My Yamaha EF2800i was easy to secure since it was an open frame design. Aside from the handles, my new Champion 3400 model doesn't show any obvious places to secure a locking device to it. Any brilliant ideas out there?

Hi,I had a cage built for my Yamaha 3000 sIEB. A determined thief could still steal it--but they are going to have to work a lot harder to do so.

I do not leave my generator outside unless I am where I can see it. At night after it has cooled off, I close the gas cap vent and place the unit in the front floorboard of my truck.When in use I have a one inch thick cable motorcycle lock that I picked up at a garage sale. I also use a 4 foot piece of logging chain with a high quality theft deterrent padlock. Both the cable and the chain go through the handle. I wrap the chain one time around the body of the generator and lock a second lock to close the loop as close to the generator as possible. Both the cable and chain are place through an opening in the frame of my 5th wheel and locked. It seems most thefts happen at night or when the RV owner is away for a period of time. One RV'er was inside his RV at Quartzite watching TV at night when the TV died. He ran outside as quick as possible and due to the desert darkness couldn't see anyone or any vehicle leaving his campsite. His generator was locked to the rear bumper of his TT using a heavy bicycle cable lock. He didn't hear the cable being cut or any unusual noise before the TV died.Another RV'er at Q lost his generator while he was out shopping for a few hours. He thought it would be safe because there were other RVs nearby....no one saw anything.

I just use a cable lock through the handle secured to the stairs. It's only to keep the honest, honest. It won't stop a determined thief. Life is too short to worry about wht might be.

cable lock and a Glock, and scattering a few empty shell casings near it also helps.

Not at all when using it.Cable lock through handles and the frame when away for a time. I lock it at the rear of the rig, away from the road, and throw a camo tarp over it. That at least hides the color and shape, making it less obvious to anyone driving by.Camo tarp is a couple yards of camo fabric from Walmart.

How do you lock/secure your generator? | Good Sam Community

bigorange
Explorer
Dec 17, 2017
Cable lock through the handle, locked to the frame of the trailer, and put it in a garbage bag...not going to stop someone determined, but keeps it out of sight.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 17, 2017
Which may come with free room and board at the crowbar hotel, possibly for a life term.

The lack of respect for life appalls me.

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
cable lock and a Glock, and scattering a few empty shell casings near it also helps.
Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Dec 16, 2017
.
What did they do to "Horse Thief's".. in the olden days ...

in the middle east.. what happened if a thief was caught... lost of a hand.

History... learn it or repeat it.

Jails and prisons are over full. courts are backed up for years.

no gov.ment actions to solve it.
bfast54
Explorer
Dec 16, 2017
GordonThree wrote:
Sounds like some folks have an unhealthy attachment to their material possessions, or are camping in all the wrong places.

Sounds to me like some people cherish what they worked hard to get.... and don't want other people to think that they can just come up and walk away with it ...

that's what it sounds like to me.....:W
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Wanting to keep your property and your family safe
Grit_dog
Navigator
Dec 16, 2017
ctilsie242 wrote:
What is wrong with just insuring the generator for replacement value, taking a photo of the generator, making a database entry with all that info, and then using a decent lock?

If you want lock recommendations, check out Bosnianbill and LocksmithingLawyer on YouTube. I like having a security chain, as well as a cable. The chain is good at fending off manual saws and bolt cutters, while the cable will slow down an angle grinder (although it may provide 5-10 seconds difference.)

Best thing is out of sight, out of mind. A truck cap that has tinted side windows that open for ventilation might be the best thing.

I understand defending the property, but the legal hassle of explaining to a DA, the thief's family, his homeys, and the lawyer that was hired, all about why the thief's life was worth less than a generator, is just not worth it. Far cheaper to make an insurance claim and buy a new one in 2-3 weeks.

I'll have to look into generator policies, lol.
BTW it's covered as contents on most decent policies, homeowner or rv. Doesn't change the fact that when you get up to fire up the heater and the gene is gone, you're screwed. And unless you have a super low deductible (stupid) the deductible is half to more than the cost of the gene.
And don't worry about the rest of us. Guessing most are smart enough to not shoot someone over a generator. I might shoot the car tires though!

Funny story, a friend's neighbor got burglarized recently. Another neighbor had the perps car on video. Worthless cops wouldn't do anything with the license plate info (not enough evidence to put down the donuts). The guy with video is a cop too. Ran the plates, gave victim the address of the car. Victim went over and made the car into a bonfire! It was awesome. The only thing missing was the note on the door saying "bring my sht back or your next."
Grit_dog
Navigator
Dec 16, 2017
kerrlakeRoo wrote:
cable lock and a Glock, and scattering a few empty shell casings near it also helps.

Best answer yet!
Last month had a Honda 2000 ripped off in plain sight on the job. Guys had it on the tailgate running, cord stretched about 50' away. Car stopped, guy ran over, unplugged it, tossed it in the back seat and gone in like 4 seconds.
This is another one of those questions where the answer "depends". Go get a big chain and a big lock. Lock it to something? I lock mine to the tie down ring in my truck bed. When the camper is on, it's impossible to get to. When the bed is empty, it's still a challenge. One could easily in bolt the tiedown ring, but it's a torx head and I red loctited them in.
Route_66_Travel
Explorer
Dec 16, 2017
Personally I would not have an ignition source that close to propane, but that's just me.
ependydad
Explorer
Dec 16, 2017
I opted for the LowPro LockDown. It seems as close to theft proof as I could find.
Copperhead
Explorer
Dec 16, 2017
Might take a look at the generator boxes at KSH Marine. They make aluminum generator boxes that the genset sits in it and runs in it also while staying locked up. Removable panels on side allow for ventilation and exhaust. Not sure what they have for an open frame, but I have been using a Yamaha EF2000 in one of their boxes and it is great. Protected out of the weather and the gen runs great in winter or summer right inside the box. I just open the top lid, remove a couple of side panels, start everything, close the top lid and lock it. You can mount the box on a trailer tongue or bumper and the gen can ride there and operate there.

https://kshmarine.com/custom-generator-boxes/
ctilsie242
Explorer II
Jul 25, 2017
What is wrong with just insuring the generator for replacement value, taking a photo of the generator, making a database entry with all that info, and then using a decent lock?

If you want lock recommendations, check out Bosnianbill and LocksmithingLawyer on YouTube. I like having a security chain, as well as a cable. The chain is good at fending off manual saws and bolt cutters, while the cable will slow down an angle grinder (although it may provide 5-10 seconds difference.)

Best thing is out of sight, out of mind. A truck cap that has tinted side windows that open for ventilation might be the best thing.

I understand defending the property, but the legal hassle of explaining to a DA, the thief's family, his homeys, and the lawyer that was hired, all about why the thief's life was worth less than a generator, is just not worth it. Far cheaper to make an insurance claim and buy a new one in 2-3 weeks.