Greengear LPG Generators UK: 3kW vs 5kW vs 7kW for Mobile Catering 2026

Three sizes, three engines, three very different jobs — and most mobile caterers buy the wrong one because they look at the kW number on the spec sheet and stop there. The Greengear range is genuinely the price-leader in commercial LPG/propane generators in the UK, but the only thing worse than overpaying for power you don’t need is undersizing and tripping out mid-trade. This guide walks through what each Greengear actually runs, what it weighs in your trailer, and how to pick one without guessing.

Quick answer if you only have 30 seconds: the 5kW Greengear is the right call for most single-trader food vans (one fryer, one griddle, lights, music). The 3kW is for low-draw setups (a coffee trailer with kettle, blender, lights). The 7kW is for hot-food trailers running multiple gas-and-electric appliances or pulling a fridge plus event lighting at the same time.

The full Greengear range at a glance

All three Greengear generators share the same core architecture: OHV single-cylinder, 4-stroke, forced-air cooled, with the dedicated ENERKIT BASIC propane carburettor (this is a factory-fitted LPG system — not a bolt-on conversion kit). Inlet pressure is the same across the range (1.0–2.5 BAR), so the same regulator and hose work on all three. What changes is engine size, fuel burn, weight, and how many appliances they can carry.

Three things worth flagging from that table that most spec sheets bury. First, the larger engines burn fewer grams of propane per kWh — the 7kW is actually the most fuel-efficient per unit of power produced (318 g/kWh vs 441 g/kWh on the 3kW). If you’re going to be at high load all day, the bigger unit can work out cheaper to run per kW used. Second, electric start is standard across the UK range — no recoil-only models in this lineup. Third, the 7kW is lighter than the 5kW (89 kg vs 93 kg) because of a slightly tighter frame design, which matters if you’re lifting it in and out of a trailer single-handed.

Greengear 3kW — for low-draw mobile setups

The Greengear 3kW LPG generator is built around the GG3GN 212cc OHV engine, delivering 2.8 kW continuous and 3.1 kW peak. At 49 kg it’s the only Greengear in the range a single person can comfortably lift in and out of a trailer without help.

What it actually runs: a Fracino Cherub coffee machine on standby, a small grinder, LED lighting, a fridge, a card terminal and a Bluetooth speaker — total continuous draw around 1.8–2.2 kW. That leaves headroom for a kettle (though not at the same time as the espresso machine pulling shots). For a coffee trailer or a low-power crepe stand, the 3kW is the right size. It’s also the cheapest LPG generator MobCater stocks at from £649.

Where the 3kW falls short: anything with a heating element pulling more than 2 kW. A 3 kW kettle at full draw will spike past the rated output. A panini grill, electric griddle, or commercial water boiler will overload it. Don’t try to run an electric fryer off it.

Run time depends on cylinder size more than load. A standard 13 kg propane cylinder at 50% load will give you roughly 8–10 hours of continuous trading, which is a full market day with margin to spare.

Greengear 5kW — the workhorse for single-trader food vans

The Greengear 5kW LPG generator is the unit most mobile caterers actually need. The GG4GN 389cc engine puts out 5.0 kW continuous, which lands in the sweet spot for a single-cooker food van setup. At from £949 it’s also the most popular Greengear sale on MobCater.

Realistic load: an LPG fridge or fridge-freezer (electric component ~150 W), an extraction fan, LED lighting, an electric griddle on its lowest setting (~2 kW), a kettle for tea between rushes, a card terminal, music, and phone charging. That’s a typical burger van or hot-dog trailer — and the 5kW carries it without flinching.

The 21.7 A rated current matters here. If your trailer wiring is set up for a 16 A or 32 A inlet (common for festival pitches with hookup), the 5kW comfortably feeds into either through a splitter. The 115/230V dual voltage also opens up slightly broader compatibility if you’ve got any imported equipment in the mix.

The trade-off is weight. At 93 kg, the 5kW is a two-person lift. Most caterers leave it permanently mounted in a vented compartment in the trailer rather than moving it daily.

Greengear 7kW — for high-draw or multi-appliance setups

The Greengear 7kW LPG generator uses the GG6GN 445cc engine — the largest in the range — putting out 7.0 kW continuous and 7.5 kW peak. It’s also rated to 30 A, which means it can drive a 32 A pitch-side socket directly without throttling.

