Westinghouse 5000 Peak Watt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator, Remote Electric Start with Auto Choke, Wheel & Handle Kit, RV Ready, Gas Powered, Parallel Capable

Why did you pick this product vs others?:Great generator, easy to set up, very quiet. I already had a non-inverter 6500w Ryobi generator for power outage emergencies at home, but that was going to be much too loud to use for our new 16 ft RV trailer. I'll be using this to power my RV trailer when boondocking - sitting in the pick-up bed, but I presume it could go onto a trailer rear-bumper platform if I wasn't already carrying bikes and a spare tire back there. I can usually do without aux power except in the summer with the dogs. If we have to leave them alone the ability to run the a/c when we stop to see a roadside attraction, etc. is critical. Thus this generator is providing much freedom for travel with the dogs (and will certainly add some comfort on hot nights for us humans, too). I did a test run with my 3500 btu RV air conditioner. Mathematically, I thought the iGen 5000 generator would handle it, but I was getting occassional OL trips when the A/C unit started. Thus I'll be putting a soft start device on the A/C.

I've had this now for about 8 months. I followed the recommendation of other reviews and bought a drain extension to make changing the oil easier and cleaner. I installed this before I filled it with oil the first time. Ideally you should buy this before you need it and break it in properly following the directions in the included manual as you keep it below 50% power and vary the load. Upon the recommendation of another friend I changed the oil multiple times during that break in period. I found lots of metal fragments in the oil each time I changed it during the break in. Once I was happy with how the oil looked coming out I stopped changing the oil. It ended up being something like 8 times. Maybe overkill, but I want to help the motor as much as I can for longevity. It's primary function for us will be a backup generator for when we lose power. As such, I only intend on using the propane function so I don't have to worry about fuel going bad.I've only done the break along with the additional oil changes so I have around 18 hours on it. I didn't even use a full 20lb propane tank. That wasn't a full service load either, but I was still happy with the fuel consumption amount. I like that the noise increases and decreases with the load and that it isn't just this constant steady loud noise. It's very portable with the wheels and handle and makes it easier to get in and out of the garage. It's a bit heavy if you were needing to lift this up (into a pickup or up and down stairs) but not out of the question.This unit about the right size for us offering the power we need for outages. I like that it has different types of receptacles to charge and power a variety of things. While costing more than other standard generators its a good value for an inverter generator. The included FOB worked great and I was able to remote start the generator from inside the house. During inclement weather this would be a big plus.I can't really think of any cons except for maybe access to the oil drain/fill.Overall, I'm very happy with the purchase and it will pay for itself after the first multi-day outage we have by not having to throw away our perishables in the fridges and freezer. Time will tell on longevity, but so far so good.

This generator replaces an older non-inverter generator and the difference is amazing. Low noise, easy start, compact. We use this for emergency power outage, mainly for the refrigerator and freezer using extension cords. The main reasons I decided to go with the more expensive invertor generator was the low noise and the cleaner electrical signal (Total Harmonic Distortion or THD) to protect electronics. I picked the Westinghouse iGen5000 based on price and Westinghouse reputation for quality and design. I was concerned that the handle at the bottom might be difficult to use (other models anchor the handle at the top), but it works better. I can walk without hitting my heels on the generator. Good feature. At this point, the only issue I have (common to all invertor generators of this size) would be to somehow connect directly to the main electric panel since it doesn't have a 240 VAC outlet. That would negate the need for extension cords through the window. Still investigating to see if this can be done.