Generator Lock

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.