The Generator's First Trip

[JoeTampa]

A few months ago, I bought a Champion 3100 watt inverter generator not only for use with our TT, but also for the house in case a hurricane or other situation required a modicum of electric power.

In (mis-)planning our upcoming two week trip, I accidentally booked one campground that has no hookups and was paid up front, non-refundable. So, looks like the generator gets to go for a ride!

My first concerns were:

1. How to take it with us. I bought it before I bought the current TV - which has a roll-up bed cover. Would it fit? Answer - yes - if only just. I got lucky.

2. How to secure it. I've read the horror stories on how they grow legs in short order.

3. Where to run it - which is also directly related to security.


I think I have the problems about as well solved as I can hope for at the moment. I will store and run the generator in the bed of the pickup. I have it sitting in the right rear of the bed, and will open the tailgate and the top cover while it's running and while it cools down. The exhaust is pointing directly out of the tailgate. The generator is strapped down in this position to avoid it moving around during travel.

For security, it will be locked with 3 5/8" Brinks cables and locked to the hook points in the front of the bed. I wound up using 3 cables - one on each handle and one on both handles. Two of them go to one hook point, the other (around both handles) goes to the other hook point.

When the generator is not running, the cover will be closed and locked, keeping it all out of sight.


I realize that this is not infallible, but I'm hoping that the number of cables and locks and the difficulty of having to cut them in the bed of the truck while we are at the campsite will make the challenge too difficult to accomplish easily and will cause the would-be thieves to move on.

To steal it, the thief would have to either:

1. Cut all 3 padlocks
2. Compromise both hook points
3. Cut all three cables
4. Remove or cut through both handles


If anyone has any suggestions to offer, I'd be most appreciative.

[mordecai81]

I just bought the same generator and plan on running it in the bed also. I got a Roll-x hard cover for the bed and will be careful to keep it closed except when running. My impression of the noise level in the bed is the same as yours. Have a good trip.

[JoeTampa]

NinerBikes wrote:
Staying in an RV park or campground is a target rich environment for thieves. Dry camping away from everyone else, not so much. Your choice, your $$$.

Thieves case RV parks for easy targets... casing an individual dry camping is a long shot, for amount of time the thief spends to get a single item.

Get off and away from paved roads if you want to camp without as much worry, as thieves are lazy, otherwise, they would work for their money.

I definitely agree with this sentiment. This is more out of stupidity necessity than intent - so hopefully my limited exposure to the potential problem works in my favor.

Again, the truck bed will only be unlocked and open when we are running the generator - and that will only be in the daytime while we are at the RV. Hopefully no one is casing the place at that time. 🙂

[NinerBikes]

Staying in an RV park or campground is a target rich environment for thieves. Dry camping away from everyone else, not so much. Your choice, your $$$.

Thieves case RV parks for easy targets... casing an individual dry camping is a long shot, for amount of time the thief spends to get a single item.

Get off and away from paved roads if you want to camp without as much worry, as thieves are lazy, otherwise, they would work for their money.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Knock knock
Who's there?
Robber with gun

Reasonable precautions with common sense will work 99.999% of the time. BTW the fence charger works like a charm. 0400 a scream outside my hotel room door. Tarp was pulled away. Bicycle untouched.

[pnichols]

We don't use non-hookup campgrounds to get away from generator noise. We use them for their often superior natural beauty. Whenever other campers are using generators that tells us it's alright for us to use ours.

For battery charging, we use a small discontinued 650 watt Honda generator that runs at all of it's power output levels at a noise level just one dB above the noise level of modern Honda inverter generators when they're idling. We're believers in using as small a generator as possible for routine RV battery charging to keep both fuel consumption and noise at minimums. We use the 4KW Onan for the microwave, the air compressor, the hair dryer, the air conditioner, and - should the need ever arise - for emergency electric heating.

[JoeTampa]

korbe wrote:

JoeTampa wrote:
?...... I accidentally booked one campground that has no hookups and was paid up front, non-refundable. .........

Many people go to the no hookup campgrounds to get away from the hustle and bustle ( and noise) of the RV park crowd.

When I stay at a campground without hookups, I just hope the generator users are not anywhere near me.

Yeah... Mea maxima culpa. I booked the reservation without checking if there were hookups or not. I'll only really run the generator for the A/C as needed; it's still going to be warm here in Florida while I am there. Hopefully it will be quiet enough that the neighbors are not disturbed, and there are quiet hours at night when the generator won't be run (and will be locked away under the locking bed cover).

[korbe]

JoeTampa wrote:
?...... I accidentally booked one campground that has no hookups and was paid up front, non-refundable. .........

Many people go to the no hookup campgrounds to get away from the hustle and bustle ( and noise) of the RV park crowd.

When I stay at a campground without hookups, I just hope the generator users are not anywhere near me.

[wa8yxm]

Inverter generators tend to be very quiet (I don't know how good that one is) and thus when inside you may not be all that able to hear them

Air conditioners on the other hand blow loud

An A/C set on "FAN mode" (Assuming you do not need a different mode) and fan on HIGH will be very noticable if someone shuts off your Generator while it is running or pulls the plug.

Alas. can't help you for when it's off.

[brirene]

I think you're good to go. As noted, if someone wants it bad enough they'll figure out a way to get it. Heck, if I thought I had to lock things up like Fort Knox I'd reconsider going. You've got it so it just can't be picked up and carried away without some difficulty. Effort is a deterrent to casual lowlifes.

[RV_daytrader]

Just get a harbor freight genny...thieves will feel sorry for you and may even give you a few bucks if you have a collection can by it!

[JoeTampa]

AllegroD wrote:

bikendan wrote:
I suggest a rubber bed mat, to dampen some of the noise.
My Avalanche came with a factory mat and it does help reduce some of the generator noise, when I run mine in the truck bed.

An anti-fatigue or comfort mat will work, also.

I should note that the generator is apparently not making any extra noise by virtue of being in the bed. Very minor vibration and no rattling. I'm not sure what else a mat might mitigate.

[AllegroD]

bikendan wrote:
I suggest a rubber bed mat, to dampen some of the noise.
My Avalanche came with a factory mat and it does help reduce some of the generator noise, when I run mine in the truck bed.

An anti-fatigue or comfort mat will work, also.

[JoeTampa]

Gdetrailer wrote:

DESPERATE THIEVES it will only delay them a few seconds, those cables are no match to modern day tools.. Cable cutters and portable battery powered grinder with cut off wheel only takes seconds to cut a cable, chain or even handle of a gen.

I know. As I said, it's not infallible. I'm hoping that it will be a somewhat harder target than "the average" and deter the casual snatch-and-grab. Heck, someone determined enough can steal the TT while we are away.. Just trying to improve my odds acceptably.

Gdetrailer wrote:

Out of sight is the BEST POLICY if you don't want something to grow legs. Even a soft bed cover would be better than full on advertising of a open bed.

I have a soft bed cover - a Roll*N*Lock - that will be in place and locked when the generator is not in use.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

???




Set the generator on rubber anything to isolate. Connect fence charge to truck battery.

The Eastern Diamondback replica is sold on Amazon.