The 6 Best Quiet RV Generators

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Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Paul Clayton

The 6 Best Quiet RV Generators

When embarking on a recreational vehicle adventure, one essential piece of equipment you need is a reliable and quiet generator. The best quiet RV generators are designed to provide power for your RV appliances without disturbing the tranquility of your surroundings.

Key Takeaway

The article provides a buyer’s guide on choosing quiet RV generators and reviews 6 models.

Summary

• • Quiet RV generators are designed to provide power for RV appliances without disturbing people nearby.
  • Important factors when choosing a quiet RV generator include wattage, noise level, fuel type, runtime, starter type, power outputs, size, and weight.
  • The article reviews six quiet RV generators: the Champion 3400-Watt Dual Fuel RV Generator, the Honda EU2200i, the Honda EU3000iS Generator, the Yamaha EF2000iSv2 Gasoline Generator, the Briggs & Stratton P3000 Portable Generator, and the WEN 56310i CARB Compliant Inverter Generator.
  • RV generators power essential appliances silently.
  • Fuel efficiency and portability enhance convenience.
  • Honda EU2200i operates quietly between 48-57 dB.
  • Consider power output to match appliance needs.
  • Choose fuel type based on availability and preference.
  • Portability ensures ease of transportation during travel.

Power generators provide the necessary power, but their operation is often accompanied by loud, intrusive noise. Sometimes, you may want to minimize noise as much as possible.

Fortunately, there are relatively quiet RV generators out there. Sure, they aren’t whisper-quiet, but they can be quiet enough not to be annoying.

If you’re looking for a quiet RV generator, our review of the best quiet RV generators will probably interest you.

Choosing the best quiet RV generators ensures a steady power supply while minimizing noise pollution, making your camping trip more enjoyable and comfortable.

The Best Quiet Generators For RVs

1. Champion 3400-Watt Dual Fuel RV Generator

Summary

First in our review of the best quiet RV generators is a 3,400W Champion unit. This is perhaps our list’s most remarkable generator model, thanks to its unique features.

The first feature that sets this generator apart is that it can be run on two types of fuel—gasoline and propane. While not everyone needs this, supporting two fuel types adds some versatility to this RV generator.

The second notable thing about this RV generator is that it comes with electric and recoil starters. Most people will probably use the electric starter anyway, but the recoil starter could be helpful if you’ve forgotten to replace the generator’s starter battery.

The wheels in this RV generator also make transportation a little easier. At 95.7 pounds, it isn’t a particularly heavy generator, but the wheels make moving it around easier.

This generator isn’t the absolute best on our list in terms of quietness, but it is pretty good. Its 59dB at a distance of 23 feet is not too quiet but not loud.

The wattage of this RV generator is also perfect. It isn’t too powerful by the market’s standards, but its 3,400 starting and 3,100 running watts are decent. If you have a 30-amp RV, these figures should be enough.

These numbers apply only to gasoline, though. This generator’s startup wattage is 3,060W, and its running wattage is 2,790W on propane, so keep that in mind.

Lastly, when it comes to runtime, this generator is good enough. 7.5 hours of runtime on a full tank at 1/4 load isn’t the most we will see today, but it’s remarkable considering the number of watts this thing has.

Pros:

• It runs on either gasoline or propane.
• Has both an electric and recoil start.
• Great power capacity.
• The wheels make transporting this thing pretty easy.

Cons:

• It offers less power output when running on propane.

2. Honda EU2200i

Summary

Those who are tight on cargo capacity in their RV would probably appreciate a lightweight generator like the Honda EU2200i.

With 47 pounds, this is the second-lightest power generator on our list. To complement this lightness, Honda has also made this generator relatively compact.

Not only that, but this power generator is pretty quiet. As Honda writes in the product specs, this thing produces 57dB at the rated load and 48dB at 1/4 load, which are outstanding figures compared to the rest of the generators on our top 6.

However, this generator isn’t the most spectacular in wattage since it has 2,200 watts of max output and 1,800 watts of rated output. If you have high power demands, this may be insufficient.

On the other hand, Runtime is pretty good in this RV generator, partly thanks to its low-ish power output. When filled with gas to the full, this thing can run for 8.1 hours at 1/4 load and 3.2 hours at rated load.

