Updated February 12, 2023
When dry camping, a generator in the RV is essential. Without a generator, few people would go boondocking. You can now find portable generators that use less fuel and are as quiet as possible thanks to new models. If you use that modest, heavy generator, you’ll be concerned about its loudness as well as how much fuel it will consume. Let’s look at the typical fuel usage for RV generators and other related topics in this post.
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What is the Fuel consumption by a RV generator?
This question’s response is truly based on your usage. how many appliances the generator is powering. Below are average generator consumption rates for several generator types, taking into account that you are utilizing practically everything in your RV or camper.
An average 5000 watt gasoline-powered camper generator uses about 1 gallon of fuel every hour.
Around 1 to 1.5 liters of propane are used each hour by a 5000 watt propane-fueled RV generator. On the other side, a 3500 watt generator would only require 0.8 to 1 gallon of propane each hour to run.
A diesel-powered RV generator that produces 5000 watts typically uses 0.75 gallons of diesel per hour.
It goes without saying that the consumption will change based on your load. A person who has everything running nonstop, such as two air conditioners, a refrigerator, and a coffee maker, will use more energy than a person who only keeps the essentials going. The number will generally remain the same as what I indicated earlier. Planning is greatly aided by keeping the gallons utilized every hour in mind. RVs have finite fuel tanks, so it’s critical that you have a good sense of how much fuel you’ll use throughout the day. Let me rephrase those figures in terms of the daily fuel requirements for each type of generator.
A 5000 watt gasoline-powered generator would typically use 18 gallons of fuel to run for a day, or roughly 15 hours. Most people who go dry camping run the generator for these lengths of time, therefore factoring in such lengths of time. Even if the running lasts for a full day, you shouldn’t run everything. Like an air conditioner, you might not use it constantly.
Around 18 to 22 gallons of propane are required to power a 5000 watt propane generator for a full day. little increase in the quantity of gallons required. Always keep in mind that the quantity of gallons required, not the price per gallon, is what matters. Additionally, extra liquid gallons add weight to your RV.
A 5000 watt diesel-powered RV generator uses 12 to 15 gallons of fuel to run continuously for an entire day. If you look, this variety has the lowest consumption of all the others. However, there is little change. Additionally, if the RV is powered by diesel, the fuel tank itself can power the generator, however this results in higher consumption.
What fuel to get for RV Generator? Propane, Diesel or Gasoline
For each of these three types of generators, we have already seen the fuel usage. These kinds of generators will be present in almost all recreational vehicles. The three fuels that are most frequently used to power generators in RVs are propane, gasoline, and diesel. Each of these has benefits and drawbacks of its own. It entirely depends on a number of factors relating to your RV. The things you can operate on an RV generator vary from person to person and there are numerous possibilities.
A diesel supply will already be present in a recreational vehicle. Therefore, it makes more sense to have a generator that runs on its own supply of diesel. In that instance, a separate tank for generator fuel might not be necessary. The majority of folks would not give a damn about what kind of fuel their RV generator should utilize or even how much fuel it consumes. That, though, might make a significant difference. A daylong run of the air conditioner could significantly reduce the gasoline tank’s capacity (where as being careful, you could have avoided using ac whole day). Let’s look at some factors you should think about before selecting a fuel source and a generator.