FYI EVERYONE WHO HAS HARD TIME RESTARTING THE PREDATOR 3500 WHEN ITS HOT OUTSIDE... All you have you have to do is remove the gas cap and it will start right up. Just needs to vent. Somehow it took me almost two summers to finally figure this out lol. . ALSO Jesus Christ delivered me from meth, adderall prescription, alcoholism, cigs etc in Sept 2014. No rehab or any other outside help! Just the Lord and His Word!! Eternal life in Jesus Christ alone. Make sure you seek and abide in Him!
God is Good All the time, and praise the Lord that God has seen you through those truly hard times.... Praying for this for my son as we speak, your prayers would be greatly appreciated...his name is Chayne (pronounced Shane)
Wow! I come to learn about HF Predator and end up getting a religious sermon... dude, go away and drive your ass to church of you feel you need a refueling of the lord. Glad your off the shit btw
I’ve got this generator and I ran a window ac unit, fridge/freezer, cooktop as needed, modem, router, 2 TVs, multiple lights, and a couple of cell phone chargers. Ran for almost 4 days straight after hurricane Irma in 2017. Went thru 40 gallons of fuel over that time but still $100 to power the essentials for several days and keeping my wife cool and happy... good job
We have used the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
I originally bought the Predator 3500 to power my 30 foot Forest River RV. Worked perfectly, cant say enough good things about it. Recently had a couple of severe wind storms that created local power outages and used it to power my home. With the exception of our AC, and clothes dryer, this generator ran everything else without a hiccup. I was even able to allow my neighbor to tap into it so they had lights. I also put it into my towable lawn trailer behind my garden tractor to power my electric chainsaw, and other various implements. Three years, NO regrets.
As a California wildfire survivor, we have been living on a generator for the last two years. We originally bought the predator 2000 watt generator and it has been a true champion. Unfortunately as we have been rebuilding that generator has finally reached its limit and needs to be repaired. After watching this video I am currently headed to harbor freight to make a much needed and properly timed upgrade. Your video was amazing and I have been trying to talk myself out of the 800 dollar purchase for a few days. You just answered any doubts that I had. Very much appreciated
Everyone talks about the super coupons and holiday sales coupons but there is always an asterisk on them. That asterisk lists any "Predator" brand as an exclusion. I asked the manager at two different HF stores and both confirmed the Predator 3500 is excluded from all sales and discount coupons. I'm an Inside Track Club member too. To sum it up, I happily paid the 799.00 and am very impressed with this little inverter generator.
Man, was that entertaining! SOLD!! If you ever need a second job, I think you could easily be a pitchman for a Habor Freight infomercial. Great job and well done, sir. ~💜
I run mine for 12 to 15 hours a day 7 days a week in my semi, it powers my 12k btu mini split ac, microwave and bunch of other stuff with no issues. Pulled the spark arrestor right away first spark plug replaced at 1700 hours and it really didn’t need it. Fantastic product. Just a quick update I got 3000hrs in it now and I put the original spark plug back because the replacement was shit and it runs smooth.
First oil change at 8 hours looked like we opened a can of silver metal flake paint. Second oil change at 30 hours looked excellent. 100 hour oil change good and cleaned the spark plug and spark arrestor. Installed the pneumatic big wheel kit using hose washers instead of the included stainless steel to quiet vibration noise and we love it. Wheel lock broke at 40 hours so we discarded it. It rattled too much and didn't work that good anyway. Love these generators. Works much better than our Honda eu3000i.
My wife and I just bought our first RV trailer...I’m old school and prefer the term “camper”. We are looking for a generator and this video was a great help thanks for taking the time.
Great video!!! I just bought 1 a few months ago for my shed that has a 30 amp sub panel that I'm going to be taken to my land offgrid so it's nice to know that I will have enough power to run several things.
I got the predator 9000 and I was skeptical about having too many things on at the same time because it’s my first generator, but that thing is a beast and could probably power my whole house if it had to. I almost got the 3500 but they didn’t have it and I needed a generator asap after the storm this week. Great video, by the way. The 3500 seems like a great alternative to the higher priced Honda like you said. So far, I’m impressed with Predator generators and wouldn’t think twice about buying again.
I was impressed with how easy you started that up and how it seemed you didn't have to talk any louder over the sound of that generator. Keeping that one in mind for my travels. Thanks for posting!
With the Predator generators....when new, after adding oil, run with no load fir 30 minutes and drain the oil. Notice it will be a little dirty. Refill oil and repeat 2 more times. After refilling the 4th time, its ready for work. I do that on all HF motors and compressors.
I do respect ✊ that ...I’m the same even when I buy new cars I use to do that ...till the last minivan they told me don’t touch it till the 1st 10,000 mile ...I hold myself to 6500 miles n I couldn’t take it anymore....
I just got one ! Love it . Changed the oil every 30 minutes, 5 times to remove metal shavings to break it in. Highly recommend doing this. Now I'm looking for a magnetic oil dipstick.
Great video! I live in hurricane prone Florida, and it is important to know a few things (maybe addressed already). There is a "startup" cycle for many devices.. Our home fridge needs 1200 watts to start, but ONLY 200 watts once running. We have two fridges - so we take that into consideration. Microwaves need full power when running - there is no "start up". Coffee machines the same... Hair dryers - same... Other things like the A/C has a start up, and then a lower level run rate. 2nd - generators run best at 50% - so if you have a 3500 watt generator, consider that 1750 is your watts to run efficiently. Lastly - start up your items like the fridge or a/c that has an initial spike, and drops off FIRST. Then be aware of of the surge level your generator can handle. Our home one can handle spikes in watt requirements for those "start ups"... I have not checked the hot water tank and pump in our camper to know their wattages...
I got my more year ago and like it very much. We use on camp site its so quite. Also we had power outage for 2 days it was running 2 fridges some lits and little heater no problem at all
I power a 5000 watt well pump at the camp where we go with ease. I also use it for my whole fifth wheel when dry camping. I believe these generators are underrated for the the abuse I put it through. Never any trouble. Starts right up every time
My wife and I bought a T@B 400 earlier this year and we absolutely love it. I have to say, if I ever have a question about a feature on it or anything about it, I always turn to your videos first. Thanks for all the info!
