Been looking to buy a generator - couple choices 1) 3500w Inverter generator - $770 or 2) a 9000w starting generator for $600 - these are Harbor Freight Generators

any experience with these? - looking for experienced opinions

My experience with Generators is that you get what you pay for. Having lived for a number of years with a generator as my only power source. The day your freezers defrost in a power outage because the carburetor on that cheap generator is oxidized because it had a little bit of fuel left in it your first thought is probably not going to be the good price that you got the thing for.

What scuba said plus bigger is better

Yep. Get a bigger one than you figure you'll need

Get one with a Honda they can sit a long time and still start right up.

How much juice do you need ?

I like Yamaha and Honda ........them Japs build reliability into everything they build

I use this one, it can run my ac if I'm careful. It hooks to my house propane tank 500 gallons so it can run days with no issue

https://www.grainger.com/product/53EC14?cm_mmc=PPC:+MSN+PLA&ef_id=:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!!e!!o!4583176782346941!

Good advise by Scuba. Bought a "cheap" department store generator about 20 years ago. It did the job, but had a problem with the carb once and it was LOUD. Electric output was a little erratic, inverter type generators are best for a stabile supply, which is best for computers and electronics. Finally opened the wallet and got a Honda, starts easy, runs quiet, runs smooth.

3500 would be a little light to run your house, 6-7,000 runs what you NEED, and 9000 should handle most of your house.

I had an onan for about 20 years, ran our hunting camp nicely. Finally died.
Picked up a 10,000 watt generac and had issues if I didn't run it out of gas each time.
Since I am running it dry each time now I have not had any issues. Starts instantly with a pull of the choke.
I change the oil regularly.
Need to see how long it will go. On year 3 now.

Been running generators for power for decades. We run our entire fishing lodge with a 7.5 so the 9000 should be plenty. You didnt say what you were going to use it for ? The answer to that question would make a difference in what I would suggest. If you are wanting something to keep things going when the power goes out I would get a Honda 3500. A good friend who lives off the grid has been using one for years now. It even runs his well pump. He only needs that much power once in awhile because of the way his water system is set up though, so most of the time he uses a Honda 2000.

I would stay away from Yamaha. I bought one last year ( 2000 inverter) and have had some issues with it. It burns a lot of oil too. Had better luck with the Honda's over the years.