RV Generators for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

Generators are one of those camping topics that brand-new RV'ers ask about constantly, and for good reason — there's a lot of conflicting advice out there, a bunch of confusing numbers, and one genuinely serious safety issue nobody should skip. "What kind do I need? How big? Will it run my AC? Is it gonna be loud? Is it safe?" All great questions. Let's answer every one of them.

I'm Joe — Squatch to most folks — and welcome to another beginner-friendly breakdown here on Camping with Squatch. Today it's generators, start to finish, in plain English. RV generators come in a few types, and picking the right one isn't complicated once you know what to look for. By the end you'll know the types, how to size one, how to run it safely (pay attention to that part — it matters), and whether you even need one. Let's fire it up.

New to the RV life? Don't go it alone. This post lives inside my RV Beginners Guide, where I've rounded up everything I wish someone had handed me on day one.

Why Bother With a Generator at All?

Simple: a generator makes its own electricity, so you've got power when there's no shore hookup. It can run your stuff, charge your batteries, and — here's the big one — it can handle the heavy hitters that solar and batteries struggle with, like your air conditioner and microwave.

That's why a lot of campers pair a generator with solar: the solar handles quiet, everyday charging, and the generator steps in for the big loads, the cloudy stretches, or a fast battery top-off. (If you haven't read my [RV solar] and [RV batteries] posts, they're the natural companions to this one — together they're your whole off-grid power picture.)

The Main Types of RV Generators

Built-in (onboard) generators. These are permanently installed, usually in motorhomes, and often run off the RV's own fuel tank (gas or diesel) or a propane supply. Push a button and you've got power — super convenient, no hauling anything around. You'll see the Onan name a lot here. The trade-off is they're a built-in feature you pay for, and they're mostly a motorhome thing.

Portable generators. These are standalone units you carry, set up outside, and plug your rig into. This is what most travel trailer and 5th wheel owners use, and they come in two important flavors:

• Conventional (open-frame) generators — cheaper and often higher-powered for the dollar, but louder, heavier, and they produce "dirtier" power that isn't ideal for sensitive electronics. Fine for tools and rough use, less ideal for your laptop.

• Inverter generators — these are the RV darlings. They produce clean, stable power that's safe for your electronics, they're dramatically quieter, lighter, and more fuel-efficient, and many have an "eco mode" that throttles the engine to match the load. Brands like Honda, Yamaha, and Champion live here. They cost more, but for camping, the quiet and clean power are worth it to most folks.

Fuel Types, Quick and Simple

• Gasoline — the most common for portables. Easy to find, but doesn't store forever (use fuel stabilizer).

• Propane — burns clean, stores basically forever, and ties into the propane you may already carry. Slightly less power output than gas, but super convenient.

• Dual-fuel — runs on either gas or propane. Maximum flexibility, and a popular choice for that reason.

• Diesel — typically the built-in motorhome units running off the main tank.

How Big a Generator Do You Need? (The Big Question)

This is where beginners get tangled up, so let's make it clear. Generator output is measured in watts, and there are two numbers that matter:

• Running watts — what it puts out continuously.

• Starting (surge) watts — the extra burst it can deliver for a second or two to start up motors, which demand a big gulp of power to get spinning.

Here's the thing that drives the whole decision: do you want to run your air conditioner?

• A small inverter generator (around 2,000 watts) is fantastic for charging your batteries, running the microwave briefly, powering the TV, charging devices, and running small appliances. But on its own, it usually can't start a typical RV air conditioner — the startup surge is just too much.

• To comfortably run a 13,500 BTU RV air conditioner plus a few other things, you generally want something in the 3,000–3,600 watt range. That AC startup surge is the hurdle.

• Two tricks worth knowing: Many small inverter generators can be "paralleled" — linked together with a kit to double your output (a popular move with the little Honda units). And a "soft start" device installed on your AC reduces its startup surge, which can let a smaller generator run an AC it otherwise couldn't.

The smart move, same as with solar and batteries: do a quick energy audit. Jot down what you actually want to run at the same time, add up the watts (mind those surge numbers on anything with a motor), and buy a generator that covers it with a little headroom. Don't overbuy a giant loud unit you don't need — but don't undersize and end up unable to run the one thing you bought it for.

Let's Talk Noise (Your Neighbors Will Thank You)

Generator noise is measured in decibels (dB), and it matters more than beginners expect. A loud open-frame generator droning all afternoon is the fastest way to annoy every camper around you — and most campgrounds and boondocking areas have generator quiet hours (often overnight) you're expected to respect.

This is the biggest reason inverter generators are so popular for camping: they run much quieter, often around the volume of a normal conversation, versus conventional units that can sound like a lawnmower that won't quit. If you camp anywhere near other people, quiet is worth paying for.

