Briggs & Stratton 30241 - 5550 Watt Extended Run Portable Generator

This is a wonderful generator. I spent more than six months looking for the one I wanted to buy.
I wanted to have a Briggs & Stratton engine. I wanted to have plenty of power.

A big thing for me was I wanted the generator to be built in the USA. This unit fit all of my basic criteria and then some. This unit will last me many years. I bought it primarily as a back up power generator for my house but also to use in places where there just is no power or places where I would need to run very long power cords.

As far as Generators Direct goes, they are great. This is a lot of money to spend on something you can not see until you own it. They were great help when I called a few times wanting questions answered on different generators I was looking at.
The shipping to my house went as stated the truck driver even put it into my garage for my wife when he brought it. It came on the date and time they said it would.

There was no damage, it arrived in great shape. The assembly is minimal. I had fun putting the wheels on it with my kids. If you know what a wrench looks like and have enough mechanical skill to flush your toilet you will be able to handle putting this thing together and making it work.

Briggs & Stratton did a great job on this generator and they built it here in the USA.
I did learn that Briggs & Stratton builds some of their equipment over seas but they use there own factory to do so and the quality is the same. Still I support jobs here in the USA any time I can even if it costs me more.

Generators Direct is a very good company I will be using them again for sure. I will have no problem buying something from them site un-seen. They are great. Pressure washer and Chain saw are my next things to buy from them. They will have my business.

This is a wonderful generator. I spent more than six months looking for the one I wanted to buy.
I wanted to have a Briggs & Stratton engine. I wanted to have plenty of power.

A big thing for me was I wanted the generator to be built in the USA. This unit fit all of my basic criteria and then some. This unit will last me many years. I bought it primarily as a back up power generator for my house but also to use in places where there just is no power or places where I would need to run very long power cords.

As far as Generators Direct goes, they are gr... more

never again will i buy a gen. like this the 2nd. time i went to use it would not start called co. no help at all they told me to call the co that made it did not even have the phone # no help at all . the co that made it gave me a service co. in another state. droped it off don't know when they can get to it it. they will call me with the cost.

EGD RESPONDS: This unit has a 2 year factory warranty to cover situations like this. There are 6 service facilities within 10 miles of this customer's zip code, including the one he refers to, which is just over the state line. Customers can access their invoice and service locations right from our web site, 24/7.

If the problem is due to a manufacturing defect, Briggs & Stratton will pay for 100% of the repair. If the problem is due to improper maintenance (not draining the gas out of the carburetor during storage, for instance) then the customer would be responsible for the cost.

never again will i buy a gen. like this the 2nd. time i went to use it would not start called co. no help at all they told me to call the co that made it did not even have the phone # no help at all . the co that made it gave me a service co. in another state. droped it off don't know when they can get to it it. they will call me with the cost.

EGD RESPONDS: This unit has a 2 year factory warranty to cover situations like this. There are 6 service facilities within 10 miles of this customer's zip code, including the one he refers to, which is just over the state line. Customers... more

I have owned portable generators in the past, but this Briggs and Stratton Extended Run 5500 run-8500surge is by far the best unit I have ever owned or used. I have this unit on my race car trailer to power all my flood lights, air compressor, winch, power tools, battery charger, etc.

The real test came last weekend when a fellow racer next to me had his generator break down, and he asked to plug into mine. I was a little hesitant at first, but I wanted to see what this unit could do.

We plugged power strips into all four 125v sockets in order to connect all the plugs we had, and this unit never moaned, groaned or hesitated powering up BOTH race trailers and all the equipment! We even burned up one surge protector power strip and it never even blew this unit's circuit breakers! Wow... now that is power! Needless to say, I told my buddy where I got this unit, and what a great deal this was. He will probaby be your next customer...

Now I am back for the 120-240v plug, and protection cover I forgot to order when I bought this unit a couple months ago. I live in a small mining community in southeast New Mexico, and I would have NEVER been able to find anything comparable within several hundred miles from here, let alone delivered to my door at a fantastic price and free delivery.

This site makes it so easy to research, shop and buy. I will be back again and again. Thanks guys, keep up the great work and fantastic deals. Jim B.

I have owned portable generators in the past, but this Briggs and Stratton Extended Run 5500 run-8500surge is by far the best unit I have ever owned or used. I have this unit on my race car trailer to power all my flood lights, air compressor, winch, power tools, battery charger, etc.

