird_Freak]

I can't say anything bad about HF. Bought a 48x6 belt sander from them about 30 years ago for my shop. Its never gave me any problem. Bought a paint gun washer from them years ago that the pump died out of warranty and they sent me a whole new washer anyway.
You can sure tell the Honda owners on here.

[wa8yxm]

As I said up-thread the Honda has a real live honest to goodness fuel pump. So it can "Suck" fuel out of an external tank.

Far as I know that is unique to hondas.. So non can beat them for that reason.

[FF286]

7 years ago I bought a small 2 stroke 750 watt from HF, still runs great. 2 years ago I bought a Yamaha 2000 watt inverter, it runs great now but it had to go back to the dealer and get a new motor. It was burning oil.
There are good and bad reviews on everything, most included the Japanese are now made in China. Get what you want to spend your money on and hope for the best.