Best RV Generator For Boondocking
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Best Fuel Generator DuroMax XP13000EH Dual Fuel Portable Generator
Best Solar Generator Jackery Solar Generator 1000
Best Quiet Westinghouse WGen7500
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While boondocking, you will need a reliable power source. Power outages are frustrating, and they’re becoming all too common for many of us. Going for hours without power not only can lead to spoiled food and other headaches, but it can also result in uncomfortable, even unsafe temperatures sometimes.
Most of us would agree that RV generators are the best bet for powering up when you don’t have access to mains electricity. A lot of RVs are built with a powerful engine as the primary power source. However, for those who want to get extra power for boondocking and want to quickly get the best generator for RV, check out the DuroMax XP13000EH.
Best RV Generator
Powerful and affordable, the DuroMax XP13000EH (Dual-Fuel) is an amazing value for money generator. Hence, it’s extremely popular among portable generator buyers. Everyone wants the best value for every dollar spent, especially during a global pandemic crisis.
With a 500cc engine, this powerful camper generator can produce 10,500 watts of running power and the ability to surge up to 13,000 watts. This travel trailer generator is capable of powering most household appliances without the risk of generator overload. Thus, making it a great generator not only for boondocking but also for home backup power and even job sites too.
The DuroMax XP13000EH can work continuously for nearly 9 hours at a 50% load with a full tank of gasoline (8.3 gallons). On the other hand, one full bottle of propane can make this generator operate for around 7 hours at 50% load. So technically, you can run this generator for camper, without major interruption for more than 16 hours at 50% load with two fuels.
The control panel is very friendly to use. It features an idle control, which will reduce the engine speed when not in use. Thus saving fuel and reducing noise as well. On top of that, there is a digital multimeter that displays the voltage, frequency, and usage. This meter also tells you how long you have until you should be carrying out the recommended maintenance. It is one of the best RV portable generator in this list.
Pros
- Dual-fuel capability, propane or gasoline
- Can power your home in case of an emergency
- Multiple outlets available for use
- Certified for use in all US states
Cons
- Bulky and heavy
- Loud and noisy
- Not suitable for sensitive devices
PROS
CONS
- Dual-fuel capability, propane or gasoline
- Can power your home in case of an emergency
- Multiple outlets available for use
- Certified for use in all US states
- Bulky and heavy
- Loud and noisy
- Not suitable for sensitive devices
Since 1886, Westinghouse has been delivering top quality products to American households. Establishing itself as the most reputable, respected and longest-running electrical appliances company. So, it comes with little surprise that their WGen7500 is among the best portable generators for RV in the market.
Living up to its model name, WGen7500 has 7500 watts of running power and is capable to surge up to 9500 watts. With a fuel tank capacity of 6.6 gallons and comes with a fuel gauge. It can run up to 11 hours on a single gas tank at a 50% load or up to 20 hours at 25% load!
The WGen7500 boast some of the most innovative features such as the full enclosure design under the cover. This prevents the electrical connections and components from being damaged in a storm. Your generator is the last thing you’d want to worry about while camping in the rain.
Additionally, this generator for RV has a special Pulse-Flo muffler that keeps the noise level minimum while using the generator. A great plus point especially if you want to camp and relax with minimal noise pollution. It is one of the best RV generators for camping.
Lastly, the WGen7500 is very easy to assemble, use and maintain. It comes with a comprehensive starter kit for easy set-up to get it working right out of the box. There’s an LCD display where you can track how long it has been running. The control buttons are colour-coded too so that you can adjust the settings of the generator with ease.
Pros
- Less noisy compared to normal generators
- Very fuel-efficient
- Very easy to use
Cons
- Bulky and heavy (201 pounds)
- May not provide enough power for large houses
PROS
CONS
- Less noisy compared to normal generators
- Very fuel-efficient
- Very easy to use
- Bulky and heavy (201 pounds)
- May not provide enough power for large houses
Jackery Inc., founded in 2012 by a group of engineers is now one of the most well-known manufacturers of portable clean energy. In redefining the use of clean energy for outdoor living, Jackery is a major front in the fight against climate change.