That was an excellent demonstration we purchased the comparable craftsman generator last year and we haven’t tried it yet and or had the need to use it yet but after watching this video I have no doubt it is more than capable to power the 400.
Would have also liked to see the Alde system (hot water) also set to 2kw (no propane). The heat pump cool air and the Alde hot water is together the biggest current draw for T@B 400 systems. Still believe the Predator will handle it.
I didn’t actually try the Alde since it can be run on propane when boondocking. I was just trying to demonstrate things that you’d have to use electric for.
You had me at hair dryer.. that's a must for both of us.. haha.. Great video... we are still up in the air on the generator... we have only boon-docked twice and it was just for an overnight stay... good to know that the generator will pull its weight. Thanks
Honestly the only reason we’d use the generator is if it was so hot out that we needed to run the AC. We toted it 8,000 miles this summer and never used it except to demo it or let a friend borrow it to charge his battery
Yes, the Predator 3500 will pull its own weight; the question is, can YOU pull/lift/lower a 113# (generator weight + the weight of gas/oil) piece of equipment? Are you physically capable of pulling the pull cord if the generator battery is dead or for some other reason non-functional. 110# is a lot of weight. The Generator minus gas/oil weighs 100#. Go into the store & lift one several times because that is the weight you'll need to heave around BEFORE you start it. Also, do you have space & can you lift the generator into the space/area you intend to store it when not using it. Most of all, DO YOU REALLY NEED a generator that will put out 3,500 watts? Most likely you'll never really NEED that much power. You might WANT to have that much power available, but will you really NEED that much? There are numerous Predator 3500 Generator reviews here on youtube; mostly FAVORABLE. Keep in mind Patrick & Pat have owned this generator over a year, yet they don't have enough hours of use to have even changed the oil. less than 10 hours of use in over a year it should be apparent Patrick & Pat really don't NEED a generator that weighs 113# & puts out 3500 watts of output. That prior sentence is merely my opinion. As an alternative to a big, heavy generator, Traveling Robert has installed an Easy Start into his air conditioner that in essence lowers the start power normally required to start an A/C (ua-cam.com/video/IbZxSwYfYvg/v-deo.html). With the EasyStart a 2,000 watt generator is more than sufficient to run an A/C.
Just to clarify, we have ran it on several occasions mainly here at Tall Pine Lodge whenever the power goes out and I have changed the oil in it as it has more than 10 hours on it. There’s much that goes on in our lives that we don’t document on UA-cam. As for the weight, that is not an issue for me at least for a few more years....plus now that we have the Tacoma, I don’t have to load and unload it to operate it like I did with the 4Runner. Finally, it does start very easily with the pull start. I just don’t use the pull start when I have the electrical start. Yes, 3500 watts is not necessarily needed for our RV but this general serves multiple purposes for us.
@@TravelswithDelaney Excellent clarification Patrick; That 3500 watt generator is DEFINITELY something most homeowners SHOULD have, for those increasingly frequent power outages. I was trying to add some conversation that a 3500 watt output generator is something most RV'ers can do without 99% of the time. THANKS, PATRICK, for taking the time to do a review of the 3500 watt Predator; its a review I've been looking forward to, one I've encouraged you to do several times this past year.
i have this generator after the video i choose to buy it no regrets after we got hit at NY with many snow storms i use it with my electrical snow blower and i save a lot of electrical bills.......
Cool! If it weren't so heavy I might use a 3500, but for me the weight is a factor, so I bought a used Honda 2000 for about $500. It's easy to start and quiet. However, it won't handle my AC, but most everything else we use when cooking and such. Yours looks like a good deal though. Thanks for the demonstration!
Your Honda EU200i will run your A/C if you install an Easy Start like Traveling Robert: ua-cam.com/video/IbZxSwYfYvg/v-deo.html. Like you, I'd be unable to lift/handle the 100+ pounds of weight of the Predator 3500
I run a 49 ft houseboat with this generator. Ac, frig, osolatting fan, coffee maker , battery tenders . T.v. it runs friday to sunday. No issues for 3 years . I am not changing plugs just oil. I put in ethanol free gas . Love this gen. When it goes I will go and get another one . 3 years at 800 dollars is a bargain.
I have a Predator 3500 also. I live in Vegas. Yesterday, the generator faulted to overload running 13.5K BTU AC unit. Outside temp was about 110F. Inside temp around 85F. Draw on generator approx. 1780 plus volt-amp. Fault condition. I have rewired the shorepower of the trailer so that the generator powers ONLY the AC unit. All other functioning items are handled by 2000W inverter and solar. Guess what I'm saying is, about 1780-1800 voltage amperes continuous is about allI can get from my Predator 3500 inverter generator. I am currently running it 24/7 in the desert heat. The unit is several years old now and has nearly 3000 hours runtime. Pretty good for the money.
Thanks for the video! It was just what I was looking for. I decided against the honda 3000is because it's too much temptation for someone to steal when were out.
Only thing I can say for mine is its ridiculously quiet for the power output. Whenever I tell someone my generator is from harbor freight the first response is "I'll bet that's loud huh" the shock when you start it for them is priceless!
Its On Sale! $689 as of 3/11/20 - I use it for my business I run 2 5hp blowers 5 powered speakers and projector, media player, wireless mixer and laptop and it runs fine the only thing that brought it to it knees was turning on a cotton candy machine with all that stuff on it did not like that so I bought another one and parallel them together and no problems.
Good job Patrick. These are so useable. Very practical. Simple but valuable. That’s why I’m such a fanboy! Hahaha. Can’t believe it did all that. Best video ever....See you in a couple of days.
I’ve had two different RVs. Both 30 amp. In either one, turning on all those appliances at once would have tripped an internal breaker on shore power. Great generator for the money!
😷Nice video. Glad I watched this. I just bought the predator generator 3500 used for $400 with only 20 hours on it. The person I bought it from didn't even know it had the battery with it. LOL . They only used it to run a paint sprayer 🤣🤣🤣. Remember stay safe/healthy during this period of the pandemic. U and ur family have a Happy Holidays. 😷
Heck, I power a 40 ft RV, plus another building with washer and dryer at the same time...including a regular size house water pump. Never a problem with the 3500. Plus, I can run just the RV for about 14 hours if I don't use my full size washer and dryer. 7 hours if I do. Microwave, water pump etc... no problem.. I have close to 4200 hours on my unit.
