If you are looking to work with electricity when you are camping in your RV, you will need a capable portable generator. Portable generators are small banks of energy that are capable of powering machinery and devices that are not connected to a power grid.
A good portable generator must be great at conserving fuel, have a high wattage capacity, and be light and easy to travel with. In this review, we will look at ten popular portable generators, analyze their pros and cons, and determine which one is the one that you should buy.
3 Best RV Generators – Comparison
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | DuroMax XP4400E 4,400 Watt |
| Check Price |
 | WEN 56200i Super Quiet Portable |
| Check Price |
 | Westinghouse WH2200iXLT |
| Check Price |
10 Best RV Generators – Review
1. Westinghouse WGen3600v Portable
This first generator from Westinghouse is easy to maintain and powerful. This generator does not have a shell, but rather a frame with a control panel connected to its beefy engine. The color scheme for this generator is black and royal blue.
This generator boasts a 3600-watt capacity for continuous power and a 4650-watt capacity for starting power. You can easily use this generator to power multiple high end appliances with a lot of room to spare.
The WGen3600v is RV and home ready with two AC ports and one port each for home and RV power supplies.
This generator has a 4-gallon gas tank, and at a 50 percent load, you can power it for over 12 hours. At a 25 percent load, you can power it for over 18 hours. This is a very good rate that other generators in this review cannot achieve.
The downside to this generator is that while there is a version available that includes a wheel kit, this one does not. I am not sure why they would not want every generator to come with a wheel kit, considering that it’s better to move. The version with the wheel kit is just 20 dollars more, but if the version without the wheels is all that is available to buy, you will need to have a burly man ready to help carry this with you. It weighs over a hundred pounds.
Another thing to consider is that it is a fairly loud generator, and it may be hard to enjoy yourself at times when you have this generator constantly running in the background.
- Can power a load for a very long time.
- Has a high load capacity.
- Can be linked to your RV’s power supply.
- Can be linked to your home’s power supply.
- Is very heavy.
- Is very loud.
2. Champion 3100-Watt Portable
This generator by Champion was specifically made for RVs. It can be connected to your RV’s power supply and use it as soon as possible. The body of this generator is black and yellow, which it make it stand out from other devices.
This generator also includes a wireless remote control, so you can activate it from up to 80 feet away. You turn this generator on with a simple switch. It can run quickly and effectively even when you are in frigid weather. It allows 3100 watts for your load to start and 2800 watts to run continuously. At a 25 percent load, it can power a load for up to eight hours.
This generator works well with sensitive electronics. It runs on only clean power. Included are two AC ports, one USB port, and one port that connects to an RV.
The Champion 3100-Watt also has an economy mode, so that you can allow the generator to conserve fuel, work more quietly, and extend the life of the engine inside of it. This is a fairly quiet generator that can get as loud as 58 decibels. This is as loud as a normal conversation among friends.
The once problem with this generator is that it is a very heavy device; nearly weighing 100 pounds. While this generator does have a pair of wheels, these wheels are too deeply set, giving you limits to where you can really take this generator.
- Runs on clean power.
- Has a fuel conservation mode.
- Includes a wireless remote.
- Has a high load capacity.
- Runs with very little noise.
- Can be linked to your RV’s power supply.
- Has two AC ports and one USB port.
- Can run in cold weather.
- Is very expensive.
- Is very heavy.
3. DuroMax XP4400E 4,400 Watt 7.0 HP OHV
DuroMax is known for making some quality generators, and this one in particular does not hold anything back. It has 4400 watts of starting power and 3500 watts of continuous power. Despite the powerful capabilities of this generator, it is not expensive by any means.
This generator powers on as if you were starting a car; you turn a key. The engine has seven horsepower, and is air-cooled in order to prolong its life. This engine is 69 decibels loud, but it would be even louder if not for the muffler included.
The XP4400E is capable of providing a 50 percent load capacity eight hours of power. It has a 4-gallon gas tank. This generator also has a low oil shut off feature. The requirements to use for this generator include unleaded gasoline and 10/30 SAE motor oil.
The XP4400E weighs 120 pounds, so it’s very heavy, but wheels are included with every unit. You can connect up to two AC ports, a port for your home power supply, and a port for your RV power supply.
The one downside to this generator is that there is no way of knowing how much power it has remaining for the load that you hook up to it. If the generator goes out unexpectedly, you will not know the reason behind it, whether it is because of not enough power or insufficient oil in the engine.
- Has a high load capacity.
- Can be linked to your RV’s power supply.
- Can be linked to your home’s power supply.
- Turns off automatically when it detects a problem.
- Can shut off for undisclosed reasons.
