The best dual fuel generator is the one that keeps the freezer and the pump running on whichever fuel you have left, and on my farm that means gasoline in the can and propane in the cylinder. I run both fuels in my own generators, and I compare each model by its running watts on both.
I rank nine, from a 44 lb camp inverter to a 10,500-watt open frame, led by the Champion 201050 4,000-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator. After the reviews I show how propane changes the numbers, how to place the unit and what to leave to an electrician.
Best Dual Fuel Generator Reviews 2026 With 9 Models for Home, RV and Camp
These nine cover the jobs that suit two fuels: a small inverter for a campsite, a mid-size unit for the fridge and the workshop, and big open frames for a 240 V pump. Every review says who should skip the machine.
1. Champion 201050 4,000-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Best Overall
The Champion 201050 is the dual fuel generator I recommend to most households, because it asks the least of you when the power goes out. It makes 3,000 running watts on gasoline and 2,700 on propane, ships with the propane hose, and weighs 51.8 lb dry, so one person can move it and set it on a hard, level spot. For the best dual fuel generator at this size, that mix of output, fuel choice and weight is the sensible middle.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I put the 201050 first because it does the common jobs without a catch: it carries the fridge, the workshop lights and the chargers, it switches to propane when gasoline gets old, and I can carry it to the gravel pad by myself. The 120 V limit marks where it stops.
Champion 201050 4,000-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Specs
Key Features:
- EZ Start dial: One dial covers off, run, choke and the fuel choice, so you switch between gasoline and propane without hunting for a second control.
- Propane hose in the box: The LPG hose assembly ships with the unit, so a 20 lb cylinder is the only thing you add.
- CO Shield: A sensor shuts the engine off when it detects unsafe carbon monoxide, and a red light blinks for at least five minutes.
- Inverter output: Power suited to phones, laptops and a router, with an Eco mode that lets the engine ease off at light load.
- TT-30R RV socket: An RV socket sits beside a 20 A duplex outlet and a 12 V DC port, so one unit serves a campsite and a workbench.
- Parallel ready: Two parallel outlets accept Champion’s kit, sold separately, if you later add a second unit.
- Low-oil shutoff: The engine stops by itself when the oil runs low, which protects it if you skip a check.
The 3,000-watt gasoline figure is a running rating, so I add up everything that runs together and leave room for the surge of the biggest motor. On my workshop circuit that is the lights, the charger bench and one corded tool. There is no 240 V outlet, so a 240 V well pump or compressor is outside its range, and any other motor needs its running and starting watts checked, and a rooftop air conditioner needs its nameplate checked first because Champion states no air conditioner size.
Propane gives up about 10 percent of the output, 2,700 watts against 3,000. Champion lists up to 10 hours at a quarter load on gasoline from the 1.54 gallon tank and up to 25 hours at a quarter load on a 20 lb cylinder. I keep a full cylinder with the farm fuel, away from the house, because propane does not go stale the way a can of gasoline does.
Eco mode surprised me. With only the workshop lights and a phone charger on the line, the engine note dropped to a low idle, then rose again when I plugged in the drill charger. Champion says to turn Eco mode off for high loads or sudden swings, and I do. On a frosty morning the propane side showed its limit, because ice on the cylinder valve or hose weakens the flow, so I swap in a fresh cylinder or warm the cold one in warm water.
Gasoline start needs the propane hose disconnected, so unhook it before you pull the cord. After connecting the hose, brush soapy water over each joint and watch for bubbles.
CO Shield is only a backup, so run the unit outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house as the CPSC advises and with the exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents, never in a garage, shed or porch, even with the door open. Keep a battery CO alarm indoors, and give the unit 3 ft of clear air on all sides and 5 ft from anything that burns.
There is no electric start, and the manual warns that fast retraction of the cord can injure a hand, so I pull smoothly and never let it snap back. In cold weather the dial wants the choke position first. I check the oil on level ground before each run, since the sump holds only 0.5 quart. The manual forbids use in rain or snow; a fire-retardant canopy that keeps the exhaust open is the one exception it allows.
Choose it if you want one generator for the shed, the campsite and a short outage at home, fed through outdoor cords or a transfer switch that a licensed electrician installs. Skip it for whole-house backup, a 240 V pump or any buyer who wants a push-button start.
FINAL VERDICT
The 201050 balances watts, weight and fuel choice for a home that runs on 120 V. It gives up 240 V and electric start to stay light. Pick it when everything you must run together fits under 2,700 watts on propane or 3,000 on gasoline, with the largest motor’s starting surge checked against the 4,000-watt starting rating, and plugs into a standard cord.
It is the dual fuel inverter I keep ready for most households.
2. Generac iQ5200DF 5,200-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Best Premium
The Generac iQ5200DF is the dual fuel inverter I pick when I want a push-button start and a 30 A socket inside one enclosed case. It makes 3,900 running watts on gasoline and 3,500 on propane, the most of any inverter on this page, and it sits in the premium tier. That is why it takes the Best Premium label.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I ranked it second because it wraps push-button start, COsense and a digital display around 3,900 running watts. The premium tier is the price of that package, and the weight comes with it. I pick it when the work is close to the outlet and I want to start it without a pull.
Generac iQ5200DF 5,200-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Specs
Key Features:
- Push-button start: Auto-choke and a 12 V battery in the box mean one press, with a recoil starter as the backup if the battery goes flat.
