I am getting ready to purchase a champion 3100 inverter/ genorator for running my ac and stuff when I boondocks in parking lots and such on my way to campgrounds. I will haul it in the bed of my truck. But when I am ready to use it, where should I put it and how should I secure it to keep it from getting stolen easily? Chain it to my camper bumper?

Unfortunately with the advancement in cordless power tool technology nothing is safe. A chain and a lock are nothing anymore. For that reason I chose to bolt my Honda 3000 into the truck bed and then fabricated a ventilated metal enclosure to go over it and its bolted to the bed. When it fires up a 12 inch 120 volt axial fan pushes about 700 cfpm of air through the cabinet. It may seem like over kill but it would take 2 people a considerable amount of time to remove all this stuff. One would have to be under the truck and one up above as it's put together with nylock nuts. First they would have to figure out where the bolts are under the generator and how to reach them with a wrench. Mine has remote start and an extension cable that reaches the tailgate and twist locks to my FW cord and into the transfer switch.The low hanging fruit is picked first. There is nothing that cant be stolen so it's just a matter of making your stuff not worth the hassle.

If some one wants it badly enough they will get it. A bolt cutter will destroy the strongest chain but is about your best option. Make it distinctive, paint decals...

rjxj wrote: For that reason I chose to bolt my Honda 3000 into the truck bed and then fabricated a ventilated metal enclosure to go over it and its bolted to the bed. And, unfortunately, if they really want your generator, they'll take the truck. :(There should be an open season on thieves. :)

I find the best plan for me is to keep it out of sight when not in use. I keep mine secured in the tail gate corner of my truck bed which is also covered with a lockable folding bed cover.. My generator goes where I go...When I use my generator I just pull it out on the tail gate and point the exhaust off to the side.Roy Ken

There two ways to look at this.They steal it OrIf it locked up to good the wreck so bad you can use it and every thing around it

How to keep genorator secure while in use? | Good Sam Community

azrving
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
Unfortunately with the advancement in cordless power tool technology nothing is safe. A chain and a lock are nothing anymore. For that reason I chose to bolt my Honda 3000 into the truck bed and then fabricated a ventilated metal enclosure to go over it and its bolted to the bed. When it fires up a 12 inch 120 volt axial fan pushes about 700 cfpm of air through the cabinet.

It may seem like over kill but it would take 2 people a considerable amount of time to remove all this stuff. One would have to be under the truck and one up above as it's put together with nylock nuts. First they would have to figure out where the bolts are under the generator and how to reach them with a wrench.

Mine has remote start and an extension cable that reaches the tailgate and twist locks to my FW cord and into the transfer switch.

The low hanging fruit is picked first. There is nothing that cant be stolen so it's just a matter of making your stuff not worth the hassle.
Shadow_Catcher
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
If some one wants it badly enough they will get it. A bolt cutter will destroy the strongest chain but is about your best option. Make it distinctive, paint decals...
gbopp
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
rjxj wrote:
For that reason I chose to bolt my Honda 3000 into the truck bed and then fabricated a ventilated metal enclosure to go over it and its bolted to the bed.

And, unfortunately, if they really want your generator, they'll take the truck. :(

There should be an open season on thieves. :)
RoyB
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2015
I find the best plan for me is to keep it out of sight when not in use. I keep mine secured in the tail gate corner of my truck bed which is also covered with a lockable folding bed cover.. My generator goes where I go...

When I use my generator I just pull it out on the tail gate and point the exhaust off to the side.

Roy Ken
Mark_Heisler
Explorer II
Jun 22, 2015
There two ways to look at this.
They steal it
Or
If it locked up to good the wreck so bad you can use it and every thing around it
edbehnke
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
A BIG ass chain

http://www.onguardlock.com/armoredcables/
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
When I use a portable, I chain it to the truck and leave it there. No need to put it on the ground.
Dakota98
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
The above mentioned deterrents + a sign next to it...

"My neighbor has a Honda" :S
hohenwald48
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
A cordless grinder with a cutting wheel will defeat any chain, cable or lock. Best bet is out of sight.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Jun 22, 2015
Hot wire it?