On average you can expect to pay $484 for a new portable generator. The actual range in prices is actually a lot larger. Some generators are better for a tight budget at $300 and there are some that are range as high as $3000. However, the majority of people won’t need a thousand-dollar generator and the type of generator that you can get for $300 won’t have the quality that you need; so, if you’re looking for a reliable and quiet generator you can expect to pay between $350 and $700.
What factors change the price of your RV generator?
There are numerous factors that affect the price of an RV generator including the brand that you chose, the generator’s power and the type of fuel that the generator uses.
Brand
Generators come in various brands. Although you can get a no-name brand you want your generator to be reliable so it’s worth paying the extra money for a brand name that you can trust if that’s an option. Some reliable brands of generators include Generac, Briggs and Stratton, Energizer, Winco, Westinghouse, DuroMax, DuroStar, ATIMA, Caterpillar, Champion Power Equipment and Firman Power Equipment.
Watts
The wattage of your generator will determine the price as well. Generally, the higher the wattage the higher the price. If you’re in search of a generator that can produce 5000 watts or more then you’re also looking at a price tag in the thousands. If you only need 3000-4000 watts then you’ll probably end up paying between $500 and $800 dollars. If you don’t need very much power and you can get away with a generator that only produces 2000 watts then you’ll be able to lower the price to around $300.
How many watts do you need?
The power you need in your generator will be determined by what you need to power. Look at the electrical load that you need your RV generator to power. Do you have a fridge and freezer in your RV? What about an A/C or heating system? Do you plan on running a microwave, TV or oven off of your generator? Calculate the energy needs of your RV and you’ll be able to figure out how many watts your generator needs to produce.
If you need a generator for camping and just to keep your smartphone, tablet and laptop working, an inverter with 2000W rating will be enough. However, if you are looking for high-end users such as running AC in the RV or to use your coffee pot as a camping stove, it is important to invest in a 3000W version or more. In short, the best answer to your question depends on your usage at the campsite.
Weight of the generator:
The lighter side of the generator is more preferred for quiet operation. Note that here the term dry weight indicates the weight of the generator when there is no fuel in the tank. Hence, when you are considering a lightweight model, it is important to add additional pounds depending upon fuel tank size.
Run-time of the generator:
The generator runtime refers to the total time for which generator runs before requiring refilling of the fuel tank. It is generally defined in terms of fuel tank size, efficiency and load capacity. Manufacturers usually offer a runtime of 25%, 50% and 90%. Note that the performance may usually move up and down based on the load size.
Power output of the generator:
The inverter generators are usually designed with the maximum power rating of 1000 to 3000W. The higher wattage models are more suitable for TVs, ACs and fans. Most of the manufacturers list wattage with two numbers where one number indicate power capability of the generator when it is operated at half load, whereas others indicate power rating with 90-100% power load.
Noise level of the generator:
This is a little difficult to determine as manufacturers do not provide adequate details on this factor. In general, when you need a generator specifically for camping purpose, it is important to look for a rating somewhere between 50-68 decibels. The noise performance is also highly dependent on the load level of the generator. Usually, the generator is quietest when it is running at 25-50% load capacity.
| RV length | Generator Size |
| 20 foot | 1500 watt |
| 25 foot | 2000 watt |
| 30 foot | 2500 watt |
| 40 foot | 3500 watt |
Fuel Source
Your generator can run on gasoline, diesel, natural gas, solar power, propane or even a hybrid combination of two of these. Hybrid generators and diesel generators tend to cost the most upfront while gasoline and solar tend to be the cheapest options. Propane and natural gas can vary in price but are often middle of the pack in terms of cost.
A RV generator will last about 12 hours on average. They range from 8-20 hours depending on type.
| Type | Run Time | |
| Conventional | 10 hours | |
| Inverter | 20 hours | |
| Single Tank | 8 hours |
When you want to buy an RV generator, you have to look for many things. The first thing that one must look at is the type of fuel the generator use. The main types of fuels are diesel, gasoline, and propane. Another thing that one must consider is if the generator is conventional or is it an inverter type of generator.
All these things will let us estimate how many hours the generator will work. Most generators are available in 2000 watts and this limit goes up to 4000 watts. Here are some examples of generators and how many hours does an RV generator last on a full tank.
Conventional generators
This is the most basic type of RV generator. This generator is heavy and it dissipates energy. With a full tank, it can run up to 10 hours. This generator will produce noise so these are not the best choice if you want luxury RV experience. If you are looking for a cheap one, this should be your choice.
Inverter generator
This is another type of RV generator that uses advanced technology for better fuel efficiency. The inverter generator is usually silent so you can enjoy the luxury RV experience with this type of generator. These generators will dissipate less energy. It is also fuel-efficient. And can last up to 20 hours in some conditions when the conditions are right.
Single tank time
A single tank can last many hours. It depends on the power usage of the generator. The 2000-watt generator is not heavy and it can have one gallon of fuel in the tank. It will run for more than 8 hours. The 3000-watt generator usually has a 1.5 gallons fuel tank and it runs more than 7 hours with this amount of fuel. 4000-watt generators are heavy and they consume a huge amount of fuel.
Factor affecting generator time
RV generators will work efficiently if you have maintained them properly. As this experience is not enjoyed all year long, the generator can get rusty and its efficiency will decrease. Generators need to be tuned and tested every month. Some other maintenance works like changing lubricant fuel can also affect the timing of generators.
Another thing that affects the timing of a generator is fuel capacity. All the generators come with a specific fuel tank so their capacity is usually fixed. You can either install an extra tank with an RV generator to increase the working time or you can keep the fuel aside so you can refill the generator quickly.
How many hours in single Run
When you start the RV experience, you know that you have to use a generator for a specific time and after that, you need to close it. If the generator keeps running indefinitely, it will break down. Conventional generators will break down easily so you have to be careful not to run this conventional type of generators for a long time.
Running regular RV generator for 8 hours is enough. You need to give the generator a little break after that. The inverter generator has a better running time so you can run them up to 150 hours continuously.