- 30 A L5-30R socket: One socket carries up to 3,600 watts continuous, so a single heavy cord can feed a workshop or a transfer-switch inlet.
- COsense: A carbon monoxide sensor shuts the engine off, and a blinking red light for at least five minutes marks the shutoff.
- Digital display: It shows output, gasoline remaining, fuel selected, total run time and a maintenance icon.
- Fuel knob: A front-panel knob switches between gasoline and propane, and the LP hose is in the box.
- Economy mode: The engine eases off for resistive loads such as lights and a radio, and it goes off for cycling motors.
- GFCI duplex outlet: A 20 A GFCI socket sits beside the 30 A socket and the USB ports.
Generac’s wattage chart lists a refrigerator and a freezer at 700 running watts each, and a sump pump at 800 to 1,050. It asks you to allow three times the running figure for starting, so I add those up before I plug in. A 12,000 BTU air conditioner is listed at 1,700 watts, and three times that is about 5,100 watts. That is a gasoline-only example, close to the 5,200-watt gasoline starting rating and above the 4,700-watt propane rating, so on propane it will not start. Check the voltage and starting watts on the nameplate of your own unit before you count on it.
Generac gives 9 hours on gasoline and 11 hours on a 20 lb propane tank at 50 percent load, and 15 and 20 hours at 25 percent load. The display shows gasoline remaining but has no propane gauge, so I keep a second cylinder at hand for a long run. Running watts fall from 3,900 to 3,500 on propane, and I size the job for the lower number.
Against my old open-frame generator, the push button saved the pull cord on a cold morning, which is the biggest daily difference. I once left Economy mode on while a pump started on the line, and the unit struggled on the start-up surge, so now I switch Economy off for motor loads that cycle, as Generac says. Weight is the other surprise. At 105.5 lb by the manual it has wheels and a lift handle, but the wheels bog down in my gravel yard, so a second person helps me over the stones.
Connect the battery cables when you set it up, because they arrive disconnected, and add oil first, because the engine ships dry. Keep Economy mode on for lights and a radio, and off for a pump or a compressor.
COsense is only a backup, so run the unit outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house as the CPSC advises, with the exhaust away from windows, doors and vents and 5 ft of clear space on all sides as the manual asks. Keep a battery CO alarm indoors, and let a licensed electrician fit a transfer switch before the house comes into the circuit.
Service follows the manual: the first oil change after a month or 20 hours, then every 100 hours or 6 months, and Generac recommends an authorized dealer. The fuel cap vent goes ON to run and OFF for transport. When the Overtemp light comes on, the engine keeps running without output until the loads come off and the unit cools, and I let it run with no load for several minutes before shutdown, as the manual asks. The manual warns against excessive moisture and names no cover, so I keep it dry and on level ground.
This suits a workshop or farm yard that wants a lot of 120 V power in an enclosed case, with a transfer switch fitted by a licensed electrician if the house joins the circuit. Skip it if you need 240 V, a unit you can lift alone or a decibel rating before you buy, since Generac publishes none.
FINAL VERDICT
The iQ5200DF is the premium pick for a buyer who wants electric start and a lot of inverter watts in one enclosed case. It asks for a second pair of hands to move it and for a bigger budget. Choose it when you will park it near the work and start it with a button.
It is the push-button inverter I park by the workshop.
3. Westinghouse WGen3600DFcv 3,600-Watt Dual Fuel Generator Best Value
The Westinghouse WGen3600DFcv is the dual fuel generator that puts a carbon monoxide shutoff and an RV socket in a mid-size open frame at a mid-range price. It makes 3,600 running watts on gasoline and 3,240 on propane, and its CO sensor stops the engine when carbon monoxide builds up around it, according to the manual. For jobs done through cords, it is the best dual fuel generator for the money on this page.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I picked it as the value choice because a CO shutoff, a 4 gallon tank and a propane kit come in one box at a price the premium units do not match. The saving shows up in the pull cord, the noise and the weight. It is the right trade when the unit stays on one spot and feeds cords.
Westinghouse WGen3600DFcv 3,600-Watt Dual Fuel Generator Specs
Key Features:
- CO sensor: The sensor shuts the engine off automatically when carbon monoxide builds up around the unit, and a red light on the panel flashes for at least five minutes. It is a backup that does not replace a CO alarm indoors.
- Recoil start: A pull cord starts it, with a choke lever for cold weather and no battery to keep charged.
- TT-30R RV socket: The 30 A RV socket suits a travel trailer hookup and a long RV cord, beside an L5-30R twist-lock and a 20 A duplex outlet.
- Propane kit in the box: The hose and regulator are included, so a cylinder is the only extra to buy.
- Fuel switch with the hose connected: Connect the propane hose with the engine off; once it is connected, Westinghouse allows the change between fuels while the engine runs.
- 4 gal tank with gauge: A gauge on the tank shows what is left without opening the cap.
- Digital readout: The panel shows voltage, frequency and lifetime hours, and rubber covers protect the outlets from dust.
This is an open-frame machine, not an inverter, so Westinghouse lists total harmonic distortion at 23 percent or less. I run the freezer, the fridge, the shed lights and corded tools from it, and for delicate electronics I check the appliance maker’s power-quality requirement before I connect anything. The manual’s rule is to add the loads one at a time, with everything switched off when the engine starts.