Nice info! We aren’t there yet since we don’t even have our RV, but I do keep a playlist of helpful videos, so I’m adding this one! Thanks for the info!
This is the exact type review I was looking for. Great job. I have the HF 8750/7000 unit and was looking for something to use at night, to run fewer appliances. This is the ticket. If it gives as great service as my 8750 unit I'll be quite happy.
Do you have the regular portable 8750 or the inverter 8750? I'm torn between the inverter 8750 and getting two 3500 plus the parallel kit , figure it might be better for noise and redundancy in case one fails...but we have a honda ems 4000 portable too, but can't get parts for it anymore and it needs a new carb....
@@UpRoaryus I have the regular "loud" 8750. I read a recent review on their larger inverter generators and the reviewer wasn't happy with the noise level, saying it was as bad as the standard version, so you might want to research that before buying.
@@dannyrusso8279 yeah, I might try and snag one of the regular 8750 on clearance and the 3500 inverter model for just the electronics. Can an A/C unit (portable or window, under 15000 btu) be powered on the regular kind without the clean sine wave?
Your UA-cam videos are so helpful and interesting. How do you transport your generator? It looks like your tow vehicle is an SUV and I don't see any external cargo boxes large enough for a Generac2200 or Predator 3500. It's my understanding that generators shouldn't be transported in the tow vehicle or the trailer. My husband and I just purchased our first camping trailer (a Tab 320) and would like to carry a generator with us, and found that the higher wattage generators (2000 watt and greater) are too tall to store upright in the back of our pickup (which has a fiberglass bed cover).
good video, but it would've been nice if you went out to check the amp and wattage being used after turning on each device. I also own one of these and they are great.
That’s actually a good question. I had ours installed in the noise test video back in May and someone commented I didn’t need to use it with the generator. I don’t know if that’s true or not.
LOL! I don't know about that. We really haven't had any sponsored videos up to this point and I think in many ways thats a good thing because our reviews are unbiased since we paid for the products ourselves and are receiving nothing from the companies financially. If we ever do get sponsored videos or free products, we will clearly state that in our reviews.
So is the generator only if the battery is dead in the trailer or if you're boondocking? Or do you always have to use the generator? I'm looking into getting a travel trailer and I'm just trying to research everything thanks so much
i own one and love it i am currently waiting to receive a new jet for the carcourator to eliminate a too rich fuel mixture ie fouled pl0ug and clogged spark arrestor have you seen any videos on this?
Typically cause by the fuel tank vent hose, Vents directly into the air cleaner, half inch line at the top of the air box. Every time the generator is moved around fuel gets into the air cleaner, causes the generator to run like crap for a few hours. Fouls plugs runs rich. There are some videos on how to reroute it.
I watched your video on the generators noise output as well. Both excellent and very informative...thank you for that! Did you mention the BTU’s of your AC?
Great video. Is there any issue with running ethinal mixture gas ? I was interested in getting the 2000 wat Wen inverter generator, but the manual says "works better with straight gas " . I thought, what do you mean by that ? In the comments someone commented that it would affect the carberator seal. Living off grid a half hour away to get straight gas in a car is out of the question. I don't want to spend this kind of money and have to guess if a seal is malfunctioning when it souds , runs, or gives out power, or performs differently than expected. I'm no mechanic, but I can take care of the basic maintenance. If this will be a problem than is there a inverter generator 2000 and up anyone can recommend for in the same ball park performance. I will also be needing it to charge probably 4 100 amp hour lithium batteries in the future . Please and thank anyone for any advice you can give me.
I have the HF 3500i generator and I have been able to simultaneously run the A/C , the Fridge, and the Water Heater plus the converter without overloading the generator. I did notice that the 13,500BTU Coleman Mach A/C would cause the generator to speed up every time the compressor cycled, but it never dropped out. Once the Water Heater Cycled off, I still had plenty of capacity to run a drill and a SawsAll to cut firewood, or the microwave oven. I bought a kW power meter and have tested each appliance to see what they actually draw, once you know what those loads are, it is a simple matter to ration the generator to serve everything in the RV without overloading it. ............. Jim Knoch
I was concerned about maintenance and parts when I bought mine back in 2017, and I'll pass on what I have found out about parts availability. If you ever find that you need parts specific to the 3500i generator, you can get them through Northern Tool. They sell an identical unit under the PowerHorse brand, in a deep blue instead of red and they stock all the parts. I hope you have years of trouble free operation with your unit...mine has been trouble free and always starts on the first pull or very short starter crank. ....... Jim Knoch
What about the fridge and A/C? On another note, I have a 2-way fridge (elec/propane) and gas stovetop in my clamshell teardrop trailer. Can I run propane at the same time the generators running for the air conditioner?
I test them by measuring the watts, add all the draw up and bring it to the limit with the numbers. I just did this to a "Reliable" inverter 3000/6000 ran it up to 2995 watts for a few minutes it took it as advertised
I realize this question comes a bit late, but I just left a deposit for a T@B 400 at Princess Craft, and will tow it with an FJ Cruiser, which is similar to the 4Runner/T@B setup Patrick had before he sold it. My question is how do you transport that generator? It's not supposed to be placed in an enclosed space such as your vehicle. Placing it on the trailer tongue with a locking bracket seems a bit heavy? I've seen people do that with a smaller Honda EU2000i. I'm sorry about the newbie question.
I live off grid. I own two that I use when the solar power is low,. I switch off on them while doing oil changes. . I have more than 700 hours on each. I have had zero problems. They are an outstanding value.
Love the video! I’m looking to buy a generator for auto detailing, pressure washer, vacuum, extractor, not all at the same time just one at a time, I can’t decide between a cheap 4000 predator or this one. I want my clients to not hear a bunch of noise but I’m not sure if this is THAT heavy duty, what do you think?
Hi. Well I recently bought this exact same generator for our camper. Today I wanted to test it out. Plug it into the camper that has 15000 btu ac and nothing. The microwave worked. So I’m YouTubing around to see if I missed a step. I wonder if I have a bad generator. It’s a brand new camper as well. Any thoughts. Thank you
It sure seems like that should run your AC. Our AC is only 10,500 BTU but with everything else we were running, I would think you should be able to run yours if nothing else is on.