One of Jackery’s most value for money outdoor power solutions is the Jackery Solar Generator 1000. This bundle comes with the Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station and a pair of SolarSaga 100W solar panels.
This energy solution converts sun energy captured by SolarSaga 100W solar panels into electrical power and then stores it in the Explorer 1000 portable power station for later use. It takes roughly 8 hours of direct sunlight to fully recharge the Explorer 1000 this way.
The Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station features 1000W running wattage, 1002Wh storage capacity, three AC outlets, two USB-C and one Quick Charge 3.0 port. That’s more than enough to charge all your appliances like refrigerator, TV, laptop and coffee maker.
Therefore, Jackery Solar Generator 1000 is a reliable, portable generator for camping, RVs, or as an emergency backup if your power goes out.
Pros
- Absolutely quiet generator for RV
- Eco-friendly solar power
- Self-sufficient; doesn’t require fuel
- Can be used while charging
Cons
- Slow charging speed
- Less reliable during certain seasons like winter or monsoon
PROS
CONS
- Absolutely quiet generator for RV
- Eco-friendly solar power
- Self-sufficient; doesn’t require fuel
- Can be used while charging
- Slow charging speed
- Less reliable during certain seasons like winter or monsoon
The Durostar DS10000E is a large gasoline-fueled generator that delivers 10,000 starting watts and 8,000 running watts. It can be useful as a power source for many applications from lights and a refrigerator to an air conditioner and high amperage power tools at job sites.
This amazing generator features an air cool engine with 440cc and runs at 3600 rpm. It has a large fuel tank, which can hold up to 8.2 gallons of gasoline. With just one tank of gas, it can run for 10 hours straight at 50% load capacity.
One unique feature of this generator is its auto idle control. It can increase engine speed when extra power is demanded. But also reduce it when not in use. Hence, helping to save fuel and reducing noise levels when idling.
Weighing at 265lbs, the Durostar DS10000E is very heavy. After including roughly 50 lbs of gas, you’re moving over 300lbs of generator around. But, with the capability to deliver 8000 watts of continuous output, it is still is a very affordable generator for its price tag.
Pros
- Affordable high power when comparing watt/dollar ratio
- Certified for use in all US states
- Engine shut off at low fuel
Cons
- Very noisy
- Very heavy and cumbersome
- No carbon monoxide censor
PROS
CONS
- Affordable high power when comparing watt/dollar ratio
- Certified for use in all US states
- Engine shut off at low fuel
- Very noisy
- Very heavy and cumbersome
- No carbon monoxide censor
The Champion 100307 boast the best combination between versatility and convenience. It has an Intelligauge meter on the control panel to display voltage, frequency and lifetime hours. Superbly convenient for us to plan our power usage by monitoring the generator status and activity.
On a full tank of gasoline (3.4 gallons), it can operate for 9 hours at 50% load with 3500 running watts. While with a full tank of propane, it can operate for 10.5 hours at 50% load with 3150 running watts. So, that’s nearly 20 hours of power at full tank. It’s more than enough for 2 nights of boondocking. [ You may be interested: Best RV Boondocking Destinations ]
In terms of security, the Champion 100307 features an automatic low oil shut-off, built-in surge protector and overload protection. Its patented fuel selector switch allows for safe switching between the 2 different fuel sources as well. Overall, this generator for travel trailer is a very well secured generator.
The generator alone weights 105 lbs, with a full tank fuel it adds up to at least 130 lbs. The weight is average when compared to its peers in the 3000-4000 watts category.
Pros
- Dual-fuel capability
- Certified for use in all US states
Cons
- Not recommended for power-sensitive devices
- Below average fuel efficiency
- No carbon monoxide censor
PROS
CONS
- Dual-fuel capability
- Certified for use in all US states
- Not recommended for power-sensitive devices
- Below average fuel efficiency
- No carbon monoxide censor
Buying Guide
Fuel capacity
These days, travel trailers generators usually come in 3 different types of fuel capacity. The classic gasoline only generators, the innovative dual fuel generators which allow both propane and gasoline. Lastly but not least, the solar generator.