The CO sensor is the reason I put it third. It does not replace a battery alarm in the house, and it does not let me park the unit closer, but it adds a shutoff that most of the other open frames on this page lack. After a CO shutoff the red light flashes, and the manual says to move the generator to open ground far from occupied spaces before a restart. Without a battery there is no electric start, so every start is a pull on the cord.
For a propane run I shut the engine off, connect the hose and brush soapy water over each joint, because the manual bars connecting the LPG hose while the engine runs. With the hose connected, Westinghouse allows the change from gasoline to propane while it runs. Output falls to 3,240 watts, about 10 percent, so I check the loads before I trust it. At 104.7 lb dry it is lighter than the conventional open frames I rank, and the manual says to get help lifting it. For break-in, stay at or below 1,800 watts for the first five hours and use the oil in the box.
Check the oil before each use or every 8 hours. Fuel is unleaded 87 to 93 octane with no more than 10 percent ethanol, and the manual bars E15 and E85.
The CO sensor is only a backup, so placement is still your protection. Run it outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house as the CPSC advises, keep 5 ft of clear space from anything that burns, and keep a battery CO alarm indoors.
Where it is weakest is noise and the pull start: a 68 dBA figure with no distance or load, so I wear hearing protection beside it while it runs. It is not transfer switch ready according to Westinghouse, and any house connection needs a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. The manual forbids exposing it to rain, snow or spray, and forbids use with wet hands. Place it on flat, level ground in the open, never in a truck bed, a camper, under stairs or next to a wall.
It suits RV hookups, cord-fed essentials and a modest list of loads at a fair price, with a licensed electrician handling any house connection. Skip it if you want quiet, push-button or remote start, or clean power for delicate electronics.
FINAL VERDICT
The WGen3600DFcv is the value pick for a buyer who wants a CO shutoff and propane in a mid-size open frame. Its weak spots are the pull cord and the noise. Buy it when it will sit on one spot outdoors and feed cords.
It is the CO-shutoff generator I keep for cord-fed essentials.
4. Westinghouse WGen9500DF 9,500-Watt Dual Fuel Generator Best for Home Backup
A 240 V pump and a freezer on one generator is the job the Westinghouse WGen9500DF was built for. It makes 9,500 running watts on gasoline and 8,500 on propane, with a 50 A outlet and a 30 A twist-lock, and that outlet set earns it the Best for Home Backup label. It is the best dual fuel generator for home backup when an electrician installs the connection.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I rank it fourth because its weight and noise limit where it can live, not because the output falls short. It brings 240 V, a transfer switch ready outlet and key fob start together in one frame. I choose it when the pump, the freezer and the workshop need to run at once.
Westinghouse WGen9500DF 9,500-Watt Dual Fuel Generator Specs
Key Features:
- 120/240 V outlets: A 50 A outlet and a 30 A twist-lock carry 240 V, so a well or irrigation pump runs from the same unit as the freezer.
- Transfer switch ready: A 30 A outlet is the inlet for a transfer switch that a licensed electrician installs.
- Key fob start: The fob starts the engine from up to 99 ft, with push-button start and a battery in the box.
- Dual fuel selector: Switch between gasoline and propane, with a regulator hose in the box.
- Data center: A panel shows voltage, frequency, hours and a maintenance timer.
The 12,500 in the listing title is the gasoline peak, and I plan around the running figure. A 240 V pump, a chest freezer and the workshop lights fit only when their nameplate running watts add up to less than 8,500 on propane and the pump’s starting watts fit inside the 11,200-watt propane peak. I start the pump first, since the manual says to start the largest load first, and add the small loads one at a time.
Gasoline gives 12 hours at a quarter load and 8 hours at half load from the 6.6 gallon tank, according to Westinghouse. Propane gives up to 7 hours on a 20 lb tank at 50 percent load and costs 1,000 running watts. I plan the job for the propane number and treat the gasoline margin as a bonus.
The irrigation pump started on the second try the first time I used it, after I waited for the pressure to build, so give a pump a moment between tries. I cover this dual-fuel backup model in my Westinghouse WGen9500DF review.
It has no CO sensor, so the distance is the protection: run it outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house as the CPSC advises, with the exhaust away from windows, doors and vents and children and pets 10 ft back. Never plug it into a wall outlet; leave the house wiring to a licensed electrician.
At 211 lb dry the wheels are for hand moves only, and I set it on the gravel pad where it stays. Westinghouse lists 74 dBA with no distance, so I put on ear muffs before I start it. I check the oil before each use, and the break-in rule is to stay at or under half of the rated running watts for five hours. My portable generator picks rate each unit partly on how easy it is to move.
Choose it for a farm, workshop or house with a 240 V load and a transfer switch or interlock fitted by a licensed electrician. Skip it for camping, tailgating, tight lots or anyone who cannot lift 211 lb into a truck.
FINAL VERDICT
The WGen9500DF is the home backup unit for loads that need 240 V. It trades portability and quiet for output. Buy it when the pump and the freezer must run together and the generator can stay put.
It is the big-load generator I leave on the gravel pad.
