Best Generator for Travel Trailer – Your Ultimate 2024 Review
Travel trailer camping is a fun way to enjoy what nature has to offer, replenish your soul and reconnect with nature.
While some people can enjoy spending a couple of days without electricity, others like me, can’t imagine going for hours without a power source.
If you are still not willing to leave the niceties of the modern society behind, equipping your travel trailer or RV with the best generator for travel trailer will allow you to tailgate in areas with no electricity and still enjoy the comforts of home.
After a thorough research, we concluded that the Champion 3100 is the best rated generator you can find in the market currently.
Table of Contents
Our Top 3 Quick Picks
Yamaha EF2000iSv2 (B002RWK9N2)
Best Value
Sporting a retro-cool allure, Yamaha is a pragmatic inverter generator with unmatched power and superior programming features.
Champion 3100 (B00BBDCE1S)
Best Rated
This portable generator offers superior runtime capabilities not to mention it has a generous tank size to keep everything running nice and smoothly throughout your entire trip. What's more? The generator has a powerful output and can power a majority of your RV as well as household electronics. And finally, this lightweight model is environmentally friendly and EPA, CARB, and CSA compliant.
Westinghouse WGen3600
Best Budget
Do not let the modest price trick you into thinking the Westinghouse WGen3600 is a flimsy generator. Not at all, and in any case, it has superior components, most of which are found in the high-end inverter generators.
Comparison Table & Runner Ups
Finding a travel trailer generator that will address your touring needs can be quite a daunting task. However, it does not need to be so; in this comprehensive review article, we shall look at the top 7 generators for travel, highlight their features and explore everything you need to know about them.
Later one, we shall provide you with a buying guide, which will enable you to make a more informed decision in your next Generator for travel trailer purchase.Image | Product Name | Features | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westinghouse WGen3600 | Weight: 107lbs Wattage: 3600w Noise: 69dB Starting Method: Recoil Fuel tank: 4 Gallon Run time: 18 hours | $$$ | |
 | WEN 56200i | Weight: 48lbs Wattage: 1600w Noise: 51dB Starting Method: Recoil Fuel tank: 1 Gallon Run time: 6 hours | $$$ | |
 | Yamaha EF2000iSv2 | Weight: 45lbs Wattage: 1600w Noise: 51.5 dBA Starting Method: Recoil Fuel tank: 1.1 Gallon Run time: 10.5 hours | $$$ | |
 | Champion 3400 | Weight: 45lbs Wattage: 3400w Noise: 51.5 dBA Starting Method: Recoil Fuel tank: 1.6 Gallon Run time: 7.5 hours | $$$ | |
 | Briggs & Stratton 30545 P3000 | Weight: 85lbs Wattage: 3000w Noise: 58 dBA Starting Method: Recoil Fuel tank: 1.5 Gallon Run time: 10 Hours | $$$ | |
| Champion 3100 | Weight: 83.8lbs Wattage: 2800w Noise: 58 dBA Starting Method: Recoil Fuel tank: 1.6 Gallon Run time: 8 hours | $$$ | |
 | Yamaha EF2400iSHC | Weight: 75 lbs Wattage: 2000w Noise: 51.5dB Starting Method: Recoil Fuel tank: 1.1 gallons Run time: 8.6 hours | $$$ |
Top 7: Best Generator for Travel Trailer
If you are still not willing to leave the niceties of the modern society behind, equipping your travel trailer or RV with the best generator for travel trailer will allow you to tailgate in areas with no electricity and still enjoy the comforts of home.
A good generator for travel trailer goes beyond camping, but it also makes for an excellent backup option for your home in times of power outages.
However, understand that RV generators can be quite expensive, and it’s therefore essential that you make due diligence before committing yourself to one.
And in this article, we hope to help you choose the best RV Generator suitable for your vehicle, and the best portable generator for camping. We shall discuss the essential attributes of a generator and show you how to choose one.
Whether you are looking for a portable generator for use at the camping site or in your recreational vehicle, we have got it all covered with a simple list of the top 7 generators for travel trailers.
1. Westinghouse WGen3600 (B01N6Z6M0M)
Having a dependable power doesn't need to be expensive, right? Ad this is what the Westinghouse WGen3600 has to offer. Though this generator comes at a low price, it puts a groundbreaking technology alongside rock-solid dependability to deliver highly efficient power.
