The food truck business is an extremely mobile kind of business, and it requires a mobile power solution. Using the trucks’ own power supplied by its battery is not nearly enough or efficient for the business to work.

The best generator for the food truck business is the one that can power all the appliances inside and the fittings outside while maintaining the lowest possible noise levels packed with a big tank. These generators usually run on gasoline, diesel, or propane, and they should have a tank large enough to support all the appliances throughout the working hours.

Bear in mind that not only appliances will need power, the signboards outside, lighting inside and decorative lights outside of the truck all need electricity.  If you just started planning a food truck business, have in mind all the appliances you will use based on the type of food you will serve.

You might need an oven, refrigerator, freezer, toasters, fryer, dishwasher, etc. Make a list of all the appliances you might need so you can pick the best generator that will suit your needs.

Best Food Truck Generators On The Market

Now when we’ve learned all we need to know about power generators that are best for food trucks, let’s see what the market has to offer. I’ve browsed it for a while and found several interesting options, but for the sake of this article, I’m going to compare the 5 currently popular models.

Let’s put these babies to the test, and compare them against one another, and see which one comes at the top:

1. Westinghouse WGEN7500 – Best of The Best!

 

I picked this power generator to be on the top of the list because it’s an all-in-one kind of solution. It’s not heavy, it’s not loud, and it provides plenty of power. It produces 9500 starting watts and 7500 while running. That is plenty of power for most food trucks. It’s not the lightest of the bunch, but it’s not too heavy as well. It weighs 192 lbs.

It’s not the loudest one, but it’s not completely quiet as well. It’s relatively quiet when you compare it to the other ones. It can run constantly for up to 16 hours at 25% load, so you won’t have to worry are you going to run out of power in the middle of a big day.

Features:

• 9500 starting watts
• 7500 running watts
• 192 lbs
• 306cc engine
• 16h run time at 25% load
• 6-gallon fuel tank
• 4x 120V-20A outlets
• 1x 120V/240V, 30A outlet
• Sound level: 73dB from 23f
• Remote electric start
• Recoil style start
• Proprietary Smart Switch

All of this comes with a 3-year warranty and tech support for life, which is extremely convenient if you have a problem in the middle of a working day. They have a team ready to solve the problem for you.

 

2. Honda 7000W – Lightweight and Very Quiet!

 

If you need an extra quiet generator, I think this one is the best pick for that feature. It operates at 58dB @ 23ft, and it’s the quietest of the bunch. You would think that a generator this quiet is not going to have enough power output – well, in this case, that’s not true.

It has 7000W of starting power and 5500W of running power, making it ideal for food trucks that want to be as quiet as possible. Following the natural law of imperfection, this generator is not perfect, and it has a drawback. It is the heaviest of them all – it weighs 261 lbs!

Along with that, it has only a 6.5h run time at 25% load. This might be a problem if you need much more operating time. But, if the weight and the time are not the issues for you, then this one is definitely the way to go!

Features:

• Starting power: 7000W
• Running power: 5500W
• Weight: 216 lbs
• 389cc Honda engine
• 5.1-gallon fuel tank
• 6.5h runtime @ 25%
• 1x 120v, 30A outlet
• 1x 120v, 250v, 30A outlet
• 2x 120v, 20A outlets
• Very low noise level: 58dB from 23ft
• Recoil style start

It comes with a 3-year warranty, and Honda is reassuring you that the generator will last longer and it will fix any problems you might have with it.

 

3. Briggs & Stratton 30675A Q6500 – Compact Solution

 

This model is very close in performance to the previous two, but it is slightly below them. It has a power output of 6500 starting watts and 5000 running watts. While it’s not the best choice for the demanding larger food trucks, it is an excellent solution for smaller ones.

While Honda 7000w is still the quietest one, the Briggs & Stratton Q6500 is very quiet as well. Its noise levels are 66dB at 23ft. It stands out in its runtime of 14 hours. It’s a compact generator for compact food trucks that will have long working days.

Features:

• Starting power: 6500W
• Running power: 5000W
• Weight: 138 lbs
• 306cc engine
• 5-gallon fuel tank
• 14h run time @ 25%
• 4x 120v-20A outlets
• 1x 120v/240V, 30A outlet
• 2x USB outlets
• Noise level 66dB from 23ft
• Recoil style start

All this and a 2-year warranty for consumers and a 1-year commercial warranty is what you get.