From £1,249, it’s the right call when you’re running multiple energy-hungry items at the same time. A typical load: an LPG bain marie (electric heating element, ~1.5 kW), a panini press, an electric coffee machine (3 kW peak), under-counter fridge, full LED lighting rig, sound system, and a chest freezer. That’s a busy event-catering setup and the 7kW handles it without dropping voltage when the fridge compressor kicks in.

Two practical advantages over the 5kW. First, it’s lighter (89 kg vs 93 kg) thanks to the redesigned frame. Second, fuel consumption per kWh produced is significantly lower — 318 g/kWh vs the 5kW’s 398 g/kWh — so if you’re trading at high load all day, propane costs come out lower per pound of revenue earned.

The 7kW is overkill for a coffee trailer or a single-fryer burger van. If you’re pulling under 4 kW of continuous draw, you’ll be paying for capacity you never use. But for two-cooker hot-food setups or event work where you don’t always know what the pitch will demand, the 7kW removes the question.

How to pick the right size — the load calculation that matters

The honest way to size a generator is to add up every appliance you’ll run at the same time, then add 30% headroom for start-up surge on motors and compressors.

Worked example for a typical burger van:

• Electric griddle (low setting): 2,000 W
• Bain marie warming tray: 800 W
• Under-counter fridge: 150 W (but ~600 W startup surge)
• LED lighting: 60 W
• Extraction fan: 200 W
• Card machine + phone charger: 30 W
• Music: 50 W
• Continuous total: 3,290 W
• With 30% headroom: 4,277 W

That sits comfortably inside the 5kW Greengear’s 5.0 kW rated output. If you added a panini press (1,800 W) to the same setup, total would push to 5,090 W continuous — which is the point you step up to the 7kW.

The mistake most beginners make is sizing for what they currently use without thinking about appliance start-up surge. A fridge compressor draws 3–5x its running wattage for the first second or two of every cycle. A small generator that “should be enough” on paper will trip every time the fridge kicks in.

Running costs — what propane actually costs per trading day

Working off a 13 kg propane cylinder priced around £35 at typical UK trade rates (April 2026), here’s what you can expect to spend on fuel:

Compared to running an equivalent petrol generator, propane usually saves around 30–40% on fuel cost per kWh produced. The difference compounds quickly over a trading season.

Why propane (not butane) — and why this matters for you

All three Greengears are rated for propane only, never butane. This isn’t a marketing preference — it’s physics. Butane stops vaporising below around 2°C. The UK trades outdoors. By April or October, butane in a cylinder simply won’t deliver enough vapour pressure to keep a generator engine running, and the engine will starve and stall halfway through service.

Propane vaporises down to about –42°C, so it works in a frosty market car park in February. This is also why the Greengear’s ENERKIT BASIC carburettor is set up for propane at the 1.0–2.5 BAR inlet range only.

If you’re on the leasing side and looking at second-hand trailers that came with butane systems, factor in the cost of a propane regulator and hose (about £25–£35) plus a switch to propane cylinders. Don’t try to run a propane-rated generator on butane — it’ll work for an hour, then fail you on the second cylinder.

What’s in the box — and what you’ll need to buy separately

Every Greengear ships with: the generator itself, hose, regulator, a multi-tool kit (1 funnel, 2 spanners, 1 plug spanner, 1 plug spanner lever, 1 Allen key), 2 wheels with axle hardware, 2 fold-down handles with brackets, 2 rubber feet with bolts, and the operator’s manual. Wheel and handle assembly is required out of the box but takes about 15 minutes with the supplied tools.

What you’ll usually want to buy on top:

• A second propane cylinder (so you can swap mid-day without downtime)
• A 1,000-hour service kit (oil, filter, spark plug — recommended at the first major service)
• A 32A-to-2x16A splitter if you’re feeding two trailer circuits
• An MCB (miniature circuit breaker) inline if your trailer wiring doesn’t already have one

The barista kit, water system, or specific catering equipment you need depends on your trade — start with our wider LPG generator range if you want to compare against other models.

