We have been camping for more than 30 years, in tents, pop ups, travel trailers and 3 different 5th wheels and have never had anything go missing until last week. We had a great week at Pismo Beach missing the triple digit temps at home, woke up on our last day and found the heavy duty braided cable that locked our Yamaha EF2400iS generator to the front leg cut and the generator gone. We filed a report with the Ca State Park police and our insurance company. I have already ordered 2 new Yamaha EF2000iS with the parallel cables.I am looking for any suggestions for securing the generators, I was planning on getting a Kryptonite chain and lock, anything better out there?

I put my yamaha 3000 on the ground and the ranger warned me of what can happen in that case. that was a few years ago at ventura on the highway, so what I did and you may not like the idea but I have to leave the gen. in the back of the truck at ventura to fit in the site. and I have a bolt that comes from the bottom of the bed of the truck that goes into a hole in the bottom of the gen. and I drilled a hole in the bolt and two flats for the lock to fit. I remove the oil change access door and put the lock on the inside of the gen. can't get to it with a bolt cutter. or grinder which I am guessing they used to cut the cable on yours.. I built a receiver for the back of the trailer and usually mount the gen in the carrier in the receiver and lock it the same way.

Hi,You can slow them down but you can't stop them.At one time I had a huge ten sign on my car for advertising. It became a neighborhood stunt to steal it. I added a bike horn so that if the straps were released it would ring. I never had a problem after that.

Abus Products make the most heavy duty locks and chains. They are very expensive but worth it. If a thief wants your stuff, they are going to take it. All you can do is make it as difficult as possible. Best deterrent is out of sight.

The best I have ever seen was the generator mounted to an oversized steel plate. They put the plate on the ground and drove the truck tire onto it. You could also lower the front landing gear onto it.

Now days with the cordless power tools, cutting through chain or steel cable can be done in seconds. When not using my twin Honda 2000s, I cover them with a tarp.There are handle guards that help prevent cutting through the handle which is a popular method of ripping them off.

Generator gone! | Good Sam Community

Paul_Clancy
Explorer
Oct 10, 2014
Junk4u wrote:
We are in process of install a video surveillance on our fifth wheel. We also have a recorder in the truck looking out the windshield.

Even if you don't have video.. a small sign saying you are on camera, does wonders..

You can't stop a good thief.. A cordless cut off tool will cut through anything, very fast..

But maybe you can get it back, if you can ID them .

Hoodies pretty much defeat cameras although I do like the camera idea. Being from canada I guess I fall into the "not worth killing someone over "camp. I pay enough for insurance I'd sure use it if my 2400is grew legs although I do chain it to the bumper to keep the honest campers honest.
TimnJo
Explorer
Oct 09, 2014
Not saying this is applicable everywhere, nor everywhere in Canada, nor typical, just what (didn't) happen to me:

In a Provincial Park campground this summer I left the front storage compartment door wide open overnight and most of the next day as we were touring the area.
My off-brand 2KW inverter generator was in plain sight the whole time , along with a bunch of other stuff, none of it was touched.

I hastened to close and lock it when I got back, and put the genset in the back of my truck as I know the locks on those compartments are a joke. We were there several more days and I still have that generator.

Tim
Junk4u
Explorer
Oct 09, 2014
We are in process of install a video surveillance on our fifth wheel. We also have a recorder in the truck looking out the windshield.

Even if you don't have video.. a small sign saying you are on camera, does wonders..

You can't stop a good thief.. A cordless cut off tool will cut through anything, very fast..

But maybe you can get it back, if you can ID them .
Padlin
Explorer
Oct 09, 2014
I do the same as Royb, keep my 2000i in the back of the truck under a soft trifold tonneau cover. I do keep it locked in there with a better bike lock, but that's just to keep the walk by thief honest. Also have a locking tailgate, between the cover and the tailgate it'd take a bit of work to get to the generator. I believe just being out of sight is the best preventative that I'm willing to take. With the 8' bed the trifold does not get in the way of hitching up, fairly cheap at $400, and more or less easily removed.
TOOBOLD
Explorer
Oct 09, 2014
When we go to Pismo I chain my Honda to the bumper of the trailer. At night I place the generator on the floorboard of the truck. I then activate the truck alarm.
avvidclif1
Explorer
Oct 09, 2014
Be tough in that trailer with the ac going and the generators running....
bogart661
Explorer
Oct 09, 2014
Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm not much of a gun guy so I'll pass on those suggestions. I received my new Yamaha 2000's and my plan is to chain them during the day with a Kryptonite chain and lock and put them inside at night, out of sight out of mind.
Community Alumni
Sep 28, 2014
Yosemitebobr wrote:
Same type used in automotive. The one when you push on a car and it sets it off. You can get them at any auto security store, and I believe I got mine at Walmart. My gen is a Champion 4500 but also sits on the moveable bumper space. Has a small plug so I can remove the Gen when I'm home.

Thanks for the info!
Yosemitebobr
Explorer
Sep 28, 2014
Same type used in automotive. The one when you push on a car and it sets it off. You can get them at any auto security store, and I believe I got mine at Walmart. My gen is a Champion 4500 but also sits on the moveable bumper space. Has a small plug so I can remove the Gen when I'm home.
Community Alumni
Sep 28, 2014
Can you tell us what type of motion alarm you have? I have been looking around for one.

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