Side by Side Comparison of: DuroMax vs WEN

Solid performance, more capacity than I expected. While its noisy, its outside my house... so who cares. It ran for 5 days straight without concern running a heavy and light load. Even on my heaviest load I averaged ~7ga. per 24 hours, which is pretty reasonable. I really didnt know what to expect as I bought it 2 years before I finally actually used it. But after 2 years without service (not recommmended) it started up and ran great.Setup is easy, documentation isnt perfect... but honestly, it doesnt need to be. Take a look, add oil. turn on gas, add gas... turn the key. Minimal assembly was required too.

Generator arrived on time. The ups driver brought the package right up to my garage. The box had a torn lower corner. Opening the box, removing the generator inspection found the unit undamaged. I was impressed by the tools, plugs and warning tags included. The manufacturer has done everything possible to have the generator operate successfully.I connected the battery positive wire, filled the crankcase with 20 ounces of 10\30 oil and filled the gas tank. Turning the key it started right up with the choke fully closed. Within 20 seconds I placed the choke to fully open. The generator is quiet enough to have a normal conversation next to it. At this point I am very happy with it. The wheel kit needs to be improved a bit it was lacking the lock nuts for the handle pivot nuts. I reused the nuts from the disposable packing brace with loktite.8-6-2017: Our first outage, Generator has been in garage sitting unused since last October. I pulled it out, filled the tank and connected it to the house. It started right up with full choke and after 15 seconds I opened the choke. Running like a champ.

Arrived earlier than expected nothing was damaged. Easy to install the wheel kit. Added oil and gas it fired right up I plugged my camper trailer into it and and turned all electrical appliances and lighting and water pump on and then the a/c all at the same time and the generator barely surged and all was running well. Charges the batteries great.very quiet i ran it for 4 hours in the middle of the night while we were camping for some heat and no one in my camp complained it is awesome especially for the price you can't go wrong.

Received this product on the day expected in good condition. "VERY SURPISED AT THE SMALL SIZE." 20 minute assembly.(Battery fully charged). 2 gallons of gas ran my travel trailer test 4 hrs with AC on "COLD", Water heater, & 2 baked potatoes in the micro wave. Noise level a bit higher than advertised, but very tolerable. Used it the second day to run a 6" grinder & it never flinched.Found out that the lo-oil shut off works great.(wasn't on level ground when I filled it) I do a lot of trail rides and week end fishing trips. If the rest of my experiences are same as last two..Yee Haa. If not, I have no problem sharing. So far..BIG BANG FOR THE BUCK

Was browsing internet on a tight budget and came across this generator. Of course, I wanted the best bang for the buck. After reading the reviews, I was pretty much stuck on this generator. This generator was shipped from PA all the way to Texas. It had one ding on the muffler grill, which shaped right back into place after a little redneck adjustment. So, I'm happy with the shipment. Shipped with FREE SUPER SAVING SHIPPING, and it delivered on the day they said it would. Can't beat that!! Assembled wheel kit in about 20 mins. It was so self explanatory, I didn't even open the instructions. Connected battery cable, added the oil and gas, used the choke, and it started on the first crank. The generator sounds strong, so hopefully I will get good use out of it. I feel really good about this purchase. For the price, I feel like I got a bargain compared to other generators that have the same output.

Updated 12/31/11:Original review was 2 star only because product received was incorrect. After calling to Amazon.com, I received a replacement within 3 days. Got it together and up and running today. Though directions are not totally clear, and I am not real sure about the grounding process, the generator worked as promised. Two pulls to get it going, then battery and starter worked as it was supposed to. Only limited items run, but should work to meet my needs in an emergency. I would give the product a 5 star at this time.2-star rating is only a starting point. Not sure about the final rating on this product yet; haven't been able to test officially. Ordered what was to be a NEW generator. I officially received it yesterday as a Christmas gift. Planned on getting it running today, but after opening the box, it was obvious that the generator was a used or refurbished product. It was packed pretty well, but there were numerous scrapes and dents on the unit, and oil had leaked out into the box/packaging. Some oil was still inside oil compartment and on dipstick when cap to that compartment was opened. Since the unit is not supposed to be shipped with any oil in it, that would also tell me this was either used or re-furbished, and not what I ordered. I called Amazon.com, and they couldn't have been nicer. They said they would send a new unit. Unfortunately, it may take up to 7-10 days for delivery. Once I actually receive the generator and get it running (hopefully), I will update rating, and overall experience. In the meantime, I did review the manual for wheel kit, and the generator itself, and believe some directions could have been a little clearer.

great product. have used it several times and starts right up. not too loud. good power able to connect multiple devices with no problem.

