Depending on the size of the house they re building, our typical single-family framing crews consist of four to six men. They ll run 400 feet of 12-gauge cords to power two circ saws and a chop box. Our typical single-family trimming crews consist of four or five workers. Our generators must be dependable, long-running workhorses that can keep pace with busy crews who often brave the elements, move quickly, and need current on the site in a hurry. Back in the shop, we like generators that are easy to work on and service.
Hour meters are nice, and so are durable gauges, switches, and tanks.
This tool test was a race. It pitted crews against machines, and the crews were the speedsters. Generators that keep up with the pace are first out of the shop in the morning. Ones that leave them starved or keep them in the pits are the last to go. We tested for power, mobility, ease of use, and maintenance.