I guess I'm the jerk with the loud generator :)
That Yamaha does sound awesome though. I cannot conceive how it only used 5 gallons over 34 hours. Insane. And let's face it - when you're in an emergency and need to use it, fuel can be difficult to obtain making efficiency all the more important. That could possibly be my justification for a real nice one. I've seen the 2kw Hondas and they sure are quiet and efficient.
How about half the power but two generators
http://slickdeals.net/f/4229040-2000-watt-Portable-Generator-139-free-shipping-Home-Depot
Hey Electroman, first off your not a jerk. Also, as you know these hondas and Yamaha's are very costly to purchase. The fact of the matter is if and when my Yamaha craps out or becomes unrepairable, I wouldn't be able to afford to replace it these days. Fortunately beyond oil changes and replacing the lead acid 10Ah battery several times, it hasn't had a single issue. So for about half the Yamaha's price, I'd end up giving the Boliy Pro3600SIE a try.
Lastly, remember these higher priced models have smart-throttle technology plus are inverter generators, so as I mentioned in the other post, the engine only needs to turn fast enough related to load put on them. If you are not needing the full 3000-3,500 watts, the engine RPM may only need to turn at say 2,800 RPM's or slower rather than the full throttle RPM of 3,600. When you consider this, it becomes easy to see how they are very fuel efficient compared to non-inverter generators that MUST turn at full 3,600 RPMs to produce their minium or maxium rated output.
I have it narrowed down to these three new or used, opinions????
All thoughts and opinions appreciated. I prefer a gas generator because the majority of my events I have free power hook-ups supplied, so this is for the events that I don't, hence the reason I use electric fryers. The wheels on the Duramax make me lean that way all things other wise being even, thoughts?
Ordered this one, Amazon 4-5 star reviews have never failed me, hopefully that continues. Thanks to everyone for the input.
If you want to buy portable super quiet generator, the reliable brand should be Generac, Honda and Champion, etc, If you want to look for silent generator for industrial use, reliable brand should be Cummins, Perkins and Volvo, etc.
So I guess the OP might have some information as to the long term durability of his “new” generator now that he’s had it for seven years. 
I know nothing about generator, not sure where I saw this or if someone shared it with me…
Believe it or not the HF ones are good…you have to follow the break in period from the manual (even though really doesn’t say how to break it in)….
You just don’t fire it up and run it full load…you have to break it in under load (say no more than 75% max output for some hours, I use room heaters) (otherwise it will DRINK oil)
Oh…I also make my own “fuel mix” that seems to really help…
I mix the cheapest ATF and two stroke, (or Marvels Mystery Oil) and put about 2oz (1/4 cup) in each 5 gallons of gas I run in my small engines…I also when time to shut down, turn off the fuel and let the engine suck all the fuel out of the line and the fuel bowl…so there is NO fuel in the carb…the alcohol in new fuels seems to dry rot/gum up the works…and with the oil in the fuel even if it dries, next time the fuel hits the carb it dissolves that crust and doesn’t clog up the jets. My engines fire up first pull almost all the time…even if sitting for months
As far as purchasing a generator is concerned, there are two main factors to consider. The first is how much power you will require and the second is noise emissions.
POWER: You say that you are using it for recreational use so I would imagine this means camping/RVing? If you are tenting and do not require your generator to power a 13,500 BTU AC unit then something around the 2000W range should power most of your appliances without worry (coffee makers, hair dryers, CD players, laptop/phone charging etc). If you do require something that can power an AC unit on an RV you should be looking in the 3000W and above range for a 13,500 BTU unit.
NOISE: No one wants their campsite to sound like a construction zone. If you are looking for quiet portable power you are definitely right to be looking for an INVERTER generator (as opposed to a conventional generator). You are right that inverters produce a “cleaner” power source that is suitable for sensitive electronics such as laptops and smartphones. The inverting process produces a smoother sine wave that will not damage the microprocessors within these electronics.
Many people swear by Honda’s and Yamaha’s and they are the industry leaders when it comes to inverter generators BUT there are many alternative companies (ie Champion, WEN, Briggs and Stratton) putting forth very competitive products at a lesser price that merit consideration when shopping around for a generator- I particularly like the Briggs and Stratton P3000 30545.
I found this website to be extremely helpful when deciding which generator best suits your needs (specifically for recreational use- they do not have as much info on standby home generators);
The “portable generators” page is very insightful and arms you with the knowledge necessary to make an educated purchase. They also have detailed reviews of the latest and best selling portable generators on the market.
I hope this helps! Happy camping and all the best