4. WEN 56200i Super Quiet Portable
Outfitted with a black body and orange trim, Wen’s take on the portable generator comes with a suitable design and a shape that is fit for travel and storage. This is also a generator that fits in many people’s price ranges.
Wen’s 56200i comes with an “eco-mode”. What this mode does is churn power at a slower rate, in turn saving more energy. However, this is only recommended for low-power loads. This generator is capable of 1600 watts of continuous power and 2000 watts of starting power. It also has just a gallon of fuel to work with.
This generator also comes with features to protect itself from overload, low fuel and low oil. The generator will turn off automatically before any of these problems will have the chance to affect it for the worse. After it shuts itself off, allow it some time to cool down before turning it back on.
There are two AC ports, a 12 volt port, a USB port and two parallel ports. To add more load capacity, you can connect to Wen 56200is together.
The Wen generator turns on by pulling a pull cord on the side, just like a lawn mower. This generator is very quiet; as much as 51 decibels. This is as loud as an air conditioner working on high-power.
- Has two AC ports and one USB port.
- Can be linked to a generator of the same model.
- Runs with very little noise.
- Turns off automatically when it detects a problem.
- Is very affordable.
- Has a fuel conservation mode.
- Turns on with a recoil pull.
- Is very light in weight.
- Comes with a very small fuel capacity.
5. DuroStar DS4000S, 3300 Running
The Durostar may look more industrial than anything, without showing an eye-catching body, but this is rather an inexpensive device. It provides owners with 3300 watts of continuous power and 4000 watts of starting power.
It is a powerful enough generator that can be used for camping, for the home, or for a construction site where you may need high-powered equipment like a jackhammer to run. The engine has seven horsepower, and is energy-efficient.
To prevent the engine from getting hot, this generator comes with an air-cooling system that will prevent overheating. At a 50 percent load, it can power a load for up to eight hours with its fuel tank of four gallons. The DS4000S has two AC ports and one port to connect to your home’s power supply. This generator also shuts itself off when it detects insufficient oil.
This is a slightly loud generator, but not as loud without its built-in muffler that suppresses some of that motory noise. The Durostar DS4000S is 69 decibels loud overall.
This is a very heavy generator, and while there is a wheel kit, it is something that is “optional”. No wheel kit for a 100-pound machine should be optional. If every generator comes with a wheel kit, every consumer will want to use it for increased mobility. You will have to assemble this wheel kit yourself, and it may not be an easy thing to do.
- Turns off automatically when it detects a problem.
- Is very affordable.
- Has a high load capacity.
- Can be linked to your home’s power supply.
- Has an engine that can cool itself.
- Assembly for wheel kit required.
6. Champion 3500-Watt RV Portable Generator
The other Champion generator in this review comes with 3500 continuous watts and 4000 starting watts. It also has a yellow and black color scheme, but this is designed better so that the wheels that it comes with have better mobility. It’s a good thing too, because this is a 140-pound beast.
Like the other Champion generator, this one also comes with a wireless remote control. So you can either it on either with a switch on its panel, or from 80 feet away. It can also turn on with no problems in cold weather, thanks to its “cold start technology”.
This generator has two AC ports, and one port each for both an RV and a home power supply. You can use this for camping outdoors, or for backup power indoors, which makes it a very versatile device. On a full tank of gas, it can keep a load running for up to 12 hours. The tank can hold less than four gallons.
The “volt guard technology” is made to protect devices from abrupt voltage spikes and power surges. This is a great feature, and will allow your electronic appliances and devices to keep running with no worries of short circuiting or overloading.
This is not a quiet generator by any means, and can be close to 70 decibels in noise level. If you are expecting to enjoy a relaxing time outdoors, you will find it quite difficult with this.
- Has a high load capacity.
- Can be linked to your home’s power supply.
- Can be linked to your RV’s power supply.
- Can run in cold weather.
- Comes with wheels that work.
- Is very loud.
7. Westinghouse WH2200iXLT Inverter Generator
This second generator from Westinghouse looks like an old-fashioned device, but it has a nice blue shell to it. This is a very light generator at only 43 pounds, making it fairly easy to lift and carry around without a pair of wheels.
It comes with 2200 watts of continuous power and 2000 watts of starting power. It has eco friendly options that can help preserve its energy supplies. Despite it only holding 1.3 gallons of gasoline, it can power a load for up to 11 hours at a time.
This generator also has two AC ports and two USB ports, if you need to charge more than one iPhone at a time, you can easily do so.
Just like Wen’s generator, you can combine two Westinghouse iGen models to provide more watt capacity to a larger load. However, the cords that can allow you to do this are sold separately. Also like Wen’s generator, this comes with a recoil pull handle. Just pull it to turn it on like a lawn mower.