With all that being said, though, we don’t quite like a few things about this generator.

One downside is that this generator has only a recoil starter, so you must push and pull to get it working.

Another downside is that this generator doesn’t have a 30-amp receptacle, so you won’t be able to connect your RV’s electrical system to it directly. You can only connect your appliances to this generator, so be mindful.

Lastly, it is also comparatively expensive, but some of its features make it worth the money, in our opinion.

Pros:

• Weighs just 47 pounds.
• Very compact.
• Has a reasonable runtime.
• Rather quiet.

Cons:

• Pricey.
• Has only a recoil start.
• Has no 30-amp receptacles.

3. Honda EU3000iS Generator

Summary

The Honda EU2200i generator lacks some features, and if you need more, Honda’s EU3000iS generator may be a more suitable option.

First, this generator has a 30-amp receptacle, which is necessary to hook up your RV directly to a generator. At the same time, you still have all the receptacles that the EU2200i had, so this thing is also a little more flexible.

The EU3000iS generator also has an electric and recoil starter, making starting this thing more convenient.

The power capacity of this RV generator is also solid. The EU3000iS generator has a max power output of 3,000W and a rated output of 2,800W. It’s not the most powerful on our list, but it’s pretty high up the wattage scale.

This generator is also great in terms of runtime. It has a sizeable 3.4-gallon gasoline tank, thanks to which its runtime is 7.1 hours at rated load and 20 hours at 1/4 load, which are excellent numbers.

On the other hand, the increased fuel tank size makes this generator rather heavy. It weighs 131 pounds, which makes it the heaviest generator on the list.

Unfortunately, this generator lacks a couple of transport wheels, which would be helpful.

This generator is suitable for noise level, but it’s a bit louder than its smaller counterpart—it emits 57dB of noise at rated load and 50dB at 1/4 load.

Overall, this power generator is quite a beast. However, it has a steep price tag, so it isn’t a budget option.

Pros:

• Convenient electric & recoil start.
• Has a rather long runtime.
• Delivers 3,000 watts of power.

Cons:

• Very expensive.
• Weighs 131 pounds.

4. Yamaha EF2200iS Gasoline Generator

Summary

If you liked the Honda EU2200i generator but felt it was too pricey, then maybe Yamaha’s EF2200iSv2 gasoline generator will interest you. This generator is similar to Honda’s, but some differences should be noted.

The most crucial difference between the two units is that this one has a lower power output – 2,200W max and 1,600W rated output. Thus, this generator is suitable for less demanding applications.

Another difference—this time in favor of the Yamaha generator—is that this generator weighs just 44.1 pounds, three lights lighter than the Honda unit, making this model the lightest one on the list.

This unit may be the best if you care about lightness in RV generators.

This generator also has an onboard fuel gauge, a nice little bonus that will help you keep track of fuel levels.

Speaking of fuel levels, the EF2200iS generator runs relatively long on a full tank – it can run up to 10.5 hours at 1/4 load, which is a very decent number.

The Honda generator is better in terms of noise level, though. The EF2200iS emits 51.5dB at 1/4 load and 61dB at full load, relatively high figures among the generators reviewed.

This isn’t unbearably loud, but our list has much better options, albeit for more money.

Among the things shared between the Honda and Yamaha units is that they don’t have a 30-amp receptacle and only have a recoil starter.

Overall, some things are better in this generator, and others in which the Honda unit is the winner. However, the Yamaha EF2200iS generator is a better option for limited-budget decisions.

Pros:

• Onboard fuel gauge.
• Weighs 44,1 pounds.
• Decent runtime.
• Compact.

Cons:

• Doesn’t have any 30-amp receptacles.
• It only has a recoil starter.

5. Briggs & Stratton P3000 Portable Generator

Summary

The Briggs & Stratton P3000 is exciting, albeit not the quietest RV generator on our list. It has plenty of features that are absent in the rest of the reviewed generators.

The most remarkable feature of this generator is its LCD, which shows information on various valuable metrics, including reminders for oil, spark plug, and oil filter changes, total unit hours, the amount of power being used, and the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank.