It runs the 15,000 btu ac in my travel trailer. There's a slow start capacitor or something you can buy for your problem I think. Saw it somewhere on the web. Though I don't use one myself.
Have you had any running issues with this gen? Lots of people having issues ru ning rough after a while. Seems centered around spark arrestor getting clogged & a jet in carbuerator that gets clogged.
Add an easy start to your ac and your predator will thank you. I run two 3500 predators for our 5th wheel with a 15000btu and a 13500btu ac’s with easy starts. We have no issues running everything including the convention microwave.
I really appreciate the video. I own one of these myself and am prepping for hurricane season. It would be nice to know the amp draws for each appliance. The skillet alone will draw about 1,200 watts and the coffee maker about 900 when running. That's as much or more as a home refrigerator. I suspect that the 15,500 BTU A/C took about 13 to 15 amps alone. Is that accurate?
How do you go about getting a super coupon for Harbor freight? They told me today I could not even get a 20% off coupon for this generator. They are asking $849 for today. I would love to buy it but I want the super coupon if I can get it
Even if he did the math, it wouldn't add up to all those loads. LOW estimates: 1000w hair drier 700w Microwave 900w Coffee maker 1500w Air cond 1200w skillet LOW estimate is 5,300 watts from a 3,500 PEAK generator..... Even if the Air Conditioning was cycled off that's only about 1,500 leaving the load STILL over the generators PEAK rating. Now, the interesting thing to see would be the voltage at the generator. Did it drop below 115vac?
I have considered that one for years but never really trust Harbor Freight... I have had too many too purchases become "disposable" items from there. I did purchase a really cool air compressor from there and think it is comparable to the expensive one that looks just like it, but I really don't trust them enough at this point to purchase something that expensive from HF. I have a great pair of generators that I purchased for about what HF was charging and I love them and the customer support for that company is excellent. (if you want to see what I got you will have to view my channel) I'm not knocking HF but I just have had too many lemons to completely trust them. I'm very happy however to see that you have had a great experience and it makes me less skeptical about a purchase from HF. Thanks for the great video!!! Pat
Thanks Pat. I find that Harbor Freight is good for some items especially if you aren't going to use them much. This generator over the years has gotten really good reviews online and for the price seems to be a good value. We are one year into ownership and have had no issues thus far. We still have 1 year of warranty left as we purchased the extended warranty on it.
Did you see our noise test for this generator? Watch it here: ua-cam.com/video/Pb6XShcxKeU/v-deo.html
FYI EVERYONE WHO HAS HARD TIME RESTARTING THE PREDATOR 3500 WHEN ITS HOT OUTSIDE... All you have you have to do is remove the gas cap and it will start right up. Just needs to vent. Somehow it took me almost two summers to finally figure this out lol. . ALSO Jesus Christ delivered me from meth, adderall prescription, alcoholism, cigs etc in Sept 2014. No rehab or any other outside help! Just the Lord and His Word!! Eternal life in Jesus Christ alone. Make sure you seek and abide in Him!
lol at the gas cap...
Damn, you put a bigger load on Faith than Delaney put on that Harbor Freight generator.
God is Good All the time, and praise the Lord that God has seen you through those truly hard times.... Praying for this for my son as we speak, your prayers would be greatly appreciated...his name is Chayne (pronounced Shane)
@@christyssimplelife3916 hey thank you sister. Sorry your son is caught up in that stuff. I will definitely keep Chayne in prayer!
Wow! I come to learn about HF Predator and end up getting a religious sermon... dude, go away and drive your ass to church of you feel you need a refueling of the lord. Glad your off the shit btw
I’ve got this generator and I ran a window ac unit, fridge/freezer, cooktop as needed, modem, router, 2 TVs, multiple lights, and a couple of cell phone chargers. Ran for almost 4 days straight after hurricane Irma in 2017. Went thru 40 gallons of fuel over that time but still $100 to power the essentials for several days and keeping my wife cool and happy... good job
With that much load, how long will it run on a tank of fuel. How long between fill-ups?
This comment got me sold 👍🏼
We have used the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
I originally bought the Predator 3500 to power my 30 foot Forest River RV. Worked perfectly, cant say enough good things about it. Recently had a couple of severe wind storms that created local power outages and used it to power my home. With the exception of our AC, and clothes dryer, this generator ran everything else without a hiccup. I was even able to allow my neighbor to tap into it so they had lights. I also put it into my towable lawn trailer behind my garden tractor to power my electric chainsaw, and other various implements. Three years, NO regrets.
As a California wildfire survivor, we have been living on a generator for the last two years. We originally bought the predator 2000 watt generator and it has been a true champion. Unfortunately as we have been rebuilding that generator has finally reached its limit and needs to be repaired. After watching this video I am currently headed to harbor freight to make a much needed and properly timed upgrade. Your video was amazing and I have been trying to talk myself out of the 800 dollar purchase for a few days. You just answered any doubts that I had. Very much appreciated
Everyone talks about the super coupons and holiday sales coupons but there is always an asterisk on them. That asterisk lists any "Predator" brand as an exclusion. I asked the manager at two different HF stores and both confirmed the Predator 3500 is excluded from all sales and discount coupons. I'm an Inside Track Club member too.
To sum it up, I happily paid the 799.00 and am very impressed with this little inverter generator.
Man, was that entertaining! SOLD!! If you ever need a second job, I think you could easily be a pitchman for a Habor Freight infomercial. Great job and well done, sir. ~💜
Maybe I can pick up some hours at the local store for the holidays! LOL 😂
I run mine for 12 to 15 hours a day 7 days a week in my semi, it powers my 12k btu mini split ac, microwave and bunch of other stuff with no issues. Pulled the spark arrestor right away first spark plug replaced at 1700 hours and it really didn’t need it. Fantastic product. Just a quick update I got 3000hrs in it now and I put the original spark plug back because the replacement was shit and it runs smooth.
What plug did you buy that you didn't like
Update??
First oil change at 8 hours looked like we opened a can of silver metal flake paint. Second oil change at 30 hours looked excellent. 100 hour oil change good and cleaned the spark plug and spark arrestor. Installed the pneumatic big wheel kit using hose washers instead of the included stainless steel to quiet vibration noise and we love it. Wheel lock broke at 40 hours so we discarded it. It rattled too much and didn't work that good anyway. Love these generators. Works much better than our Honda eu3000i.
