10 Best Silent Generators for Food Trucks in 2024

When you think about a generator to power your food truck, perhaps you think about a bulky and loud generator that’s inefficient and unbearable to work next to.

But that doesn’t have to happen as you could find yourself a quiet generator with solid fuel efficiency.

If you read cleverhandymen.com, you know how much we know about generators, so we decided to find the best generators for running a food truck while minimizing noise levels.

Let’s get right into it.

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Best Silent Generators for Food Trucks

Here’s the list of fuel efficient generators that are super quiet to use for powering food trucks.

1. PowerSmart Gas Powered 4400W Inverter Generator for Food Trucks
2. Champion Power Equipment 100519 6250-Watt Generator for Food Trucks
3. Pulsar Products G450RN, 4500W Portable Generator for Food Trucks
4. WEN GN6000 Portable Generator for Food Trucks
5. BILT HARD 4000 Watt Quiet Portable Generator for Food Trucks
6. Briggs & Stratton Q6500 Portable Generator for Food Trucks
7. WEN DF475T Dual Fuel 120V/240V Portable Generator for Food Trucks
8. WEN 56380i Super Quiet Portable Generator for Food Trucks
9. Champion Power Equipment 100416 10,000/8,000-Watt Portable Generator for Food Trucks
10. A-iPower SUA12000E 12000 Watt Portable Generator for Food Trucks

1. PowerSmart Gas Powered 4400W Inverter Generator for Food Trucks

Don’t let its simple design fool you; this PowerSmart generator is a beast of a generator.

With 4400 peak watts and 3500 running watts, this generator is perfect for running a food truck’s complete kitchen.

In fact, it does this for 15 hours straight at peak power and for 22 hours at a quarter load, which is very impressive for a generator that only has a 61 dBA noise level.

Thanks to its digital display, essential information such as voltage, runtime, and frequency are easy to read.

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2. Champion Power Equipment 100519 Silent Generator for Food Trucks

Personally, I find this Champion Power 100519 silent generator to be one of the best available silent generators.

For once, it comes with a solid wattage level of 6250 starting watts and 5000 running watts, which is perfect for running a food truck.

Moreover, it has both clean power and economy modes, which take care of the devices you plug into the generator without losing focus on energy efficiency.

Lastly, it operates at 69 decibels of noise, which is very convenient for a food truck business, as you don’t want to scare your customer with lots of noise.

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3. Pulsar Products G450RN Portable Generator for Food Trucks

You can always count on Pulsar generators to give you enough wattage to power your most substantial appliances at your food truck, and this 6450RN unit is no exception.

It has a reliable motor with 4,500 peak watts and 3,700 running watts, enough to run your essential food truck appliances.

It also runs for up to 15 hours at half load at only 63 decibels, which is unusual for a generator of this caliber.

Finally, it has an extendable handle and never flat tires, making it very portable.

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4. WEN GN6000 Silent Generator for Food Trucks

If you don’t want to burn your money, you should do your homework and select a strong and quiet generator to power your food truck operation.

Luckily for you, I found a great option, this WEB GB6000 portable generator. 

For starters, it boasts a 272cc engine that produces 6000 starting watts and 5000 running watts, giving you ample power to operate all of your food truck’s kitchen appliances.

In terms of convenience, it has a very compact design with wheels and an ergonomic handle that makes it extremely easy to move this generator about if that is what you require.

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5. BILT HARD 4000 Watt Quiet Generator for Food Trucks

This BILT HARD portable generator is one of my favorites in this post since it includes ideal features for running a food truck business.

For example, its 212cc 4 stroke gas engine operates at barely 68 decibels while producing significant power (3400 rated watts and 4000 peak watts).

It also contains an overload protection system, which is fantastic for preventing a power overload that could damage your pricey kitchen appliances.

And, despite its weight, it can run for up to 14 hours at a 25% load, which is incredibly helpful while working a full day at a food truck.

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6. Briggs & Stratton Q6500 Silent Generator for Food Trucks

If you’re looking for a reliable and silent generator, I’d suggest you take a look at this Briggs & Stratton Q6500 portable generator that comes with impressive features such as:

• 306cc engine that outputs up to 6,500 watts which is the sweet spot for running a food truck
• 14 hours of runtime
• Compact design and telescoping handle make this generator very easy to move around

It also has a noise reducing shell that is responsible for protecting the generator from the elements and reducing the noise levels as much as possible.