 

4. Pulsar Products PG5250B – Versatile Generator

 

This one here is a bit different food truck generator, and it can proudly be called the versatile champ! It can run both on gas or propane, making it ideal for emergency situations when you run out of fuel. Having backup fuel when running a mobile business is very handy.

As for the power output, it can generate 5250 starting watts and 4750 running watts. While not the most powerful one out there, it can provide plenty of power for most standard food trucks with a couple of appliances.

It’s very lightweight, and its 115 lbs make it easy to transport it anywhere. But, the noise levels are when it comes short. It’s one of the loudest ones, generating 78dB of noise at 23ft.

Features:

• Starting watts: 5250
• Running watts: 4750
• 224cc engine
• Weight: 115 lbs
• 4-gallon fuel tank
• 15h runtime
• 2x 120v/240v outlets
• 1x 120v/240v outlet
• 1x 30A RV port
• Noise level: 78dB from 23ft
• Recoil style start

It comes with a 2-year warranty and decent customer service.

 

5. ​Champion 3400W – Silence and Versatility

 

If you have a smaller truck and you don’t need a large amount of power, but want to keep the noise levels as low as possible, this little food truck generator might be the one for you! It produces 3400 watts of starting power and 3100 running watts.

It can use both gas and propane as fuel. With noise levels of 59dB at 23ft, it’s at the top of the list of quiet generators. You will be able to run it for 7.5h with gas or an amazing 14.5h on propane at 25% load.

Features:

• Starting watts: 3400
• Running watts: 3100
• 192cc engine
• Weight: 95.7 lbs
• 1.6-gallon fuel tank
• 7.5h or 14.5h runtime at 25% load
• 2x 120V outlets
• 1x 240V outlet
• 1x 12V outlet
• Sound level: 59dB at 23ft
• Recoil style start

This little champ comes with a 3-year warranty and lifetime tech support.

 

How to pick the best generator for a food truck?

There are few main things you should have in mind when you’re picking the best generator for a food truck.

Pay attention to these points:

• Generator type
• Starting and working power
• Generator’s size
• Watts/ Amperes
• Noise levels
• Run time
• Emissions
• Installation

Generator type

All portable generators are very much alike. You can differentiate them based on the type of fuel they use.

Based on the type of fuel, generators are split into three groups:

1. Gas generators
2. Propane generators
3. Dual fuel generators

It’s pretty clear what makes them apart, the unique ones are generators with dual-fuel systems, which can use both propane and gas.

Size

Portable generators come in all shapes and sizes. What’s important is that the bigger generator doesn’t mean more power. You can find some pretty compact generators that offer plenty of power, choose them based on the space you have available. But, smaller generators usually mean smaller fuel tanks.

Power

Once you’re done with a list of appliances you will need, it’s time to calculate how much power they will need to run simultaneously. Have in mind that some of them need to run all the time, refrigerator and freezer for example.

Depending on the type of appliance, there are two types of load/power usage:

• reactive
• resistive

Appliances with reactive load need more power to start but consume less when they are running. Appliances with motors are usually the ones with a reactive load.

Appliances with resistive load don’t need a lot of power to start, but they consume a lot more when they are running. These are usually appliances with heating elements like ovens, microwaves, toasters, etc.

Since you will probably be using both of these types in your truck, consider them both when choosing the right amount of power the generator can output.

Watts / Amperes

All appliances should have their power consumption listed on their bottom or in the manual. What may confuse you is that usually the appliances have their power requirements listed in amperes, but the generator’s power output is in watts.

To calculate how much power an appliance needs in watts check the manual of the appliance and see how many volts and amperes it has. Multiply volts by amperes and the result is how much power it needs in watts.

But, how can you calculate the total power needed for all appliances when the consumption may vary from time to time? It’s simple – just calculate the total surge power of all appliances. If the generator matches this sum, you will be safe.

It is recommended, however, that the sum you got is the minimum power output of the generator. Getting the one that has a higher power output is recommended for the long run because some appliances need more power as they age.

Check the generator’s specs to see how much starting and running power they have.