⚠️ Generator Safety: The Part You Cannot Skip

I'm going to be dead serious for a minute, because this genuinely saves lives. Generators produce carbon monoxide (CO) — an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas you can't see or smell. Every year people are harmed or killed by running a generator wrong. So burn these rules into your brain:

• NEVER run a generator indoors, in an enclosed space (like inside the RV, a tent, or a garage), or close to the rig. Run it outside, well away from the camper, and away from windows, doors, and vents where exhaust could drift in.

• Point the exhaust away from your rig and your neighbors, and keep it far from where people are sleeping.

• Have a working carbon monoxide detector inside your RV, and test it. This is non-negotiable — it's your backstop because you can't sense CO yourself.

• Refuel only when the generator is OFF and cooled down. Spilling gas on a hot engine is a fire waiting to happen.

• Keep it dry. Don't run it in the rain without proper cover designed for it — water and electricity are a bad mix.

• Don't overload it beyond its rated watts.

Treat your generator with respect and it's a perfectly safe, wonderful tool. Get careless with CO and it's deadly. No shortcuts here.

Don't Forget Maintenance

A generator's an engine, so it needs basic love:

• Change the oil on schedule — and do that important first "break-in" oil change when the manual calls for it.

• Store it right — either run it dry or add fuel stabilizer so the fuel doesn't gum up the carburetor over the off-season.

• Run it periodically even when you're not camping; engines like to be exercised.

• Check the air filter and keep fresh fuel in it.

Generator vs. Solar: Which Do You Need?

Beginners often think it's either/or. Here's the honest comparison:

• A generator gives you power on demand, any time of day or night, and it can run the heavy stuff like AC. The downsides: it needs fuel, it makes noise, and it needs maintenance.

• Solar is silent, free to run once it's installed, and maintenance-free — but it only works in daylight, it's weather-dependent, and it can't realistically run your AC.

For a lot of serious boondockers, the answer is both: solar for quiet, everyday power, and a generator for AC, cloudy days, and quick charges. If you only camp at hookup sites, you may not need a generator at all. Match it to how you actually camp — see my [boondocking for beginners] post for how the whole off-grid puzzle fits together.

Squatch Tips: Generator Wisdom

Here's what I tell every first-time generator buyer:

• Buy for the AC question first. Whether or not you want to run your air conditioner basically decides your size. Settle that, and the rest falls into place.

• Go inverter if you can swing it. The quiet and the clean power are worth it for camping — your neighbors and your electronics both win.

• Respect the CO rules every single time. Outside, away from the rig, exhaust pointed away, working CO detector inside. Every time, no exceptions.

• Mind the quiet hours. Being the considerate camper keeps these spots welcoming for everyone (and keeps you from being "that guy").

• Pair it with solar for the best of both. Quiet solar daily, generator for the heavy lifting. That combo is the boondocking sweet spot.

That's the heart of Camping with Squatch — giving you the straight story so you buy the right gear, use it safely, and get back to enjoying the campfire.

Print This: Beginner Generator Checklist

Tape it inside a storage bay so it's handy.

Before You Buy

• [ ] Do I want to run my AC? (decides the size — usually 3,000W+)

• [ ] Energy audit: add up watts of what I'll run at once (mind surge watts)

• [ ] Inverter (quiet, clean power) vs conventional (cheaper, louder)

• [ ] Fuel type: gas, propane, or dual-fuel

• [ ] Check the noise rating (dB) if camping near others

Every Time You Run It (SAFETY)

• [ ] Place it OUTSIDE, well away from the rig, windows, doors & vents

• [ ] Point exhaust away from campers

• [ ] Confirm the CO detector inside is working

• [ ] Refuel only when OFF and cool

• [ ] Keep it dry; don't overload it

• [ ] Respect campground/boondocking quiet hours

Maintenance

• [ ] Do the first break-in oil change, then change oil on schedule

• [ ] Fuel stabilizer (or run dry) before storage

• [ ] Run it periodically; check air filter + fresh fuel

Let's Get You Powered Up

A good generator is a beginner's best friend for camping beyond the hookup pedestal — power whenever you need it, even for the AC on a hot Tennessee afternoon. Pick the right size, go quiet if you can, respect the carbon monoxide rules without fail, and keep up the simple maintenance, and you'll have reliable power for years.

And if you're shopping for a rig and want to know what generator setup it has — or whether that motorhome's onboard generator is up to snuff — come find me at A&L RV Sales in Christiana, just outside Murfreesboro. Give me a call or text at 615-653-7561, or follow along with Camping with Squatch for more straight talk in the beginner series. I'll help you sort out what you actually need. No pressure, ever — I just want you camping happy and powered up.