This makes the maintenance of this generator much more convenient than any other generator on the list.

This RV generator also has a noteworthy number of outlets. Most other generators on the list had two 120V 20-amp outlets, a DC outlet, and 120V 30-amp outlets.

The P3000 generator still has them, but it adds more – it has two additional 120V 20-amp outlets and a USB charging port.

This generator is thus significant if you want to power many things simultaneously. Moreover, the 3,000 watts of starting and 2,600 watts of running power output should be sufficient to power all its outlets simultaneously, given that your devices don’t draw more than what this unit can deliver.

The runtime of this RV generator is also decent, at 10 hours at 1/4 load. The same goes for noise output—this thing produces 58dB at a distance of about 23 feet at 1/4 load.

Briggs and Stratton have also equipped this RV generator with a couple of wheels plus a luggage-style handle. Weighing 84 pounds, this isn’t a heavy generator, but it’s still remarkable that it is designed to make transport easy.

We wish this generator had an electric starter. It only has a regular recoil starter, so be prepared to push and pull.

Pros:

• Inbuilt LCD.
• Has 4 120V 20-amp household receptacles and a USB charger port.
• Three thousand watts of max power output.
• Easy to transport thanks to the wheels.

Cons:

• Doesn’t have an electric starter.

6. WEN 56310i CARB Compliant Inverter Generator

Summary

Let’s close off our reviews of the best quiet RV generators with an inexpensive unit by WEN. Despite its cheapness, the 56310i generator has some great features to boast.

The most notable aspect of this RV generator is its extremely low total harmonic distortion, which stands at 1.2%. This makes it an excellent choice for sensitive electronic devices.

This RV generator’s power rating is also excellent, at 3,100 peak and 2,800 watts. Thanks to the sizeable 1.85-gallon tank, this generator has a runtime of 7.5 hours at half load.

This generator is also decent in power outlets, with 2 120V 20-amp outlets, a 30-amp outlet, and a DC outlet. Aside from those, this RV generator also has 2 USB charger ports running on DC.

The Wen 56310i generator also has inbuilt wheels to make transportation easier. Once again, it’s not that heavy—81.4 pounds—but it’s good to have some aid when moving it around.

The one downside of this RV generator is the absence of an electrical starter, so you will again need to do some pulling to get it working.

Pros:

• 3,100 watts of power.
• Has 2 USB charger ports.
• Portable thanks to inbuilt wheels.
• Great runtime.
• Extremely low harmonic distortion.

Cons:

• Has only a recoil starter.

Quiet Portable Generators For RVs 101

Now, let’s figure out how to pick the absolute best model from the best quiet RV generators we reviewed. There are many things to consider, and we’ve covered everything.

Types of Generators

Before discussing the features you should look for in an RV generator, we suggest you familiarize yourself with all the types of generators available.

1. Standby Generators

The first type of generator you should know about is the standby generator. If you are looking for a generator for your RV, a standby generator won’t be a proper choice.

But you should know about standby generators so as not to get confused when shopping for an RV generator.

As their name suggests, standby generators are not portable, and you can’t carry them and use them everywhere.

Instead, standby generators are installed at fixed locations like workshops or garages with around-the-clock power requirements.

Because transportability doesn’t matter, standby generators can be much more extensive and have much more power capacity than their portable counterparts.

Besides, they tend to be quite pricey. But no matter how high your power needs are, a standby generator isn’t the right choice for RV use.

2. Portable Generators

Portable generators are easily transported because they are smaller and lighter than standby generators, which makes them suitable for RVs.

With wattages usually ranging from 3,000 to 8,500 watts, portable power generators have the oomph to satisfy virtually any RV driver. You only need free room and fuel to run a generator in your RV.

Traditional portable generators, albeit perfect for RV use, have a crucial downside – they can’t be throttled up and down. No matter how much power your appliances need, the generator will run at full power, unnecessarily wasting fuel and energy.

Opting for a more straightforward portable generator would only be reasonable if you constantly draw maximum power from it. Otherwise, they are very inefficient. In addition, portable generators are always running at full power and will be relatively noisy.

