How do you store/secure your portable generator?

[texasAUtiger]

I'm posting here in order to target those who are (obviously) towing bumper pull trailers and many here are likely using pickups as their tow vehicles (which is what I have).

Being in Texas and camping the vast majority of the time in the south, I am interested in getting a generator in order to run the A/C at times when I don't have electrical hookups (for example, in many federally managed lands).

If I get a 3000 watt Honda or Yamaha, these things are heavy (150+ lbs) so I thought I'd put in the bed of the truck close to the cab secured with various cables to prevent a lazy thief from getting. Of course, nothing is going to stop a truly determined thief. But then when we go off sightseeing or visiting town, the generator is "exposed" to the public which increases its likelihood of being stolen. But then this thing is a bear to get in and out of the truck each time we return home from a trip.

On the other hand, a pair of paralleled Honda 2000's are much lighter (50ish lbs each).

I am curious how you secure your portable generator(s) especially when you are going into town while camping. Leaving it at the campsite with no one there seems risky, but so does leaving it in the truck unless I get some clever way to hide/disguise them. But that seems to entail a big storage or tool box...

Maybe I am too paranoid about two, $1000 generators (or one $2000) generator walking off?

Thanks for your input.

[TheGriswolds]

When I'm not using our 2 Yamaha 2000's I put them in the cab of the truck.

[wrenchbender]

I secure my Honda with a bungee cord thru the handle,with the exhaust pipe aimed aft.when not in use I have a lid on the pickup bed and that puts it out of sight and out of mind.

[West_Coast_Canu]

SoundGuy wrote:

West Coast Canuck wrote:
I have a Champion 3100 watt inverter generator that I cable lock to the rear bumper of my TT. I can leave it there because it is under the rear bed slide.

Presumably you don't RUN it when it's sitting under that rear bed slide ... right? :E

No, it gets stored under the slide during the day and locked to the bumper. I pull it out and put on the left side of the trailer with the exhaust turned away when it is running. Keenly aware of Carbon Monoxide....been working around cars all my life.

[hohenwald48]

Double post. Sorry.

[SoundGuy]

West Coast Canuck wrote:
I have a Champion 3100 watt inverter generator that I cable lock to the rear bumper of my TT. I can leave it there because it is under the rear bed slide.

Presumably you don't RUN it when it's sitting under that rear bed slide ... right? :E

[West_Coast_Canu]

I have a Champion 3100 watt inverter generator that I cable lock to the rear bumper of my TT. I can leave it there because it is under the rear bed slide. It gets stored in the truck when I do not need to use it and I cable lock to the tie down in the bed of my truck. I have a cap on my truck as well that is locked.

[deltabravo]

I have a canopy on my truck, so the generator will live there when not in use.

Options: Tonneau cover on your truck bed.

[dave54]

A thick cable around the bumper or tongue, whichever is more hidden from the road. A camo tarp thrown over them obscures them more. The tarp is a couple yards of camo cloth from Walmart.

[2manytoyz]

I keep the generator in the back of the truck. It has a Python lock through a hole I drilled in the generator frame, and through the tiedown point in the bed of the truck.

When it has cooled down, I put a cover I made over it. It's only uncovered when needed. This makes it less of a target when digging for something else in the back of the truck:







Then I roll the RollBak G2 aluminum cover closed, and lock the tailgate:



Out of sight, out of mind.

Oh, I did move the tongue jack on the trailer. The long tailgate on the F150 would hit. Now I can drop the tailgate at rest stops, run the generator in place, while we are taking a lunch break.

[Atlee]

When not deployed, my twin Honda's are relatively safe inside the truck topper I have on my truck.

When deployed, I have a very thick cable that I use to connect them to a secure structure, such as the chassis of the trailer, a tree, etc.

[FishHaggis]

in terms of security, maybe put a trail camera on it? I have used alarms that use extension cords so you wrap whatever in an extension cord and plug both ends into the alarm. Have to unplug to take whatever, breaking the circuit and setting off an alarm. Not sure if ther is an R V unit like that.

[FishHaggis]

Compared to a lot of generators in the parks here, my Honda Handi 3000 is quiet. It's designed for just my type of set up. I have run the AC on it no issues but only for about half an hour. Not much need for AC up here. Next year I am travelling south to Jasper and Banff and will put it through its paces regarding the AC.

[hohenwald48]

Since I tow with an SUV and not a pick up, I have my eu3000i bolted and locked to one of these using some lock bars I made out of tool steel. I suppose given enough time and the proper tools it could be stolen but it would take some planning and more than a little time to get at it. I just pop the cover off, plug in the TT and let her run.

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Cargo-Control/Stromberg-Carlson/CC-255.html?feed=npn&gclid=CK2Oo8bV1scCFQktaQodudYL5g

[PAAK]

I keep my locked in the bed of the ruck until I need it. If it is raining, I leave it in te bed under the lockable hard cover and leave the tail gate down.