So far so good I start it every week to make sure it runs . 2 or 3 pulls sparks right up very happy with it bought in case the power goes out to run our fridge. Never had a power outage but plugged some other it into it worked fine . A little noisier than I like but not bad.

Works great, have 20 acre farm and multiple electric devices and output is sufficient enough to operate all of them including the electric mower.

Does exactly what it's supposed to do, whenever I need it. Light enough to be picked up and moved as necessary by one person. Generally used for basic camping, with loads of a few hundred watts maximum. Excellent fuel consumption.

I ordered the WEN 1800 because I wanted a generator that was no heavier than 50-55 pounds, yet one that would be rated at at least 12 amps. I also wanted a generator with US based customer service. At 51 pounds, 12.5 amps, and a toll-free customer service department with US English speaking tech support folks, this generator suited me just fine. The generator arrived well packaged and without any damage. If you follow the instructions regarding keeping the generator level, getting the oil in can be a bit of a hassle. Once I decided to use a long, transmission oil funnel the oil went right in. I measured out 13.5 oz of 30W oil in a measuring cup and that saved some time.I then put in some 87 ethanol-free gas, turned the on-off switch to "on," turned the choke to "start" and turned the fuel shut-off valve to "on." The generator cranked on the 4th pull. I wanted to run it for about 1/2 hour without a load just to get the engine somewhat broken-in. I figured the little bit of gas I put in would run out in about 1/2 hour. Wrong. After about an hour of running, I turned the fuel shut-off value to "off" and let the gas run out of the carb. Once it shut down, I checked the fuel tank and it still had most of the fuel I had put in it. So, I am inclined to go along with the company's claim of 7.5 hours on 1/2 load. While running, the noise level was about what I expected. Not super quiet, but not so loud that you have to raise your voice when talking around it.

By the way, the 30W oil for small engines is in the lawn and garden section at Wal-Mart. Don't look for it in automotive where you normally look for oil. Wal-Mart had one brand of 30W small engine oil that had the SL API service classification - one of the three recommended service classifications referenced in the owners manual.

Be sure to print out your Amazon order details and put them with your owners manual. That will serve as your proof of purchase in the event you need to have any repairs made during the 2-year warranty period.

I also purchased the WEN 56406 cover, but it was way too large for the 1800 generator, While it looks to be very durable and well made, it was simply not made for this generator.

Overall, this is a sweet little generator. I highly recommend it if it meets your power requirements.

UPDATE: Since the Wen 56406 cover didn't work out because it was too large, I decided to try a plastic tote like container. I carefully measured the generator dimensions and went to the store with my tape measure. After measuring a number of containers that looked like they might work, I settled on one that seemed to be the perfect size. It cost $5.47 plus tax. See attached pics. I like the advantage that I can use this container to haul the generator around in my van and the container will keep any oil or fuel from leaking onto the van interior. So far, this is a better "cover" than the Wen 56406.

When Harvey was in the process of flooding our home, this product was light enough that we could wrestle it on top of a table to keep it out of the water. After the water went back down, the generator provided electricity for two days till the power could be turned back on.Hint: buy the adapter cord that turns the 240 outlet into four 120v outlets - VERY helpful!

Starting it is a breeze. Runs quieter than most. Still questioning its durability.

Small, quite, great for running my natural gas furnace blower motor and TV during power outages.I start it monthly to keep battery charged and turn it off by shutting off the gas valve and letting it run out.I would recommend this as a must have for everyone.Don't get caught coveting your neighbors generator during your next power outage.If you want to run hair dryers, fridges,coffee makers...ect...purchase one with twice the wattage.

this is a nice generator, particularly if you need electric start. however, mine came with a stone dead battery right out of the box. the company sent me a new one, so i am good to go. it pull started on the 2nd pull when brand new, and has run very well. still waiting to test it out in a "need" situation. i am impressed on how quiet it runs; it is quieter than my zero turn mower! seems to be well constructed with quality materials. if electric start is not important to you, i would save the $$ and go for the model at sam's club or harbor freight. both have 4 110 outlets; 2 more than this model, offer comparable power, and can be had for $299.