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7. WEN DF475T Dual Fuel 120V/240V Portable Generator for Food Trucks

We all know we can always rely on WEN for a reliable generator powerful enough to power a food truck, and this DF475T model is no different.

For once, it can run on both propane and gasoline, producing 4750 surge watts and 3800 running watts on gasoline and 4350 surge and 3500 running watts on propane, thanks to its 4 stroke 224cc engine.

Furthermore, it can run for up to 11 hours on a half load, which is enough to power a food truck for an entire day.

Finally, it has highly convenient features like overload protection and electric start that make using this generator regularly a breeze.

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8. WEN 56380i Super Quiet Portable Generator for Food Trucks

No round-up of silent generators would be complete without including the WEN 56380i generator and its amazing features.

For starters, it boasts a 212cc engine that produces 3800 surge watts and 3400 rated watts, which is quite powerful for a generator at this price.

To allow you to run your food truck for a whole workday, this generator has a runtime of up to 17 hours at a quarter load. 

And, despite its weight, it works at only 57 decibels, which is nearly silent from a distance of 10 feet from the generator.

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9. Champion Power Equipment 100416 10,000/8,000-Watt Portable Generator for Food Trucks

This Champion Power 100416 generator is worth discussing. It is a little more expensive, but it is far more powerful than most silent generators on the market.

It has a 459cc engine that produces a massive 10,000 starting watts and 8000 running watts on gasoline and 8750 starting watts and 7000 running watts on propane, making it by far the most powerful generator in this article.

The generator may be run on natural gas, propane, or gasoline for optimal convenience, which is a game-changer for a food truck operation.

Don’t get me wrong, it has some drawbacks, such as its heavyweight, but it doesn’t overshadow its wonderful features, such as the carbon monoxide auto-shutdown and easy-to-read display that shows voltage, runtime, and frequency.

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10. A-iPower SUA12000E 12000 Watt Silent Generator for Food Trucks

We told you in this article that we’d show you the best silent generators for food trucks, and the A-iPower SUA12000E is no exception.

It has a 459 cc engine that generates 12,000 starting watts and 9,000 operating watts, making it powerful enough to power a food truck for a whole day with ease.

Furthermore, its 7-gallon tank allows you to run it for 7 hours straight at full power, which is uncommon in other generators.

Finally, despite its large and heavy due to its robust components, it has highly convenient features to compensate for it, such as its low oil alert lights and low oil automatic shutoff system, which extends the generator’s lifespan.

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The Best Silent Generator Overall

WEN 56380i Super Quiet Portable Generator for Food Trucks

I selected this super quiet gas powered generator as it comes with features such as:

• Fuel efficient motor provides 3800 surge watts and 3400 rated watts which is a solid amount of power while sustaining a quiet operation (at 57 decibels)
• It runs for 17 hours of run time which is a bit more than a food truck requires
• Low oil shutoff sensor

If you’d like to read more about this generator, you can do it by clicking the button down below.

Review

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Quick Comparison Table

Name	Drive	Torque Range	Units
1. PowerSmart Gas Powered 4400W Inverter Generator for Food Trucks Review	3/4″ drive	29.5-147.5 ft./lb.	Ft.-Lb., N-m and kg-m
2. Champion Power Equipment 100519 6250-Watt Generator for Food Trucks Review	3/8″ and 1/2″ drive	14.8 to 147.6 ft-lbs (1/2″ drive) and 5.9 to 59 ft-lbs (3/8″)	N-m, kg-cm, in-lbs., ft-lbs.
3. Pulsar Products G450RN, 4500W Portable Generator for Food Trucks Review	1/2″ drive	25 to 250 ft-lbs	Multiple units
4. WEN GN6000 Portable Generator for Food Trucks Review	1/2″ drive	5 to 99 ft/lbs	kg-cm, N-m, in-lb. ft-lb.
5. BILT HARD 4000 Watt Quiet Portable Generator for Food Trucks Review	3400 rated watts and 4000 peak watts	It runs for 14 hours at 25% load	Gasoline
6. Briggs & Stratton Q6500 Portable Generator for Food Trucks Review	6,500 watts capacity	14 hours of runtime	Gas
7. WEN DF475T Dual Fuel 120V/240V Portable Generator for Food Trucks Review	4750 surge watts and 3800 running watt on gasoline and 4350 surge and 3500 running on propane (dual fuel option)	11 hours of half load run time	Gasoline / Propane
8. WEN 56380i Super Quiet Portable Generator for Food Trucks Review	3800 surge watts and 3400 rated watts	8.5 hours at half load	Gas
9. Champion Power Equipment 100416 10,000/8,000-Watt Portable Generator for Food Trucks Review	10,000 starting watts and 8000 running watts on gasoline and 8750 starting watts and 7000 running watts on propane	12.5 hours at 50% load	Natural gas, propane or gasoline
10. A-iPower SUA12000E 12000 Watt Portable Generator for Food Trucks Review	12,000 starting watts with 9,000 running watts	7 hours at 100% load and 9 hours at 50% load	Gas

