By Cheri Sicard
In the video above, our favorite RV inspector, Duane from the RV Inspection and Repair YouTube channel, reviews his picks of the best 30-amp generators for RVers. (As a side note, Duane was one of the nominees in our 2024 RV video awards.)
If your 30-amp RV did not come with a built-in generator, a portable 30-amp generator is a great alternative. (In fact, with a SoftStartRV, it can even run your A/C.) Although Duane rightfully points out that if you always plan to be hooked up to electricity at a campground, you may not need a generator.
However, if you like to boondock in your RV, having a portable generator will prove extremely handy, even if your RV has solar power. Anyone who has experienced a week of cloudy or rainy days knows what I am talking about.
In the video, Duane explains that, in a nutshell, a 30-amp RV can handle 3,600 watts of simultaneous power being drawn. Be sure to watch the video because Duane carefully explains what this means in practical terms of the power you can expect from a portable 30-amp generator.
In the video, he is also talking about inverter generators, as they are the quietest and most fuel efficient.
Drawback of portable 30-amp generators
- Weight—most will weigh in the neighborhood of 100 pounds.
- Because of the size and weight, you will have to determine a place to put it that has good ventilation.
- You will have to carry fuel for the generator and refill it. Duane says most inverter generators run on gas, but know that they also come in propane versions or hybrids that will run on either.
Duane’s pick of Best 30-amp generators for RVers
Watch the video for details of each brand’s pros and cons and why he put it on the list. Here are the brands Duane likes:
#1 Honda EU 3000IS inverter generator: Honda generators are known for being high quality; however, they also come with a high price tag. Also, this is the heaviest generator on the list.
#2 Champion 4500 dual-fuel inverter generator: This lightest generator on the list is also a dual-fuel model!
#3 Wen 3800-watt inverter generator: This generator is the least expensive on the list and is a real value.
#4 Generac IQ 3500 inverter generator: This generator is quiet and fairly lightweight.
#5 Predator 3500 inverter generator: This one comes from Harbor Freight, and Duane says a lot of RVers love this discount hardware store’s generators.
##RVDT2367
I have a 15-year-old Champion 4000-watt generator that is noisy as hell. But it will put out 240 volts if I need it. I have one of those Champion 2000-watt generators I bought at Costco years ago. I can run my AC with it because I had a SoftStart installed on the AC. Then, the big move was buying that Harbor Freight Predator 3500 generators. I love this thing, even though I rarely use it except to exercise it monthly. I bought it before I had the SoftStart installed. The complaint with that one is that the battery always goes dead so I have to pull start it all the time. It starts easier than the other two – every time! Btw, aren’t all generators “inverter” generators?
Nothing wrong with escaping the “Honda” syndrome.
Any generator that produces AC power is technically an inverter. What differentiates them is the pattern of the alternating current. If the unit abruptly switches positive/negative it is called a square wave. Units that more smoothly transition are called sine wave. The units that closest represent residential AC are often labeled ‘true’ sine wave. But that’s a marketing term. Some devices don’t care about the polarity transition, and other care a lot. You are always ahead to get the best sine wave output you can afford.
Sorry, but that’s incorrect.
Traditional generators do not have an inverter and the engine MUST run at a constant 1800 RPM (or 3600 RPM) to maintain a steady line frequency of 60 Hz.
Inverter generator engine can run at a variable RPM, it generates DC and the inverter changes DC to AC, always at 60 Hz regardless of the RPM.
Okay, do you need a 30A generator for your 30A camper? If you love to boondock, the answer might be ‘yes’. But if you mostly have shore power, and only need to bridge for short times without an outlet, maybe not.
I have a duel fuel 1800 watt (15A) sine wave generator. I can run anything (including my smaller A/C) in my 30A camper, but I cannot run everything. I use an inexpensive watt meter to make sure I am not exceeding the rated output (brew coffee, then make toast) and I use propane. Gasoline has a more limited life and I can store the small generator inside the camper during travel (propane stays outside).
We have a Northern Tool Powerhorse 36oo that has been very reliable and affordable. We have a 50a 5th wheel and run only one ac at a time. No problem and very quiet. $1000 or less.
Thank you, Cheri! 🙂 Hmm, … Yamaha did make a generator or two comparable to the Honda generators but cheaper a few years ago. I wonder if they left the market? Either way, thanks for the list and safe travels! 🙂
We have a small off-road trailer with solar and three lithium batteries. We’re considering a small inverter/generator to supplement our solar on cloud filled days and when camping in the forest where direct sunshine is often tough to find. We’re considering a WEN 2500 duel fuel, that weighs under 50 pounds and around 52db at half load. We have a 30amp softstart that I can dog bone to work as the WEN doesn’t come with the 30amp plug in. What are your thoughts on this kind of set up?