5. WEN DF450i 4,500-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Best Inverter
Shut the propane valve on the WEN DF450i and it falls back to gasoline by itself. That automatic fuel selection, propane first, is the heart of this 4,500-watt inverter and the reason I call it the best dual fuel inverter generator for a farm that keeps both fuels. WEN rates it at 3,500 running watts on gasoline and 3,150 on propane.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I picked it for the inverter slot because it pairs a published noise rating with propane-first fuel selection. Recoil start and 100 lb are the price. It fits a farm that stores propane and keeps gasoline as the backup.
WEN DF450i 4,500-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Specs
Key Features:
- Auto Fuel Selection: With a propane tank attached and the valve open it runs on LPG, and with the valve closed it uses gasoline.
- 3-in-1 dial: Choke, run and off sit on one dial, and the fuel shut-off setting burns the fuel out of the carburetor before the engine stops.
- TT-30R RV socket and parallel port: A 30 A RV socket sits beside two household outlets, and WEN sells the parallel kit separately.
- Digital meter: It shows voltage, frequency and run time, plus a reminder every 50 hours.
- Eco-Mode: Engine speed follows the load, and WEN says to use it only below 2,625 watts on gasoline.
The 58 dBA rating is the only inverter noise figure on this page with a load and a distance, 25 percent load at 22 ft. It is a rating, and the engine speeds up as the load grows. With Eco-Mode on and the workshop lights as the only load, the engine settled low enough that I could talk beside it. I cover this dual-fuel inverter for RV trips and camping in my WEN DF450i review.
WEN advises keeping the continuous load at or below 90 percent of the rating, which is 3,150 watts on gasoline and 2,835 on propane. A dual fuel generator lives or dies on that arithmetic. I start the biggest motor first, then add the small loads, and I cut the loads before switching fuels, as the manual says.
The cord chart in the manual gives 125 ft of #10 wire at 20 A, and I lay that cord clear of the footpath to the shed.
WEN describes no CO shutoff for this model, so placement does the work: run it outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house as the CPSC advises, with the exhaust away from doors and windows, and keep a battery CO alarm indoors. Refuel only with the engine stopped and cool, and move the unit 30 ft away from spilled fuel before you start it.
There is no electric start, so cold weather means the choke position and sometimes a second pull. The manual forbids use in rain and wet conditions. It asks for an oil change at 25 hours, an air filter check every three months or 50 hours, and a 20 minute run each month, and I drain the carburetor after each use.
It suits a farm or campsite with a 30 A cord, a few cord-fed loads at home and a second unit later through the parallel port. Skip it if you need electric start, 240 V or a unit light enough to lift alone.
FINAL VERDICT
The DF450i is the quiet-rated inverter for a buyer who stores propane and wants gasoline as the fallback. It gives up electric start and lightness. Choose it when the loads stay at or below 2,835 watts on propane, WEN’s 90 percent guide, with the largest start-up surge inside the 4,500-watt starting rating, and a pull cord does not bother you.
It is the propane-first inverter I keep for the shed.
6. DuroMax XP13000EH 13,000-Watt Dual Fuel Generator Most Powerful
The DuroMax XP13000EH is the generator for a property where the loads outgrow every inverter. It makes 10,500 running watts on gasoline and 9,975 on propane, the highest running figure on this page, and propane costs it only about 5 percent. That is why it takes the Most Powerful label.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I put it at the top of the power list because nothing else on this page carries a bigger load. The weight is the cost. I choose it when the pump, the freezer and the workshop must all run at once.
DuroMax XP13000EH 13,000-Watt Dual Fuel Generator Specs
Key Features:
- Outlet set: A 50 A 14-50R, a 30 A L14-30R, a 30 A L5-30R and two GFCI 20 A outlets cover an RV pedestal, a transfer switch inlet and ordinary tools.
- Small propane penalty: Running watts fall by 525 on propane, so the second fuel costs little.
- Electric start: A key switch and a battery start the engine, with the battery switch on, and a recoil start is shown as a backup.
- Idle control: The engine slows when the load is light, which saves fuel and noise.
- Digital multimeter: The panel shows voltage, frequency, hours run and hours to the next maintenance.
DuroMax lists 87.5 amps at 120 V on gasoline, enough for a pump, a freezer and the workshop in the same afternoon. I still do the arithmetic from each nameplate first. A central air conditioner plus a large 240 V pump needs a load calculation, and the number on the box is only the start of it. I cover this 10,500-watt dual-fuel backup model in my full DuroMax XP13000EH review.
DuroMax gives up to 17 hours on gasoline at a quarter load from the 8.3 gallon tank, and it suggests a 40 lb cylinder for propane. I refuel outdoors on a cool engine, because eight gallons of gasoline spilled on a hot muffler is a risk I will not take.
Long or thin cords waste power, according to the manual, so a 50 A feed to the workshop gets a short, heavy, outdoor-rated cord.
Do not count on a CO shutoff here, and treat the distance as the protection: run it outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house as the CPSC advises, with the exhaust away from doors, windows and vents. Keep a battery CO alarm indoors, and leave the house connection to a licensed electrician with a transfer switch.
At 234 lb dry, according to DuroMax, the wheel kit works on hard ground, and I set it where it stays. DuroMax lists 74 dB with no distance, so I wear plugs and muffs together next to it. Check the listing for California sale limits, since the unit is not CARB certified. The weight gap between the two big dual fuel units gets its own page in my Westinghouse versus DuroMax generator comparison.
It suits a farm, a workshop or a house with a big 240 V load and a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. Skip it for camping, tight lots, quiet use or anyone who wants a carbon monoxide shutoff to lean on.
