We were all “newbies” at one time. When you get an RV, there’s a lot to learn. So every year we like to create some fresh videos for newcomers to RV travel.

One of the first big ticket items RV newbs may considering purchasing is a portable inverter generator. These devices are basically small engines that output electricity for your RV. For us this was a major purchase decision. There are a perplexing number of generators on the market, and they can be expensive. Generators may cost from $500 (on the small side) to several thousands of dollars, depending on what you choose.

Whether you need a generator will depend on your style of travel. If you plan to simply move from full hookup campground to full hookup campground, you may not need a generator. But if you plan to do a lot of camping “off the grid” and if you want air-conditioning, generator ownership may be in your future. This is especially true if you have no solar capabilities.

In this video we discuss the basics of RV generator ownership.