Diesel gensets - brand recommendations?

[trukinbear]

My cabin uses an Onan/Cummins QD8000 'quiet diesel' that at just over 15,000 hours has never given a hint of trouble just like the previous 3 Onan diesel generators, all the way back to the obnoxious noisy, but stone reliable Studebaker designed Onan DJ12

 

[kmk1012]

I have a Predator 10kw that I made into a tri-fuel (gasoline/LP/NP) and it works great. It can power my entire house and can even handle the inrush at the start-up of my central A/C condenser unit with the installed soft-start kit on the condenser unit.

They've since come out with a 13kw, and their "super-quiet" inverter models are getting larger capacity models year by year.

I hear a lot of people speak very highly of the Predator series generators form china. Every one of them has been happy that they bought Harbor Freight's warranty too as they have needed it. Only one of the circle of people I see using them has not had issues after a few years and that's a fairly large number. I'm not saying they are all bad but I've seen plenty for me to not regret spending a bit more on something that still has factory support. All genset parts are sourced globally but I still believe in buying quality that lasts.

 

[trukinbear]

Much depends on your intended use. Predator is a decent genset for occasional use, but won't last long trying to use it as prime power especially screaming at rated output - people always buy the first generator too small. You don't want to run it continuously at over 80% rated power, 60% even better. You wouldn't buy a car that had just exactly the minimum amount of power necessary to cruise at 65 mph, you don't want to do the same with your generator. Generators rated prime power, or standby are totally different from an open frame contractor type generator. My QD8000 is the quiet generation used on Wanderlodge motor coaches, costs $12,000+, and is worth every penny. Onan/Cummins has less expensive, albeit louder options. My son tried to duplicate my setup, but with a $6,500 LPG Champion, and after replacing it twice in the first year Champion bought it back.

 

[CougarMtn]

If you have a chance, look up the "smokstak.com" website. There is a dedicated generator section. Onan used to build a 2 cylinder, 6kw, or 7.5kw , and a 4 cylinder, 12kw or 15kw inline, air cooled diesel genset. JC series I believe. Very reliable, but a bit noisy. There is a wealth of info on other makes and models also.