Offering a decent power of 4,650 watts of peak power and 3,600 watts of effective power, the Westinghouse is ideal for running most of your essential appliances during power outages.
Quick Summary
Featuring a powerful and highly dependable 212cc 4-stroke OHV engine, the Westinghouse is an ideal choice for a variety of tasks including RVing, camping, job-sites projects, and other recreational activities. During disasters, the Westinghouse is undeniably a life saver.
WHY IS THIS A TOP PICK?
Camper & RV Ready
The presence of a Plug and Play feature will allow you to connect the unit to your RV easily. And while at it, we love the act that no adapters required for connection.
Extended run time
The Westinghouse has a generous runtime and excellent fuel efficiency of up to 18 hours on its 4-gallon fuel tank at 25% load. With such a runtime, this unit will provide you with all the power you need all through the night without needing to refuel.
Quiet Operation
The Westinghouse inverter generator purrs evenly at 69Db WITH 50% load, and this makes it a relatively quiet generator. With such a modest sound, your neighbors and the environment will thank you.
Solid Construction
Featuring a hardened steel frame roll bar at the top, this unit will stay in top shape for many years to come.
Again, the open frame body design on the unit consist of four point fully isolated motor mounts, and this helps to secure the generator in place.
Portability at Its Best
Featuring a pair of wheel kit, alongside built-in roll bars, this unit offers a wide variety of options for easy maneuver, transport and securing the unit.
The pair of wheels, in particular, allows you to take it anywhere and can be pulled with your RV.
Simple Operation
The dead simple operating panel is easy to use, and anyone can operate it in no time.
Safety Features
The WGen3600 is flush with safety features, which will not only protect your generator, but you thousand-dollar worth of appliances.
Some of the safety features include:
Overload protection: This feature protects the outlets with circuit breakers and will automatically shut off the unit in the event of short-circuiting or overloading
Overheat prevention: The Low Oil Shutdown feature shutdowns the unit once the oil supply declines. This will help to prevent damage due to overheating with low oil supply.
Rubber protection: To bolster your safety, all electrical outlets on this generator are insulated with rubber to prevent shock. The rubber also helps in preventing corrosion.
CARB and EPA Compliant
This unit has passed the strict CARB, and it means it perfect for use in all state, but most importantly, it doesn’t emit any harmful fumes that may endanger your family’s health.
WHAT I LIKED
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
2. WEN 56200i (B00SMNLF4M)
As far as value is concerned, nothing beats this quiet portable generator.
The WEN 56200i is an inverter generator, and this not only makes it ideal for powering household appliances or power tools, but also an awesome choice for the sensitive electronic items such as phones and laptops.
Quick Summary
Weighing a mere 48 pounds, this unit has not only lightweight, but it has an awesome runtime of 6 hours at 50% load.
WHY IS THIS A TOP PICK?
Enhanced Fuel Efficiency
The Wen 56200i features an Eco Mode Function that improves on fuel efficiency. When you turn on the Eco Mode, it will allow the generator to automatically adjust fuel usage according to the load by regulating the speed. The Eco Mode function helps to optimize the unit's fuel economy by providing you with an impressive 6 hours of run time on a single gallon fuel capacity at 50% load.
Ultra-quiet Operation
Running at a more 51 decibels at 25% load, the sound generated by this unit is acceptable by all mean, and in any case, it's quieter than a normal conversation. This unobtrusiveness of the unit makes it an ideal option for a variety of locations that require pin drop silence such as camping, tailgating, and hunting.
Clean Power
The benefit of the minimized harmonic distortion on this unit is that it reproduces clean power, which is ideal for powering even the most sensitive electronic devices such as phones and laptops.
Parallel Connection Cable
Let’s all agree; 2000 watts might not be enough juice to power all your RV appliances.
Rather than doing away with the WEN or going for a new inverter, this unit will allow you to link up two generators I a parallel connection to boost output power.
Extremely Portable
Weighing at a mere 48 pounds, the Wen 56200i is lightweight by all means. The lightness of the WEN is further boosted by a compact design, alongside a built-in handle that will promote convenient transportation as well as easy stuffing at the back of your car.
