Generator Lock

I use one of those motorcycle cable locks with a pin tumbler (round key). It's vinyl covered cable and don't rattle and it's weather proof too. I figure if a thief wants it bad enough and I'm not around, it's gone (it's insured anyway) but the cable lock takes some sawing to get through. Most thieves don't have the time (or the tools) to cut it.

Cables, chains and locks may slow a thief down at least. I recently learned of a way to scare them away. I follow a YouTube channel called "Nomadic Fanatic." He drives a class C that has his motorcycle attached to the back. He has some type of motion sensor alarm attached to the bike. The motion of someone trying to take the bike down sets it off, and it has worked to prevent theft. You would have to peruse his videos to find the brand. I think that such an alarm attached to a generator could be very effective.

I have an extra generator, an $89 Harbor Freight Tailgator. My logic is that few people will think that it is worth stealing, and so far my logic has worked.

You might contact
lowprolockdown.com and see if they might be working on a design for Ryobi generators. So far they have designs for 3 different Honda's, a Yamaha and a Champion. Basically they use a mounting plate that uses the holes for the foot pads bolts. The plate fits into a frame and uses a round Master padlock that fits into a shielded recess to lock down the generator.

If it looks like it's secured, that will address 95% of the problem. Most casual thieves will look for easy to steal items and pass by something that looks difficult.

You also benefit from owning an off brand. That's less desirable than the name brand generators...but even then not sure how big the market is for stolen small generators anyway.

Far more likely would be to steal the whole truck and then part it out...at a chop shop, they will have no issue cutting the generator free of just about anything you come up with.

SidecarFlip wrote:
I use one of those motorcycle cable locks with a pin tumbler (round key). It's vinyl covered cable and don't rattle and it's weather proof too. I figure if a thief wants it bad enough and I'm not around, it's gone (it's insured anyway) but the cable lock takes some sawing to get through. Most thieves don't have the time (or the tools) to cut it.

I had a bicycle locked with a braided cable like this. Very very easy to cut through, any homie will know how to do this in seconds and probably has the tool in their pocket. Very insecure, I'd advise getting a big chain instead. Very very easy to cut these cables, very easy, can I emphasize that enough? I caught the home boy. I was in camper and he cut cable easy, but the bike rack had other stabilizer things he could not see at night and it shook the camper when he thought he was taking off. I told him to get out before I did something to land ME in jail…

I have seen the Lowpro lockdown, nice, but half the price of the generator to begin with….and I already made my tray. If it was Ryobi I'd consider it. thanks.
I found the Nomadic video, will watch later…

I thought about getting one of those car wheel lug bolts with the security head and, with some likely welding involved, bolt the engine block to the rack somehow, but looking for easier solution…

Insurance? Yes, have it, no, don't want to make a claim on a $500 thing and risk rate increases, insurance is for big stuff in my mind… Also, $500 deductible.

Had some idiots try to steal a Honda moped once about ten years ago
Guess they didn't see the big chain and locks
They cut the a hold down strap with a knife
The 'SPRONG'sound and vibration was enough to send me and the dog flying out the door and they took off running
I replaced the strap the next morning, before moving out
They had only cut the first one, of four straps

harbor freight sells ($17.95IIRC) a massive chain/lock that would take a torch to cut thru.
bumpy

You know, some people buy a metal truck box and bolt it to their cargo carrier, then lock the generator in it. Protects it from the weather, and if thieves can't see the genny, they won't know it's there to steal it.

A box like this is not cheap, but you can think of it as a lifetime investment. Or you might be able to find a used one on Craigslist.

Some people even modify boxes like this to run the genny inside it. You can find YouTube videos showing this if you search.

Here's one example:

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200620936_200620936

I have my Honda 2000 in a "truck box" aluminum box, set up to run in the box and can run when driving if I want to.

The box is bolted to the rear frame of the RV and has a pad lock, would not be hard to steel but not for the snatch and run type. Box does not look like it has a generator in it.

marininn wrote:

I had a bicycle locked with a braided cable like this. Very very easy to cut through, any homie will know how to do this in seconds and probably has the tool in their pocket. Very insecure, I'd advise getting a big chain instead.

You did not have the right type of cable but evidently some small diameter piece of junk. No homey is going to pull something from his pocket and in 3 seconds cut through something such as



which is going to take homey quite a while to gnaw through no matter what tool he is carrying in his pocket even if its a 4' long pair of bolt cutters which will go through a large drag chain in about 2 seconds if he's a big homey.

Now if you're talking about something like this, then homey can probably gnaw through it in 30 seconds or so with a pair of good linesman's pliers.