Your RV Generator Buying Guide
Sometimes when you’re out camping in your Airstream RV, you need a little extra power. Maybe the campground’s power source isn’t as reliable as you would like it to be, or maybe you’re boondocking out in the woods and you don’t have access to any other means of powering the appliances and charging up your electronics in your RV.
That’s where a generator comes in handy. Generators are a great portable power source that can also be used at home during storms or power outages. It’s important to think about what you need from a generator, though, before you buy one, so check out these tips from Airstream of South Carolina.
How Much Can You Spend?
The most practical thing to do when looking for a generator is to establish a budget and stick to it. You need to ensure that you have the money to purchase the generator itself, as well as the fuel to power it up. While you might be tempted to go with whatever the cheapest option is, bear in mind that that cheap generator may not give off much power or it may be unreliable in other ways.
How Many Watts Do You Need?
You should take the wattage of every appliance in your RV and write them down so you know exactly how much wattage you’re going to need at a bare minimum. Always round up with this number, since most appliances will have a higher start-up wattage before they settle into a lower constant wattage.
How Big a Generator Can Your RV Hold?
Another essential factor in purchasing a generator is the weight and bulk of the generator, as some models may simply be too large or too heavy to comfortably fit inside your RV. Of course, if you have a very large RV, this may not really be an issue, but smaller campers are going to present a challenge when it comes to having adequate space for your generator. Measure the space where you plan to store the generator so you know what parameters to shop for.
How Will You Power the Generator?
As great as it would be if generators just supplied their own source of power out of nowhere, the truth is they need some form of fuel to function. Since you won’t have access to an electrical grid in many cases, you can’t just plug in the generator there. Most people choose between propane, diesel and gasoline models. And some folks choose to install solar powers on their RVs that they use to juice up their generators for the ultimate sustainable power solution on the road.
Ready to shop for RVs? Visit our dealership in Lexington, SC, to check our our current stock of RV parts, in addition to our selection of new and used Airstream RVs for sale. Airstream of South Carolina serves the cities of Columbia and Greenville, SC.