Are you ready to host the most epic tailgating parties and become the talk of your friends and family?
I have tailgated nearly every season of the year and can say that the number one thing separating an amateur tailgater from a seasoned pro is electricity.
Obviously, you're not going to have wall outlets conveniently located at your tailgating location. You'll need an electric generator.
Imagine amplifying that experience with electricity. It doesn’t have to take much. For example, there are low-watt, solar-powered generators out there that are silent, don’t burn any gas and provide enough power for your most basic electrical needs, like phone chargers. You also won't have to worry about how to power a TV at a tailgate.
The way I see it, there are three main types of pro tailgaters out there:
But before we get into that, let's establish how to pick the best tailgate generator.
The best generators for tailgating will be inverters, which means they produce clean power that won’t fry sensitive electronics. Since your tailgating party will probably include sensitive equipment, such as television sets and phones, you shouldn’t take any chances.
You will also want to ensure your generator has the following important features:
Below are different levels of what your tailgating game could be if you invest in a proper electric generator.
For example, you might prefer having that charcoal grill, but you also want to supplement it with a pressure cooker. Maybe, instead of buying ice, you’d like to bring an electric cooler for the soda and booze.
You also want to make sure you have a decent-sized TV for your viewing party, along with some phone chargers so everyone can post Instagram pictures about your great tailgating party.
For these users, we recommend a small inverter generator with an output of 1,000-2,200 watts. This should be plenty for a few gadgets that run without an electric motor. You’ll still have the old-fashioned tailgating experience you live for without giving up a few basic electrical appliances.
Note: If you think your appliances will consistently be using more than 80 percent of your generator’s output, consider becoming an Expert Tailgater.
We’re talking about things like a large TV, coffee maker and kegerator, in addition to everything the Advanced Tailgater has. As great as charcoal-grilled food tastes, the Expert Tailgater goes with an electric grill to maximize fun time. Don’t forget about a powerful fan to keep everyone cool on a hot day.
For these types of uses, we recommend a medium inverter generator with an output of anywhere between 3,000-5,000 watts.
In addition to everything the Advanced and Expert Tailgaters use, the Ultimate Tailgater proudly adds extravagant items like an ice cream maker, margarita blender, and nacho cheese machine for a gluttonous day of unrestrained revelry. A speaker system blasting everyone’s favorite party hits keeps spectators on their toes during the pre- and postgame.
Some will go a step further and bring out their entire RV for a mobile experience. They basically become food and beverage vendors at that point, offering everything you didn't think you needed at a tailgate.
For the Ultimate Tailgater, we recommend 5,000 watts or more. Paralleling two smaller inverter generators for double the power is another option. If there's an RV involved, there are inverter generators with RV outlets to keep things powered.
Early on, I mentioned how solar generators can be a silent, lightweight, eco-friendly way to power your tailgating party. It's worth mentioning that, with increasing fuel prices and improvements in solar generator technology, these units, sometimes called portable power stations, are an extremely viable alternative to gas generators.
Portable power stations have all the benefits of inverter generators and very few downsides. Traditionally, solar generators couldn't produce much power. However, certain models on the market today allow you to chain multiple solar generators together to increase wattage. They are still less powerful than gas generators overall and typically more expensive for the same amount of power. Still, their convenience and low fuel costs might be the deciding factor for many people.
As you can see, a portable inverter generator can take your tailgating game to the next level. Even if you don’t want to become an Ultimate Tailgater, a generator is certain to improve the experience for you and your party.