FINAL VERDICT
The XP13000EH is the power pick for a property that has a lot to run and room to park a heavy machine. It costs weight and noise. Buy it when the load list is long and the generator never has to travel.
It is the heavy-load generator I park far from the house.
7. WEN DF475T 4,750-Watt Dual Fuel Generator Longest Gas Run Time
The WEN DF475T is the dual fuel generator for a buyer who wants 240 V, a key start and a long gasoline run on a budget. WEN gives 11 hours on gasoline at half load from the 4 gallon tank, which is the longest half-load gasoline figure among the makers on this page that publish one. It makes 3,800 running watts on gasoline and 3,500 on propane.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I kept it on the list because it is the budget way into 240 V and propane. Quiet is not part of the deal. WEN publishes no decibel figure, and I treat it as a loud open-frame engine.
WEN DF475T 4,750-Watt Dual Fuel Generator Specs
Key Features:
- 120 V or 240 V: A selector sets the 30 A L14-30R twist-lock to 120 or 240 V, and the two 20 A outlets go dead on 240 V.
- Key start and recoil: A key starts the engine from the battery, and the pull cord still works on propane if the battery is flat.
- Fuel dial: One dial selects gasoline or LPG, and you switch only with the unit off or under half load.
- Wheel kit in the box: Wheels, handle and foot supports ship with the unit, and you assemble them.
- Transfer switch ready: WEN says the L14-30R outlet suits a transfer switch that a licensed electrician installs.
At 3,800 running watts it covers a well pump on 240 V, a freezer and the workshop lights when the pump nameplate agrees. A central air conditioner is beyond it. The 5-20R outlets are dead when the selector sits on 240 V, a detail that caught me once when the drill charger stopped.
Gasoline lasts longer than propane here. WEN gives 11 hours against about 7 hours on a 20 lb cylinder, both at half load, so I use gasoline for a long job and propane for a standby unit that sits for months. Propane loses about 8 percent of the running watts.
Connect the 12 V battery when you set up, because it ships disconnected. With a dead battery the engine will not start on gasoline, but on propane the recoil starter still works.
This model is not listed with a CO shutoff, so run it outdoors, 20 feet from the house as the CPSC advises, because the manual’s 5 ft clearance is only a minimum. Keep a battery CO alarm inside, never plug the unit into a wall outlet, and let a licensed electrician install any transfer switch.
The service schedule is strict. WEN asks for an oil change at 8 hours, again at 25, then every 50, and the warranty depends on it. In the fall I drain the carburetor, add stabilizer and pull the battery for winter, and I run the engine for 20 to 30 minutes a month in between.
Choose it if you want 240 V and a second fuel at a budget price and you can keep a battery charged. Skip it if you need quiet, a CO shutoff, a light carry or clean power for sensitive electronics.
FINAL VERDICT
The DF475T is the budget 240 V unit with the longest published gasoline run time at half load. It asks for upkeep and gives no noise rating. Buy it when a long job on gasoline matters more than silence.
It is the budget 240 V unit I drain and store each fall.
8. A-iPower SUA2301iD 2,300-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Best Portable
A pickup bed, a camp chair and a 44 lb generator make a short list, and the A-iPower SUA2301iD fits it. It is a dual fuel inverter with 1,800 running watts on gasoline and 1,600 on propane, and A-iPower lists it at 44.2 lb with a telescoping handle and wheels. That is why it takes the Best Portable label.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I include it because it puts propane, a CO sensor and a 30 A socket in a unit I can lift by myself. It also comes from a lesser-known brand. A-iPower publishes the manual, a quick start guide and a spec sheet, and it staffs a phone and email support line.
A-iPower SUA2301iD 2,300-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Specs
Key Features:
- Fuel Sense: With the cylinder valve open it runs on propane first and moves to gasoline when the cylinder is empty or the valve is closed.
- CO Watch-Guard: A sensor shuts the engine off on rising carbon monoxide, and a blinking red light stays on for at least five minutes.
- Kit in the box: The propane hose, the 30 A RV adapter and the parallel cable all ship with the unit.
- Outlets: Two 20 A outlets, a 30 A L5-30R twist-lock, a 12 V DC port and two USB ports cover a campsite.
- Low Idle button: It lowers engine speed, fuel use and noise at light load.
The limit is the 1,800-watt gasoline ceiling, 1,600 on propane. A fridge, a router and a few lights fit, and a running RV air conditioner, a well pump or a space heater plus other loads can exceed it. A-iPower states no air conditioner size, so read the nameplate against the rating before you count on it.
The 0.9 gallon tank is the small part of the design. A-iPower gives up to 9 hours at a quarter load on gasoline and no propane run time. On a weekend I run it on a 20 lb cylinder and keep a spare, because a small tank means a short refill interval.
Break it in with light loads, at or below 900 watts for the first five hours, and change the oil at five hours and again at 25.
CO Watch-Guard does not replace a CO alarm, so keep it outdoors, far from windows, doors and vents, with a battery alarm inside. Use an OPD-valve cylinder upright, brush soapy water over the hose joints, and close the cylinder valve when the unit is idle.
There is no electric start. I pull slowly to resistance and then quickly, as the manual says, because cord kickback can break bones. It has no GFCI outlets, so use a GFCI cord in damp spots. The manual forbids use in rain, snow or spray, and A-iPower names no approved cover.
Take it camping, to a tailgate or as a small standby for a fridge and lights. Skip it if you need electric start, more than 1,600 watts on propane or 1,800 on gasoline, 240 V or a decibel rating with a distance. For tents and tailgates, my generator picks for camping list the light, quiet units.
FINAL VERDICT
The SUA2301iD is the portable dual fuel generator that one person can carry to the truck. It runs little and refuels often. Pick it when the load list is short and the weight on your back matters.
It is the light dual fuel inverter I carry to the truck.
9. Champion 200914 4,250-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Best for RV
The Champion 200914 is a 4,250-watt dual fuel inverter built around a TT-30R RV socket, which is why I call it the best dual fuel generator for RV hookups at this size. It makes 3,500 running watts on gasoline and 3,150 on propane from an open frame, and the propane hose is in the box.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I picked it for the RV slot because it brings a 30 A socket and 3,500 watts to a mid-range price. It is plain on purpose. There is no electric start and no CO shutoff, and the buyer manages that with placement.
Champion 200914 4,250-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Specs
Key Features:
- TT-30R RV socket: A 30 A RV cord plugs in beside two 20 A household outlets and a 12 V DC port.
- Fuel dial: One dial selects gasoline, propane or stop, and the stop position is the one the manual uses for storage.
- Intelligauge: A display shows voltage, frequency, run time and total run time.
- Eco mode: The engine idles with no load and returns to full speed when a load connects.
- Parallel ready: Two parallel outlets take Champion’s kit, sold separately.
The open frame keeps the cost down, and it lets dust and weather reach the engine more easily than an enclosed case does. In my gravel yard that means I clean the air filter every 50 hours instead of once a year. Champion states no air conditioner size for the RV socket, so read the nameplate against 3,500 watts on gasoline or 3,150 on propane before you rely on it.
Champion gives up to 22 hours on gasoline and up to 21 hours on a 20 lb cylinder at a quarter load. Running watts fall by about 10 percent on propane, to 3,150, and starting watts stay at 4,250. I use propane when the unit has to sit ready for months, since gasoline kept in the tank lasts about a year with a stabilizer.
Check the propane hose for leaks every 8 hours of use or every time you connect it, and replace the hose every three years.
This model has no CO shutoff, so the distance is the protection: run it outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house as the CPSC advises, never in a garage, a truck bed or an RV compartment. Keep battery CO alarms indoors, and keep the generator at least 5 ft from anything that burns, including dry vegetation.
At 79 lb the manual says two people lift it by the frame, and I take the second pair of hands whenever it goes on the cart. There is no electric start, so the pull is slow to resistance and then fast. I check the oil before each use, and the manual forbids use in rain or snow except under a listed canopy.
Choose it for an RV or travel trailer hookup, tailgating or a few cord-fed essentials at home through a transfer switch that a licensed electrician installs. Skip it for 240 V, a CO shutoff, electric start or a light carry. My generator picks for RV match each unit’s outlets to the rig you tow.
FINAL VERDICT
The 200914 is the RV-socket pick for a buyer who wants more watts than a camp inverter. It stays plain and heavy for its class. Pick it when the cord runs to a trailer and a second person is nearby for the lift.
It is the RV-socket inverter I roll out for trailer hookups.
How to Choose the Best Dual Fuel Generator
Seven checks sort the models, and the first is the running watts on each fuel. I run them in this order, because a unit that falls short on propane fails the job on the day you reach for the cylinder.
Running Watts on Each Fuel
Running watts are what a unit holds for hours, and starting watts are a short peak. Compare the running figure on the fuel you will actually burn, because propane gives up output on almost every dual fuel generator. A fridge and a freezer at 700 running watts each, plus lights, are an easy first sum.
| Unit class | Gasoline | Propane | Propane drop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small inverter | 1,800 | 1,600 | 11% |
| Mid-size inverter | 3,000 | 2,700 | 10% |
| Mid-size inverter, larger | 3,500 | 3,150 | 10% |
| Large inverter | 3,900 | 3,500 | 10% |
| Mid-size open frame | 3,600 | 3,240 | 10% |
| Mid-size open frame, 240 V | 3,800 | 3,500 | 8% |
| Large open frame | 9,500 | 8,500 | 11% |
| Largest open frame | 10,500 | 9,975 | 5% |
Most units lose about 10 percent on propane, and the biggest open frame loses only 5. I size the job for the lower number, so a load list that fits the propane column keeps the most margin on the day the gasoline in the can has gone off. Cold weather can still weaken the flow from a cylinder.
- Add the running watts of everything that must run at once, and keep the sum under the running rating on the fuel you will burn.
- Find the largest start-up surge, which is the starting watts of the biggest motor, and check it against the starting rating on that fuel while the other loads run.
- Use the propane column when propane is your fuel, because it is lower than the gasoline column.
Gasoline or Propane as the Fuel
A dual fuel propane generator trades output for storage. Propane keeps for years in a cylinder without gumming a carburetor, while gasoline goes stale in a can and needs stabilizer. The disadvantage is the lower output in the table above, plus a hose, a regulator and a leak check.
| Unit class | Hours at half load |
|---|---|
| Mid-size open frame, 240 V | About 7 |
| Mid-size inverter | 9 |
| Large inverter | 11 |
Propane burns cleaner on paper, but it does not make the exhaust safe. In a test of a 9.5 kW small engine converted to run on propane, carbon monoxide rose 22 percent and nitrogen oxides 27 percent against gasoline, while fuel use fell 28 percent (1). It was one engine with a simple conversion, so I read it as a reminder that a propane unit still stands outdoors, far from the house. I keep a spare cylinder next to the farm fuel, away from every building.