I haven't put the machine through any power test or anything like that, but it was easy to put together. I just wanted a back-up when the power goes-off. Last May the power was off after the tornado and I sure was worried about all the food I had in the freezer. I only need a unit that could run the frig., some light and the TV. After putting gas and oil in the unit, I gave it three pulls and and it started. I didn't use the elec. starter because I wanted to know how hard it was going to be to start. After running it a couple times, mostly to charge the battery. I wanted to show a friend the unit and use the elec. starter. It started as soon as I hit the sw. It is just the unit I need.

I ordered the DuroMax XP4400E to replace an ETQ generator that had quit...The delivery was timely (the UPS guy even put the box in my back yard)...The generator was clean (the ETQ arrived oily right out of the box)....Assembly was the only problem for me; specifically, no matter how hard I tried, I could not remove the yellow "shipping plate" from the bottom of the generator...The bolts were so tight that even liberal application of WD40 failed...Fortunately, the generator works fine with the shipping plate attached, so there it remains...Otherwise, the generator works like a charm (I've had it up,and running and on load twice to test it, both times for two hours or so)...It started immediately with the key right out of the box...It's fairly quiet, not smokey, and chugs only slightly during surge...A great deal for the money...

Wen it arrived the end cap over the generator was very badly bent, other than that it started right up after oil and gas

Awesome little generator. Gets the job done. I typically run it once a month loading it with my deep freezer for a few hours to see how it responds and it does a great job.

Louder than expected but works very well. Certainly would not use in campground or tailgate. Good value for the price!

It's loud sure but not too loud and works like a dream so far for me

This generator performs good for general use. Using it to power all kinds of equipment all with various loads for 4-5 hour runtimes only stopping for brief cool down periods or to refuel. High power draw devices make it chug a little but it works. Sound is loud when close but you should expect it to be. I really recommend getting one of these if you can.

Update:

Had to send in my unit as one day after roughly 3 months it failed to start. It actually had showed signs of failing that day, it wouldn't stay running more than 15 mins then cut off, then less and less time until it would not start. The unit was well maintained, unfortunately all of the troubleshooting couldn't pinpoint the issue and WEN support suggested sending it in. They sent me back a new one and so far it's been running great.

Battery bracket was broken upon arrival, very cheap spot weld, had to tie wrap it to hold the battery in place, if the inside parts are as cheap as the plastic switches and connectors on the outside don't see this generator lasting long.

It will start backfiring and stopped running. I cleaned the carburetor and let some oil out of the engine and then it seemed to do OK

The generator worked like a champ for a week straight when I really needed it but the electric start stopped working the first week I had this. I tried to contact customer service and just kept getting passed from computer option to computer option until I was finally able to leave a message. Unfortunately, nobody ever returned the call. I guess you get what you pay for.

bottom bolts came assembled wrong, and cracked air filter cover. Manufacturer said that they would not cover the shipping of the part because i bought it from amazon. What ever, but its brand new. Also it keeps revving up and down when set to full throtle. Its an ok generator for the money. Don't expect too much from it. I guess it does what it is asked to do.

