cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Opinions on lightweight portable inverter/generators

bfacklam
Explorer
Explorer
I am looking at purchasing a lightweight inverter/generator for my pickup camper. Looking at 2,000 to 2,500 watts. Mainly for coffee maker, nebulizer and recharging phones and computers. After reading many review and reviews, I have settled on either a Westinghouse IGen 2200 (46 pounds) Inverter Generator or Champion 2500 Watt Portable Generator (39 pounds). Thought about Harbor Freight Predator. Can some of you that own either of these give me any advise on which one of these would be a good purchase. Or do you own a different brand that you are happy with. Final question, do most of you purchase from big box stores, or try to find a place that will service what you purchase. Thanks for any advise.
85 REPLIES 85

NVR2L82AV8
Explorer
Explorer
Numerous Campgrounds, and even National Parks, are getting real testy on Generator noise.

I just saw that Yellowstone National Park has LIMITED Generators from 8am until 8pm in Seven parks (Bay Bridge, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Grant Village, Madison, Mammoth and Norris). There is a noise limit of 60 decibels.

I know just ONE Genny that can operate under load at that noise level.

Check out the dBA Chart at 100% Load
2013 AF 990
2003 F350 6.0L 4X4 DRW, Oil bypass filter, Coolant Filter, Blue Spring fuel pressure mod, DELO ELC, DashBoss Bluetooth engine monitor, EGT/FP gauge, SuperSprings, torklift hitch/tiedowns, 48" SuperTruss, fastguns, Kenwood CMOS Backup Camera.

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Kayteg1 wrote:

This is contractor grade generator. With inverter technology is going to be quieter, but still you will not be welcome with it at campgrounds.


Yup. And a cheep one at that.
Understand saving a buck and not going team red or blue. But you get what you pay for.
I think that 4000W Horrible Freight special comes with a complimentary box of earplugs though!
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Kayteg1
Explorer II
Explorer II
moonlightrunner wrote:
My goddaughter works for Harbor Freight. She is a freight supervisor. This is what she tells me.... The Tailgator generator is garbage and no longer sold. If you buy a generator, get the extended warranty and if you have a problem, just return it. She says most of the people who use HF genny's on their RVs or other heavy use, exchange them before the warranty runs out, even if they are running fine. I use her 20% off employee/family discount for everything I buy from HF. My goddaughter knows the return rates on all the HF gennys. There are a couple that she refuses to promote (the Tailgator was one). She recently came home all excited about one of the new inverter gennys. This is the one she is going to put on her new-2-her truck camper (13.5BTU Air). She is also going to add a conversion kit so she can run it on LP. https://www.harborfreight.com/4400-watt-inverter-generator-with-co-secure-technology-epa-iii-57509.html


This is contractor grade generator. With inverter technology is going to be quieter, but still you will not be welcome with it at campgrounds.

ronbiel
Explorer
Explorer
I have a Honda 2000 also. It is quiet and easy to haul around.

moonlightrunner
Explorer
Explorer
My goddaughter works for Harbor Freight. She is a freight supervisor. This is what she tells me.... The Tailgator generator is garbage and no longer sold. If you buy a generator, get the extended warranty and if you have a problem, just return it. She says most of the people who use HF genny's on their RVs or other heavy use, exchange them before the warranty runs out, even if they are running fine. I use her 20% off employee/family discount for everything I buy from HF. My goddaughter knows the return rates on all the HF gennys. There are a couple that she refuses to promote (the Tailgator was one). She recently came home all excited about one of the new inverter gennys. This is the one she is going to put on her new-2-her truck camper (13.5BTU Air). She is also going to add a conversion kit so she can run it on LP. https://www.harborfreight.com/4400-watt-inverter-generator-with-co-secure-technology-epa-iii-57509.html

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
I run my generator sparingly. I have not had to replace a spark plug. First RV was purchased in 2000. Kipor generator was just fine for 9 years. Electric start and FOB Regina for 1200.00
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

MORSNOW
Navigator II
Navigator II
curt12914 wrote:
I was in a local Harbor Freight Saturday.

I was looking over the generators when a very friendly clerk asked if he could help me. I asked what they stocked for parts for the Predator generator. He got a little smirk on his face and asked what I was looking for.

I asked if he had any parts for the rewind starter. No. Carburetor kit? No. Air filter? No. Spark plug? The auto parts store up the street has them !

He then went on to tell me that he, personally, owned a Predator for 3 years and had no problems with it.

Again, I know the Honda is a lot more money, but I would be willing to bet that the Honda dealer up the street would have all those parts on the shelf.

What is a ruined camping trip worth ?


Exactly why I switched from an off-brand to my current Honda 2200, parts and service. Yamaha also provides parts and service for theirs.
2014 Wolf Creek 850SB
2012 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD 7,220# Truck/10,400# Camper Fully Loaded

curt12914
Explorer
Explorer
I was in a local Harbor Freight Saturday.

I was looking over the generators when a very friendly clerk asked if he could help me. I asked what they stocked for parts for the Predator generator. He got a little smirk on his face and asked what I was looking for.

I asked if he had any parts for the rewind starter. No. Carburetor kit? No. Air filter? No. Spark plug? The auto parts store up the street has them !

He then went on to tell me that he, personally, owned a Predator for 3 years and had no problems with it.

Again, I know the Honda is a lot more money, but I would be willing to bet that the Honda dealer up the street would have all those parts on the shelf.

What is a ruined camping trip worth ?
2021 F-350 Platinum 4X4 PSD SRW 2016 Montana 3950FL (2) Honda EU2000i's
...and a few (twenty-some, but other than my wife, no one is counting) antique Allis Chalmers tractors

mr_andyj
Explorer
Explorer
I havn't used either of those, but for 2nd question; I have a 2200 Ryobi and am happy with it. It will run my 9200 BTU air cond just fine. It is quiet and always starts on first pull. Light, small and quiet. I paid about $500 but price prob $600 now.
You really should investigate solar more for what you are doing rather than use a generator...
Def get an inverter gen as they idle down to run just fast enough for the loads you have on it which saves gas and sound.

My brother has a $99 (maybe $150 now) 2-stroke harbor freight (or similar brand) green, little gen. it wont run an AC but will do a refrigerator in a home. He uses it for power outages for days on end and loves it.

deltabravo
Nomad
Nomad
I love my Honda EU2200i with bluetooth.
2009 Silverado 3500HD Dually, D/A, CCLB 4x4 (bought new 8/30/09)
2018 Arctic Fox 992 with an Onan 2500i "quiet" model generator

alexleblanc
Explorer
Explorer
I'd be hard pressed to try another brand now that I've had my pair of Honda 2000's for the last 7 years. They work wonderful and with the extended run boat tank setup can run for hours upon hours at the track to cool the fiver.
TV - 2017 F350 CCSB SRW Platinum 6.7 + 5er - 2021 Grand Design Reflection 311 BHS + B&W Companion
On Order - 2022 F350 CCSB SRW Platinum 6.7

H-Rider
Explorer
Explorer
Honda EU2200 only used to run the AC during the summer months. The solar panel handles charging the camper battery and other devices.

Home Depot had $100 off the EU2200 and with credit card application they had another $100 off.

Sagebrush
Explorer
Explorer
I've never tried the Harbor Freight generators, but my little Honda has been great for many years, no issues at all. Nothing needed except for the usual maintenance, new fuel line/drain after a few years as a preventive, air filter and oil changes. Just don't leave the ethanol fuel in them, drain the carb when its not going to be used for a while! Never really needed any parts.

notsobigjoe
Nomad III
Nomad III
Grit dog wrote:
^Nice work there on the genny compartment!


Thanks!

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
^Nice work there on the genny compartment!
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold