Looking for ideas on the best way to secure a 3700 watt inverter generator to a rear cargo carrier attached to a trailer's frame mounted reciever hitch. Genny weighs about 95 lbs. I've seen a couple of products online, one being a locking tray that attaches to a reciever hitch: Generator tray for receiver hitchAs I would like to use my larger 60x24" cargo carrier (to carry additional fuel), what have RV owners done to fabricate something like this with an existing carrier? Pics would be helpful.I thought about constructing a 5-sided expanded metal box to slip over the generator, bolting it down to the carrier and punching out 2 windows for front panel and fill cap access. I could then slip over a waterproof cover and it would be hidden from view.The plan is to make power accessibility extremely easy for an up coming 2 month alaskan adventure. As we'll be moving pretty frequently, it would be nice to be able to remove the cover, connect the 30 amp trailer plug, and use the wireless remote to start/stop the genny without ever having to move it.Again, any pics on how to best secure a generator tona cargo carrier are appreciated.

I use a heavy 3/8 inch links chain, about 10 feet long so that I can move the gen off the carrier and a little way away from the RV when running. I use a couple of those circular locks to lock it to the RV. The gen set has a steel frame tho I understand some do not. It is an inverter 3500/4000 Champion. I also carry a 5 gal gas can back there and run the chain thru the can handle. I have to loop the chain around a couple of times thru the carrier because it is long. This worked for 9000 miles this summer.As for cover Champion sells a waterproof cover for $15 on Amazon that worked OK. It has a draw string around the bottom and it stayed on all summer.If you run the gen on the carrier the noise and vibration inside will not be very tolerable. I did it once for 5 minutes or so.

agesilaus wrote:If you run the gen on the carrier the noise and vibration inside will not be very tolerable. I did it once for 5 minutes or so.This is a very quiet Westinghouse inverter generator. It's not an open frame generator. Similar to a Champion 3100/2800 Inverter generator. Noise is comparable to a Honda.

The 3500/4000 inverter champion is also very quiet so I would run yours on the cargo rack before building anything just to see how it goes. Goes inside and sit down for a few minutes to see if it is tolerable.

agesilaus wrote:The 3500/4000 inverter champion is also very quiet so I would run yours on the cargo rack before building anything just to see how it goes. Goes inside and sit down for a few minutes to see if it is tolerable.I had my 2800/3100 inverter generator on the front of my trailer for deer camp and it worked out great. The Westinghouse is the same and truly is an Inverter generator. Can't use the front this time as the space is all taken by my tongue box and battery bank. So, I'm looking for security solutions on the rear with a cargo carrier.BTW, I was unaware that Champion manufactured an insulated inverter generator in a 3500/4000 series. The only one that I found was a 64 dBA construction frame genny (compared to 52 dBA on the Westinghouse). But I digress.

For those that use cables to secure your "stuff" to prevent theft:You can buy this cable cutter at HF for $20 to silently defeat the thickest cable.If on the other hand, if you use heavy chain, you take your pick of bolt cutters that will pop a chain with almost no noise:https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=bolt%20cutterIf all else fails, Dremel makes a battery powered tool with a cutoff wheel attachment that will slice through just about anything including hardened locks. It does make a little noise though.The point I'm making is that nothing is safe anymore if the theft shows up prepared. Bolt those things down - you can't rely on chains and cables anymore.

Securing Generator To A Cargo Carrier On A Receiver Hitch

agesilaus
Explorer III
Feb 29, 2020
I use a heavy 3/8 inch links chain, about 10 feet long so that I can move the gen off the carrier and a little way away from the RV when running. I use a couple of those circular locks to lock it to the RV. The gen set has a steel frame tho I understand some do not. It is an inverter 3500/4000 Champion. I also carry a 5 gal gas can back there and run the chain thru the can handle. I have to loop the chain around a couple of times thru the carrier because it is long. This worked for 9000 miles this summer.

As for cover Champion sells a waterproof cover for $15 on Amazon that worked OK. It has a draw string around the bottom and it stayed on all summer.

If you run the gen on the carrier the noise and vibration inside will not be very tolerable. I did it once for 5 minutes or so.
CJM1973
Explorer
Feb 29, 2020
agesilaus wrote:
If you run the gen on the carrier the noise and vibration inside will not be very tolerable. I did it once for 5 minutes or so.

This is a very quiet Westinghouse inverter generator. It's not an open frame generator. Similar to a Champion 3100/2800 Inverter generator. Noise is comparable to a Honda.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Feb 29, 2020
The 3500/4000 inverter champion is also very quiet so I would run yours on the cargo rack before building anything just to see how it goes. Goes inside and sit down for a few minutes to see if it is tolerable.
CJM1973
Explorer
Feb 29, 2020
agesilaus wrote:
The 3500/4000 inverter champion is also very quiet so I would run yours on the cargo rack before building anything just to see how it goes. Goes inside and sit down for a few minutes to see if it is tolerable.

I had my 2800/3100 inverter generator on the front of my trailer for deer camp and it worked out great. The Westinghouse is the same and truly is an Inverter generator. Can't use the front this time as the space is all taken by my tongue box and battery bank. So, I'm looking for security solutions on the rear with a cargo carrier.

BTW, I was unaware that Champion manufactured an insulated inverter generator in a 3500/4000 series. The only one that I found was a 64 dBA construction frame genny (compared to 52 dBA on the Westinghouse). But I digress.
DFord
Explorer
Feb 29, 2020
For those that use cables to secure your "stuff" to prevent theft:
You can buy this cable cutter at HF for $20 to silently defeat the thickest cable.

If on the other hand, if you use heavy chain, you take your pick of bolt cutters that will pop a chain with almost no noise:
https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=bolt%20cutter

If all else fails, Dremel makes a battery powered tool with a cutoff wheel attachment that will slice through just about anything including hardened locks. It does make a little noise though.

The point I'm making is that nothing is safe anymore if the theft shows up prepared. Bolt those things down - you can't rely on chains and cables anymore.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Feb 29, 2020
Chain and cable just deter the casual thief, someone wandering, with deficient morals, by and sees an unattached high value item. It obviously will not stop a prepared and determined thief. There are any number of ways to cut a cable/chain.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Feb 29, 2020
Lock and hide has kept my quiet Westinghouse generator my Westinghouse generator.
valhalla360
Navigator
Mar 01, 2020
What are you towing with? We keep a generator in the truck bed and by directing the exhaust away from the sides can run it in the bed. It has a box that slides over the top to keep it out of sight and out of the weather....it's about 12yr old and I do need to do a little rebuild as it's plywood and the bottom is starting to rot.

1) Is your trailer hitch actually frame mounted and solid?
2) I would get nervous with a 100lb generator plus another 100lb of gas...that's a lot of weight and the back of a trailer can move around quite a bit on rough roads.
3) A cable lock is a reasonable solution. It will deter most potential thefts but not all.
4) Most people aren't over sensitive to generator noise...especially since most only run them longer time frames if they have the air/con running...which makes plenty of noise.
dave17352
Explorer
Mar 01, 2020
CJM1973 wrote:
agesilaus wrote:
If you run the gen on the carrier the noise and vibration inside will not be very tolerable. I did it once for 5 minutes or so.

I would have to disagree with this. I have used mine in such a fashion on my 5th wheel and on the front of my truck. The front of the truck I can easily sleep with it running. It is almost not noticeable when wide awake. It is a little more noticeable when on the 5th wheel. But not bad at all. I have a honda 3u3000 which of course is very quiet and smooth.

This is a very quiet Westinghouse inverter generator. It's not an open frame generator. Similar to a Champion 3100/2800 Inverter generator. Noise is comparable to a Honda.
dave17352
Explorer
Mar 01, 2020
With my honda generator I had four pieces of metal welded to the base of the cargo carrier that where inserted into the base of the my honda generator. It is not welded to the generator but is welded to the carrier. It may seem extreme but it serves me well. All though I still strap the generator to keep it tight to the carrier it is virtually impossible for it to bounce off the rack even if the straps brake. Also with it attached to the rack it would take two young strapping men to steal it:) After of course cutting the high grade locking pin.