Thank you for sharing that information.
My wife and I just bought our first RV trailer...I’m old school and prefer the term “camper”. We are looking for a generator and this video was a great help thanks for taking the time.
Thank you for watching and hopefully it was helpful.
Great video!!!
I just bought 1 a few months ago for my shed that has a 30 amp sub panel that I'm going to be taken to my land offgrid so it's nice to know that I will have enough power to run several things.
I got the predator 9000 and I was skeptical about having too many things on at the same time because it’s my first generator, but that thing is a beast and could probably power my whole house if it had to. I almost got the 3500 but they didn’t have it and I needed a generator asap after the storm this week. Great video, by the way. The 3500 seems like a great alternative to the higher priced Honda like you said. So far, I’m impressed with Predator generators and wouldn’t think twice about buying again.
Love this quiet purring generator!❤
Thank you so much for sharing this video.
This was my deal breaker on buying this generator as we are retired and on a fixed income.
We have had ours almost 2 years now and have had no issues. I use it quite a bit around the house as well as with our RV.
I bought one with my stimulas money .. I'm on a fixed income as well . It's always been out of my price range
I was impressed with how easy you started that up and how it seemed you didn't have to talk any louder over the sound of that generator. Keeping that one in mind for my travels. Thanks for posting!
We love how quiet it is. The electric start is a real plus as well.
With the Predator generators....when new, after adding oil, run with no load fir 30 minutes and drain the oil. Notice it will be a little dirty. Refill oil and repeat 2 more times. After refilling the 4th time, its ready for work.
I do that on all HF motors and compressors.
Thank you for the tips! Good advice for everyone.
I do respect ✊ that ...I’m the same even when I buy new cars I use to do that ...till the last minivan they told me don’t touch it till the 1st 10,000 mile ...I hold myself to 6500 miles n I couldn’t take it anymore....
I just got one ! Love it . Changed the oil every 30 minutes, 5 times to remove metal shavings to break it in. Highly recommend doing this. Now I'm looking for a magnetic oil dipstick.
Great video! I live in hurricane prone Florida, and it is important to know a few things (maybe addressed already).
There is a "startup" cycle for many devices.. Our home fridge needs 1200 watts to start, but ONLY 200 watts once running. We have two fridges - so we take that into consideration. Microwaves need full power when running - there is no "start up". Coffee machines the same... Hair dryers - same... Other things like the A/C has a start up, and then a lower level run rate. 2nd - generators run best at 50% - so if you have a 3500 watt generator, consider that 1750 is your watts to run efficiently.
Lastly - start up your items like the fridge or a/c that has an initial spike, and drops off FIRST. Then be aware of of the surge level your generator can handle. Our home one can handle spikes in watt requirements for those "start ups"... I have not checked the hot water tank and pump in our camper to know their wattages...
I've been looking at this one. Just waiting for it to go on sale Thank you for this video it has put me over the top on my decision.
I bet they will have them on sale with the holiday shopping season coming up soon
Its on sale now!
Great test, and your hair looks fabulous!
Thank you!
I got my more year ago and like it very much. We use on camp site its so quite. Also we had power outage for 2 days it was running 2 fridges some lits and little heater no problem at all
I power a 5000 watt well pump at the camp where we go with ease. I also use it for my whole fifth wheel when dry camping. I believe these generators are underrated for the the abuse I put it through. Never any trouble. Starts right up every time
My wife and I bought a T@B 400 earlier this year and we absolutely love it. I have to say, if I ever have a question about a feature on it or anything about it, I always turn to your videos first. Thanks for all the info!
Thank you! Don't hesitate to reach out if you ever have questions.
That was an excellent demonstration we purchased the comparable craftsman generator last year and we haven’t tried it yet and or had the need to use it yet but after watching this video I have no doubt it is more than capable to power the 400.
Thank you! A generator this size definitely will do just about anything you want with a 400
Would have also liked to see the Alde system (hot water) also set to 2kw (no propane). The heat pump cool air and the Alde hot water is together the biggest current draw for T@B 400 systems. Still believe the Predator will handle it.
I didn’t actually try the Alde since it can be run on propane when boondocking. I was just trying to demonstrate things that you’d have to use electric for.
Travels with Delaney Good point.
You had me at hair dryer.. that's a must for both of us.. haha.. Great video... we are still up in the air on the generator... we have only boon-docked twice and it was just for an overnight stay... good to know that the generator will pull its weight. Thanks
Honestly the only reason we’d use the generator is if it was so hot out that we needed to run the AC. We toted it 8,000 miles this summer and never used it except to demo it or let a friend borrow it to charge his battery
Yes, the Predator 3500 will pull its own weight; the question is, can YOU pull/lift/lower a 113# (generator weight + the weight of gas/oil) piece of equipment? Are you physically capable of pulling the pull cord if the generator battery is dead or for some other reason non-functional. 110# is a lot of weight. The Generator minus gas/oil weighs 100#. Go into the store & lift one several times because that is the weight you'll need to heave around BEFORE you start it. Also, do you have space & can you lift the generator into the space/area you intend to store it when not using it. Most of all, DO YOU REALLY NEED a generator that will put out 3,500 watts? Most likely you'll never really NEED that much power. You might WANT to have that much power available, but will you really NEED that much? There are numerous Predator 3500 Generator reviews here on youtube; mostly FAVORABLE.
Keep in mind Patrick & Pat have owned this generator over a year, yet they don't have enough hours of use to have even changed the oil. less than 10 hours of use in over a year it should be apparent Patrick & Pat really don't NEED a generator that weighs 113# & puts out 3500 watts of output. That prior sentence is merely my opinion.
As an alternative to a big, heavy generator, Traveling Robert has installed an Easy Start into his air conditioner that in essence lowers the start power normally required to start an A/C (ua-cam.com/video/IbZxSwYfYvg/v-deo.html). With the EasyStart a 2,000 watt generator is more than sufficient to run an A/C.
Just to clarify, we have ran it on several occasions mainly here at Tall Pine Lodge whenever the power goes out and I have changed the oil in it as it has more than 10 hours on it. There’s much that goes on in our lives that we don’t document on UA-cam. As for the weight, that is not an issue for me at least for a few more years....plus now that we have the Tacoma, I don’t have to load and unload it to operate it like I did with the 4Runner. Finally, it does start very easily with the pull start. I just don’t use the pull start when I have the electrical start. Yes, 3500 watts is not necessarily needed for our RV but this general serves multiple purposes for us.
