Generator

A generator is a device that produces electricity. It can be powered by gasoline, diesel, or propane. This comes in handy when you’re boondocking or dry camping, meaning you’re camping without hookups for electricity.

Generators are measured by how much power they can produce, usually in watts. For a small RV, a generator with an output of about 2500 to 3500 watts is usually enough. However, if you want to run an air conditioner in your RV, you’ll need a generator that can produce at least 3500 watts or more. For larger RVs that have multiple air conditioners, you’d need an even bigger generator, with a capacity of 6000 to 9000 watts or more.

Besides providing power for appliances, generators also charge the house batteries in your RV. In North America, generators are pretty common in RVs. However, in Europe, they’re not as popular because the noise they make can disturb the peaceful setting of a campsite.

Most organized campgrounds in North America have “quiet hours,” typically from the evening until early morning, during which you’re not allowed to run generators to avoid disturbing others. Many RV’rs prefer to use an invertor generator because they are much quieter to operate than other types of generators.