There's nothing quite like spending quality time out in the great outdoors.

Getting
away from our hectic, rushed and stressful work lives is so good for recharging our
batteries.  Whether in RVs, caravan, campers or tents, camping out is a fun and
totally relaxing activity. At the same time, we also don't want to be completely
separated from our modern conveniences! And that's why it's so important to
investigate the best camping generator for your needs.

1. Power
A good generator for camping should easily power up and run your 13,500 BTU
air conditioner, refrigerator, microwave oven, charge laptops and cellphones, and
even let you watch your favorite shows while you are far from home. In this case, a
portable generator with a power output of 3000-watts upwards should suffice,
except if you do not run the A/C unit then you can use a smaller 2,000 watts
portable generator. Keep in mind that as the power rating of a generator goes up so
does the size and the noise levels.

2. Quite Operation
Silence is golden. Nowhere is this truth more accurate than on a campsite. You do
not want your source of power to be a source of disturbance to you and other
campers. A great portable generator for camping out should hum along at a gentle
45dB to 60dB. For comparison, the normal human conversation is measured at
60dB and a vacuum cleaner at 70dB. Generator noise levels are a function of the
size of the engine and the load on it. Noise reducing features may also be built in
the design of exhaust mufflers and casing of the generator.

Keep in mind that noise levels also depend on the distance between the generator
and the place where you are sitting or sleeping. You can reduce the noise levels by
increasingly distance between you and generator. For instance, a generator rated at
60 dB will produce a noise level of around 85 dB when it is 5 feet away but you
can bring down the noise levels to around 75 dB by moving it 10 feet away.
Typically, you can reduce the noise levels by 6 dB by moving a generator away
from you by double the distance.

You should also keep in mind that an individual can suffer hearing loss if they
have to experience sustained generator noise levels above 90 dB. Thankfully, a
number of noise dampening tools are available in the market in the form of
enclosures and other silencer devices to help you reduce the noise levels of
generators. Also see our quiet generator reviews.

3. Portability
You should be able to single-handedly load up your portable generator into the
back of your truck, without injuring your back of course. With a compact and
lightweight design, a good portable generator is also more likely to be fuel efficient
and run quietly - all features that are ideal for camping. While most larger portable
generators come with wheel kits and handles to enhance manoeuvrability, a good
camping portable generator weighing 50lbs to 70lbs can be easily moved in and
out of a truck.

4. Fuel Availability
Another important thing you need to consider is the availability of fuel at your
camp site or on the way. Since gasoline is easily available, most people prefer
using a generator that uses gasoline but it's not that efficient. For instance, you will
need around 18 gallons of gasoline to run a 5000 wattage generator for a period of
24 hours. On the other hand, generators that use diesel as a fuel are much more
efficient but you will find it difficult to buy one that is portable enough to be used
for camping. A typical 20 kW diesel generator will use around 1.6 gallons of fuel
per hour on full load.

A propane generator is also a good choice for camping as these are portable and
provide clean power. As far as fuel consumption is concerned, you should be able
to run a 2 kW unit for a period of around 6 hours with just 1.18 gallons of propane
on 50% load. A good dual fuel generator is a great choice.

An important thing you need to consider is the fuel consumption of the generator
on 100% load. Keep in mind that some manufacturers do not list the fuel
consumption on full load. Typically, the fuel consumption levels are mentioned at
a load of just 25% or 50%. Fuel consumption does not increase linearly. Therefore,
do not think that a generator that is rated for fuel consumption of 1 gallon per hour
at 50% load will only burn two gallons per hour at 100% load. It's possible that it
might burn 3 gallons or 4 gallons of fuel at 100% load.

5. Conventional vs Inverter vs Solar Generators

Is An Inverter Generator The Best Generator For Camping?
If by now you are already thinking of an inverter generator, you are right on point.

An inverter generator makes good use of advanced electronics to combine all  the
major attributes we are looking for – relatively sufficient power, quiet operation
and portability in a way that is unmatched by conventional generators. They are
also more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. This makes them a very
attractive proposition for camping. In addition, power addicts can buy 2 units of a
“parallel-ready” model type and connect them to double the power. For most users,
however, one unit is usually enough, and you can select appliances to run at a
particular point in time so as not to exceed the rated output.

Solar Generators & Camping

Another great option for power generation while camping is investing in a solar
power generator. A solar generator allows you to charge the battery inside with the
help of solar panels or your household power outlet. The only downside to these
generator units is that they have limited power. At best, these can be used as an
add-on. Solar generators are not only environmentally friendly but also happen to
be extremely quiet and portable. Also, these can be used indoors.