@@TravelswithDelaney Excellent clarification Patrick; That 3500 watt generator is DEFINITELY something most homeowners SHOULD have, for those increasingly frequent power outages.
I was trying to add some conversation that a 3500 watt output generator is something most RV'ers can do without 99% of the time.
THANKS, PATRICK, for taking the time to do a review of the 3500 watt Predator; its a review I've been looking forward to, one I've encouraged you to do several times this past year.
i have this generator after the video i choose to buy it no regrets after we got hit at NY with many snow storms i use it with my electrical snow blower and i save a lot of electrical bills.......
That is awesome! So glad it worked out well for you.
@@TravelswithDelaney Yes it does work the only change now the price went up a little but i do recommend it.
Cool! If it weren't so heavy I might use a 3500, but for me the weight is a factor, so I bought a used Honda 2000 for about $500. It's easy to start and quiet. However, it won't handle my AC, but most everything else we use when cooking and such. Yours looks like a good deal though. Thanks for the demonstration!
Your Honda EU200i will run your A/C if you install an Easy Start like Traveling Robert: ua-cam.com/video/IbZxSwYfYvg/v-deo.html. Like you, I'd be unable to lift/handle the 100+ pounds of weight of the Predator 3500
We have an Energizer, not a Predator, but have to admit-your video was pretty impressive. Great job!!!
Thank you! That means a lot to us.
Just bought mine yesterday and I cant believe how quit it is!
just got mine and used it! i was impressed
I run a 49 ft houseboat with this generator. Ac, frig, osolatting fan, coffee maker , battery tenders . T.v. it runs friday to sunday. No issues for 3 years . I am not changing plugs just oil. I put in ethanol free gas . Love this gen. When it goes I will go and get another one . 3 years at 800 dollars is a bargain.
That’s impressive. Do you hear the engine at all?
Wow that is definitely impressive especially for a harbor freight generator. I'm sold
We have had ours 2 years now and love it.
I have a Predator 3500 also. I live in Vegas. Yesterday, the generator faulted to overload running 13.5K BTU AC unit. Outside temp was about 110F. Inside temp around 85F. Draw on generator approx. 1780 plus volt-amp. Fault condition.
I have rewired the shorepower of the trailer so that the generator powers ONLY the AC unit. All other functioning items are handled by 2000W inverter and solar. Guess what I'm saying is, about 1780-1800 voltage amperes continuous is about allI can get from my Predator 3500 inverter generator. I am currently running it 24/7 in the desert heat. The unit is several years old now and has nearly 3000 hours runtime. Pretty good for the money.
We love our 3500 Predator. One time I had problem starting and I opened the side door for more air and it started right up.
We’ve been really happy with ours after 1 year of owning it b
They say drill a few small holes in the plastic side door, that's what I did to my Predator 3500. , no bogging or anything
Been looking for video like this so i can decide what unit i want to buy for my deer lease camper. Awesome job THANKS
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the video! It was just what I was looking for. I decided against the honda 3000is because it's too much temptation for someone to steal when were out.
Thank you!
Only thing I can say for mine is its ridiculously quiet for the power output. Whenever I tell someone my generator is from harbor freight the first response is "I'll bet that's loud huh" the shock when you start it for them is priceless!
I know exactly what you mean James. People are always amazed how quiet it is.
Its On Sale! $689 as of 3/11/20 - I use it for my business I run 2 5hp blowers 5 powered speakers and projector, media player, wireless mixer and laptop and it runs fine the only thing that brought it to it knees was turning on a cotton candy machine with all that stuff on it did not like that so I bought another one and parallel them together and no problems.
Good job Patrick. These are so useable. Very practical. Simple but valuable. That’s why I’m such a fanboy! Hahaha. Can’t believe it did all that. Best video ever....See you in a couple of days.
I love doing this type of video because I never know what the results are going to be. It's like a science fair project for me! LOL
I’ve had two different RVs. Both 30 amp. In either one, turning on all those appliances at once would have tripped an internal breaker on shore power. Great generator for the money!
Wow. Excellent demonstration 👍
Glad you liked it!
😷Nice video. Glad I watched this. I just bought the predator generator 3500 used for $400 with only 20 hours on it. The person I bought it from didn't even know it had the battery with it. LOL . They only used it to run a paint sprayer 🤣🤣🤣. Remember stay safe/healthy during this period of the pandemic. U and ur family have a Happy Holidays. 😷
That sounds like a great deal that you got!
Heck, I power a 40 ft RV, plus another building with washer and dryer at the same time...including a regular size house water pump. Never a problem with the 3500. Plus, I can run just the RV for about 14 hours if I don't use my full size washer and dryer. 7 hours if I do.
Microwave, water pump etc... no problem.. I have close to 4200 hours on my unit.
Nice info! We aren’t there yet since we don’t even have our RV, but I do keep a playlist of helpful videos, so I’m adding this one! Thanks for the info!
Thanks for watching!
This is the exact type review I was looking for. Great job. I have the HF 8750/7000 unit and was looking for something to use at night, to run fewer appliances. This is the ticket. If it gives as great service as my 8750 unit I'll be quite happy.
Do you have the regular portable 8750 or the inverter 8750? I'm torn between the inverter 8750 and getting two 3500 plus the parallel kit , figure it might be better for noise and redundancy in case one fails...but we have a honda ems 4000 portable too, but can't get parts for it anymore and it needs a new carb....
@@UpRoaryus I have the regular "loud" 8750. I read a recent review on their larger inverter generators and the reviewer wasn't happy with the noise level, saying it was as bad as the standard version, so you might want to research that before buying.
@@dannyrusso8279 yeah, I might try and snag one of the regular 8750 on clearance and the 3500 inverter model for just the electronics. Can an A/C unit (portable or window, under 15000 btu) be powered on the regular kind without the clean sine wave?
@@UpRoaryus Yes, I have no problem running my 12,000BTU and several other major appliances on the 8750 unit.
It does the job. Excellent product.
you've just convinced me to buy the predator generator for use in my semi truck sleeper
Fred Blair
I’m a truck driver also giving this generator some serious thought. Have you purchased yours yet?
