A 6500W peak Honda gas is what I use. It runs pretty much the whole house through a transfer panel, but it does require selectively turning circuits on an off.

Most pto generators are large than 7,000W. Hours on the tractor and the hooking up the tractor during the middle of storms are negatives. The advantages of a small diesel standalone depend on how much the generator is used. Fuel economy and durability are small issues if a generator isn't often used. For fuel supply, you've got to store your own whether it is gas or diesel (most furnace oil works OK for diesels). Few service stations have generator backup for their pumps.

There certainly are gas storage and maintenance issues for seldom used gas engines, and I wish I wouldn't have had my initiation in the gathering dark at nearly -20F. Plus the house was already down to 50F when we got back from town. In that case it would have been easier to hook up the tractor, but I've learned my lesson and pay more attention to exercising the generator and use of fuel stabilizer.

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