WHAT I LIKED
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
3. Yamaha EF2000iSv2 (B002RWK9N2)
The Yamaha EF2000iSv2 is a super-quiet, CARB compliant gas powered portable inverter.
Lightweight and upgraded, this model is designed to offer a retro-cool allure, and yet at the same time, be as functional as it can get.
The EF2000iSv2 not only boasts of more power than the original EF2000Is, but it comes with advanced programming to offer wider application ranges.
Quick Summary
Like the best inverter generators, the Yamaha EF2000iSv2 comes with a rectifier and capacitors to help in producing a more refined current, stabilized, and clean for the sensitive appliances.
WHY IS THIS A TOP PICK?
Silent Night
The Yamaha muffler keeps the noise on this unit at a modest level of 51 decibels at a quarter rated load, meaning it can run on your background powering all your appliances without you even knowing it’s one.
Smart Throttle
The silence of the Yamaha is further bolstered by the Smart Throttle, a load sensing RPM control that will cleverly adjust the speed of the unit to match the load. The Smart Throttle has both the benefits of improving fuel efficiency and while at the same time cutting on the sound levels drastically.
Even more impressive-or at least we think so-is the fact that this generator has a power flow of up to 10.5 hours, which is probably the longest we have seen so far on our list of the best generators for travel trailers.
Clean Power
Clean power delivery is a feature that is increasingly becoming prevalent with the modern generators, and the Yamaha is no different.
This unit supplies clean power, thanks to the Pulse Width Modulation function that keeps the voltage stability around 1% and with astounding frequency stability at 0.1 HZ.
The pure sine wave is clean than a majority of the public utility power, and it makes the unit an ideal source of power for your sensitive devices such as laptops, mobile phones, and computers.
Shut Off Feature
A huge concern with a lot of generators is when the gas goes stale after it stays unused for a long period. To avoid this from happening, the Yamaha unit comes with a gasoline petcock, which will allow you to shut off the gas to run the carb dry while you store it. This means the gas is not wasted.
Safety
Safety on the Yamaha is manifested in various ways.
For starters, the unit comes with an Oil Watching Warning System that will help in preventing damages that are caused by low oil pressure.
The second safety feature is the overload breaker feature that will prevent damage in case of short-circuiting.
And the final safety feature is the excellent heat dissipation on the OHV engine that helps to avoid overheating. The best safety aspect, however, is the fact that the unit is EAP and CARB compliant.
Parallel Connection
We love this model because of the parallel connection capability that will allow you to connect two units using an adapter to double or triple your power.
WHAT I LIKED
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
4. Champion 3400 (B01FAWMMEY)
The Champion 3400 is the perfect combination of versatility and convenience. A quiet, powerful and lightweight inverter generator, the Champion 3400 makes for the perfect companion for your next camping or tailgating event.
As its name suggests, this generator will provide you with a whopping 3400 watts, which is sufficient enough for powering most of your household electronics.
Quick Summary
Though the Champion 3400 does not feature a remote starter, it does come with a super convenient and easy to use electric start option.
WHY IS THIS A TOP PICK?
Clean Electricity
The Champion 3400, like all the typical inverter generators, will provide you with tons of clean power (less than 3% THD). The clean power is refined and more stabilized than other public utility power sources and hence ideal for use on sensitive electronics such as phones.
Ultra-Quiet Operation
Generating minimal noise levels at 59 decibels, the Champion is a virtually quiet inverter generator, and this makes it a great option for a variety of projects such as RVing, tailgating, or backup power for your home.
Parallel Ready
If your power usage goes beyond what the Champion has to offer, you can connect one or more 2800-watt inverters with the optional parallel kit for boosted power output.
Performance
Featuring 3400 starting watts and 3100 running watts, the Champion is a heavy-duty machine that will power even the most of your power-hungry device. Additionally, the unit has a generous running time o up to 7.5 hours.
Dual Fuel
A dual fuel type, the Champion 3400 will allow you to operate this unit right from the box, and more importantly, provide you with the option of using either gas or propane for the ultimate convenience.
More to this, the unit can hold up to 0.6 quarts of oil, which is more than enough to keep you running throughout the night.
Easy to Use
Featuring a conveniently place user control panel, the Champion 3400 enhances usability and makes it easy to operate the generator.