If you will be using your appliances intermittently and won’t need the potential of a portable generator all the time, don’t opt for one. Portable generators can be cheap – around $400-1000 – but costly in the long run.

3. Inverter Generators

Inverter generators look similar to regular portable generators. However, the crucial difference lies not in the design, size, or weight. The most critical feature of inverter generators is that they can throttle up and down to match your power requirements.

As a result, you don’t waste fuel and energy unnecessarily. What’s even better is that inverter generators tend to be quieter than regular portable generators since they don’t run at full throttle continuously.

And since we’ve showcased the best quiet RV generators on our material, inverter generators will be the best for noise.

Inverter generators also produce fewer emissions because they don’t run at full all the time. They tend to live longer, making them a worthwhile investment.

Inverter generators usually have the same capacities as regular portable generators, but they can be much more expensive, with prices reaching $4,000 and even more. However, inverter generators can be much less costly in the long run than portable generators.

If you don’t constantly need your generator’s full potential, then inverter generators are undoubtedly worth the money. Whether you are using just your refrigerator or the entire gamut of your RV appliances, an inverter generator will provide you with as much power as you need.

However, if you continuously use your generator at full, a non-inverter portable generator may be a more reasonable choice.

Things to Look for in Quiet Generators

Now that we’ve established generator types and their pros and cons let’s look at the specific features you should consider when looking for an RV generator.

1. Wattage

The number one feature to look for in RV generators is wattage. Wattage determines how much power the RV generator will deliver to power all your appliances.

Any electrical device has two kinds of wattages: startup and running. These numbers are drastically different since electrical devices consume much more power at startup than when running.

Both numbers must be considered when choosing an RV generator, but some intricacies should be mentioned.

You would want to choose a generator that will power all your RV appliances. Thus, you need to consider the power requirements of all the electrical devices you have in your RV.

You may think that adding up your devices’ power requirements will do the trick. If all your stuff consumes 8,000 watts, you’d need an 8,000W generator, right?

Actually, no. Such an approach would be inefficient since people rarely use their appliances simultaneously. If this also applies to you, why use a potent RV generator?

Another problem is calculating the required wattage. Do you base your calculations on starting or running wattage? Maybe both? Well, this depends on several factors.

Generally, starting appliances one at a time is advised to preserve precious watts. Thus, you don’t need a generator with more watts than all your appliances require at startup combined. Having enough wattage to start your most demanding device would be best.

Let’s simplify with a simple example. Suppose you have an AC unit with 1,500 starting and 1,000 running watts, a refrigerator with 500 starting and 250 running watts, and a blender with 700 starting and 350 running watts.

The appliance with the highest startup wattage is the AC unit, which has 1,500 starting watts. If your generator is rated at 1,500 watts, it won’t have any problems starting devices individually.

However, there are some issues in our example that should be mentioned.

One is that you can start your AC unit (1,500 watts), let it run (1,000 watts), and then start your refrigerator when the AC is still running (it consumes 500 watts at startup). One thousand five hundred watts would be enough for that.

But you can’t do the same with the blender – while the AC is running, you won’t be able to start it up since you’d need 1,700 watts for it (1,000 + 700).

Besides, you can’t run all your stuff simultaneously since it would require 1,600 watts (1,000 + 250 + 350).

This won’t be a problem if you don’t need to run all of your stuff simultaneously, but if you do need it, you’d need at least a 1,600W generator.

Adding around 500 watts to your power requirements is also helpful to ensure protection from power spikes.

The example we described above is straightforward, but hopefully, it gives you an idea of how to calculate the necessary wattage.

2. Total Harmonic Distortion

Total harmonic distortion (THD) measures the quality of electricity. The lower the THD, the “cleaner” the electricity is and the smoother its sine waves. This is a comprehensive and simple definition of THD, but it’s enough for you to understand it.

Usually, THDs of 6% or less are considered reasonable and can be used to power sensitive electronics more or less safely. The lower the THD, the safer the electricity.

Power generators can have an extensive range of THDs ranging from as low as 1-2% (as in the WEN 56310i generator) to as high as 15%.

At THDs over 5-6%, you should be able to run heating elements and non-sensitive appliances safely. But you’d want a generator that delivers cleaner electricity for sensitive devices.