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Must Have Features of The Best Silent Generators for Food Trucks

There are certain features generators must have in order to be perfect for running a food truck without making lots of noise. Let’s discuss them.

Powerful & Silent Motor

First and foremost, there is the engine issue.

A food truck requires a specific amount of wattage to function properly.

This usually implies that you’ll need to purchase a powerful yet noisy generator with a robust engine to supply a steady stream of electricity to run your food truck’s appliances.

So, I’d suggest that looking for a generator with at least a 200cc engine is a requirement, and it shouldn’t make more than 80 decibels of noise when fully throttled.

Otherwise, it’ll be unpleasant to have it running next to your food truck.

Portability

Now we get to an important aspect of a generator that is frequently overlooked: portability.

Food trucks operate in cramped spaces, making it impossible to store a large generator in them. You’d have to keep it running outside the food truck and store it elsewhere.

This is where portability comes into play, as you’ll need your generator to be as portable as possible.

This is why I advise people to look for generators with wheels and ergonomic handles since these are important features that will allow them to carry their generators around effortlessly.

High Wattage

When operating a food truck, you’ll need power for all electric appliances, from the air conditioner to the electric oven and fridge.

Knowing this, it’s clear the food truck will require a higher wattage level to operate comfortably.

In my experience, your next generator should have at least 4400 peak watts and 3500 running watts to run a basic food truck’s kitchen. But sometimes, you need even more!

However, I’d recommend writing down the wattage level of each appliance you intend to connect to the generator to better understand how much power it should offer.

On that note, here’s a quick video that will teach you how to do this:

Tank Size

The size of your generator’s tank is directly related to the amount of runtime it provides.

I mean, a larger tank size means more gas, and more gas means a longer runtime on your generator, which could be critical for running a food truck.

However, one significant disadvantage is the bulkiness, since, with a larger tank capacity, the generator becomes heavier and more difficult to move around.

In my experience, the sweet spot for tank volume is roughly 3 to 10 gallons, which provides enough runtime without adding much bulk to the generator.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Certain questions always revolve around generators. Let’s discuss them.

Can I make my generator quieter?

There are a few things you can do to make your generator quieter:

• Select a generator that does not produce more than 80 decibels of noise; otherwise, the generator may be too annoying to have around
• Position the generator as far away from you as possible from where you are
• Direct the exhaust pipes away from where the food truck is running. – Place the generator on an antivibration surface made of rubber. This will assist in softening the motor’s vibrations.
• Wrap four pieces of fire-resistant drywall around the generator to help keep the sound from traveling to where you are. Using a generator enclosure may also help with this
• Replace your generator muffler with a larger one, which will significantly aid in quieting your generator. However, you will need some understanding to do so.

This guy made a video telling us how to make a generator quieter. Watch it, it might help you:

How quiet is a silent generator?

It’s very difficult to find a generator that is both powerful and quiet simultaneously, as they are often made with strong gas engines that vibrate and make a lot of noise when operating.

However, there are certain generators out there that are surprisingly quiet. In fact, this very article gives you a few options.

To answer the question, I managed to find generators that make as low as 57 dBA of noise, which is almost silent from ten feet away. Pretty impressive, huh?