Looking for a cheap portable generator for camping? It’s pretty tricky to find one that is safe, reliable, portable and cheap. It requires quite a bit of research in order to select a couple of solid options.
Now, before I get started, I want to point out that the word cheap has a different meaning for different people. You can’t expect to find a good generator for $100. That said, these generators are great value for money and among the cheapest -yet solid- generators.
Best cheap portable generators for camping
1. Champion 3500-Watt RV Ready Portable Generator
This is one of the best cheap generators if you care about convenience and safety. It has a 196cc OHV engine that has the ability to power all your RV essentials including starting and running a 15,000 BTU air conditioner, which is pretty awesome for a cheap portable generator! The Champion 3500-Watt delivers 3500W of running power and 4000W startup wattage and therefore it can be used to power up refrigerators, lights, TV, modem as well as fans.
It also has a built-in volt Guard surge protector that prevents overloads. This helps with protecting the electronics from voltage spikes. The 3.8-gallon gas tank offers you 12 hours of service at 50% load. The generator produces a 68 dBA noise level from 23 feet away. For less than $500, I can highly recommend this camping generator.
It has the following features:
- It adopts the Cold Start Technology which ensures a quick start even in cold weathers. This means that, unlike other inverters which may fail to function properly or take time to restart during the cold season. This cheap portable generator works well under all weather conditions.
- It’s a reliable and powerful generator.
- This cheap camping generator has a low-oil shut-off sensor and 0.6-quart oil capacity hence ensuring safety is maintained. The benefit of this feature is that it ensures that your engine lasts long. It’s protected from damage that may arise as a result of running without fuel.
- The generator comes with a funnel to assist you during the oil changing.
- It has three outlets such as the 120V 30A RV outlet and also a household outlet (120V 20A). This means that you can also use it at home when there’s electricity shortage.
- It complies with CARB and is EPA certified. This means it’s safe and eco-friendly to use. For instance, the low noise level ensures that you enjoy your adventure without disturbing the peace of your neighbours especially in campgrounds where everyone wants silent moments.
- The volt GUARD keeps your equipment safe. There are some very sensitive items such that any voltage fluctuation leads to serious damages. This volt ensures that you’re using the power with the fear of incurring other losses because all your electronics are safeguarded.
- The company offers 3 years warranty and a lifetime technical support.
This is currently my favourite all round generator for camping for people who care about their budget!
If you are interested in the latest price of this product, you can simply check it out on amazon: Champion 3500-Watt RV Ready Portable Generator
Also, you might want to check out the later version of this generator. I have not been able to test it out myself, but at first glance, it looks very solid: Champion Power Equipment 100522 Portable Generator
2. WEN 56200i Super Quiet 2000
The next cheap portable generator costs a few dollars more, but comes with great benefits. This generator only produces 51 dBA which makes it the quietest generator on this list. If you care about the noise, this generator might be an interesting option for you, even on a budget. It delivers a running power of 1600W and 2000W surge. It adopts the sine wave technology which enables it to produce clean energy without voltage fluctuations.
It has a 4-stroke 79.7cc engine which produces low noise thus making this generator ideal for camping activities. It has a USB port that allows you to charge your other devices and weighs 48 lbs and therefore it’s very portable. It also features eco-mode thus saves fuel and has a 1-gallon gas tank allowing 6 hours of service when at 50% load and 4 hours when running fulltime. Other advantages include:
- It has a low-oil shut-off sensor.
- You can connect two generators due to the presence of the parallel kit.
- It’s EPA certified and CARB compliant.
- Has two years warranty.
- It’s fuel efficient.
- It provides clean and safe energy and the power voltage can be used on sensitive items such as televisions and computers. This is because the technology adopted limits the distortion to less 0.3% when the generator is on load and less than 1.2% when in full capacity.
- It automatically shuts down when the oil level is low. This prevents the engine from being damaged as a result of drying out.
This is the cheap portable generator for people who really care about the noise. It’s going to be hard to find a camping generator at this price that is going to make less noise.
For more information, you should check out this product on amazon: WEN 56200i Super Quiet 2000
3. Pulsar G2319N 2,300W Portable Gas-Powered Quiet Inverter Generator
This is another best cheap portable generator costing less than $500. The generator produces 2300W surge power and 1800W running power. It has a 1.18-gallon fuel tank which has the capacity of running for 6 hours of operation at 50% load. The Pulsar G2319N weighs less than 47 lbs and it’s designed like a compact suitcase mode thus it’s easy to handle and transport.
It has two outlets, that is 120V and 12V together with a USB port that allows you to charge various mobile devices such as a laptop and mobile phones. It adopts a quiet inverter technology and has a parallel capability which makes it a perfect suit for adventurous activities like camping because it’s economical and reliable. Some other advantages of this generator include:
- The stable sine wave technology delivers pure and safe energy for charging sensitive electronics.
- When operating, it produces 59 dBA noise level from 10 feet away
- To increase power output, you can connect two inverters because of the generator’s parallel capability.
- You can charge more than two devices at once due to the availability of multiple outlets.
- It comes with 12V charging cable, funnel, 350ml oil bottle, and spark plug wrench
- Has an automatic voltage regulator and a recoil start thus ensuring the safety of both your equipment and the generator itself.
- It has a low-oil shut-off sensor.
- You are offered a 1-warranty.
This generator is pretty similar to the WEN 56200i Super Quiet 2000. The biggest difference is that this generator is slightly less quiet – even tho it’s still pretty quiet. However, it does provide a bit more power.