While gasoline generators are very reliable, it adds a lot of weight to your trip. Firstly, the generator itself is usually heavy. Plus, there is also the extra weight from the gasoline too. Therefore, the new innovative dual fuel is really an attractive choice since it’s lighter and offers more flexibility.
Solar power is the truly self-sustaining generator and clean source of energy. Exceptionally great if you are planning to camp somewhere remote with very limited access to the gas station. Unfortunately, solar energy is highly dependent on the weather and season as well.
[ In case you are interested in getting solar power, check out our detailed guide on Best Portable Solar Panels For RV. ]
So, using solar generators requires a lot of thorough planning and consideration. The last thing you ever want is to camp in a remote area with very little sunlight to charge up your solar generator. Chance are, you’ll end up with insufficient power supply.
Also make sure to check out our guide on How Much Solar Power Do I Need On My RV?
Running wattage
This is a very important factor to consider because you’d want to avoid a generator overload situation that may spoil your generator. That occurs when you are consuming more power than your generator can provide. Having to deal with a broken generator in the midst of boondocking is a real disaster.
To calculate how much wattage you need, the general rule of thumb is to sum up all the wattage from the devices you want to power. This information is usually available from a sticker on the device or the instruction manual. Then multiply the total wattage by 1.5, that should give you a general figure on the running wattage you need from the generator.
Some people took the easy way by buying the generator with the highest running wattage. However, note that high wattage generators are usually very heavy and bulky. A high wattage generator can even act as a backup power supply for an entire house too!
While it’s great to have a versatile generator as backup power for the house as well. But do you need that much power for boondocking?
On the other hand, solar generators are really lightweight. It’s so light, you can even carry it with one arm! But the power it provides is only a small fraction of what a gasoline generator can provide. Nevertheless, a lot of people find themselves being really minimalistic during boondocking.
So if you want to travel as light as possible, plan your power usage wisely and get the right generator that suits your need.
Weight and size
Generators are generally heavy and bulky, even portable generators for camping. Especially those that require fuel. A midrange generator can weigh upwards of 100 lbs. While the heavy-duty ones can go up to 300 lbs. That can be a real struggle to manoeuvre around, especially when you are alone.
Not only that, by occupying a lot of space and weight, it’s limiting a lot of things you can bring along to your boondocking trip. Therefore, ideally you should get as light as you can.
But, small and light generators produce lower wattage. So, you need to find the ideal balance between your power requirement and the generator size.
Pollution
Generally, there are 2 common forms of pollution involved from the use of generators. Firstly is noise pollution and secondly, air pollution from fuel generators.
Loud generators can ruin your boondocking experience. Any seasoned camper can attest to this. So, you’d definitely want to get the quietest generator that you can afford. The cheaper generators tend to be loud.
Air pollution from the generator’s fuel consumption can be bad. Hence, you should always be aware of placement when setting up the generator. Ensure that the fumes do not get blown into your camp or other people’s camp.
When taking pollution into consideration, solar generators are absolutely the best in class. There is totally no operating sound! Plus, it does not produce any pollutants at all.
Our Verdict
We understand that the ideal generator is highly dependent on each individual requirement. Generally, the solar generator Jackery Solar Generator 1000 wins the most points from our buying guide as the Best Portable RV Generators. However, the low running wattage and seasonal use are its main drawback.
But do not be discouraged so quick. A lot of campers eventually realize that they are being very minimalist during their trips. Sometimes, less is more. By having lesser items to worry about, there are lesser things to stress about.
Therefore, spend a moment to reflect back. What kind of camper have you been like? It’s only when your power requirement is high that you should consider getting a fuel-based generator, DuroMax XP13000EH. It is powerful and affordable and can run dual fuel. It gives you the freedom and flexibility of fuel choice, propane or gasoline.
Jules and Ken
We are outdoor lovers, travellers, and writers all rolled into one. You have seen our posts here reviewing lots of different types of outdoor gear, camping equipment, RV equipment, kayaking, to cycling. Our reviews are guided by our years of experience being outdoors. We are happy to share our knowledge with you to make a better choice when you are outdoors.
We hope you enjoyed this review and if you have questions about any of the Best RV Generator or want to leave your own personal review, feel free to leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!