Bought this generator after reading all of the reviews. As noted by a few reviewers the packaging on this item is less than adequate as it arrived in the original box with no other packaging which allowed the frame to be dented in two locations. I posted pics of the shipping when Amazon inquired about their shipping and did not get a response regarding the poor packaging and the damaged frame.After filling with gas and oil (and connecting the negative battery wire to the battery) it started right up.The reason for the 3 stars...I bought this generator because it was rated with 4,400 watt starting power. When I turned on my combo air conditioner/electric heater in my 25' RV it tripped the generator breaker. Subsequent tries to turn on the heater had the same results. I'm hoping that come summer that the air conditioner will work with this generator. The cabin battery on the RV was low on charge and when my buddy plugged in a 400 watt inverter this too tripped the generator breaker.So far has worked with my power tools without a problem.Pros- electric start- came with wheel kit- wheels feel like air filled but have a solid filling to prevent flats- comes with an angled oil funnel (it's cheaply made and comes in two pieces but it does the job that it's intended to do)- gas tank has an internal screen that can be removed to prevent debris from getting into the gas tank- key start (albeit anyone that really wants to steal the generator and always hotwire or replace the switch with a toggle switch but at least it causes the thief to do a little work!)- built in voltmeter- air filter is easy to remove for cleaning without the need of any tools- came with wrenches to put the wheel kit together (they're not made for everyday use but they get the job done)Cons- packaging- 120/220 volt switch directions not clear. Wasn't for sure if I needed to switch the 120/200 volt switch on when using a 30amp RV adaptor because my RV is 120v. When I first plugged in my RV nothing happened so I took the chance of switching it over to the 120/220v which is what made it work for my application. The manual doesn't include this type of information.- gas lid chain. While it's a great idea to have a chain to keep the lid from getting lost or falling off during fuel filling, it does get gas on it which ends up on the outside of the gas tank. Not a problem for some people but for me I try to keep the outside free of gas and oil because I store the generator inside my garage.- the handles with the wheel kit are flimsy at the point of connect to the frame. They bend easily.- not really as quiet as other reviewers have noted. It's not extremely loud but it's not whisper quiet either.Overall not a bad generator for the price. Can't wait till summer to test it to see if it will run my RV air conditioner!!

This is a good generator for my purpose. Lightweight and able to load in pickup truck for easy transport. Good for my travel trailer, backyard power tool use, and have not used it for home power outage but should work well. Quiet, well built and very responsive. I am however disappointed with the "package" deal I purchased with the generator. The power cord offered with this unit does not even plug into it to provide additional outlets as suggested. Wrong cord cap configuration for this model generator. Shop carefully. The cover fits but is a bit small and ripped the second time I put it on. Shop carefully. Generator good, cord doesn't work for it at all, and cover is very lightweight, even fragile.

Fuel tank / on/off valve leaked so I sent it back.

I wish I would have bought the next bigger model, when it comes to generators always buy one up, this one will charge the batteries on my camp trailer but wont even run the microwave, it is small and compact but also noisy and puts out Smokey exhaust

Really loud. It's fine if you use it for a short time...will brew your coffee or charge your cell phone. Not for heavy duty stuff

I bought the 1500/1800W generator for use on my sail boat. I wanted to be able to store it below, and run it up on deck. I have a 48v electric drive motor for the boat when it can't sail (about 20 minutes in and out of harbor), and a 15 amp, 48v charger for the battery bank. I run the generator after every sail (about once a week) to top off the batteries.

I was never able to run the generator without at least some choke (even after the warmup period). Each time I run it, it seems to need a little more choke to run. I have always run the carburetor dry after each use. Research tells me the carb needs to be cleaned. I will try removing and cleaning the carb. Since it was like this from the start, I suspect there was something in the gas tank, fuel line, or carb from the factory.

It has done the job I asked, but I have only 2 complaints: 1. The choke problem mentioned above. 2. It's a little louder than I was lead to believe from other reviews.

Oil and gas all over the genarator and packaging. Started up first pull after adding oil, warmed up and let it run this is pretty loud going to build a sound box otherwise my family and neighbors will be up all night and in an emergency situation for survival someone may hear it and steal it.

Purchased in preparation of hurricane Irma. Worked great for 3 days and then just stopped working.We changed the oil as directed. Too much money for just three days. We ended up going to Lowes and finding another generator, which was lucky because we were without power for 7 days.

Warranty is not good.

There is no way this generator puts out 30 amp 240 or even close basically the 240 plug is useless it just boggs the engine and does not Trip the breaker even with a very small load it is also clearly louder than 68 decibels

I should have know better. The machine is made of very light material that has already bent just from pulling it around. It also had a leak in the fuel line right out of the box that was easier for me to fix than to contact the company. I have not yet really put a load on it so I cannot say how well it charges. It does start and run well so it gets a 2 instead of a 1.

