Camping has been more popular than ever in the last few years. For whatever reason, people wanted to get away from everything as far away as possible and just enjoy nature. It’s strange, isn’t it? All jokes aside, camping trips are rising in popularity and because many don’t especially enjoy sleeping in sleeping bags and small tents, caravans have also become more popular.
Caravans allow you to stay in one place for an extended period of time without having to worry about whether your shelter will hold up in various weathers. On the other hand, caravans and all the extra equipment that comes with them often take a lot of power to run.
Now, since there aren’t many outlets in the wilderness, you need to take your power with you. Nowadays, the preferred option is solar, without a doubt, but as we all know – the sun doesn’t always shine. In those instances, you may need a generator.
Why Do You Need A Generator?
Whether as a backup or a primary source of power, generators are an essential piece of equipment for anyone that likes to have fun out in the open. They’ll make sure all of your devices are running smoothly no matter where you are.
On the other hand, as easy and convenient they are when it comes to using it, finding the right one can be quite a bit tricky. But that’s not the end of it. When you find the right one – you need to protect it. That is where generator storage boxes come into play.
What’s A Generator Storage Box?
As you can probably tell from the name, a generator storage box is an enclosure where you would place your generator to protect it from an abundance of different things. First and foremost, the storage box protects your generator from harsh weather conditions, but that’s hardly the end of it. It also helps keep your generator secured because, unfortunately, generators are often stolen from campsites. But if you secure the storage box and lock the generator within it – you have nothing to worry about.
Since generators come in various shapes and sizes, storage boxes do as well, and finding the right one only becomes trickier from that point on. Fortunately for you, we have a few tricks up our sleeve that you can use when searching for the proper storage box for your generator.
Find The Right Size
First and foremost, you have to think about the size. A storage box shouldn’t offer a tight, snug fit for your generator. Quite the opposite, in fact. The generator should have more than enough room inside a storage box. Not only will the snug space make it hard for you to insert the generator, but it will also raise the temperature of the generator. Also, you might need some extra space for an alternator, so keep that in mind as well.
Many make the mistake of buying the storage box first and then looking for the generator, but you really shouldn’t do that. While it is true that there are more generators than storage boxes on the market, buy the generator first and then look for the enclosure.
Think About Portability
Another thing to consider when it comes to the size of the storage box is how portable it is and whether you’ll be able to put it inside your caravan without it taking up too much space. It is one thing to keep your storage box in a spacious garage, but caravans have limited capacity, so think about that as well.
Furthermore, you’ll have to move the box quite often when you’re out and about in nature, and that would be a lot easier if the box had a handle that you could grab or something similar.
Consider The Build Quality & Material
Since the storage box should serve as protection for your generator, it is in your best interest to find a high-quality product. Like with any other product out there, there are good ones, and then there are bad ones. You’ll pretty much be able to tell whether you’re dealing with a high-quality storage box by inspecting it and looking at it.
When it comes to materials, we feel like the safest bet would be to go with an aluminum box. Aluminum is relatively lightweight for a metal box, it doesn’t corrode as easily as some other metals and it does a pretty good job of dissipating heat. Since a lot of generators run pretty hot, this is definitely something to think about. For instance, generator storage boxes by Ozy are made from 3mm thick aluminum, which is pretty much a gold standard when it comes to these products.
Know Your Budget
As you could probably assume, these products aren’t cheap. A high-quality generator storage box will probably set you back around $100 or $200, depending on the size and a couple of other factors. Keep that in mind when shopping for a product like this. Decide just how much you’re willing to spend and shop in that price range. The last thing you’d want is to find one that you genuinely like, but you don’t have the money for it.
Also, keep in mind that the higher price tag doesn’t necessarily mean a higher quality product. Some manufacturers are greedy and are only after your money and we assume you certainly don’t want to waste your money.
Read User Reviews
Finally, one of the best ways to make sure you’re buying a good product is to read the reviews. There are many campers out there and many of them use generators and storage boxes and if you read some of their experiences, you’ll be able to learn, first hand, whether a product you’re interested in is good or not.
People will often comment on these products and their ability to seal your generator from rain or snow, comment on its ability to isolate sound, properly vent out the generator, etc. If the one you’re interested in has positive reviews – you should feel free to get it.
Conclusion
There you have it. Those were our tips on how to choose the perfect generator storage box for your caravan. As you can see, it is not too hard, but you will have to pay attention to a couple of things before you make a purchase. We hope our tips help you with that.