Aside from probably very cheap units, most generators should suffice for general stuff like TVs or speakers. But if you are getting an inverter generator, you shouldn’t have any issues with electricity quality.

However, if you’ve had issues with some generators, you should go for a unit with better THD than your older model.

3. Fuel Type

Fuel type is the second most important consideration for RV generators. It may seem that you should choose the cheapest and most efficient fuel type, but things are a bit more complex.

RV generators typically run on gasoline, propane, or diesel. Some generators can run on two or more fuel types, but most will work only with one. Multi-fuel generators boast the benefits of all fuel types, but they tend to be costlier.

These three fuel types have pros and cons, so let’s examine them.

• Gasoline

Most RV generators on the market are designed to run on gasoline since it is a more accessible fuel type for RVers. Plus, most RVers use gasoline generators because they cost less than others.

In terms of efficiency, gasoline is right between the two other fuels—it is less efficient than diesel but more efficient than propane.

More precisely, a gallon of gasoline usually produces around 125,000 BTU per gallon, while propane and diesel produce 91,300 BTU and 140,000 BTU per gallon, respectively.

While gasoline offers decent fuel efficiency, is accessible, and is cheap, it has two notable downsides.

The first downside is that gasoline has a lower ignition temperature than the other two fuel types, which makes it more dangerous to store.

Although you must be careful when storing any fuel type, gasoline requires more attention and care.

The second downside is that gasoline’s shelf life is shorter. Typically, gasoline breaks down and starts to absorb moisture within a month. Thus, gasoline isn’t a proper fuel for RVers who won’t be using their generators frequently.

So, if you won’t use your RV generator often, use fuel stabilizers or choose generators that work with other kinds of fuel.

• Diesel

Diesel is the most efficient fuel among the three types, with its 140,000 BTU heat output per gallon. Due to this, diesel is more cost-efficient in the long run, albeit it tends to cost more per gallon.

Diesel generators usually require less maintenance than other generator types, increasing their cost efficiency.

Diesel’s ignition temperature is also higher than gasoline’s, so it is safer to store, though this doesn’t mean you should neglect safety procedures.

However, diesel fuel has quite a short shelf life, about the same as gasoline. Furthermore, diesel is more demanding because diesel engines (and thus generators) tend to break down if not run regularly.

So, if you don’t run your generator frequently, do not opt for a diesel generator.

• Propane

Propane is the least efficient fuel type among the three, but it has one great advantage—a very long shelf life. This makes propane the ideal option for people who don’t plan to run their RV generators frequently.

The downside of propane generators is that, unlike gas or diesel generators, they usually do not have inbuilt fuel tanks.

You will need a separate propane fuel tank for this, but you may use your propane grill tank with a propane generator if you have one.

4. Runtime

Runtime is also an essential factor to consider when choosing RV generators. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to match manufacturer-provided runtime figures to real-time applications or to use runtime to compare different generators.

The manufacturers indicate the runtime of their generators at a percentage of their max load, e.g., 25%, 50%, and 75%. For example, the generator’s runtime may be “5 hours at 50% load.”

The problem is that manufacturers don’t follow specific standards when indicating their generators’ runtime.

Some manufacturers indicate the runtime at 50%, while others do that at 25%. Comparing different generators using such inconsistent figures is nearly impossible.

5. Noise Level

The noise level in RV generators is the critical metric within the scope of our article. Unfortunately, noise levels aren’t easy either, like they were with runtime.

You may know perfectly what is and isn’t loud for you. However, before buying a generator, it isn’t always easy to figure out how quiet it will be.

Manufacturers usually indicate the noise levels of their generators with something like “50dB at 50% load” or “50dB at 25 feet.” Some write “50dB” without indicating load or distance.

Like it was with runtime, such a discrepancy makes comparing different generators with each other directly virtually impossible.

Can you say which generator will be quieter, producing 50dB at 50% load or 50dB at 25 feet? Probably no. You won’t be able to make comparisons unless you have matching metrics.

Besides, how do you know how loud or quiet the generator will be in real-life applications at particular loads?

The noise level figures provided by manufacturers can serve as a basis for your decision, but you should know everything we’ve described above.

