So you’ve been looking for a great inverter generator to use with your RV or when you are out camping.
You’ve stumbled across the Predator 3500 inverter generator, and you’re wondering if it’s any good.
We’re pleased to report that it’s a fairly decent inverter generator.
It provides all of the key features that you may need from an inverter generator - it runs quietly, it’s fairly portable and more. It’s certainly a popular option that you are sure to love.
Of course, if you’re looking for a power generator for camping, or general outdoor use, it is vital that you look for a unit that is going to meet your specific requirements.
So, will this be the generator for you? Read on to find out.
GENERATOR REVIEW
Specifications
- 2.6 gallon gasoline fuel tank
- Runs for 11 hours at 25% capacity
- 3500 peak watts; running watts 3000
- Able to hold 20 fluid oz of oil
- 212cc air cooled OHV engine
- 2- 120v AC grounded outlets
- 1- 120v AC twist lock outlet
- 1-DC 12 volt 2 pin outlet
- Inverter power generator
- 57 decibels noise rating
- Weighs less than a hundred points, measures 22 x 17
Things we Love
Intuitive Control Panel
One of the things that we love about this generator is that it has a really user friendly control panel.
On this control panel, you are able to see a digital display on an LCD screen. This will show you a warning light for when the oil levels are low, and it even has overloading right underneath it.
In fact, it even has an indicator for output, it has a button to allow you to change to eco mode and even a switch for the electric start.
Simultaneously, there are also power outlets on the panel, along with two 120 volt grounded outlets, a 120 volt twist lock and a 12 volt DC outlet which you can use for charging batteries for the car.
They all have their own circuit breaker restart buttons. In addition to this, the unit even has an automatic low fuel shutdown for even more safety.
Noise Levels
With a 57 dB rating for noise, this is a generator the operates pretty quietly, especially when you think about the amount of wattage that you get from it.
It’s going to be noisier if you are operating it at full capacity of course but in comparison to a lot of other similar options on the market it’s incredibly quiet.
In fact, if you want to go somewhere else for a while and enjoy the quiet outdoors outside of your RV, you don’t need to worry about the generator killing your vibes.
Portable
This is a great option if you are looking for portability. The generator weighs a mere 115 pounds and that’s with a full tank! It’s certainly a lot lighter than a lot of similar models that an even weigh as much as 150 pounds.
With that being said, it’s certainly not the smallest model on the market either.
The portability is enhanced by the build in carry handles and wheels, which make it easy to move around wherever you need to go.
On the same subject thought, the wheels are a bit poor when you’re trying to use them on uneven terrain.
It is possible to change out your wheels if you with to do so.
Easy To Use
To get this generator up and running, you simply need to push a button and it’s an electric start.
In fact, the manufacturer even provided you with the electric start up batteries, which is insane when you think about the fact that this unit is already quite competitively priced.
Maintenance
It goes without saying that it’s important to make sure that you maintain your power generator properly.
Thankfully, this is not a difficult thing to do with the Predator 3500 inverter generator. The generator comes with a low oil light and an hours counter, which means that it’s a lot easier to maintain than a lot of other models are.
In addition to this, the product comes with a 90 day full refund or replace warranty, and when you have bought the unit you can get in touch with the manufacturers within 30 days and you can upgrade to a one or two year replace or repair plan.
This will give you even more peace of mind if you happen to need it.
General Features
It should be noted right off the bat that this is certainly an inverter generator that is designed for people on a budget.
Imagine our shock when we found out about the sheer amount of features that the generator comes with.
The kinds of features that this generator comes with are ones that you may expect to see on a model that is double its price!
To begin with, the Predator 3500 comes with a low oil shutoff feature which can help to keep your generator protected.
It’s certainly true that we aren’t always on our top form with remembering to perform the proper maintenance, and with this low oil shut off feature it isn’t too much of a worry if you do forget.
Not only this, but the generator even has a low oil shutoff indicator light, and this means that you can tell pretty easily when the power had been cut out as a result of low oil.
Guessing why your generator has shut off can take a lot of time and effort usually, so this is certainly a welcome feature.
As we’ve already mentioned, the device comes with a handy digital LCD display that you can read easily no matter when the lighting conditions around you are.
It also has an overload indicator light that will tell you whether everything is working okay at a glance. You will also be able to know quickly and easily when the device isn’t working okay.
If just one unit isn’t going to be enough to power all of your electronic devices, then you will be pleased to know that the Predator 3500 is also parallel compatible.
Ultimately this means that you will be able to link two generators together for even more power - perfect for that particularly high powered AC unit! Sadly it can be a little difficult to find the Harbor Freight kids for parallel running the device.
The device also comes with two 120V AC Grounded Outlets. One of them is a 120V AC twist lock outlet, while the other is a 120V DC two pin outlet.
You will have pretty much everything you could ever need in an inverter generator with this device. Plus, it also comes with a 30 amp RV adapter, a DC cable, spark plug wrench, a screwdriver and fuel funnel.
Price
As we’ve already said, the Predator 3500 is incredibly affordable. If you’re on a budget, this unit will give you all of the fantastic high end features you could possibly want while also not breaking the bank.
Of course there are certainly models that cost less than this one but you will be hard pressed to find one that operates as quietly as this one does.
The value for money here is undisputed, and with all of the great features it comes with you really can’t go wrong.
Things We Didn’t Love
Portability
Of course, the generator is pretty portable as a whole. It’s lightweight and compact, which is what makes it such a fantastic choice for camping and tailgating. It also comes with 4 wheels.
The only problem, then?
The unit doesn’t actually come with a handle. This means you will need to bend down to pull it across the ground which of course is not ideal if you have an achy back or you generally struggle with bending down.
If we were to recreate this generator, we think we would have liked to see a fold down handle which would make transporting the unit from A to B that much easier.
Warranty
Sure, the device has a 90 day replacement policy. In an ideal world though, we would like to have a longer warranty than just the 2 year warranty offered. That extra peace of mind can go a long way!
How Can I Use the Predator 3500 Inverter Generator?
This is an incredibly versatile generator that runs rather quietly. As a result, it’s actually a fantastic choice for an RV.
You can also use it effectively while tailgating and camping. If you need a little bit of extra power, you may even wish to use it as a backup home generator, especially if you use it in parallel.
Conclusion
As a whole, the Predator 3500 is certainly a worthy investment for anyone looking for power off the grid. This compact unit is comes with a bunch of great features and benefits all for an affordable price.
It’s even fairly quiet in operation. We would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a versatile, compact inverter generator for any situation.