Decent Security Cable/Chain

Keep in mind that there is no sure way to protect your generators.

Your best bet is to keep them out of sight as best as you can...

All you are doing with the cables and locks is to make it more difficult for them to get it and hoping they will go to the next trailer and steal their items...

The dudes that steal your item all have portable saws and large cable cutters and cut through those safety chains in a heart beat...

In my case I keep my single 2KW Honda Generator sitting secured in the tailgate corner of my truck bed. My truck bed has the hard folding hard plastic panels which are also lockable. The generator is totally out of of sight when not in use... Being in the back of my truck makes the generator go where I go... Never left at the camping spot unattended...

Roy Ken

Get some anodized carbon steel marine anchor chain, at least 3/4 in welded links. The theives will just cut the plastic handle off instead. You can use the chain for other things like vehicle recovery or weighting down your camp carpet.

I can guarantee those two yamaha's are going to be the very attractive to a thief. Think about it, the chain ain't the weak link, the frame/handle of the generator you are wrapping that chain around is. And unless you are ready to re-build the whole frame of the generator, I can cut the frame in about 30 seconds. The strongest chain in the world will just be laying on the ground still intact.
Don't leave your generators behind. Take them with you whenever you leave.

GordonThree wrote:
Get some anodized carbon steel marine anchor chain, at least 3/4 in welded links. The theives will just cut the plastic handle off instead. You can use the chain for other things like vehicle recovery or weighting down your camp carpet.

:B That made me laugh.

I bought a couple of these and some heavy duty keyed pad locks. I can tether the two cables together if I need it longer, but usually one does the trick. I secure my EU3000 in the back of the truck bed or to the frame of the TT or tree. It usually stays in the truck and I always cover it up when not in use. The EU3000 has a metal handle, but a determined thief is going to figure out a way. For me it's more of a deterrent and makes it not an easy target.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Master-Lock-180-in-Gray-Steel-Keyed-Cable-Lock/1000004536

Any good cable or chain will stop the casual drive by and snatch. No good for leaving stuff unattended for a long period or overnight.

Maybe I should have been more detailed. I don't ever plan to leave them behind if we actually leave the site by vehicle. I mainly bought my camper to take my son dirt bike racing. Same as above, I would lock them in the bed of my truck whenever we aren't at the track. But, while he is running a moto, we will be on the track, away from the camper. I don't plan on moving the gen's everytime we walk away so I want some sense of security. I know a determined thief will get it no matter what. I'm guessing a decent sized cable will make for a good deterrent though. And yes, try to keep them out of sight.

Some sort of a locking cage or frame for the truck bed might be a good bit more secure than a chain or cable lock. At the very least, if done correctly, it would eliminate the possibility of cutting the handles to remove the generators.

A bed cover for the truck might be another good way to go...out of sight, out of mind.

The most effective deterrent I've seen was a piece of 1/2" steel rebar bent into a U shape, so that it can pass through the handle and down over the generator into piece of steel plate. The bar is locked to the plate on the underside, and then either truck or trailer parks on an exposed portion of the plate so it's not going anywhere.

Trying to saw or grind through a thick piece of rebar will take at least 30 seconds, and create a lot of noise, hopefully drawing attention.

troubledwaters wrote:
the chain ain't the weak link, the frame/handle of the generator you are wrapping that chain around is. And unless you are ready to re-build the whole frame of the generator, I can cut the frame in about 30 seconds.

What pawn shop or person is going to buy a generator with a cut handle?