Warranty, service, and back-to-base reality

The Greengear range comes with 12 months manufacturer warranty or 1,000 hours of running, whichever comes first. The warranty is conditional on following the maintenance schedule in the operator’s manual — that’s mostly oil changes at 50 hours, then every 100 hours, plus annual filter and spark plug replacement.

One thing to be straight about: warranty work is back-to-base only. There are no engineer site visits for these units. If something goes wrong inside the warranty period, the generator returns to the workshop for assessment. Collection is the customer’s responsibility — typically £95 collection plus £115 return delivery, or you can drop it in yourself if you’re nearby. This is standard for commercial LPG generators in the UK and doesn’t change much between brands.

Practical takeaway: keep your service records (oil change dates, hours run) so any future warranty claim isn’t disputed. The 1,000-hour service kit available with the unit is the easiest way to keep that schedule on track.

Greengear vs the rest of the LPG generator market

Greengear sits at the price-led end of the commercial LPG generator market in the UK. To put that in context (April 2026 pricing, equivalent kW class):

The Greengear isn’t the quietest generator on the market (Honda EU-series and Greenpower Low Noise are both quieter at higher pricing). It isn’t the most refined inverter-class unit either. What it is, is reliably good value for purpose-built commercial LPG generation — proper Italian-engineered ENERKIT carburettor, electric start, 12-month warranty, all the practical kit you need to run a mobile catering business without paying premium-brand prices.

Frequently asked questions

Which Greengear generator do I need for a mobile coffee trailer?

For most single-machine mobile coffee setups (one espresso machine, grinder, fridge, lighting, card terminal), the 3kW Greengear from £649 is the right size. If you’re running a dual-fuel coffee machine like the Fracino Contempo at full electric load, step up to the 5kW from £949 — you’ll need the 5.0 kW continuous rating to handle the boiler and grouphead heating elements together.

Can I run a Fracino LPG coffee machine and an electric griddle off the same Greengear?

Yes — but only on the 5kW or 7kW. Fracino LPG coffee machines use propane for the boiler, but their grouphead heating elements are electric (typically ~2 kW peak). Add an electric griddle (2 kW) and a fridge, and you’re already at 4 kW continuous. The 5kW handles this with a small margin; the 7kW handles it comfortably with headroom for additional appliances.

How long will a Greengear run on one propane cylinder?

It depends on cylinder size and load. As a guide, a standard 13 kg propane cylinder at 50% load runs the 3kW for around 9–10 hours, the 5kW for 6–7 hours, and the 7kW for 5–6 hours. A 47 kg cylinder roughly triples those run times. Most caterers carry a spare cylinder so they can swap mid-trading without downtime.

Why can’t I use butane in a Greengear instead of propane?

Butane stops vaporising below around 2°C and won’t deliver enough gas pressure to run a generator engine in UK outdoor conditions for most of the year. The Greengear ENERKIT BASIC carburettor is set up for propane at 1.0–2.5 BAR — propane vaporises down to –42°C, so it’s reliable through winter trading. Mobile catering in the UK uses propane only; butane is for indoor and patio use.

Does the Greengear need a service every year?

The maintenance schedule is hours-based, not calendar-based. First oil change at 50 running hours, then every 100 hours. Annual replacement of spark plug and air filter is recommended even if you’re under 100 hours. The 1,000-hour service kit covers a major service due once a year for typical mobile catering use. Keeping records is essential for warranty validity.

What’s the noise level of a Greengear generator?

The 7kW Greengear runs at around 72 dB at 7 metres — typical for a commercial frame-type LPG generator. The 3kW and 5kW are slightly quieter due to smaller engines. If your trading pitch has strict noise restrictions (e.g. wedding venues, residential markets), look at inverter-class generators like the Honda EU70is or Greenpower Low Noise range, which run 53–66 dB but cost three to four times more.

Does the Greengear come with a warranty?

Yes — 12 months or 1,000 running hours, whichever comes first. Warranty is back-to-base only (no engineer site visits) and is conditional on following the maintenance schedule in the operator’s manual. Collection cost is the customer’s responsibility — typically £95 collection plus £115 return delivery, or you can deliver it to the workshop yourself. This is standard for commercial LPG generators in the UK.