Honda vs Harbor Freight generator

[Irving]

Consumer Reports article compares Harbor Freight Predator generator and Honda 2000 generator. Article wasn't as detailed as I imagined. In the end, Honda still wins.

https://www.consumerreports.org/inverter-generators/harbor-freight-predator-62353-vs-honda-eu2000it1a1-recreational-inverter-generator/

[Great-Kazoo]

Consumer Reports article compares Harbor Freight Predator generator and Honda 2000 generator. Article wasn't as detailed as I imagined. In the end, Honda still wins.

https://www.consumerreports.org/inverter-generators/harbor-freight-predator-62353-vs-honda-eu2000it1a1-recreational-inverter-generator/


Not by much


The WinnerOn points and performance, the Honda wins by a narrow margin, largely because of its ability to deliver power constantly and reliably—it works without tripping its own internal circuit breaker as we added to its load, right up to the generator’s claimed capacity. But the Predator is the clear winner on price. Were the warranties identical, we’d certainly crown the Predator as the better buy. But with a 90-day warranty, there’s no guarantee it will survive even a single season.
Our advice: If you’re going to use your recreational generator for camping or tailgating, consider buying the Predator. But if you also want to be able to rely on the generator as a source of backup power for your home (to keep the refrigerator and lights on during an outage), the Honda makes more sense and is a worthy investment.

[thedave1164]

You can get two of the HF for the price of one Honda

And you can parallel them as well

[bczandm]

Yea, buy the Hi-point. It's just as good as the HK, Sig and Colts.

Seriously, I've had the opportunity to tour power tool manufacturing plants in Germany, Italy, Japan, USA, Austria and Taiwan. While there are manufacturing plants that are outstanding in every county China and Taiwan have more than their fair share of manufacturing plants that are in it for the lowest price. I not going to say it's impossible for Harbor Freight to sell a quality product (as an example I think their tool cabinets are outstanding for hobby use) I'd be very suspicious about long-term durability and parts availability of their generators. As a general rule it seems to me HF is in it for lowest prices, not best quality.

I purchase items from Harbor Freight. Just today I bought a $4 water pump to mount on my cordless drill. It did not work right out of the box and I was told at the time of purchase it was not returnable. I wonder why ;)

In the case of the generator I'd consider the potentially better product that has a proven history.

[Irving]

I could have told you that drill pump doesn't work. I actually posted it on here before because I fell for the same thing.

[brutal]

Same thing for any "hand operated" vacuum pump. they're all shit.

I bought a "name brand" pump from Amazon to bleed the brakes on my boat trailer and it couldn't pull any vacuum. Returned it.

Realized I was being a dumb ass because I already had a small fluid extraction pump I use to pull the oil from my boat engines that produces some serious vacuum. Worked a charm with one little piece of rubber fuel line hose to adapt to the line insert.

Only issue now is I probably should clean the tiny amount of brake fluid from it before using again.

[Wulf202]

Yeah. Now check the sine wave and how the hf one does on electronics especially if the run out of gas or are killed while plugged in

[GilpinGuy]

I heard a detailed discussion about the HF and Honda generators. Bottom line was that the Honda is the gold standard and get that if you can afford it. If you are on a tight budget, want something for emergency use and only use it occasionally, then get the HF. It sounded like the HF unit had a much shorter life expectancy as well.

If I have a chance I'll try to find that podcast and link it here.

[Grant H.]

You can get two of the HF for the price of one Honda

And you can parallel them as well

You can parallel the Honda's as well.

[DFBrews]

I have 400 lbs of beef in my freezer. It is backed up by a Honda. I could buy 2 for the cost of meat replacement. The predator knocks around in the shop it has been reliable for the year and 10 hours I have used it

[Shooter45]

I use a Honda in my camping trailer and have no complaints. Quiet as hell when they run and they always start on the first pull every time. Quality has a price.

[GilpinGuy]

If I have a chance I'll try to find that podcast and link it here.

Man, I can't find the exact episode. If you're interested, it's one of the interviews Jack Spirko did on the Survival Podcast in the last year or so with Steven Harris. Might have been one of the "bug out trailer" episodes or one of the "expert panel" episodes.

[Irving]

Good to know. Good discussion so far.

[MED]

I have the Predator 8750 for the house and the 2000...haven't used the 2000 yet (i used a little 2 cycle tailgater for camping with a popup, which I've owned for eight years now). I bought them as a stop gap until I get my Generac setup when I move after retirement. I also have the Predator power washer. I have no complaints, and I bought them because that is the common theme of all the comments I read about them...the sale prices I got were great. I think a lot of people dismiss because the "harbor freight" tag. They do sell a lot of shit, but some stuff works well. I got their roller bearing tool chests 15 years ago; those are awesome and I paid half the price. However, I don't think the new ones are made as well as mine. In the size of generator you are buying, there is no denying that the Honda is the gold standard for those. If I were to use the generator on a regular basis especially for work, I would go with the Honda. For occasional use, not sure if it is necessary. Regardless of which one you buy, don't store with fuel in it; that will jack-up any of them.

[funkymonkey1111]

Are there other options somewhere between the Honda and the Harbor Freight that are worth it? I've seen a Yamaha that's blue that seems to be specifically copying the Honda shape

[ben4372]

The Yamaha ones are about the same price as Honda. Every so often Costco sells an inverter generator powered by Yamaha that is pretty decent for about $500. The HF stuff is usually a clone of a proven design. I have an old Honda conventional generator that I may be passing on to my son in 10 years. And a newer Honda generator is easy to sell in a pinch too.

[Great-Kazoo]

Are there other options somewhere between the Honda and the Harbor Freight that are worth it? I've seen a Yamaha that's blue that seems to be specifically copying the Honda shape

Look on CL as they pop up every so often. Picked up our yamaha 2K for $400 on CL then did a propane / dual fuel conversion. If you see one for $600 or less grab it.