Nice video. Many thanks
Larger campers like ours have a 15000 btu air conditioner. I have the WEN 3800 and it handles it great.
Wow that's impressive
Thanks for sharing am sold plus it's neighbor friendly with all that going on
It really is very quiet even with a full load on it
Your UA-cam videos are so helpful and interesting.
How do you transport your generator? It looks like your tow vehicle is an SUV and I don't see any external cargo boxes large enough for a Generac2200 or Predator 3500. It's my understanding that generators shouldn't be transported in the tow vehicle or the trailer.
My husband and I just purchased our first camping trailer (a Tab 320) and would like to carry a generator with us, and found that the higher wattage generators (2000 watt and greater) are too tall to store upright in the back of our pickup (which has a fiberglass bed cover).
Woohoo! This generator is on my list!
We’ve been very happy with it....especially for the price
good video, but it would've been nice if you went out to check the amp and wattage being used after turning on each device. I also own one of these and they are great.
Iove mine as well. Your prior videos helped me make my decision. Ty
Great to hear!
May I ask how much you have used it? Do you think it will age well? I'm thinking of buying one. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Awesome Test :) I’m wondering if you’d also need to put a surge protector on the generator?
That’s actually a good question. I had ours installed in the noise test video back in May and someone commented I didn’t need to use it with the generator. I don’t know if that’s true or not.
It would be nice to see what kind of wattage that the generator was pulling..with each other Appliance turned on
It shows va wich is equal to watts
Sold me on one ! Great video . Have you tried running your furnace?
How fab! Maybe they'll send you a freebie or sponsor a vid! That would be great! 👍
LOL! I don't know about that. We really haven't had any sponsored videos up to this point and I think in many ways thats a good thing because our reviews are unbiased since we paid for the products ourselves and are receiving nothing from the companies financially. If we ever do get sponsored videos or free products, we will clearly state that in our reviews.
Great reviews always 👍
Thank you
So is the generator only if the battery is dead in the trailer or if you're boondocking? Or do you always have to use the generator? I'm looking into getting a travel trailer and I'm just trying to research everything thanks so much
We only use the generator if we are boondocking and need to run the AC. Otherwise our solar and batteries run everything else for us.
@@TravelswithDelaney thanks so much!
i own one and love it i am currently waiting to receive a new jet for the carcourator to eliminate a too rich fuel mixture ie fouled pl0ug and clogged spark arrestor have you seen any videos on this?
Typically cause by the fuel tank vent hose, Vents directly into the air cleaner, half inch line at the top of the air box. Every time the generator is moved around fuel gets into the air cleaner, causes the generator to run like crap for a few hours. Fouls plugs runs rich. There are some videos on how to reroute it.
Out of 3000 watts how many watts did the generator say you were while using while running all of those items?
Bashel Bash I honestly do not know. I wasn’t checking that when we were filming
I watched your video on the generators noise output as well. Both excellent and very informative...thank you for that! Did you mention the BTU’s of your AC?
Our T@B 400 had a 10.5 btu. Our new Lance has a 13.5 btu. No issues running either
Wow. I'm amazed!
Great video. Is there any issue with running ethinal mixture gas ? I was interested in getting the 2000 wat Wen inverter generator, but the manual says "works better with straight gas " . I thought, what do you mean by that ? In the comments someone commented that it would affect the carberator seal. Living off grid a half hour away to get straight gas in a car is out of the question. I don't want to spend this kind of money and have to guess if a seal is malfunctioning when it souds , runs, or gives out power, or performs differently than expected.
I'm no mechanic, but I can take care of the basic maintenance. If this will be a problem than is there a inverter generator 2000 and up anyone can recommend for in the same ball park performance. I will also be needing it to charge probably 4 100 amp hour lithium batteries in the future . Please and thank anyone for any advice you can give me.
I have the HF 3500i generator and I have been able to simultaneously run the A/C , the Fridge, and the Water Heater plus the converter without overloading the generator. I did notice that the 13,500BTU Coleman Mach A/C would cause the generator to speed up every time the compressor cycled, but it never dropped out. Once the Water Heater Cycled off, I still had plenty of capacity to run a drill and a SawsAll to cut firewood, or the microwave oven. I bought a kW power meter and have tested each appliance to see what they actually draw, once you know what those loads are, it is a simple matter to ration the generator to serve everything in the RV without overloading it. ............. Jim Knoch
Thank you for sharing that information. I’m glad to hear you had no issues with an AC bigger than ours and still had power to operate other devices
I was concerned about maintenance and parts when I bought mine back in 2017, and I'll pass on what I have found out about parts availability. If you ever find that you need parts specific to the 3500i generator, you can get them through Northern Tool. They sell an identical unit under the PowerHorse brand, in a deep blue instead of red and they stock all the parts. I hope you have years of trouble free operation with your unit...mine has been trouble free and always starts on the first pull or very short starter crank. ....... Jim Knoch
What about the fridge and A/C? On another note, I have a 2-way fridge (elec/propane) and gas stovetop in my clamshell teardrop trailer. Can I run propane at the same time the generators running for the air conditioner?
how do you haul the generator? Isn't it heavy to lift into the back of your truck?
Great job, thanks for sharing
I test them by measuring the watts, add all the draw up and bring it to the limit with the numbers. I just did this to a "Reliable" inverter 3000/6000 ran it up to 2995 watts for a few minutes it took it as advertised
Great vid sir,TYSVMuch for this informative video.
Glad it was helpful!
Great 👍 video how much was the overall cost out the door with warranty. Compared to a Honda3000 gen
We were just under $800 with the extended warranty and tax. The comparable Honda was closer to $2100
I realize this question comes a bit late, but I just left a deposit for a T@B 400 at Princess Craft, and will tow it with an FJ Cruiser, which is similar to the 4Runner/T@B setup Patrick had before he sold it. My question is how do you transport that generator? It's not supposed to be placed in an enclosed space such as your vehicle. Placing it on the trailer tongue with a locking bracket seems a bit heavy? I've seen people do that with a smaller Honda EU2000i. I'm sorry about the newbie question.
I would talk to Princess Craft about if they have any possible solutions for hauling it. That was one of the reasons we went to the Tacoma.
Once again you sold me😉 Thank you for answering my question👍
Thank you!
