Is it worth buying a portable power station for a motorhome?

A touring gadget that has undoubtedly risen in popularity in recent years is the portable power station, with a number of brands such as Jackery, EcoFlow and Bluetti selling models of various capacities. However, you could find yourself asking, is it worth buying a portable power station for a motorhome? Will they enhance your tours?

There’s no getting away from the fact that even the best portable power station for a campervan can take up a fair bit of payload, with some weighing over 20kg, and can also be fairly expensive.

However, they’re a gadget which can make a difference to a tour, giving you valuable access to extra power when you’re pitched up, so you can operate your favourite electrical touring essentials, such as the best air fryer for a motorhome.

So who needs one, and who doesn’t? Are they a touring gadget which is an unnecessary cost, or are they a must-have? Let’s take a look at their pros and cons.

The pros of a portable power station

A portable power station will fundamentally provide you with three big benefits. Firstly, as its name implies, you get a portable source of power, which you can not only move around when you’re on-site, but also take on days out to the beach or similar, or even use around your home if you so desire.

As our contributor, Nigel Donnelly, says: “The main advantage of a power station is that it gives you access to 230V mains power, whereas a typical motorhome system only supplies a low-voltage 12v supply. So, if you need to run mains-powered devices away from a hook-up, a power station can solve that problem.”

Secondly, if you’re not confident with DIY, it saves you from potentially damaging your ‘van by inadvertently bodging any wiring.

It also gives you the convenience of accessing a motorhome inverter without risking draining your main battery bank, as well as other extra ports, such as USB-C outputs.

Pick the right one and you will find they could allow you to run gadgets such as an air fryer without risking your ‘van’s leisure battery. They could also keep any gadgets you need for your on-tour hobbies topped up if you’re off-grid or only have access to limited hook-up.

The cons of a portable power station

So it’s clear to see how a portable power station could enhance a tour. There are, however, some instances where you may think you don’t need one, especially after factoring in the cost.

For instance, if you’re simply looking at ways of extending your wild camping capabilities, doubling up your battery bank could prove a more cost-effective option.

Some ‘van owners may be tempted by a power station because it gets you an inverter and extra ports, but you could always consider buying these separately and getting them fitted by a professional, too.

Nigel added: “I’d say that for a traditional motorhome with access to mains hook-up, 12V electrics, and a healthy leisure battery, a portable power station is more of a nice-to-have upgrade to get for a ‘van, rather than a necessity.”

“That’s because a power station will essentially duplicate what the motorhome already does – providing power when mains isn’t available.”

It may also not be worth buying one if you’re watching your motorhome weights too. After all, these can be heavy pieces of gear, and if you only have limited payload available, you may not want to sacrifice a large chunk of it if it means foregoing other touring essentials.

The verdict

Fundamentally, it all boils down to personal preference. If you’re thinking you would only need power within the motorhome itself, you’re pretty much doubling up on the systems you already have to hand.

However, if you prioritise convenience and versatility, a portable power station will come into its own, particularly if you’re away from hook-up and want the freedom to operate gadgets wherever you go. Just make sure you factor in the weight and ensure the capacity will meet your requirements.

Another touring gadget you may be considering is a new leisure battery. If you’re unsure about the right type to get, see what we have to say about whether a lithium leisure battery is worth it or not.

Written with contributions from Nigel Donnelly and Peter Rosenthal.

Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Motorhome, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. Double check any warranty is not affected before proceeding.

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