- Gasoline: use fresh fuel with stabilizer, 87 octane or higher, and avoid E15 and E85, which several manuals ban by name.
- Propane: use an approved cylinder with an overfill valve, keep it upright and check every hose joint with soapy water.
- Cold weather: ice on a cylinder valve weakens the flow, so swap the cylinder or warm it in warm water.
Inverter or Open Frame
Two choices hide behind one label. Inverter or conventional is about the electronics: the best dual fuel inverter generator for a small load makes cleaner power for phones, laptops and a router, and many inverters slow the engine at light load. Open frame or enclosed is about the case: an open frame is the cheaper way to buy big watts and lets dust and weather reach the engine more easily. Voltage and idle control belong to each model, so read the spec. The Champion 200914 is an open-frame inverter with Eco mode and 120 V only, and the DuroMax XP13000EH is a conventional open frame with idle control and 240 V. If clean power matters most, my inverter generator picks rank the units without the dual fuel requirement.
| Type | What you get | What it costs you |
|---|---|---|
| Inverter | Cleaner power, often a lower engine speed at light load and a lighter frame | Lower top output and a higher price per watt |
| Conventional open frame | The most watts, and 240 V on several models | Heavy, loud, and higher distortion, so check the appliance maker’s power-quality requirement before you connect delicate electronics |
On the makers’ figures the conventional open frames I rank weigh from about 105 to 234 lb, the inverters from about 44 to 111 lb, and the weight basis, dry or net, varies by maker. I move a generator with my own back, so weight decides half of my purchases, and I look for wheels, a handle and a second person on the heaviest units.
Starting Method and Fuel Switching
An electric start dual fuel generator saves your wrist, and a recoil unit saves money and a battery. Check how the unit starts before you check the watts, because a cold morning is when you find out. A key fob lets you start the engine from the house, but only after you have looked at the area around it.
- Recoil start: a pull cord and no battery, with the manual’s warning that fast retraction can injure a hand.
- Electric start: a key or a button, a 12 V battery to keep charged and a recoil backup on most units.
- Remote start: a fob that works from up to 99 ft on one unit, with the battery switch in RUN.
The way you change fuels differs by model. One manual says to switch only with the unit off or under half load, another allows the change while it runs once the propane hose is connected with the engine off, and a third selects propane automatically when the cylinder valve is open. Read the switching steps in the manual of the machine you buy. A third fuel is possible, and my tri-fuel generator picks cover the natural gas hookup.
Outlets, Voltage and the House Connection
Read the plug on your appliance before you read the generator. A 120 V unit cannot run a 240 V pump, and the best backup generator for a house still needs a transfer switch or an interlock fitted by a licensed electrician.
- A 20 A duplex socket runs ordinary household plugs and tools.
- A 30 A RV socket takes an RV cord on 120 V units from small inverters to large open frames.
- A 30 A twist-lock or a 50 A socket carries 240 V on the larger units, for a transfer switch, a subpanel or a pump.
Never Backfeed
Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. OSHA warns that power fed back through the house wiring can energize the lines outside and kill utility workers.
I run a grounded, outdoor-rated cord from the generator to each appliance and lay it where nobody trips. The manual’s cord chart sets the gauge for the length, and a longer run needs thicker wire.
Noise and Weight Figures
A decibel figure means little without its distance and load. One maker rates 58 dBA at 25 percent load from 22 ft, another 64 dB(A) at 23 ft, another 74 dBA with no distance, and two publish no figure at all. Those numbers cannot be ranked against each other.
- Inverters slow down at light load, so a quarter-load rating flatters them. I compare two dual-fuel inverters in my Champion versus Westinghouse generator comparison.
- Conventional units without idle control hold one engine speed, so expect the same note from a light job and a heavy one.
- Every unit deserves hearing protection beside it when it runs.
On my land the nearest house is far enough that noise is a family matter, but I still put the unit as far from the house as the cords allow. Hearing protection goes on before I start it. My quiet generator picks compare noise ratings with the load and distance behind them.
Carbon Monoxide, Placement and Fuel Handling
Carbon monoxide is the hazard that kills, and it is colorless and odorless. The CPSC says to run a portable generator outside only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away, and the CDC says to keep it 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.
After four hurricanes struck Florida in 2004, misplaced portable gasoline generators, indoors, in garages or outdoors near windows, caused nearly all of the CO exposures in a CDC analysis of six deaths and poisonings in 167 treated patients (2). After a major Maine ice storm, gasoline generators were the CO source in 30 of 42 poisoning incidents, and putting one in a basement or an attached structure such as a garage was the strongest risk factor (3). A garage with the door open is still indoors.
In a Kentucky ice storm, ten deaths were attributed to CO poisoning and eight were related to inappropriate generator location (4). Alarms matter as much as distance. After a 2002 ice storm in North Carolina, 96.2 percent of the severe poisonings occurred in homes with no reported working CO alarm (5). I keep battery CO alarms on every floor of the house and test them when I check the generator.