Was debating between this one and Westinghouse 4500, see more great reviews on this predator, thanks for your help on deciding
We have owned it for 3 years now and its still a great generator especially considering the price.
I live off grid. I own two that I use when the solar power is low,. I switch off on them while doing oil changes. . I have more than 700 hours on each. I have had zero problems. They are an outstanding value.
That is great to hear! We have had ours for a year and a half now and absolutely love it. We have not had any issues with it.
Can you use this generator with a titanium 140 welder without frying either one?
I own a 3500. I run a hot water heater, mini-fridge, lights, small AC unit, etc... follow the instructions and change the oil as stated.
Thank you!
do you have a circuit breaker? i m wondering how didn't the circuit breaker trip with many appliances running at the same time
Love the video! I’m looking to buy a generator for auto detailing, pressure washer, vacuum, extractor, not all at the same time just one at a time, I can’t decide between a cheap 4000 predator or this one. I want my clients to not hear a bunch of noise but I’m not sure if this is THAT heavy duty, what do you think?
Thank you! This one is really quiet. We have owned it for almost 2 years and we have hd no issues so far.
Travels with Delaney thank u!
The open frame 4000 (non inverter) can supply 240vac. This 3500 can only supply 120vac. Still a great little gen and a great value
Hi. Well I recently bought this exact same generator for our camper. Today I wanted to test it out. Plug it into the camper that has 15000 btu ac and nothing. The microwave worked. So I’m YouTubing around to see if I missed a step. I wonder if I have a bad generator. It’s a brand new camper as well. Any thoughts. Thank you
It sure seems like that should run your AC. Our AC is only 10,500 BTU but with everything else we were running, I would think you should be able to run yours if nothing else is on.
It runs the 15,000 btu ac in my travel trailer. There's a slow start capacitor or something you can buy for your problem I think. Saw it somewhere on the web. Though I don't use one myself.
Have you had any running issues with this gen? Lots of people having issues ru ning rough after a while. Seems centered around spark arrestor getting clogged & a jet in carbuerator that gets clogged.
We’ve had ours for over a year now and have not had any issues so far. It is still running great.
@@TravelswithDelaney Thanks for the input and the video.
Travel safe
Tom.
Thank you!
Thanks for doing this so I don’t have to.
And let me ask - doe these generators need to be grounded when using with an RV like this ?
I have never grounded it myself.
I wish you would’ve went out and looked at the digital meter gauge to see how many watts the generator was putting out
Sorry about that!
I'll be getting one pretty soon!!!
awsome reviews, been looking at the Predator, I think I'm gonna pull the trigger.
We have had ours over a year now and still love it!
Mr robot XX
I own two. 700 hours on both with zero problem. Outstanding value.
Excellent info as always!
Thank you!
We've been eyeing this generator for awhile.Impressive. Good info. The question is, will it run our old Coleman AC?
This Nomadic Idea I’m sure it will. Do you know how many BTU’s it is?
@@TravelswithDelaney 15000 BTU's
If you get back our way in NE Indiana with your trailer, let me know and we will hook it up and see what it does.
And I wonder if you can run it off of propane with the appropriate adapter?
That I do not know but maybe someone else here can answer that.
Add an easy start to your ac and your predator will thank you. I run two 3500 predators for our 5th wheel with a 15000btu and a 13500btu ac’s with easy starts. We have no issues running everything including the convention microwave.
I had 4 of them. 1. Lasted 1 month. 1. Lasted 1 year. 1. Lasted 1 night. I'm on day 1 of #4
Do you think it would run a 15k btu AC?
I think it should. It is 3000 running watts with 3500 watts peak.
I really appreciate the video. I own one of these myself and am prepping for hurricane season. It would be nice to know the amp draws for each appliance. The skillet alone will draw about 1,200 watts and the coffee maker about 900 when running. That's as much or more as a home refrigerator. I suspect that the 15,500 BTU A/C took about 13 to 15 amps alone. Is that accurate?
Yes....the AC will draw that much by itself.
@@TravelswithDelaney Yep, it's all about the calculation, personal needs, and headroom. Oh, and the capacity of the correct gauge of cables....
How do you go about getting a super coupon for Harbor freight? They told me today I could not even get a 20% off coupon for this generator. They are asking $849 for today. I would love to buy it but I want the super coupon if I can get it
They had a special coupon in their flyer when I bought mine about 3 years ago. I don’t know if they do those anymore.
i loved this thanks 👍
You're welcome 😊
Can it power a fridge ? Or freezer ?
Will this run my 2.5 hp well pump ???
It depends on what the electric draw is on the pump. The pump should have that listed on it.
Having watched you for some time ... I highly suspect you'd already calculated the wattage. Kinda goes with being a Teacher I think. :)
Lol! I do like having fun with the math sometimes
Arthur Leslie gréât vidéo, so useful to show it all.
Even if he did the math, it wouldn't add up to all those loads.
LOW estimates:
1000w hair drier
700w Microwave
900w Coffee maker
1500w Air cond
1200w skillet
LOW estimate is 5,300 watts from a 3,500 PEAK generator..... Even if the Air Conditioning was cycled off that's only about 1,500 leaving the load STILL over the generators PEAK rating.
Now, the interesting thing to see would be the voltage at the generator. Did it drop below 115vac?
I have considered that one for years but never really trust Harbor Freight... I have had too many too purchases become "disposable" items from there. I did purchase a really cool air compressor from there and think it is comparable to the expensive one that looks just like it, but I really don't trust them enough at this point to purchase something that expensive from HF. I have a great pair of generators that I purchased for about what HF was charging and I love them and the customer support for that company is excellent. (if you want to see what I got you will have to view my channel) I'm not knocking HF but I just have had too many lemons to completely trust them. I'm very happy however to see that you have had a great experience and it makes me less skeptical about a purchase from HF.
Thanks for the great video!!!
Pat
Thanks Pat. I find that Harbor Freight is good for some items especially if you aren't going to use them much. This generator over the years has gotten really good reviews online and for the price seems to be a good value. We are one year into ownership and have had no issues thus far. We still have 1 year of warranty left as we purchased the extended warranty on it.
@@TravelswithDelaney very happy to hear that. I completely get making purchases at harbor freight on a teacher's budget. I are one too... LOL!!!
What kind of electric skillet is that