The real test came last weekend when a fellow racer next to me had his generator break down, and he asked to plug into mine. I was a little hesitant at first, but I wanted to see what this unit could do.

We plugged power strips into all four 125v sockets in order to connect all the ... more

Used this Generator in January 2007 for 4 straight days/nights after electricity was lost due to ice storm, never turned it off except to fill with gas. Powered gas furnace, refrigerator, two TV's all the lights I wanted and even used one of the 220v burners on the cook top, all at the same time! This was a Troy-Built model. After purchase and a very quick set up (wheels and handle) added gas and started right up (and every time after that). Read owners manual, says to change oil after 5 hrs first use, I did and again after 48 hrs. Has a very easy drain and takes little over a quart to fill (about a 5 minute process). Ran for more than 10 hrs on 5 gallons gas. WELL WORTH THE COST

Used this Generator in January 2007 for 4 straight days/nights after electricity was lost due to ice storm, never turned it off except to fill with gas. Powered gas furnace, refrigerator, two TV's all the lights I wanted and even used one of the 220v burners on the cook top, all at the same time! This was a Troy-Built model. After purchase and a very quick set up (wheels and handle) added gas and started right up (and every time after that). Read owners manual, says to change oil after 5 hrs first use, I did and again after 48 hrs. Has a very easy drain and takes little over a quart to fi... more

July of 2006 we were hit with major hurricane strength storm in St. Louis. Knocked our power out for 9 days. Our friends bought this generator and the same day their power was restored, so they did not need it and offered it to us to use. I put it together with great ease, filled it with oil & gas, gave it 1 pull and she fired up beautifully. I ran it solidly for 7 of those 9 days. Now once again we were hit with a major Ice storm. I have run it for 4 days so far and still perfect. The 7 gallon tank lasts a long time. I am running my gas furnace, refrigereator, TV & computer with a few lights. alternate furnace with washer & dryer. NO speed bumps here. I love this thing.

July of 2006 we were hit with major hurricane strength storm in St. Louis. Knocked our power out for 9 days. Our friends bought this generator and the same day their power was restored, so they did not need it and offered it to us to use. I put it together with great ease, filled it with oil & gas, gave it 1 pull and she fired up beautifully. I ran it solidly for 7 of those 9 days. Now once again we were hit with a major Ice storm. I have run it for 4 days so far and still perfect. The 7 gallon tank lasts a long time. I am running my gas furnace, refrigereator, TV & computer with a f... more

I purchased the this unit after extensive research on generators. The communication was perfect, being notified during each event from start to final receipt. It took about 15 minutes to asemble once out of the box. The only negative was learning how to start the unit. The directions where not clear, stating to engage items that did not exist on my unit. I called the 800 number and within minutes they cleared up any confusion. The unit started on the first pull and runs like a champ. I have not used the unit other than to run for five hours in order to change the oil. However, I feel well prepared with the generator if the time comes. This is truly a great model that can handle several loads to keep the family comfortable.

I purchased the this unit after extensive research on generators. The communication was perfect, being notified during each event from start to final receipt. It took about 15 minutes to asemble once out of the box. The only negative was learning how to start the unit. The directions where not clear, stating to engage items that did not exist on my unit. I called the 800 number and within minutes they cleared up any confusion. The unit started on the first pull and runs like a champ. I have not used the unit other than to run for five hours in order to change the oil. However, I feel w... more

We just received this unit and have not actually run it yet, but I wanted to actually do a review of the purchase and customer service process. It was excellent. The site gave me all the info I needed, the ordering process was smooth, I received confirmation of the order, I was updated of the progress, sent the Pro number to trace the factory direct shipment, etc. I even sent an email on a Sunday asking for an update. I expected an answer Monday, but actually received the answer on that same day. The unit arrived as scheduled and in excellent condition. There was some minor final assembly of the wheels and handle which was pretty easy. Now that I have the generator, I'm all set since I wouldn't lose my electricity unless I didn't have one. :-)

We just received this unit and have not actually run it yet, but I wanted to actually do a review of the purchase and customer service process. It was excellent. The site gave me all the info I needed, the ordering process was smooth, I received confirmation of the order, I was updated of the progress, sent the Pro number to trace the factory direct shipment, etc. I even sent an email on a Sunday asking for an update. I expected an answer Monday, but actually received the answer on that same day. The unit arrived as scheduled and in excellent condition. There was some minor final assembly of t... more