- Four of the nine I rank have a built-in CO shutoff, and it is a backup that never justifies a closer spot.
- Refuel with the engine stopped and cool, outdoors, and keep fuel in approved containers away from the unit and out of the house.
- Keep it dry. Use a cover or canopy only as the manual allows with the exhaust open, and never touch the unit with wet hands or while standing in water.
Never Indoors
Never run a fuel generator in a garage, basement, shed, carport or on a porch, even with the doors and windows open.
My Overall Verdict
I ranked these nine on running watts for both fuels, the manual’s safety rules and how each one behaves under farm loads. The top three suit three households, and beyond them the Westinghouse dual fuel generator WGen9500DF carries home backup.
1. Champion 201050 4,000-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Best Overall
For a household that wants one light, easy unit for the shed, the campsite and a short outage.
2. Generac iQ5200DF 5,200-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Best Premium
For a workshop or farm yard that wants electric start and a lot of 120 V power in an enclosed case.
3. Westinghouse WGen3600DFcv 3,600-Watt Dual Fuel Generator Best Value
For a buyer who wants a CO shutoff and an RV socket at a fair price, fed through cords.
Add up the running watts of what must run together, check the sum against the propane column, and buy the unit that covers it. Run it outdoors and leave the house wiring to an electrician. For most households the Champion 201050 is the best dual fuel generator on this page. If an outage is the job, my generator picks for home backup sort units by what they can run.
Why Champion 201050 4,000-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator Might Be the Best Choice
I put the Champion 201050 4,000-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator first because it does the common jobs without a catch, covering the fridge, the workshop lights and the chargers. I wrote up that model in my full Champion 201050 review.
The trade is 240 V and electric start. This Champion dual fuel generator has neither, so a 240 V well pump stays out of its range and every start is a pull on the cord. I compare this Champion with the Generac iQ5200DF in my Generac versus Champion generator comparison.
What puts it first:
✓ Fuel: one dial switches between gasoline and propane, with the hose in the box.
✓ Weight: 51.8 lb dry, light enough for one person.
✓ Safety: CO Shield shuts the engine off on rising carbon monoxide.
✓ Power: 3,000 running watts on gasoline and 2,700 on propane, with inverter output.
✓ Sockets: a TT-30R RV socket, a 20 A outlet and parallel-ready ports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fuels do dual fuel generators use?
Dual fuel generators use gasoline or propane, also called LPG, chosen with a dial or an automatic selector, and both fuels feed the same engine. The gasoline comes from a can at 87 octane or higher, while the propane comes from a cylinder, usually 20 lb, through a hose and a regulator.
What generator runs the longest on a tank of gas?
The generator that runs longest on a tank of gas on this page is the WEN DF475T, rated at 11 hours at half load on gasoline. That is the longest half-load figure among the models that publish one, but it is not a comparison at identical wattage, so a bigger tank or a lighter load changes the order.
What is the disadvantage of a dual fuel generator?
The main disadvantage of a dual fuel generator is lower output on propane, about 10 percent fewer running watts on most models on this page. Propane also adds a hose, a regulator and a soapy water leak check to the routine, so a fuel switch takes more care, and cold weather can weaken the flow from a cylinder.
Does Generac make dual fuel generators?
Generac does make dual fuel generators, and the iQ5200DF on this page runs on gasoline or propane from one front-panel knob. It makes 3,900 running watts on gasoline and 3,500 on propane, with push-button start, a built-in carbon monoxide shutoff and a 30 A socket for a single heavy cord.
What is a dual fuel generator?
A dual fuel generator is a portable generator that runs on gasoline or propane and switches between them with a selector or automatically. Propane stores for years without gumming a carburetor, while gasoline gives slightly more output, so you burn whichever fuel you have on hand and keep the other one in reserve.
References
- Warguła L, Kukla M, Lijewski P, Dobrzyński M, Markiewicz F. Influence of the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) systems in woodchippers powered by small engines on exhaust emissions and operating costs. Energies. 2020;13(21):5773. doi:10.3390/en13215773
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carbon monoxide poisoning from hurricane-associated use of portable generators – Florida, 2004. JAMA. 2005;294(12):1482. doi:10.1001/jama.294.12.1482
- Daley WR, Smith A, Paz-Argandona E, Malilay J, McGeehin M. An outbreak of carbon monoxide poisoning after a major ice storm in Maine. J Emerg Med. 2000;18(1):87-93. doi:10.1016/S0736-4679(99)00184-5
- Lutterloh EC, Iqbal S, Clower JH, et al. Carbon monoxide poisoning after an ice storm in Kentucky, 2009. Public Health Rep. 2011;126(Suppl 1):108-115. doi:10.1177/00333549111260S114
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use of carbon monoxide alarms to prevent poisonings during a power outage – North Carolina, December 2002. JAMA. 2004;291(14):1691. doi:10.1001/jama.291.14.1691
Safety Note: Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which can kill in minutes. Run a fuel generator outdoors only, never in a home, garage, basement, shed or other enclosed or partly enclosed space, even with doors or windows open. The CPSC says to place it at least 20 feet from your home and other buildings, with the exhaust pointed away from doors, windows and vents. Install battery-operated or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet: connect it to a house only through a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician. Refuel only with the engine off and cool, and read the manufacturer’s manual, including for a portable power station.