This is a quiet machine, which only produces noise at 52 decibels. You are likely to enjoy peace and quiet with this generator, as it does not produce as much noise as the average generator.
There is a low oil shutdown feature, which will allow the generator to turn off automatically when it detects insufficient oil. This ensures that the engine will always be protected from not getting enough oil.
- Has two AC ports and two USB ports.
- Can be linked to a generator of the same model.
- Runs with very little noise.
- Turns off automatically when it detects a problem.
- Is very affordable.
- Has a fuel conservation mode.
- Turns on with a recoil pull.
- Is very light in weight.
- Comes with a very small fuel capacity.
8. DuroMax XP4000S 7.0 HP Air RV Generator
The second of two DuroMax generators, this one offers 3300 watts of continuous power and 4000 watts of starting power. With a lot of power behind it, it surely is not an expensive generator to buy by any means.
It is said to last for 8 hours straight, but you can make it last much longer by having a lighter load to it. Do not expect any power disruptions at inopportune times when using this generator.
This generator comes with two AC ports and one port for an RV power supply. The XP4000S was made with recreational vehicles in mind.
There are no automatic shut off features, but it will display warning lights when it experiences low oil and overloading. While your generator will still be running, it can tell you right away what its problem is and what you need to do to fix it. This generator can also cool itself so that the engine never overheats.
By no means is this a light generator. It weighs 90 pounds and requires some strong muscle in order to move. While there are wheels that exist for this generator, they are sold separately, which is not good news for any of its consumers to hear.
- Has an engine that can cool itself.
- Is very affordable.
- Can be linked to your RV’s power supply.
- Has a high load capacity.
- Wheels are sold separately.
- Is very heavy.
9. Energizer eZV2000S Portable
Energizer, best known by far for their batteries, have created a generator that is light and compact, only weighing 44 pounds. This is a generator that is easy to pick up and move about at home or at a campsite.
Dual wave control voltage is a key feature of this generator. You are sure to get a steady output even at startup wattage and abrupt changes in load. It also comes with 1600 watts of continuous power and 2000 watts of starting power. This generator starts up with a recoil pull cord.
At 50 percent load capacity, you can expect the load to run for around eight hours, which is fairly average. At full capacity, the load will run for around 4 hours. The noise range falls in between 50 to 60 decibels, which is a great range to have. The smaller the load capacity, the quieter it gets.
Energizer’s generator also offers an economy mode, allowing you to save fuel by only using power that you need. This generator has two AC ports and two USB ports. There is another version that allows you to connect two of the same generator together to extend the power to a load, but this feature is not present on this model.
- Has two AC ports and two USB ports.
- Runs with very little noise.
- Is very affordable.
- Has a fuel conservation mode.
- Turns on with a recoil pull.
- Is very light in weight.
- None
10. Firman W03081 Series 3000 Inverter Generator
This final generator is brought to you by Firman. This is a mighty expensive generator to buy, but it is RV ready and best used for campsites. This is a powerhouse generator that provides 3000 watts of continuous power and 3300 watts of starting power. While it weighs 94 pounds, it can be easily wheeled around. It has an overall nice design.
There is a fuel economy mode, but we are not sure how useful it is. With a 1.8 gallon fuel tank, you can have a load at 25 percent running for 9 hours of power. At a load with 50% capacity, you are likely only going to have 4.5 hours of power. These are not good numbers, and you can expect to be low on power before you know it.
There are two AC ports, one USB port, and one port for your RV’s power supply. You can also connect another Firman generator for double the power and load capacity, but you may not want to do such thing as one is already a fortune.
This generator also has a low-oil shutdown feature to protect the life of the engine. When this happens, you will need to check the generator’s oil before turning it back on again.
At 25 percent capacity, this generator is 58 decibels loud, which is average considering all the generators in this review.
The high price and high fuel consumption it what really bogs this generator down. In the price you pay for one Firman generator, you can buy two cheaper generators and get more energy to power the same load.
- Has two AC ports and one USB port.
- Has a nice design.
- Can be linked to a generator of the same model.
- Turns off automatically when it detects a problem.
- Can be linked to your RV’s power supply.
- Is very expensive.
- Comes with a very small fuel capacity.
Final Verdict:
After careful deliberation, the best portable generator for your RV is the WEN 56200i Super Quiet 2000-Watt Portable Inverter Generator.
This generator has everything you need to enjoy yourself with an adequate electrical load outdoors. It is eco-friendly, light, quiet, affordable, and can shut off before experiencing any issues. Most of these generators in this review have one thing or another that limits it, but not this one. We have yet to find any problems with this generator, aside from its watt capacity.
You could pay more for a generator with more power, but you may not need a lot of power to begin with, unless you need to light up a whole mansion. With that said, the 56200i is our most recommended portable generator.