I was very disappointed when my generator arrived dented, with no choke and a broken air filter housing. I tried to contact the manufacturer since there is an issue with hazardous liquids since I put gas and oil in it. (didn't notice no choke or broken housing until after I put gas and oil in it and started it) The manufacture does not have a telephone number listed on their site, so no telephone calls, just email. They did not return a reply to my email, so I notified Amazon. Also, the manufacture has stated on their website that they do not do returns, but parts can be ordered to repair the item. They charge for the parts.Amazon was awesome, and handled the issue very professionally. Turns out I needed a new carburerator and air filter housing, and Amazon decided it was not cost effective to fix, so they refunded my money. Amazon will continue to get my business, Duromax will not.**UPDATE** 3-18-2014 I received the parts to fix the generator, but the air filter housing part came broken. I cannot believe Duromax has such poor quality control. I talked to the department that ships out the replacements, and actually talked to the guy who shipped my parts. He told me he noticed the broken part, but it would still work, so he shipped it. Unbelieveable!!!!! He did order me another air filter housing, but it will take a couple weeks to receive it, this is just crazy.Their phone number if you need it. 1-800-629-3325, #2 for customer service.

Bought this generator based on its advertised wattage, electric start and size. We needed a portable for our Motorhome as a backup for a failing internal generator. The good - It arrived a day early and for the best price I found on-line. It was also easy to assemble (wheel kit)and set up with very straight forward instructions. Engine started and ran perfectly.The bad - No electrical power at all! Followed the instructions step by step and no juice comes out. Followed the trouble shooting checklist also. Other than turning the main curcuit breaker on (not the problem), all the trouble shooting advise focuses on every other possibility other than something wrong with the generator. This design has a number of nice features, but its worth less than zero if it doesn't generate power. Call the customer service line and got a real person right off the bat (good). They took a message and said someone would call me. Still waiting on that call. Can't recommend buying this unit at the moment. Depending on how my problem is handled, I may or may not recommend doing business with the manufacturer and distributer of the product.

loud, loud, loud. power output fluctuated greatly in volts and frequency. however, it did run strong.

Came to my house with broken sparkler plug housing. Since the damaged ignition coil attached to the plug was right below the gas tank, decided to return it for safety reason.

Over priced currently. Since I bought mine the price shot up. The power supply gets hot fast. In about 10 minutes touching the generator housing burned my hand. Electrician looked at it and determined the muffler should have a heat shield between generator housing and the muffler. A heat shield was installed and a 12 volt fan blowing fresh air has stopped the overheating The wiring inside the power generator is insulated windings heat can melt it. Hopefully I caught the engineering flaw in time Heat damage may already have shortened its life. Installing a heat shield should have been done at the factory.

Runs good ,but air cleaner housing was cracked.

Loud and string get stuck

Only one star because it arrived on time! Except it didn't work,had to bring it to a repair shop, at my expense!!!Would not recommend it!!!

Product came damaged. Parts completely cracked in half.

No wheel kit

Motor blew up after 4 tanks of gas in n dont know how to get in touch with anyone from the company or anything. And i dont know what to do

Keys are missing and doesn't start

Package did not include the key to start the generator.

Lasted exactly one day on our camping trip. The pull start inexplicably jammed the retractable teeth that grab and engage the gear causing the pull start to move freely which meant no ignition. After fixing that then the 5 cent plastic on off switch literally just disintegrated at its hinge which meant no closed circuit to turn the unit on. Calamity of breakdowns that left us putting the thing together with chewing gum and ducktape to get the thing started. A nightmare in the wilderness for a week.

Will not run and is in repair has only ran 3 times and will not start

it wont operate a livestock blower good enough i would like to send it back

I got a bad one. Ran for about 15 minutes and died. I started it again a few minutes later and it ran for less than 30 seconds before dying again. After that it wouldn't start at all. It seems like quite a few people have had good luck with this particular model while a few ( including me) have not. I've owned a 1850 Powermate for the past 10 years and have never had a problem. I wanted something quieter, a little lighter and one with a spark arrester. The price on this model is really good so I thought I'd give it a try.

Total junk. Bought one for use on a Christmas parade float. Didn't even last the whole hour. Something metal came loose inside the engine and it had to be shut down. The cord wouldn't even pull to start it again.