If you are interested in the latest price, you should quickly check it on amazon: Pulsar G2319N 2,300W Quiet Inverter Generator
4. Champion Power Equipment 100233 3400W Inverter Generator
This is one of those generators that are built with convenience and versatility in mind. This inverter provides much backup power during an outage and uses cold start technology to ensure that there’s no problems during the cold weather seasons. It also has a reliable recoil start and produces clean and safe energy for use by sensitive types of equipment. The inverter has a 0.6-quart oil capacity and a low-oil shut-off sensor that alerts you when the oil level is very low and risk to the engine.
However, this generator is quite a bit more expensive than the alternatives on this list. This may be due to the following features and benefits that are accompanied with it.
- It’s powered by a 192cc engine which delivers 3400W startup wattage and 3100W running power.
- It has the ability to serve for 7.5 hours of operations at 25% load.
- It has a smart economy mode that helps in reducing the noise produced to 59dBA from 23 feet while extending the service life of the engine at the same time saving the fuel.
- This RV ready inverter has got all its outlets covered for protection purposes.
- You can increase your power output by connecting two inverters with the help of the parallel kit.
- Additionally, this generator has a 50 amp RV outlet that has the ability to start and run two 15,000 BTU air conditioners(RV)
- For easy storage and transportation, this inverter has a foldaway handle and in-built handles as well as flat tires.
- When purchasing this generator, it comes with an oil funnel, USB Adapter, and battery charging cables.
- It’s EPA certified and CARB compliant.
- The company offers 3-years warranty and lifetime technical support for this product.
On top of all these features, this product is just super reliable!
The latest price of this product can be found on amazon: Champion Power Equipment 100233 3400W Inverter Generator
5. Generac 7117 GP2200i 2200 Watt Portable Inverter Generator
Another solid option for a cheap camping generator would be the Generac 7117. This product was designed with portability in mind. It comes in a compact size, has a carrying handle, and weighs about 46.6 lbs. It delivers 1700W of running power and 2200W startup wattage. This camping generator is usually powered by 80cc OHV engine and uses less gas.
It has a gas tank with a capacity of 1.2 gallons which keeps the generator running for 7 hours when it’s at 50% load. Additionally, it also has an eco-mode that helps in saving fuel and reducing the levels of noise. It has a low oil shutoff that aids in protecting the engine when the oil runs off. Considering the price, it’s pretty amazing that it comes with all the following features:
- TruePower technology. This ensures that the generator provides you with a clean and stable power that is suitable for sensitive appliances and electronics.
- Compact and lightweight. This means that you can easily transport it.
- LED indicators. This assist you to know when the oil level is low.
- This generator is also equipped with USB ports that allow you to charge other devices such as mobile phones.
- Parallel ready. You can connect two of these generators to double the power.
- It has plastic covered electrical outlets.
- It’s quiet and therefore you can use it in campgrounds without disrupting the neighbours.
- It also has an integrated run/off/choke knob that help to simplify the startup procedures
Once again, this is a very solid option if you care about noise and your budget. It’s a cheap portable generator that is awesome for camping.
The latest price can be found on amazon: Generac 7117 GP2200i 2200 Watt Portable Inverter Generator
Also, you might be interested in the Generac Cover and a Generac Parallel kit
6. Westinghouse iGen1200 Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator
This is one of the lightest cheap generators and weighs around 33 lbs. It has 1200W startup wattage and 1000W running watts which makes this a bit less powerful than most alternatives, but it is more portable. Not only is this generator super lightweight, it also comes with a handy carry handle. Considering its price, this generator has a lot of advantageous features such as:
- It produces clean power, that is, (<3% THD). This makes it safe to be used on sensitive electronics such as tablets, computers, mobile phones, televisions, and radios.
- It’s very fuel efficient in that it has a 0.8-gallon gas tank that has the capacity of serving you for up to 9 hours.
- It’s super quiet in that it produces a noise level that’s as low as 52 dBA. This is considered to be less than the noise of a normal conversation.
- It’s compact and lightweight thus you can go with it anywhere
- The two USB ports available allows you to charge other external devices.
- When it comes to safety, this generator has a low-oil shut-off sensor and its circuits are protected.
- It comes with everything you need like the guide book, oil, tool kit, and a funnel.
- You are offered a 3-year warranty and lifetime technical support.
If you are okay with the fact that this generator does not deliver as much power as certain alternatives, it might make a good option for you.
The main benefit is the portability (oh, and the fact that it’s also super quiet of course). I mean, at 33 lbs, this generator is ridiculously lightweight and therefore portable. Additionally, it’s one of the cheapest camping generators you can buy today.
If you are interested in the latest price, this can be found on amazon: Westinghouse iGen1200 Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator
7. Champion 1200-Watt Portable Generator
You can consider this generator a bonus option. See, I would recommend all of the above over this one. However, I do understand that some of you are on a very very tight budget.
This is the cheapest among the cheap generator that I can still recommend. I would not want to recommend a product that lacks safety and reliability.
For the price, it’s still surprisingly well equipped:
- It has a low-oil shut-off sensor, which good for safety.
- It has 1500 starting watts and 1200 running watts.
- Includes a 120V 20A household outlet. This generator will provide just enough power for regular RV-use
- A 3-year warranty and lifetime technical support is still included – which is pretty amazing for a product this cheap.
All in all, it’s not great. However, considering it’s dirt cheap, it’s actually awesome for it’s price.
As always, the product can be found on amazon: Champion 1200-Watt Portable Generator
Conclusion
That was it, my list of the best cheap portable generators for camping. As you can see, most of my recommendations are around the $500 mark. These are a lot cheaper than the average priced generators.
For a generator of this price you can still find reliable and safe options. However, if you are on an extremely tight budget. You could still go with the cheapest option on the list, which will cost less than half of most alternatives. It should provide just enough energy for regular RV-use.
If you have any experience with any of these generators, or you have some other recommendations. I would love to hear them!