Run time

When you take a look at generators specs, you will see a number with the label run time. This number represents the number of hours the generator can run without stopping. Take this into consideration based on the working hours of your food truck. If you’re working long hours it’s better to pick a generator with less power, but with better run time.

Noise levels

Noise levels depend on the engineering of the engine of the generator. There are no rules here, each has a different noise production, and the only thing you can do is to check its specs to see how loud it will be. For a reference, consider anything below 60 dB pretty quiet.

Emissions

Pay attention to the emissions of the generator. Use a standard generator that uses gas fuel from its own tank, or get an EVAP generator. You can find the emission details in the manual or in the detailed description of the generator.

Generators that have low emissions are better for the environment and for their close surroundings, especially for the people working nearby. Check your area’s emission standards. If an EVAP generator is required in your area and you use a standard one, you may face a pretty large fine, up to $40000.

Installation

The food truck generator must be installed properly. It needs a larger space if you’re going to install it inside, or you can fit it into a trailer or a trunk. Large space is required so it has plenty of air around it to keep itself cool and to have good airflow.

I would recommend that you put it in a separate space, the trunk is a good way to go if it’s spacy. Check the voltage while you’re installing it. Usually, it’s 120 or 240. Also, make sure it’s grounded properly, if you’re not sure how to do it, it would be best that you hire a professional who will do it for you.

Ventilation and airflow

Make sure the airflow is good all around the food truck generator. Take this very seriously, good airflow will give improve the cooling of the generator, and it will prevent poisoning from the exhaust fumes of the people inside.

I would recommend that you hire a professional to install it, just to be safe everything will run properly and everyone around it will be safe.

Professionals will inspect the place where you want it installed, so it doesn’t cause CO poisoning, protect it from going on fire and make sure everything is heat resistant and that is grounded properly. Be sure to have a small fire extinguisher near the generator, just to be safe and to deal with accidents as quickly as you can.

FAQ

How Much Is a Generator for a Food Truck?

The cost of a generator for a food truck can range from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on the size, fuel type, and power output. On average, you can expect to pay between $3,000 and $5,000 for a generator that meets the needs of most food trucks.

How to Connect Generator to Food Truck

To connect a generator to your food truck, follow these steps:

• Consult your food truck’s electrical system manual or an electrician to understand the power requirements of your appliances.
• Choose a generator with the appropriate power output (in watts) to meet your food truck’s needs.
• Place the generator in a secure, well-ventilated area, and ensure it is on a level surface.
• Connect the generator to the food truck’s electrical system using the appropriate cables and connections, typically a heavy-duty extension cord or a transfer switch.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to start the generator and ensure it is running properly.
• Turn on your food truck’s appliances and ensure they are functioning correctly with the generator power.

Are Food Truck Generators Reliable?

Food truck generators can be highly reliable if they are properly maintained and serviced regularly. Choosing a high-quality generator from a reputable manufacturer and following the recommended maintenance schedule will significantly increase its reliability.

How many watts are needed to power a food truck?

The wattage needed to power a food truck varies depending on the appliances and equipment you have on board. Generally, food trucks require anywhere from 3,000 to 20,000 watts of power. To determine the wattage needed for your specific food truck, add up the wattage of each appliance and include a 20% buffer for potential power surges and additional equipment.

How big of a generator do I need for a food truck?

The size of the generator needed for your food truck depends on your truck’s power requirements. After determining the total wattage needed for your appliances, choose a generator with a power output slightly higher than the calculated wattage to account for power surges and potential expansion. For example, if your food truck requires 10,000 watts, consider purchasing a generator with a power output of 12,000 to 14,000 watts to ensure you have adequate power for all your equipment.

In conclusion

That concludes my list of the best generators for food trucks you can get right now. I hope you found the generator you like! Be sure to double-check your power requirements and choose the generator you want based on that information!

If you’re not sure about setting everything up, I highly recommend that you hire a professional and be sure that everything will be working as it should, and the people working in the truck will stay safe.

Grounding is also very important! Make sure it is grounded properly! After everything is set up, the only thing left to be done is to maintain the generator properly, and your food truck will always be ready to serve tasty meals!

Take a look at these generators also available on Amazon: