Track Generators

jpatz319
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jpatz319
Looking into getting a generator to run a fan or two at the track to make life less miserable in the summer heat. I am looking at the Yamaha 2000w but what are people's experiences with the H.F. Predator or the WEN ones?
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Flipsid33
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Flipsid33 7/22/2020 1:02pm
7/22/2020 1:02pm
Don't go cheap on this. 2200 Honda runs my roof air on my Motovan no problem. Do it.
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Handy_andy_85
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Handy_andy_85 7/22/2020 1:03pm
7/22/2020 1:03pm
I just got rid of my very load open frame Champion and picked up the HF Predator 3500. It is impressively quiet and powers the AC unit on my trailer with ease. Quality seems above typical HF products. I only have an hour run time so far but I am planning on running it at Redbud for 3 days straight this weekend.

FYI its a good idea to change the oil after an hour or two of break in with the HF motors. Lots of fine metal when I drained it. From what I see online its common and the metal doesn't seem to return after break in.
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AxlBundy
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AxlBundy 7/22/2020 1:11pm
7/22/2020 1:11pm
Do not own one personally, but I know people that do and the Predator inverter generators seem on par. Perfect for a couple fans at the track IMO

Personally, I bought a Ryobi (actually 2- 2300's and a parallel kit), would not recommend them. Ive never seen something so tough to start, slightly louder than the Hondas. and on top of it, Id swear they far underperform the theoretic parallel power output (on a hot day, the 13.5K btu ac unit on my camper will cause the generators to stall)

Brent
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Brent 7/22/2020 1:30pm
7/22/2020 1:30pm
Honda EU 2200, you can throw that thing off a building and it still works.

Home Depot had them online for sale for under a grand at one point...
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Richard Tease II 7/22/2020 1:35pm
7/22/2020 1:35pm
-There was a post like this some years ago and a poster show'd a photo of the back of his workshop. He's a small engine mechanic and there were at least 30-40 used no good generators. I recall he show'd the photo as there were no honda or yamaha genies in that photo. All the useless ones were Chinese junk like you get from Harbour freight etc
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dkurtd
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dkurtd 7/22/2020 1:40pm
7/22/2020 1:40pm
I bought a PowerHorse from Northern tool, 2300/1800w model and have been happy with it. I went with them over HF because they give a military discount. I probably have 40 hours on it and no problems, like was mentioned with the HF model I changed the oil after running an initial 30 minutes to flush it and oiled up the air filter as it was pretty dry. I would almost bet most of these Chinese generators come out of the same assembly plant.
oceantrav
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oceantrav 7/22/2020 1:52pm
7/22/2020 1:52pm
Harbor frieght for the win. Half the price and get the 2 year warranty. I run mine in the rain and never plan on changing the oil. If it ever quits in 2 years, they give you a new one no questions asked.

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agn5009
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agn5009 7/22/2020 1:54pm
7/22/2020 1:54pm
I have the predator 3500. I love it. It was nicely priced, runs everything I need inside my toy hauler and it's really quiet. I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever. My grandfather has owned a lawnmower/weedeater/chainsaw/generator repair shop for 60 years. He sells husqvarna, snapper, champion and a few others and he even bought a predator. He was extremely impressed with their quality and hes been around the block with small these sorts of things.
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agn5009
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agn5009 7/22/2020 1:55pm
7/22/2020 1:55pm
Richard Tease II wrote:
-There was a post like this some years ago and a poster show'd a photo of the back of his workshop. He's a small engine mechanic...
-There was a post like this some years ago and a poster show'd a photo of the back of his workshop. He's a small engine mechanic and there were at least 30-40 used no good generators. I recall he show'd the photo as there were no honda or yamaha genies in that photo. All the useless ones were Chinese junk like you get from Harbour freight etc
You clearly have no idea what you're talking about.
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Richard Tease II 7/22/2020 2:03pm
7/22/2020 2:03pm
Richard Tease II wrote:
-There was a post like this some years ago and a poster show'd a photo of the back of his workshop. He's a small engine mechanic...
-There was a post like this some years ago and a poster show'd a photo of the back of his workshop. He's a small engine mechanic and there were at least 30-40 used no good generators. I recall he show'd the photo as there were no honda or yamaha genies in that photo. All the useless ones were Chinese junk like you get from Harbour freight etc
agn5009 wrote:
You clearly have no idea what you're talking about.
Yep
feelit2morrow 7/22/2020 3:40pm
7/22/2020 3:40pm Edited Date/Time 7/22/2020 3:41pm
I love when guys have $80k truck, $50k toy hauler, multiple bikes, and a $500 generator that sounds like someone is landing a 747 all night at the track!

Edit to add I am not referring to the HF quiet run generators because they are awesome!
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yamahaha131
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yamahaha131 7/22/2020 7:06pm
7/22/2020 7:06pm
My best friend had a predator 3500 inverter That’s worked flawless and very quiet. Electric start is a nice touch. I never would have went that route but was so impressed I bought one for my toy hauler. They aren’t “cheap” in my book at $700 plus but certainly not $2k either.
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Taylor415
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Taylor415 7/22/2020 7:37pm
7/22/2020 7:37pm
Get an inverter and keep an eye on your battery if your just trying to run a couple fans. That’s the cheap way out. The inverter on my truck runs a fan just fine.
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Alex.434
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Alex.434 7/22/2020 10:41pm
7/22/2020 10:41pm
Another vote for the HF Predator 3500.... We have had one for about a year now and it's the business.

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devotid
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devotid 7/22/2020 10:50pm
7/22/2020 10:50pm
I was at the track years ago and brought the "back up gennie" for the weekend... The guy next to me came over and asked if I had a Hooker Header on it. Yeah it was that loud. He unplugged it and just plugged me into his Honda. haha.

Ive never used it since. maybe around the yard.

I have a predator and its perfectly fine. Runs my RV AC like Butta.
crusher773
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crusher773 7/23/2020 12:08am
7/23/2020 12:08am
So I did a lot of research and asking around about a year ago when buying one. Predators are about 60% junk from what I found and the others are fine. I ended up with a champion from Sam's. It was like $350 or right in there and it is basically the same generator Atwood's had but a few watts smaller and theirs was over $800. Found champion had a good reputation, good customer service if you have an issue. It's not very loud and at 1 point we were running a small AC, 2 fans, lights and TV. no issues at all.
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ns503
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ns503 7/23/2020 9:36am
7/23/2020 9:36am
Champion also makes open frame inverter gennies (likely there are others that do too). Cheaper, & easier to get at for servicing since they not all wrapped up in that suitcase business. Likely a bit noiser than their suitcased inverters, but that's what I would be looking at.
btroxler
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btroxler 7/23/2020 10:17am
7/23/2020 10:17am Edited Date/Time 7/23/2020 10:17am
I have 2- Yamaha EF2000iS generators with the parallel cable. These units pull my 15K BTU AC and a microwave at the same time no problems.

The reason I chose these is when we are at the track the last thing I want to do when it is hot is have a generator fail because I purchased a cheaper unit. These units may run great for a couple hundred hours but what happens when you get 500+ hours on one.

I will say this, my 2 units crank every time on 1st or 2nd pull and have probably 300 hours on them. When you dry camp, as we all most due at tracks, we may put 72hrs a weekend on them. The hours add up quick.

The biggest plus is they are quite, I can't stand it when you pull up next to some one with a $70K Coach, $30K Trailer and a $500 Contractor grade generator that sounds like an Apache landing and you have to listen to that all night.
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