On the control panel, you will find convenience features such as an electric start with a 3-position ignition switch that will make starting the unit an easy affair.
WHAT I LIKED
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
5. Briggs & Stratton 30545 p3000 (B00IWJOOU8)
The P3000 generator from Briggs and Stratton PowerSmart series is an inverter generator marketed as an extremely efficient type that can adjust its engine speed to the given load. This also makes it relatively quiet.
With a starting wattage of 3000W and a running wattage of 2600W, the P3000 has sufficient energy to power your appliances and is primarily designed for RVs and small businesses.
Quick Summary
The Briggs and Stratton P3000is billed as a power-house for powering your electrical devices when tailgating, camping or RVing.
WHY IS THIS A TOP PICK?
Fuel Efficiency-Power Series
The P300 falls under the Briggs & Stratton PowerSmart series. The P-series are known for their quiet operation even when on an excessive load.
What is more satisfying with this engine is that its speed can be comfortably adjusted according to the load, and this helps with optimizing on fuel efficiency. With around 1.5 gallons the P3000 will provide you with at least 10 hours of operation at 25% load.
Clean Instant Power
The Briggs P300 with four 120-Volt AC outlets & a single 12-Volt DC Outlet can deliver clean, instant power for all your appliances.
The P300 has a dedicated set of failsafe, meaning it's perfect for use with sensitive appliances.
Durable
Though the plastic construction may not be exactly the most fortunate option, it does deliver pretty awesome durability for the unit.
Easy to Use
The Stratton P3 series features a small monitor that manages to bring an interesting set of visuals.
Beyond the visuals, this unit comes with a set of two 8-inch wheels that allow easy maneuvering.
Compact
The Briggs and Stratton P3000 not only comes with a design that will catch the attention of the user, but its compact design makes it easy to carry, store, or even move.
Weighing at 84 pounds, this inverter generator is easy to handle, and when compared to other products within its class, t would stand tall thanks to its lightness and easy to handle features.
WHAT I LIKED
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
6. Champion 3100 (B00BBDCE1S) Review
Champion power equipment has in recent times emerged as a top quality inverter generator. It has gained prominence, especially to those who cherish a quieter working environment.
What we like most about this generator is that it offers a wide spectrum of value and relatively affordable.
Quick Summary
Generally speaking, the Champion 3100 is a reliable, remarkably quiet, and an affordable generator that is powerful enough to run most RV air conditioners and comes with one killer feature-a remote control.
WHY IS THIS A TOP PICK?
Quality Build and Design
Sporting a compact and durable edifice, the Champion 3100 weight at a mere 95 pounds.
This lightweight design is further compounded with two carry handle, a feature that will allow two individuals to handle it easily.
The set of built-in wheels will also provide a single user the ability to pull the Unit along even terrain.
Ease of Use
Unlike a majority of the generators which require a lot of strength to start, the recoil start on this unit requires only average strength, and this helps to accommodate a variety of users including seniors.
The quick touch panel is yet another convenience feature that centers all the controls of a single surface, and this eliminates the need to reach around the generator.
Ease of use is further manifested by the presence of plugs, which help to bolster the versatility of the unit.
Performance
The Champion is powered by a robust 171 cc 4-stroke engine that is powerful enough to accommodate the power need of your household equipment.
Additionally, this generator plays host to an enormous 1.6-gallon fuel tank, with a capability of providing you with an excellent runtime of 8 hours on 25% maximum load.
The overhead valve engine on this unit offers a fair power of 2800 running watts and 3100 surge watts.
Quiet Operation
With a noise level rating of 58 Dba, the Champion is quiet, especially when on the overland settings.
WHAT I LIKED
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
7. Yamaha EF2400iSHC (B00AYUWDZG) Review
The Yamaha is yet another awesome inverter generator perfect for RVing, tailgating, camping and other tasks.
Equipped with a 4-stroke gasoline engine, this inverter generator can provide surge wattage of 2400 watts and running wattage of 2000.
Like the best inverter generators on our list, the Yamaha generator provides clean power for running sensitive equipment such as TVs and computers. Additionally, the unit has enough power to run a microwave oven, a hairdryer, fridge, or even a freezer.
Quick Summary
The excellent weight to wattage ration, quality construction plus a gasoline petcock to shut off the gasoline is some of the additional features that add value to this product.
WHY IS THIS A TOP PICK?
Powerful Performance
Under the hood of Yamaha, we have a 4-stroke 171cc OHV engine.
The engine of this unit is capable of delivering 2400 starting watts and 2000 running watts. With such power, expect the generator to power your basic outdoor appliances as well as home appliances like the microwave, stove, a sump pump, computer, and AC.
Clean Energy
Like a majority of the best generators for travel, this unit contains unique pulse width modulation technology that will protect your sensitive electronics such as laptops and TVs.
Easy to Start
The Yamaha comes with a pull-start cord that will get things going.
Beyond an easy start, the unit also has an intuitive power panel with two 120V outlets and a 12V DC outlet.
And because it’s an inverter generator, the unit is quiet by default and will produce around 53 decibels, and so if you are out camping, you won’t disturb your neighbors while using it.
Versatility
The epitome of Yamaha’s versatility is manifested by its dual fuel capability. With this unit, you have the option of using either gasoline or propane for your power needs.
The fuel on the Yamaha is stored in a gigantic 1.6-gallon fuel tank. While full, this tank will provide you with a run time of 8.6 hours when operating at ¼ load and 6.5 hours when operating at ½ load.
The Smart Throttle feature on the unit helps to optimize fuel efficiency and fuel saving; something that all users are looking for in a portable generator.
Fuel Gauge
The presence of a fuel gauge on the unit allows you to see how much gas you have. The fuel gauge comes alongside a fuel tank filter that is designed to protect the tank by keeping larger particles from getting into it.
WHAT I LIKED
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
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As industry experts in the outdoor domain, you have no reason to trust us. Our website has always been the go-to solution for all the outdoor needs, and our recommendations always add value to our readers.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Fitting your RV with a Generator
Having your RV fitted with a generator will transform it from a simple camping vehicle to moving home with the luxury of appliances and gadgets that sometimes even our houses do not offer.
A portable travel trailer generator will allow you to:
Disadvantages
While a portable travel trailer generator will allow you to benefit from the convenience of creating your electricity, it's not without some downsides, which I will not leave you unaware of:
Tip-Make a habit of covering your generator when not using it, and better yet, chain it on your RV.
Tip-Buy a propane fuel system because it’s more convenient, generally lightweight and efficient
Generally, the pros of the RV travel generators outweigh the cons, and better yet, there are remedies to the existing cons.
Buying Guide - Things to Consider While Buying a Travel Trailer Generator
If you are looking to choose the perfect RV generator for your camping or tailgating needs, there are various things that you ought to consider.
Size
Your goal is to find the right size of the generator, and ideally, it should be compact as opposed to a bulky one, and it should not consume too much space in your vehicle.
Power Generation Capacity
While bulky generators tend to generate more power than the small generators, you should strike a balance between size and power output.
Find a generator that will fit in the existing space in your vehicle while still providing enough power.
Always ensure that it can supply more than enough power so that all your electronics can operate without the need of draining your available gas supply.
Portability
It's vital to consider the portability of a generator. A majority of the RV owners prefer purchasing the portable generator because of its versatility.
Again, a majority of the portable generators also provide a parallel capability, allowing you to connect two units, supplying two times as much power.
Noise Level
The level of noise that your generator produces when operating should have a say in your final buying decision.
Determine whether you are comfortable and can tolerate the thumping sounds of generators, especially when you sleep at night.
If you are like me, however, I prefer quieter RV generators with a barely noticeable sound. And the good news is there are plenty of quiet generators in the market.
Fuel Consumption and Efficiency
When searching for the perfect RV generator, always consider fuel consumption.
In this case, figure out how constantly you will need to refill your unit, and if you’re going out in the field, you would want a unit that will not require you to travel long distances for fuel.
For optimal fuel usage, you can find RV generators with an eco-mode or smart throttle feature. Both of these technologies help in optimizing on fuel consumption and will burn the fuel depending on the available load.
Overall Construction
What you should be looking for at this stage is the compactness of the overall construction and the material used.
Generally speaking, the ideal unit should be less bulky and lightweight while still providing you with superior sturdiness.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you are now more enlightened on the best generators for travel trailers. Pick the one that you think will fit you need best, and experience the best in your camping.
