Diesel Generator Recommendations please

[DesertSmoker]

Looking for a portable diesel gen that me and the wife can load in bed of the truck. Anyone have one that they would recommend.

[Clay Henry]

good luck with that. Most diesel gensets will wight more than 3 guys could load. Look at the military surplus auction sites.

[Evil Eye]

You can get a cheapie "Harbor Freight-style" unit, but it's going to be a noisy SOB.

[DesertSmoker]

Originally Posted by Clay Henry

good luck with that. Most diesel gensets will wight more than 3 guys could load. Look at the military surplus auction sites.

Ya the lightest one I have found so far is 200 lbs. Sad thing is all I need a 3500 watt gen.

[DesertSmoker]

Originally Posted by Evil Eye

You can get a cheapie "Harbor Freight-style" unit, but it's going to be a noisy SOB.

Thanks but no more harbor freight except for the cheap hand tools....... The wife heard a Honda gen running she wanted that till she found out the cost, no more Honda.

[rufushusky]

Originally Posted by DesertSmoker

Ya the lightest one I have found so far is 200 lbs. Sad thing is all I need a 3500 watt gen.

Any reason you NEED a diesel gen? I mean a gas 3500 watt set up shouldn't be that hard to find and 5 gallons of gas and your good for a while! I had a 6500 watt diesel gen set that tipped the scales around 400-450 pounds...tore my lat trying to get it out of my truck. Oh man was that thing noisy and smokey! I would not recommend it to anyone.

[Evil Eye]

Originally Posted by rufushusky

Any reason you NEED a diesel gen? I mean a gas 3500 watt set up shouldn't be that hard to find and 5 gallons of gas and your good for a while! I had a 6500 watt diesel gen set that tipped the scales around 400-450 pounds...tore my lat trying to get it out of my truck. Oh man was that thing noisy and smokey! I would not recommend it to anyone.

Damn, bro! Haven't seen you here in quite some time. Welcome back!!!

[johnnyroastbeef]

Originally Posted by rufushusky

Any reason you NEED a diesel gen? I mean a gas 3500 watt set up shouldn't be that hard to find and 5 gallons of gas and your good for a while! ....

I have a cheapo 3500 watt gas unit, Master Craft is the brnad name but i think they are very similar to the Harbor freight models and you can pick one up for 300-350 bucks. it has the Honda clone motor on it and it runs like a top. it starts on the first pull and literally runs till it's out of gas. really reliable and alomost maintence free. it's not the super quiet honda inverter type you mentiooned. those are several thosands for a little 2000 watt model.

[rufushusky]

Originally Posted by Evil Eye

Damn, bro! Haven't seen you here in quite some time. Welcome back!!!

Why thank you....I finally sold my Dodge and picked up an 2002 F350 so I am back on the light side.

Originally Posted by johnnyroastbeef

I have a cheapo 3500 watt gas unit, Master Craft is the brnad name but i think they are very similar to the Harbor freight models and you can pick one up for 300-350 bucks. it has the Honda clone motor on it and it runs like a top. it starts on the first pull and literally runs till it's out of gas. really reliable and alomost maintence free. it's not the super quiet honda inverter type you mentiooned. those are several thosands for a little 2000 watt model.

Yeah, I had a coleman with a B&S motor that I got off CL for like 125 bucks. Changed the plug and it ran like a dream. Very quiet all things considered, I ran it in a truck stop in Barstow to keep the AC running in the 90+ heat and it did fine. I couldn't hear it over the trucks idling next to me.

I mean I love Ruddy's fuel as much as the next guy but if your not welding then a diesel genset is NOT worth it to me IMHO. Gas ones are much cheaper to buy, maintain and IMHO run.

[tubular031]

I have one of the champion generators I got at tractor supply (many sell them now). I run it in the bed of the truck while driving down the road so the AC can cool the trailer when we get to camp. It works very well and as long as you don't let the gas go bad, it runs and runs and runs! I ran it all day with the AC going (18 ish amps) and used maybe 5 or 6 gal. It was running a good 11 hours.

They are NOT quiet at all so do not expect a whisper like the honda.