9500 watt Predator

[chadthomasson]

Does anyone have any experience with this particular unit, or is it overkill? I don’t have the budget for a $5-6k Onan, and just looking at different options. I will be hooked to shore power 99% of the time and this will just serve as a backup, but I am in TX heat.

Would you recommend two smaller predator units in tandem over one of these larger units. There are actually a couple different options. There’s also an 8750 and a 3500.

[DutchmenSport]

I purchased 2 Cummings Onan P4500i Inverter Generators that I can run in parallel for full 50 amp service and they run absolutely everything in my Montana High Country Fifth wheel with room to spare.

Like you, I asked opinions on "this and that" until I stumbled on my ultimate decision, and my decision has been a happy one. No regrets. Together, with the parallel cable, the entire she-bang ran me about $2500. I am positive the cost is more now.

Honda also makes a well loved generator, light weight, that can be run in parallel also. Don't over look Champion in addition to your prospective Predator.

For me, it made better sense to get two portable generators as opposed to one huge one built into the fifth wheel. I use my generators for more than just camping. Like you, we almost always have available shore power when camping. But the flexibility to use the generators for home back-up, power tools when off the grid, and any number of uses when electricity is not available, gave me the portability to take electricity with me anywhere I went, any time I wanted.

All of us do "it" different. There are no right or wrong answers. We each just have to figure out what will best work for our own unique needs, especially since no 2 of us are the same.

My choice was the Onan P4500i. As I said, I've been very, very pleased with mine for use with the camper and everything else.

FYI, my first generator was a "King Craft" generator I received with the purchase of our very first travel trailer. That generator is now over 20 years old, and for a generator that was suppose to be a pile of junk, it's sure has been a winner. It's run thousands of hours, and still goes strong. However, it does sound like a lawn mower when it runs, but it's served very, very well for years and years now. And no, it's not got enough "umph" to turn over the air conditioner in my fifth wheel. It would run my first travel trailer just fine, but not the one I have now. No, it's not for sale either. I've had several people wanting to "take if off my hands."

[chadthomasson]

Thanks for the advice! I’ll check out the P4500i

[Daryles]

Champion says you can use this parallel kit to connect two 2800 watt champion generators and get 50 amp output to run two 15000 BTU AC units. Read the whole spec sheet.
"https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Parallel-2800-Watt-Inverter-Generators/dp/B06XW2929Z"
Personally I would go with two
Champion inverter generators with more wattage to give you a bit more appliance running capacity IF you have to run 2 air conditioners at the same time and want to run anything else (TV, satellite, Nintendo etc.

[DadsHemi]

That 9500 Preditor is a new unit, I’ve been looking at to replace my 3500 preditor but that 225lbs it’s weighs has me heisting. I think I’d rather buy two smaller and to get the 50amp and not lift the weight.

[L0veless]

there is no "right" answer. what I found works best for us was going with 2 generators to get the watts needed. I just cant haul 250 lbs around any more. Westinghouse has had great reviews on there new 4500/3700 running watt generator. we picked one up to try and really like it. will now get the second one. yes mine had the choke issue took 10 minutes to fix. plus super quiet. like you we are plugged in 90% of the time but with 2 St. Bernard's we need air conditioning for them. good luck and there will be plenty more input I'm sure.

[bshgto]

I considered this unit too but after checking specs it was to tall to fit under the tonneau cover. it set above the bed rails, was disappointed in that. I travel with the A/C running about an 1/ 1/2 hours before we get to our destination to cool the unit down before we get there and sometimes you have to drive through rainstorms (not good to get them wet). So went with the 2 duel fuel Westinghouse 4500`s and run them on propane and parallel them to a 50 amp cord connected at the front of the camper and they fit under the cover for the rain issue. Mine never leave the truck so the weight doesn`t matter. Works for me.

[rames14]

As Dutchmensport mentioned, find what you need to work for you. Living in the mountains, we didn’t need to run AC, but now with Super Solar and soft start on both AC’s, we can with our two Honda 2000’s. I also have a manual transfer switch for the house so I can use them if we lose power (first thing they do during a forest fire is cut power to the area). We bought our first Honda back in about 2007 and added a second later. I then copied another members cage and built one for mine. Hitch goes right between our two generators. The tank between is a 6 gallon tank. We use ethanol free fuel and don’t do anything special to keep them running.

[mlh]

Last night while I was reading this thread, guess what the power went out and was out until 10 30 this morning.
I think you said you would be hooked to shore power 99% of the time. So what do you need to run the rest of the time? Will a 2000 watt get you by or do y wont to run your AC? Are you going to run both AC units?
You surely don’t need that 9500 watt unit. Maybe the HF 3500 or 2 2000 watt units. I have a Honda 3000 watt but at at over $2000 I wouldn’t buy another. I buy the Predator at $850.
Lynwood

[WaltBennett]

Have had a 3500 Predator generator for five years now and it's worked far better than I'd expected. I tried two Yamaha 2k inverter generators but the single one will run our single AC with no problems and not the hassle of dealing with two. We overnight at Walmart on trips and occasionally dry camp elsewhere for a few days and it's been excellent. I think the battery is shot though and is dead after the things been sitting for a while, but it starts easily with by rope. Since we've moved to the Richmond, VA area, we've had a few power outages, so I've been seriously looking at this new one. Got to measure it and see how it'll fit in my truck though. The weight's not an issue - I've a small tractor with a bucket that will get it up & down just fine.

[dbgard2018]

i have been considering options for a generator myself, and have decided to go with 2 smaller 2500w i can parallel for the simple fact that carrying a 100lb generator vs a 40lb will be a lot easier on my aging body!!

[Gunny B]

I'm too old to lift it myself so I have to have the wife help lift it or even haul it around in the grass.. I'm looking at a smaller one Champion myself instead of hauling around that darn boat anchor on my hitch carrier.

[Last2Die]

A friend of mine just bought this. it purrs like a kitten with a ton of power, he has a TT.

My idea for this unit if I didnt already have the Onan was to cut out the floor, add a winch to raise and lower the unit in the front area as needed. Weld guide rails to allow smooth travel up and down. I know the exhaust would need to be vented somehow but thats as far as I got.

[Gunny B]

I looked up the weight on that Predator 9500 and was shocked to see it weighs in at 257 pounds and loud too at 67 dB. That one is for running your house during an emergency where it can just sit around. You need a forklift with that one.

[chadthomasson]

I appreciate everyone’s input. With the lower run time and frequency of planned use, I’m leaning toward two Predator 3500 or maybe the Westinghouse route. I only want it for a backup if we lose shore power so I can cool this thing in the TX heat. I stay in it while working on the road and more than not I’ll always be in and around TX. It seems like an economical trade off that’s worth spending a little less. If I were using generator power most of the time, I would probably hold out for a Cummins Onan 5500.

[Montana Man]

My idea for this unit if I didnt already have the Onan was to cut out the floor, add a winch to raise and lower the unit in the front area as needed. Weld guide rails to allow smooth travel up and down. I know the exhaust would need to be vented somehow but thats as far as I got.[/QUOTE]

I had the same idea. It would be the slickest setup out there.

[Route66Rambler]

We just boondocked at Oshkosh for 9 days and the Onan 4500 worked fantastic. Ran both AC's and it's super quiet. Lighter than our Honda 3000i. Glad we switched. It ran everything we needed.