Best Camping and RV Generator Reviews

Open Frame Inverter Design

The Champion 4000-Watt RV Ready generator features a unique open frame build. This design offers a couple of benefits. For one, it reduces the weight of the generator. For another, it allows it to run 50% more quietly that Champion’s “traditional” 3,500-watt generator. So with this generator, you are getting more power, but less noise.

The Power You Need

On that note, 4000 watts is significantly more than what a lot of other camping or RV generators provide. So if you have high power demands, this is one of the best purchases you make. It is also parallel ready. So if you want to connect additional generators for even more wattage, you can do so by purchasing the parallel kit which Champion makes available.

Overall Assessment

The reason I have picked this generator as the overall best choice is because it combines useful features of conventional and inverter generators in one powerful package. It may not be the lightest-weight or quietist generator on the market, but for the amount of power provides, it is quite a bit lighter and quieter than a lot of competing products. This makes it a well-rounded option.

Choose the Type of Fuel You Prefer to Use

You get to decide whether you want to feel your generator using propane or gasoline. If you opt to use gasoline, you can expect up to 9 hours of runtime before you need to pour more gas into the tank. You can get a longer runtime of around 10.5 hours if you decide to use propane instead. The tank has a 20-pound capacity.

Protect Your Appliances and Devices

While this generator is not listed as an inverter model, it is equipped with a feature called Volt Guard. The purpose of this feature is to prevent power surges. This provides some basic protection for sensitive electronics and other appliances and devices.

Overall Assessment

I recommend this generator if there are times you think that you may need to switch away from your usual fuel source. For example, perhaps you generally like to save money by using gasoline. But if you're thinking about spending some extended time off the grid, you might prefer to use propane because of its superior shelf life. This generator can accommodate either.

Incredibly Portable

Here is something a bit different from the other generators which I have shared with you so far. This generator is not designed for RV use. It is an incredibly small and lightweight unit which is built with outdoor camping in mind. You could fit it in a large backpack. As such, you can only use it to power small devices and appliances, but if you are camping in a tent or hammock, that is all you would need.

Ideal for Minimizing Your Impact on the Environment

Overall Assessment

If both protecting and enjoying the natural world are your top priorities, and you only want to power a few small devices or appliances during a camping trip, you will be well served with this compact solar generator.

Compact and Lightweight

Since the generator weighs a mere 3.3 pounds, it should not fatigue you if you take it with you when you are hiking. It is small enough that you can store it in your backpack.

Completely Silent

Like the Jackery portable generator above, this one from Paxcess is totally silent and produces no harmful emissions. This means you can use it in any campground without violating the rules. You also do not need to worry about disturbing the local wildlife. You also do not need to interrupt your own experience of the great outdoors with unwanted noise and vibrations.

Overall Assessment

If you were interested in the Jackery generator above, but you do not need as much power, you can save money with this alternative.

Clean Power for Your Devices

This is a solid inverter generator which provides you with low-distortion “pure sine wave” energy. The voltage is steady, and the distortion is kept under 1.2% even when the load is full.

Very Quiet

Along with clean power, the priority when this generator was designed was to keep it as quiet as possible. It is loud enough to be noticeable, but is relatively unobtrusive if you are not running it at full load. Indeed, at a quarter load, it generates only 51 decibels of noise. According to the manufacturer, this is comparable to the noise that an air conditioner in a window typically makes.

Overall Assessment

Supremely Quiet Operation

Smooth and Reliable

You can expect smooth, consistent performance from this generator right from the moment you start it. This is enhanced through Economy Mode, which optimizes the speed at which the engine runs to conserve fuel and keep noise levels to a minimum at all times.

Overall Assessment

Like a number of the generators which I am sharing in this list, this one actually satisfies a variety of different use cases. I am recommending it primarily for its excellent Eco-Mode, but it makes just as good a buy if your goal is to purchase a quiet yet powerful generator with reliable performance.

Eco-Throttle Mode Works Great

Starting This Generator is Easy

Quite a few generators are notoriously tricky to get running and may require multiple pulls. I have found that this generator is consistently easy to get started, and usually only takes a single pull.

Overall Assessment

If you liked the popular EU2000i from Honda, this generator is the next step up in the series, offering you a little bit of extra wattage and a switch for fuel cut-off. If your goal is to conserve fuel and keep the noise down, you should be happy with this choice.

PROS

CONS

Offers Great Runtime

While the Champion 4000 offers up to 17 hours of runtime, the Champion 3500-Watt Portable Generator is another excellent option if runtime is your priority. If you are running at a 50% load, should be able to get up to 12 hours.

What if you are operating at a higher load? This generator actually continues to be surprisingly efficient even if you are operating at close to full capacity. While you cannot expect to get 12 hours out of it at a full load, you should be able to power your devices for quite a while before you need to add more gas.

Excellent Overall Value  

You will find that this generator sells at the slightly lower price range than many competing products. Considering that it is sufficient and include some nice features, it is a bargain at the price at which it is available.

Overall Assessment

Because of the lifespan issues mentioned above, this generator is more suitable for occasional use than everyday use. So if you live full time in an RV, this is probably not the generator which I would recommend. But if you're looking for something for the occasional adventure on the road, this generator might fit your needs. It also makes for a reliable emergency backup generator.