Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Harbor Freight Predator Generator?

Wanting one primarily for RV use, maybe some light duty home backup, only used occasionally I'd guess. Anyone used the Predator? Thinking the 4550 would do what I want to do.

All I hear are good things

I hear good things about the latest inverter models

I’ve got the 9500 watt one does my whole house when the power goes out. Electric water heater, stove, furnace, and everything else

Have a 6500. Starts on the first pull every time.

I normally steer way clear of Harbor Freight or “cheap” tools, but bought a predator generator and it has been solid. We have 5 Generac 6500 generators That run 4-5 days a week 10 hrs a day and normally last 2-3 years with no maintenance and I’m getting the predator will do at least that well at 2/3’s the cost.


Bought a predator 2” trash pump maybe 6 years ago and it’s still going strong. Local rental place is smacking predator motors on everything they need to replace a Honda with.

All I can say is I bought a larger one, with enough juice for the draw to start up the well motor. 9000 to start, 7k running I think?

It's been used a couple of times during power outages so we can have water in the house. Other than that it sits out in the shop with fuel and stabilizer in it and starts right up every couple of months when I test it.

I purchased it on the advice some here gave, that for the type of use I would need it for, it would probably serve just fine.

The small one I have is like the Honda portable one. It hasn’t missed a beat in 5 years and I would buy another if needed.

GTG from everything I have ever read.

A wad of reviews on the net & a large number are very positive.

have had one for 6 years now. starts right up


I use it often

Buy one with at least 50% more wattage than you think you'll need. "Buy once- - - -cry once!" Nothing like having to ration what appliances to use when you run short on power to make you wish you'd gone a little bigger to begin with.

I own a Champion generator would have no problem buying a Predator generator. For a Rv it would be no problem better than spending 2-3k on a Honda or Yamaha.

I have a crew of Mexicans that could break an anvil.
They had a nice honda generator and they had it blown up in 1 year. So, I said F that. Went and got them a loud, cheap predator from harbor freight. Said "use this piece of junk if you can't take care of our equipment " kinda was shaming them. I figure if it made it 6 months, I was money ahead. That was 6 years ago. It looks like they drug it down the road behind the truck, they have a few connections bubble gummed together, but dog gone it, it still runs.

I have the 3500 inverter electric start
Has been excellent this first year
I changed oil after the first then every 10 hours for 3 changes and now change according to manual
Very pleased
It runs more quietly than the comparable Honda

Taken care of they will last and not break the bank.

I have HEARD... the metal in the casting is inferior to the Honda (China vs. Japan), but cannot speak personally about 5k-10k hours.

I would buy a Predator for the money.

I got an email earlier this week that they're all 20% off right now.

My buddy trims dairy cattle hooves, runs his hard every day for grinder, etc.... Also uses it a lot for his horse trailer. He had one problem, but they exchanged it no questions. Going on 4 years he's had it.

I was told years back that when Honda was upgrading all of their tooling to update their engines that
Harbor Freight purchased all of the old tooling for their engines.

If this was true you are getting an older style Honda engine when you purchase a Predator engine from Harbor Freight.

I have a Predator 8750 Generator and it has worked very hard for me in the time that I have had it.