How to find the best small generators for camping

When looking for a small generator for camping there are three important buying criteria to take into consideration power output, how quiet the generator is in operation, and if the generator is inverted or not.  Another main consideration is how the generator will be powered which ranges from gasoline, propane, diesel, and solar powered generators. I’ve outlined the other

Conventional vs inverted

If you are looking to purchase a portable generator for camping you would want to consider purchasing an inverter generator.  Inverter generators are able to electronically throttle the engine of the generator based on the load that is being put on the generator.  

The more electronics you have plugged into the generator the more load you will be putting on the generator, but because it’s an inverted generator it would be able to adjust how much power it produces on the fly.  

The same goes for if you don’t have much plugged into the inverter generator it would not need to use as much throttle to produce energy as it wouldn’t need to. This results in an improvement in efficiency over a conventional generator.  However, just keep in mind that inverter generators will come at a premium price compared to conventional generators.

Power output

The main point of consideration that you should take with finding the best small generator for camping purposes is the power output of the generator that you choose.  With most small generators they are going to putting out around between 1,800 and 2,200 watts generally.

Usually, the lighter the generator is the less wattage it will be able to put out but usually the lighter the generator the less it will cost as well.  For camping purposes, you should be fine with a 2,200 generator.

If you are looking at powering components of an RV or your home such as an AC unit or heat pump you are going to want to go with a larger generator in the 4,000 – 5,000-watt range as they would have enough power output to be able to handle those sorts of tasks.

Power source

The most common type of small generators for camping is going to be gasoline generators.  Because of the availability and price of gasoline they are the preferred generator power source.  Some generators are also designed to use diesel fuel as a power source but because of emissions standards, they are being phased out.  Some portable camping generators are also designed with a battery pack that can be used in conjunction with a solar panel to charge the battery pack of the generator.

Sound output

Another main consideration you would want to take with buying a small generator for camping purposes is the sound output that the generator will make while under operation.  The last thing you want is to keep everyone at your campsite up at night while they are trying to sleep.

A lot of the small generators that you will look at will list their decibel rating on how loud they are while running.  If they don’t list that figure then they probably aren’t that quiet of a generator.

In general, a decibel rating of 45-60 dBA will be quiet enough to run at a campsite without disturbing other campers. At 60 decibels that is around the same sound level as a normal conversation with another person so it shouldn’t disturb other campers too much even if you plan on running it all night long.

Run time

Another consideration to take while selecting a small generator for camping is going to be the runtime of the generator.  The longer the runtime of the generator the longer you will be able to operate it without needing to refill the gas tank.

If you are planning on running your generator for extended periods you would want to look at getting a generator with a run time of 8-10 hours depending on your needs.  If you are planning on running an ac unit all night long plan to get one that can run at least 8 hours.

If you only need the generator to charge things at your campsite from time to time a run time of 4 hours would be fine. Obviously, runtimes are going to vary based on the manufacturer and the efficiency of the generator.

Weight

If you are looking for the best generator for camping you probably want your generator to be portable so that you can transport it from your campsite and back home easily.  With that in mind, you would want to pick a camping generator that is designed for recreational purposes.

Most of the generators in this category will weigh around 50-60 pounds to keep them easily portable, some will even come with wheels to make it easier to move them around.  Some generators can weigh over 200 pounds so make sure that you choose one that you know you will be able to transport around easily.

Price

Obviously, the price of the small generator for camping that you choose will be a factor in your purchase.  Usually, small generators that put out less wattage are going to be cheaper than large generators that are designed to put out large amounts of wattage (4,000 – 5,000 watts).  

The price is also going to be determined by the manufacturer of the generator that you go with and who the engine is designed by. Honda makes good reliable engines for generators but they are typically going to be on the higher end in regards to pricing.

Reliability

Reliability will also be another factor that you will want to look at when buying a small generator for camping.  The more reliable of an engine that they use in your generator the longer the generator should last you. Honda is one of the best engine manufacturers and also has a reputation of being one of the more reliable engine manufacturers in the market. 

Warranty

This goes in line with the reliability of the generator but you may want to go with a small generator that has a multi-year warranty if you want to ensure your purchase holds up over the long run.  At least if you have issues during the warranty period you know that they would be taken care of at little to no cost of you.

Small Generator Maintenance

One thing to always keep in mind is that your generator will be a gas engine which will mean that it will take engine oil in order to properly lubricate the internals of the engine while in operation.  If you don’t check your engine oil levels at regular intervals or change your oil at regular intervals you can expect your engine to not last as long regardless of who makes the engine.

Another important consideration to take with any gasoline-powered engine is the gasoline that you use to power your generator.  You want to make sure that you are using somewhat fresh gas to fill the tank of your generator with. If you don’t know how old your gasoline in the garage is it’s best to replace it with new gasoline from the pump.  

It’s also a good idea to store the generator with no gasoline sitting in the gas tank to help prevent corrosion of the internal components and can lead to your fuel lines getting gummed up over time which can cause your generator to run erratically.  

Best Small Generators For Camping – Conclusion

When looking for the best small generator for camping there are a lot of factors that you will want to look at before deciding on which model you go with.  Ultimately it’s up to you to determine your needs for a generator and how you plan on using it before you look at buying one.

Hopefully, this small generator buying guide helped you make an informed purchase.