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If you are looking for a good generator for RV which does not cost an arm and a leg, you might just have found one. WEN 56380i is a newly released 3800 inverter generator made specifically with travel trailer enthusiasts in mind.
As numerous reviews have proven so far, it could as easily be one of the best generators for RV available now. On top of that, it often sells for only a small fraction of the price of more expensive 3000 watt inverter generators like Honda EU3000is. This fact alone could easily make it a real winner.
Is this generator that good? We’re about to find out in the following WEN 53680i review.
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WEN 56380i at a glance
The generator has got a very sleek and modern design.
It has roughly the same size as Champion 3000 watt inverter generators – popular choices for RV.
It’s also significantly lighter and less bulky than the Honda EU3000is.
The wheels and a comfortable candle make it additionally easier to move around.
The WEN 56380i has got 3800 starting watts and 3400 rated watts of power.
It is a fully RV ready generator featuring an AC 120V NEMA TT-30R RV outlet. This is great news for camper owners as it eliminates the need to buy any additional adapters. You can pretty much connect this generator to your RV out of the box using an ordinary RV extension cord.
Technical Specs of WEN 56380i
- Wattage: 3800 Starting / 3400 Running Watts
- Noise Level: 57 dB @ 25% load
- Fuel Type: Gasoline
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 2.2 gal
- Run Time: 8.5h @ 50% load
- Outlets: 2 x 120V AC , 1 x 30 amp RV outlet, 1 x 12V DC, 1 x USB port
- Weight: 111 lbs
- Dimensions: 23.2 x 18 x 20.1
- Engine: 212cc 4-stroke OHV
- Starting Method: Manual Recoil / Electric
What I like about WEN 56380i
I like the fact that the WEN 56380i has got a dedicated RV outlet.
With RV living skyrocketing in popularity in the US these days, it is an important thing for generator manufacturers to keep with this demand. Therefore it’s quite surprising that still, only a handful of generators in the market come with the RV receptacles. WEN 56380i is one such genset.
Just like other WEN generators, this one is also very quiet.
You would hear around 57 decibels of noise at quarter load.
This is way much quieter than conventional open frame generators operating at the same wattage.
You could use this generator at most of the campsites and RV parks without problems (unless you try to run it at night which could get you in trouble, no matter what generator you use).
The generator has also got a reasonably long run time. In normal circumstances, you should get around 8 hours of steady operation. Note that this time might be shorter if you run the generator at the higher loads consistently. However, if for example, you want to use it to power your aircon at nighttime while boondocking, you should have no problems keeping it running for the entire night.
The price tag is a massive selling point for WEN generators, including this one.
I can understand why anyone could have been skeptical when the WEN generators got first released in the US.
The gens this cheap simply can’t be that good, right? Well, this couldn’t be further from true.
WEN did a great job in making the generators up to the highest standards while keeping them as affordable as possible.
If for whatever reason you don’t want to spend several thousand bucks on a Honda, WEN is one of the best alternatives.
As far as the 3000 watt inverter generators go, the WEN 56380i is one my favorites, along with the ones made by Champion.
Anything I don’t Like?
I have to say that there is not much to dislike about this generator. Given how much cheaper it is than many other inverters, you simply can’t beat its price to quality ratio. Obviously, WEN 56380i is not a perfect machine and has a few minor shortcomings.
One of these is perhaps the lack of remote start. we loved this feature about the Champion 75537i and it is easy to become addicted to the convenience of having your generator under total control while you’re resting in a comfy bed.
The materials used for finishing are also a bit on the cheaper side, meaning that you should be a bit more careful when exposing this generator to worse weather conditions. On the other hand, for casual users, this shouldn’t be a major issue. However, if you need the sturdiest 3800-watt backup power solution possible then I would recommend to get 2 x Honda EU2200i generators and use them in parallel.
Should you buy WEN 56380i?
If you are searching for a good 3800-watt inverter generator to power pretty much everything in your camper van – then this WEN generator can be an ideal choice for you. It features everything an RV owner need, operates very quietly and attracts good feedback from users nationwide.
If you don’t want to spend a small fortune on a RV generator, than the WEN 56380i can be exactly what you’re looking for.