Another problem is how loud your RV generator should be. RV generators usually produce 50-70dB of noise. But which is better for you?

For a perspective, have a look at this chart of typical sound noise levels:

Sound source	Decibels (dB)
Normal breathing	10
Whispering at 5 feet	20
Whisper	30
Rainfall	50
Refrigerator	50
Electric toothbrush	50-60
Washing machine	50-75
Air conditioner	50-75
Normal conversation	60
Sewing machine	60
Vacuum cleaner	60-85
Alarm clock	65-80
Flush toilet	75-85
Hair dryer	90-95
Baby crying	110
Shouting in the ear	110
Thunder	120

Hopefully, this chart helps you find a tolerable sound level and pick a proper RV generator.

6. Starter

The kind of electric starter used in your RV generator may also matter.

RV generators come with two types of starters – electric starters and push-pull or recoil starters.

Electric starters require just a push of a button to start the generator. Compared to push-pull starters, generators with electric starters are much more convenient and hassle-free.

On the other hand, electric starters are powered by a battery, so you must ensure that your RV generator’s starter battery is always charged. Besides, if your generator doesn’t have batteries, you must buy them.

As their name suggests, push-pull starters require you to repeatedly pull and push a starter handle to start up the RV generator.

Such generator starters are less convenient than electric starters, so if you have conditions limiting your ability to use a push-pull starter, an electric starter would be more appropriate.

However, push-pull starters are relatively maintenance-free since they don’t have any electronic components or batteries.

7. Power Outputs

You should carefully pay attention to what kind of power outlets your RV generator has.

First, your RV generator needs a 120V outlet with amperage corresponding to your RV’s electrical service.

If your RV has 30-amp service, ensure your generator has a 120V 30-amp outlet. The same applies to the 50-amp service.

Since they are very different, you can’t plug a 50-amp service into a 30-amp receptacle. 50-amp plugs have four wires, while 30-amp ones have 3, so you can’t use one type of plug with another receptacle unless you have a power adapter.

Even if you have a 30-to-50-amp adapter, we advise you to buy a generator with an output amperage that corresponds to your RV’s electrical service.

There are colossal power capacity differences between 30- and 50-amp services, and a generator with a proper receptacle is more likely to satisfy your power needs.

If you want to connect some appliances directly to your RV generator, ensure it has the required outputs. Usually, home appliances run on 120V 20-amp current.

But when looking for some specific receptacle, ensure it corresponds to what your devices can work with.

8. Size

RVs can be pretty big, but due to room limits, you may be unable to fit some generators in them. If you have a huge RV, generator size shouldn’t be a problem; otherwise, consider it carefully.

Picking a proper generator size is pretty straightforward. Measure the area where you will store your RV generator and choose a unit that will fit in it.

If you will be storing other things alongside your generator, consider it as well.

9. Weight

Weight is as crucial as size in RV generators. And it’s not that much about the ease of transport – RV generators can be pretty convenient to carry since they often come with handles or transport wheels.

No, the thing that plays a much more significant role is the weight capacity of your RV.

The combined weight of your belongings during the journey should not exceed your RV’s cargo capacity. Knowing how much weight room is left in your RV will help you select a proper generator.

Should I Buy a Generator for my RV?

The answer is a resounding yes if your RV activities include dry camping, independent parking, or boondocking.

An RV generator provides the power you need for essential functions such as lighting, cooling, and charging your devices when off the grid.

It ensures you can enjoy the freedom of the open road without sacrificing comfort and convenience. Therefore, investing in an RV generator is not just a nice-to-have but a must-have for those who prefer these RV experiences.

Final Words

The best quiet RV generators offer an efficient and noiseless solution for powering appliances during travel. These generators ensure silent operation and provide the convenience of portability and fuel efficiency.

The Honda EU2200i, for instance, operates quietly within the 48-57 dB range, making it ideal for those seeking a balance between performance and silence.

Another factor to consider is the power output of these generators. It is crucial to select a generator whose power output matches the energy requirements of your appliances.

Moreover, these generators come in various fuel types, allowing users to choose based on their preference and availability. The portability factor further enhances the ease of transportation during travel, making these generators a reliable companion for road trips and camping.

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