Once in a while, you just want to let your hair down, get into an RV, and enjoy the serenity that only nature can offer. Unfortunately, not everyone is capable (or willing) to spend a few days in the wild, without the luxuries that modern conveniences provide. For this reason, it is only natural to try and find the best generator for an RV.
The best generator for camping should provide a stable source of power. With so many brands and types of inverter generator in the market, it is quite difficult to choose the perfect partner for your RV—especially if you are just beginning to enjoy camping.
Why do you need a generator for your RV?
Unless you are an experienced camper or a natural-born adventurer, you might find it hard to live for a couple of days without electricity. After all, it is hard to do camping in the dark. It is even more of an inconvenience to cook and plan a meal without spoiling your rations because you don’t have a working fridge at hand.
Hauling a generator on your RV will save you from the horrors of totally roughing it up with nature.
Why choose an inverter generator?
Generally speaking, conventional generators are simply too loud to bring with you during camping. Just imagine trying to sleep with the generator drowning the natural sounds of the campsite. Out of respect for other campers and the wildlife, you should purchase an inverter generator which is a lot quieter than the conventional generator.
Depending on its maximum output and rated continuous operation, an inverter generator can provide power to your appliances and help recharge your RV batteries, among other things. Because this is an important piece of equipment, it is vital that you keep it from harsh elements like rain and wind.
To do this, you need a designated storage area for your generator, preferably inside your RV. For this reason, compact and lightweight generators are preferable, although they won’t be able to generate as much power as the heavyweight ones do.
Types of RV Generator
For the most part, RV generators can be categorised into two types: portable and built-in. Portable generators are popular, as they are easier to maintain, not to mention their spare parts are usually available. The downside is that you’d need to build a platform that could stabilise it whilst you are moving; otherwise, you’re risking damaging the unit.
Despite this, you cannot just pin the portable generator on a permanent platform, as you need to lift it up to refuel. Also, connecting long extension cords to a portable generator can reduce the wattage it produces.
Built-in generators, on the other hand, are usually installed in RVs by hardwiring it to its AC electrical system. Due to its electrical nature, built-in generators are significantly more expensive than portable generators. This is why you’d mostly see built-in generators in high-end RVs and motorised homes.
It all seems worth it as you don’t need to strain yourself with lifting the whole thing up just to refuel. Normally, the fuel supply comes from the RV’s engine fuel tank, although most of such generators automatically shut off whenever the vehicle runs low on fuel. The downside of investing in a built-in genset is that it is far more difficult to send in for repair and maintenance. Also, the owner should be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning coming from the generator.
The best way to decide which inverter generator to purchase is to calculate how much power your RV needs. To be able to do this, you need to take into consideration the type of fuel the generator is required to run on.
Common Fuel for the Generator
The best generator for camping is usually the one that fits your budget, but still provides adequate power to run every electrical appliance in your RV. There are three common fuel types that could power the best generator for RV: propane, petrol, and diesel.
Propane is quite popular among those who own a generator, as it burns more efficiently and is considered ‘clean’ fuel by most environmentalists. The disadvantage of using propane is that it doesn’t produce much power. Even when propane is cheaper, the way it is immediately consumed will send you to the refilling station faster than you’d anticipate.
Petrol-powered generator, on the other hand, produces more electricity than propane which means it can power more appliances at any given time. However, compared to propane, petrol is a lot ‘dirtier’ with its chemistry containing several harmful impurities that can pollute the environment. Given its hazardous nature, you can never have any leftover petrol remaining in your generator when it is not in use. Aside from the possibility of shortening your unit’s lifespan, leftover petrol also poses a fire risk.
The most powerful generators use diesel as their main fuel. However, gas stations that sell diesel are becoming fewer, as the majority of vehicles began to switch to gasoline. Diesel-fuelled generators are also more expensive than gasoline-powered ones.
How to Choose the Best Generator for RV
There are several factors you need to consider when you buy the right inverter generator for your RV. Aside from type, fuel source, and number of appliances that would use the generator, you’d need to also take into account its compatibility with your RV.
As a rule of thumb, if you have too many electrical appliances with you, you should consider buying a diesel-powered generator. It might be pricier than other types of generators, but it can certainly power all your gadgets and toys.
If you only need moderate power (adequate to run a fridge, toasters, a portable radio, and TV), then consider getting a petrol-powered inverter generator instead. It is not as pricey as diesel, plus it is easier to find a refilling station if ever you run low on fuel. If you require minimal power which is enough to charge your mobile and other gadgets, a propane-powered generator might be enough for you.
