Last updated: June, 2023
So you’re looking for a generator for your 30 Amp RV.
Plenty of such generators are available in the market, but… which one is the best choice?
In our opinion, the Champion 3400 Dual Fuel Inverter is the best 30-amp RV generator.
It’s an excellent portable inverter generator equipped with a dedicated 30-amp RV outlet.
It produces enough power to run almost everything in your travel trailer, including the AC and the refrigerator.
The following article reviews this, and other recommended 30-amp RV-ready portable generators.
Continue reading to find out which one is the best fit for you.
Champion Power Equipment 3400 Dual Fuel RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator
The Champion 3400 Dual Fuel inverter is one of my personal favorite generators.
It’s one of the only few inverter generators offering the choice of two fuels – gas and propane.
Switching fuels is very easy; you only need to push the fuel selector dial.
It is also fully RV-ready, with a dedicated 30 Amp RV outlet.
There is no need to purchase any additional accessories before you plug this generator into your travel trailer.
The generator produces a total power output of 3400 starting watts and 3060 running watts (when running on propane).
This is enough to run all the crucial appliances you need in your RV.
These include:
- RV Air Conditioning Unit (as large as 15000 BTU)
- RV Refrigerator & Freezer
- Lights
- TV
The generator is very fuel-efficient. It can run for around 14 hours on gas and 7 hours on propane at 50% load, which is a good result.
It’s a portable inverter generator working under the minimum recommended THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) threshold. That makes it ideal for running modern portable electronics.
This RV generator comes with parallel capability. That means you can get the optional parallel kit allowing you to connect two inverters together and maximize your total power.
Another strong selling point of this generator is its good price. It’s significantly cheaper than Honda generators.
When we consider the price, the Champion 3400 is the one to grab the title of the best 30 amp generator.
Read more about the Champion dual fuel inverter here.
Honda EU3000iS Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator
Ask most of the people experienced with portable generators – who makes the best generators out there? A lot of them will answer Honda.
Honda indeed makes some of the strongest and most reliable portable inverter generators on the market. Their flagship inverter EU2000i, later succeeded by EU2200i, became the synonym of the quality generator.
Honda EU3000iS is another superb quality generator made by Honda.
Honda 30 Amp Generator features the original Honda GX200 4-stroke engine – one of the best in the market.
It is one of the strongest inverter generators available. You could easily run a typical RV air conditioner and a few smaller items on top of it.
What I like about Honda Eu3000is is how quiet it is. At 50% load if produces only around 58 dB of noise, which is REALLY silent for a generator of this size.
This is by far the quietest 30-amp generator I have ever found.
EU3000iS has got parallel capability. You can use the parallel kit (purchased separately) to connect two EU3000iS together and double your total power output.
The generator is very simple to use. Besides the manual recoil start, it also has an electric startup. You can turn it on and off with a simple button push.
This generator is a great and very reliable choice for those looking for a home backup power supply, worksites, or RV camping.
The only downsides include the high price tag (all in all, it’s Honda…) and the lack of wheels and a carrying frame in the kit – you must purchase these separately.
This is one of the best portable generators out there and the ideal choice if you need a sturdy inverter generator.
Check out my full review of EU3000is here if you want to learn more about it.
Champion Power Equipment 75537 Portable Inverter Generator
Champion 75537i is a popular inverter generator particularly liked by RV enthusiasts.
It has a 30 amp receptacle (NEMA TT-30R), making it possible to connect it to your travel trailer without additional adapters.
What many people like the most about this generator is the remote start.
You can turn it on and off from a few yards away.
This super convenient feature allows you to control the gen without leaving the comforts of your 30 amp RV.
Champion 75537i portable generator has got a 171 cc engine that produces 2800 running watts and 3100 surge watts.
It’s more than enough to power the most important home appliances or RV equipment, such as air conditioners or fridges.
The generator can run for up to 8 hours at 25% load.
Apart from the 30 amp RV output, it features the typical outlets designed for home and work use. These are 120 Volt AC, 20 Amp Duplex (NEMA 5-20R) outlets, and the 12V DC outlet for portable electronics.
It is also very quiet. At 50% load, its noise level does not exceed 60 dB, making it one of the quieter 30 amp generators we have encountered.
Price is another advantage of this gen. It sells for less than Honda while offering a reasonably good quality of materials and flawless performance.
Read more about this gen in its full review.
Duromax XP4850EH Portable Generator
Duromax XP4850EH is a popular portable generator for a small 30-amp RV.
It is a good generator for running various electric appliances and tools like circular saws, air compressors, or rotary hammers.
The Duromax XP4850EH has got a sturdy steel frame doing a great job protecting the 208cc 7hp OHV engine.
The generator is reasonably fuel-efficient.
You should expect it to run continuously for up to 8 hours at 50% load on gas and 9 hours at 50% on propane.
Although certainly louder than inverter generators, the Duromax XP4850EH is significantly quieter than many other open-frame portable generators.
The generator has got in total 3 power outlets at your disposal.
These are the 2 x 120V household GFCI and 1 x 120V/240V 30 amp twist lock outlets.
Champion 3800 Dual Fuel Portable Generator
When reading this roundup review, you might suspect we’re biased toward the dual fuel generators.
However, we have many reasons to like them more than the other generators we’ve reviewed.
First, choosing two fuels is a massive convenience and can be a real game-changer during an emergency when the availability of fuel is key.
Second, it just happens that some of the best 30-amp generators we have researched are dual-fuel models.
While they might cost a bit more than generators running on gas only, they are more cost-effective in the longer term. They are also more environmentally friendly.
Champion is one of the most recommended companies making these kinds of generators.
The Champion 3800 is a solid open-frame generator ideal for a 30-amp RV.
You could use it to run equipment like an 11,500 BTU air conditioner, freezer, fridge, and lights.
The generator comes with a convenient electric start. Switching the generator on and off happens with a simple push of the button.
The generator has got a very long run time even when operating only on propane. You could expect it to run for up 10 hours, depending on the load on a single propane bottle.
While I wouldn’t call this generator loud, it is not as quiet as inverter gens. However, the noise will not be your main concern if you are looking for a generator for work or emergency home backup.
Having said that, with its 69 decibels, it’s still less noisy than many older 30-amp portable generators.
Overall this is a reliable generator made by a trusted company known for its good customer support. It’s also quite inexpensive, selling for reasonable price online.
Frequently Asked Questions about 30 Amp Generators
How much power do I need for my 30-amp RV?
We’d advise getting a generator with a total power output of at least 3000 watts.
A generator this big would allow you to run the air conditioner and other equipment in your RV without any problems.
A 3000 watt portable inverter generator would also be compact enough to make it easy to transport. It would also burn less fuel and make less noise than larger generators.
Can I plug my RV into a generator?
If the generator has a dedicated 30 Amp RV plug, you can plug it directly into your RV using an extension cord.
Otherwise, you would need to purchase a special 3-prong adapter.
They are very easy to find and usually cost around only a few bucks on Amazon.
Will a 3500-watt generator run my RV?
Totally yes. 3500 watts is more than enough to power your RV, including the most important and energy-demanding appliances, such as the AC.
