The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Generator for Your Caravan

Caravanning for many is about the freedom of camping anywhere in this great country of ours, no matter how far off the beaten track it may take us.

So, when you do venture far from civilisation, how do you make sure that you have enough power to keep the essentials running and give you a little bit of life’s luxuries along the way?

Why a Portable Generator is a Caravan Essential

Modern caravans have some pretty amazing off-grid electrical systems on board. Most will rely on the tow-vehicle and solar panels to re-charge the caravan’s batteries, but what happens if you are parked up for a few (or many) days and there is not an abundance of sunshine?

If you want the full rundown of how your van’s 12V and 240V systems work together before you go shopping for a generator, we’ve covered it in our caravan electrical system guide.

It doesn’t matter how many solar panels you have on the roof or how many extra portable panels you can plug in, if there is no sunshine you just won’t get enough power to top up your batteries.

This is where a portable power generator can come in very handy. We just recently came back from a 10 month travelling holiday and having the portable generator saved us on quite a few occasions. It may not be something you use all the time, but when you need it, you’ll be glad you have one on board.

Understanding Portable Generator Types

Portable power generators can be used in many ways, from total reliance to just the occasional back-up. Depending on what you want to power, how much room you have, or how much weight you can carry, will depend on which one will suit you the most.

The most popular portable power generators are 4-stroke unleaded petrol power inverter generators which produce clean 240v power from 1000w – 3000w. Unleaded petrol is widely available across Australia, and they are relatively quiet and fuel efficient.

How Will You Use Your Generator?

Powering the Whole Caravan (The All-in-One Solution)

If you want to use your generator to power your whole caravan with 240V power, a larger generator (2400W – 3000W) will be needed.

Consider what you want to run on 240V power. Fridge, lights, computer, Starlink, coffee machine… and the big one, the air conditioner!

Shop My Generator here for the complete range.

Each of the appliances will advise you of its power draw (in watts), so add up what you want to run and make sure your generator can produce more than the total. If you are unable to have a generator that can produce enough power, you may just need to turn off a few appliances while you use others. Eg, turn off the air conditioner temporarily while making a coffee or boiling the kettle.

Charging Batteries (The Back-Up Plan)

If you are only using the generator as a back-up to re-charge your batteries, a smaller more compact generator (1000w – 2000w) will suffice.

Our caravan set-up does not have an air conditioner, and we power all our appliances via 12v and a 240v inverter, which runs off the caravan’s batteries. So, whenever we have been parked up for a few days and haven’t had enough sunshine, we simply whip out the genie and run it for a few hours to recharge the batteries, and we’re good to go for a couple more days. All our appliances still run off our batteries, and the genie is just recharging the batteries.

What to Consider Before Buying the Best Generator for Your Caravan

First of all, consider what you want (or need) to power.

1. Power Needs (Continuous vs. Peak Output)

Add up all your appliances power draw (in watts) and make sure your generator can produce enough power. Most modern generators will have 2x power ratings, continuous output and peak output.

Continuous output is the maximum watts the generator can continuously produce, while the peak output is a slightly higher power output that the generator can produce for a short time only.

An example is the Cromtech Outback Platinum 2400W Inverter Generator, which has a continuous power output of 2100W and a peak power output of 2400W. This can come in handy when appliances draw more power during a start-up cycle eg. an air conditioner.

➡️ Check out the deals on the Cromtech 2400W Inverter Generator here

2. Storage and Safety

Where will you store your generator? You may have an abundance of room or limited space. This can determine what physical size of generator you can carry.

Also, there can be petrol fumes, not just from the generator but from your spare fuel. Try to avoid storing in habitable areas like inside your caravan or inside your vehicle. Choose a storage area that has external ventilation or is separate from the inside of your van. Dual-cab utes are great, because the tub is completely separate from the cab.

3. Inverter vs. Conventional Generator

Inverter generators are more advanced than conventional generators. They are quieter and produce a “cleaner” pure-sine wave power supply which is important if you are powering sensitive equipment like computers.

They are more efficient as the generator will only run at the required rpm to produce the power which is required. For example, if you are only powering a few lights, the generator will operate at low RPM. However, when you switch on the kettle or toaster (which could use 1000W – 1500W), the generator will increase the RPM to produce more power, then reduce the RPM again when you switch them off.

Conventional generators are usually louder, and they do not produce a pure-sine wave. They are also usually cheaper than their inverter cousins.

4. Noise Levels and Park Rules

Generators make noise. The fact is, a petrol-powered generator will make some noise, although some units can be rather quiet. This may restrict where you can use them.

Some national parks and conservation parks do not allow generators to be used. Some parks will allow you to use them only during certain hours of the day.

Consider your neighbours. If you have other campers nearby, consider them and try not to impact their camping experience with your generator. A good idea is to keep your generator as far away from others as possible. Use a long extension cord and place it behind a tree or an embankment to shield some of the sound. Face the exhaust side of the generator away from anyone so the sound travels the other way. If your generator is equipped with “eco” mode – use it.

Other Essentials for Your Generator Setup

Other things you may need:

Jerry-can for spare fuel.

Most generators will advise you of their “run time” in hours for a full tank of fuel. This is usually rated at ¼ load, so if your generator is working a bit harder, it will use a bit more fuel. The last thing you want is to run out of fuel before your camping trip has ended. Take a Jerry of fuel, just in case!

Get your 10L Fuel-Safe Jerry Can here

An extension cord (or two). Make sure you get a quality 15amp extension cord that is of good length (at least 20m). This will make sure that you can plug it into a caravan’s 15amp power inlet, and you can place the generator far away as possible. You can always plug a 10amp device into a 15amp power supply, but not the other way around.

Get your 20m 15amp Extension Lead here

Our Thoughts

Choosing the right generator can enhance your off-grid camping experience, even if you only use it a few times. Just having one on board as a backup can give you peace of mind.

Consider your priorities, whether it is how many appliances you want to run, the size and/or weight of the generator or the run-time.

Below is a chart of typical power usage for typical appliances to help you calculate your power needs.

A generator is just one piece of the puzzle. If you’d like a simple season-by-season rundown for the rest of your caravan, our caravan maintenance schedule covers it.

Guide for your power needs

Appliance	Typical Power Usage (Watts)	Notes
High Draw (Heating)
Air Conditioner	1600W – 2500W
Electric Kettle	1500W – 2400W	High draw, but for a short time.
Microwave	800W – 1300W
Toaster	800W – 1500W
Coffee Machine (Pod)	900W – 1400W
Medium & Constant Draw
Compressor Fridge	150W – 300W	Cycles on and off.
Starlink Internet	75W – 100W	Constant draw when on.
Laptop (Charging)	50W – 100W
TV (LED)	30W – 100W
Low & Intermittent Draw
Battery Charger	200W – 800W+	Depends on your charger’s size.
Water Pump (12v)	50W – 100W	Runs only when tap is on.
LED Lights (All)	10W – 30W

Note: Always check the compliance plate on your specific appliance for its exact wattage. Appliances with motors (like air conditioners and fridges) have a higher peak (startup) draw than their continuous (running) draw. Your generator’s peak output must be able to handle this. This chart is a guide only.