For practical reasons, you should choose a generator that runs on the same type of fuel as your RV. For example, if you are driving a gasoline-fuelled RV, it is natural to choose a petrol inverter generator. That way, it won’t be much of an inconvenience to find a refilling station because you can fill up both at the same place.
Built-in generators are nice to have if you have the extra cash to purchase one, but a portable generator is more than enough for an ordinary camper. It gets the job done for almost half the price without sacrificing quality.
Contrary to what most people imagine when they hear the word ‘portable’, there are a few portable generators that are too heavy to be lifted by one person and might even need a set of wheels just to move smoothly from one place to another. Furthermore, most portable generators nowadays sport a heavy-duty design that can provide an impressive and enormous amount of power to get you through your camping adventure.
You should also determine how much noise a portable generator will produce once it is running. After all, nothing’s more irritating than listening to loud machine sounds when all you really wanted is some peace and quiet (the main reason why you were camping in the first place). What is the acceptable noise level that a human can bear to hear for long periods of time without growing irritated? Generators that can produce a sound lower than 75 decibels are desirable. A portable generator that can produce a noise of around 60 decibels is considered ideal, as this is of the same level as normal human speech.
Where can you buy the best generator for RV?
In Australia, there are generator brands that could fit some of these requirements. However, only a handful can proudly offer a wide range of high-quality portable petrol inverter generators for RV owners and campers.
One of the most reputable suppliers, Gentrax Generators, has partnered with one of the largest manufacturers in the country to produce portable inverter generators capable of producing different amounts of power, depending on the occasion.
The Gentrax brand is quite popular as it offers models which are laden with only the latest technologies in the field. Here are some Gentrax models you should consider when you think of purchasing an inverter generator for your RV. Visit the site today!
GS-CEDD
One of the certified top-sellers of the company, it is the perfect companion to bring with you on a camping trip. Considering that it can generate a maximum AC output of 3.5kW, it is surprisingly compact and light with physical dimensions measuring 565 x 320 x 470. It weighs around 28kg. This generator can provide up to eight hours of run time.
The generator requires a regular mobile gasoline to run on, so there will be no problems with refuelling as there are literally hundreds of gas stations in the country where you can replenish its fuel.
GSI-BXBE
If you are not afraid of roughing it up, but still require a generator to power the most basic of appliances, then you should consider purchasing this super light portable generator. Weighing only 18.5 kg, it still packs quite a punch with a maximum output of 2000 watts and a rated continuous operation of nine hours. This unit is also fuelled with regular automobile gasoline, which makes its source easy to find. Yet, the best feature of this product is probably its measured noise level which is surprisingly low at 58 decibels.
GS-6500IE
If you are looking for some serious firepower, you should choose this heavy-duty petrol-powered inverter generator. With a dry weight at almost 100kgs, it is undeniably the heftiest of all Gentrax products. However, it also produces an enormous power with a maximum output of 6.0kW and a rated continuous operation of four and a half hours with 100% load. Generating such power comes with a heavy price, though. It requires around 18.5 litres of regular automobile gasoline to work at its full capacity.
Still, the price is all worth it especially when you think about all the modern electrical appliances you can bring with you when you go camping, without worrying about power source.
GS-BECE
If you want an affordable model that could provide adequate power to basic appliances, then this product won’t disappoint. With a maximum output of 2.5kW, it can provide some valuable power without being bulky or bleeding your bank account. Its actual weight is also considerably lighter than other products and brands.
Aside from a slight decrease in output and cheaper price, this product is not much different from the best-selling GS-CEDD.
GSI-XHAX
If you are the type of person who gets easily irritated with continuous machine sounds that are usually associated with generators, you should try GSI-XHAX. It is Gentrax’s lightest and quietest portable generator to date. Weighing less than 9kgs, it boasts of a noise level of only 57 decibels. That’s three decibels lower than normal human speech. This makes it the perfect generator to purchase, as all you want is to enjoy listening to the rustling of leaves and the twittering of birds on the campsite. Whilst it is compact in size, it is still able to provide around 0.8kW with a rated continuous operation of 6 hours.
If you need more information on these excellent products and how they can help power your RV, just visit the Gentrax website and get acquainted with these models and more. Just because you’re in the middle of the Outback does not mean you should suffer the inconveniences brought by the absence of electrical appliances (or the power to switch them on). Connecting any of the Gentrax products to your RV will guarantee that your camping trip will be fun and stress-free.
