Generac GP5500

*Est. $720

Reviewed

December 2011

Larger portable generator, 5,500 watts

Pros

Covered outlets
Automatic voltage regulation
Hour meter
Outlet for 240-volt appliance
Low-oil shutdown

Cons

Not CARB compliant
No DC outlet
Heavy

Where to Buy

for $723.00

See All Stores

The 5,500-watt Generac GP5500 surges to 6,875 watts. It has four standard AC outlets and a heavy-duty twist-lock outlet for a 240-volt appliance. All its electrical sockets are covered to protect them from the weather. Automatic voltage regulation means it provides reliable current, and an hour meter lets you track when it's due for an oil change. The Generac GP5500 comes with a portability kit -- a sturdy cart with rubber wheels and a fold-down handle. It has a two-year warranty and a Good Housekeeping two-year refund-or-replace guarantee. If you want to power electronics, experts recommend you choose an inverter generator instead, such as the Yamaha EF2000iS (*Est. $1,000).

We found a useful review at retailer ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com, where one of its product experts recommends the Generac GP5500 as the best generator in its size range. Owners also review the GP5500 generator on this site, as well as at HomeDepot.com, NorthernTools.com and Generac.com.

Where To Buy

Generac 5939 GP5500 6,875 Watt 389cc OHV Portable Gas Powered Generator

(18 reviews)
Buy new: $804.76 $723.00 7 New from $689.00

In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping

Our Sources

1. Electric Generators Direct.com

Product expert Jim Baugher gives the Generac GP5500 a 5-star rating and ranks it the best portable generator in its size range. He writes that it is "very solidly built at an affordable cost." More than 50 owners post ratings and reviews of the Generac GP5500 at ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com. Their ratings average out to 4.8 out of 5 stars, and reviews are uniformly positive. One owner writes, "It started for my 10-year old son on the first try! It runs smoothly and has a solid, quality feel to it. I highly recommend this model - plenty of power for most people (both my brothers-in-law purchased this after me) at a reasonable price." A few people complain that it is very loud.

Review: Generac GP5500 - 5500 Watt Portable Generator, Jim Baugher and contributors to ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com

2. Northern Tool and Equipment

About 20 owners review the Generac GP5500 on this site and give the generator very high ratings. According to one owner, "The 10 - 11 hour run time for this generator is really an outstanding feature. If your electric power is out and the generator is filled with fuel at the proper time, it will run all night, keeping your refrigerator cold and your furnace warm and allow you to get a full night rest. And it is easy to operate and maintain."

Review: Generac GP Portable Generator -- 389cc OHV, 6875 Surge Watts, 5500 Rated Watts, Model# 5939, Contributors to Northern Tool and Equipment

3. HomeDepot.com

Nearly two dozen owners review and rate the Generac GP5500 at HomeDepot.com; the average rating is 4.2 out of 5 stars. Most have nothing but praise for the Generac GP5500, but a couple of people say it's too loud.

Review: Generac GP5500 Watt Portable Generator, Contributors to HomeDepot.com

4. Generac

More than 50 owners of the Generac GP5500 rate and review it on its Generac.com product page. They rate it 4.6 out of 5 stars, on average, and 94 percent of them say they recommend this model. The only complaints we saw are about how noisy it is.

Review: GP Series 5500 Watt, Contributors to Generac.com

Honda EU2000i *Est. $1150

7 picks including: Camping Life Magazine, Field & Stream…

Yamaha EF2400iSHC *Est. $1350

4 picks including: Camping Life Magazine, Field & Stream…

ETQ TG32P12 *Est. $400

2 picks including: Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com…

ETQ TG1200 *Est. $150

2 picks including: Amazon.com, EHam.net…

Generac iX2000 *Est. $570

2 picks including: Amazon.com, Camping Life Magazine…

Briggs & Stratton 30471 *Est. $1250