A generator is only as useful as the gear you run alongside it. The right lead lets you park the generator away from your caravan door. A proper cover keeps it running in the rain. A good box quietens it down and stops it walking off when you’re not looking. Get these three things sorted and your generator becomes a genuinely useful part of your setup rather than a noisy, awkward lump you’d rather leave at home.
This guide covers the accessories that actually matter: extension leads, weatherproof covers, and generator boxes. We’ll tell you what to buy, what to skip, and what the common mistakes are.
Extension Leads
The single most useful generator accessory is a decent 15 amp extension lead. Running the generator right next to your caravan door means noise, fumes, and vibration exactly where you don’t want them. A 10 or 15 metre lead lets you set the generator downwind and out of earshot while still reaching your van’s power inlet.
Most caravans use a 15 amp inlet, so you want a 15 amp lead to match. A standard 10 amp household lead will not fit a 15 amp inlet, and using an adaptor to force it defeats the purpose. Buy a lead with 15 amp plugs on both ends that suits your van’s inlet directly.
Cheap unbranded leads are a false economy and a real fire risk. Buy leads that are Australian approved and clearly rated for 15 amp use. Check them at the start of each trip for cuts, cracks, or bent pins.
What length do you need?
Ten metres suits most people. It gets the generator far enough away to take the edge off the noise while still being easy to coil and store. Fifteen metres gives you more flexibility on crowded free camps where you’re trying to be a good neighbour, but the extra cable adds weight and takes longer to pack away. Don’t go shorter than 10 metres; 5 metre leads leave the generator practically under your awning.
Always fully uncoil an extension lead before running the generator through it. A tightly coiled lead under load can heat up and melt the insulation.
~$70
Generator Covers
There are two very different products both called a “generator cover,” and it pays to know which one you need.
Storage covers
A storage cover is a fitted fabric bag that goes over the generator when it’s off and packed away. It keeps dust, dirt, and grime off during transport in your ute tray or trailer box. These are cheap, around $30 to $50, and worth having if your generator lives outside a sealed compartment. They are not for use while the generator is running.
Running covers (wet weather covers)
A running cover is a rigid or semi-rigid canopy that lets the generator keep operating in rain. Inverter generators do not like water getting into the vents, and running one uncovered in a downpour can wreck it. A wet weather cover shelters the unit while leaving the exhaust and air intake clear.
Never drape a fabric storage cover over a running generator. It traps heat and exhaust, blocks ventilation, and is a genuine fire and carbon monoxide hazard. Only use covers specifically designed for a running unit.
Even with a wet weather cover, keep the generator on a level, dry surface. A cheap rubber mat or offcut of marine ply stops it sinking into wet ground and reduces vibration.
Generator Boxes
A generator box is the accessory that makes the biggest difference to how welcome you’ll be at a camp. Boxes do two jobs: they cut the noise, and they lock the generator away so it can’t be stolen. Both matter on a big lap.
Noise reduction boxes
A quiet inverter generator sitting on the ground still runs at around 55 to 60 decibels. A well-designed sound-deadening box can knock several decibels off that, which makes a real difference in a quiet bush camp at 6am. Look for boxes with acoustic foam lining and proper ventilation baffles. Ventilation is not optional; a sealed box will overheat the generator and shut it down, or worse.
Security and mounting boxes
Generators are a prime target for thieves at free camps and even caravan parks. A lockable steel box mounted to your drawbar or in a trailer keeps the unit secure and out of sight. Many campers mount a box on the A-frame so the generator travels with the van rather than eating into ute tray space.
Only run a generator inside a box that is specifically designed and ventilated for operation. Running one in an ordinary sealed storage box will cause it to overheat and produce dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.
Other Useful Extras
A few smaller items round out a good generator kit:
- Long-nose funnel: Refuelling a warm generator without a funnel is how you spill petrol on hot metal. A cheap flexible funnel is worth carrying.
- Spare fuel container: A 5 or 10 litre approved jerry can keeps you topped up between towns. Store it away from the van and never near a running generator.
- Parallel kit: If you run two smaller inverter generators, a parallel kit links them to power larger loads like an air conditioner. Only buy the kit made for your specific generators.
- Wheel kit: Handy for heavier open-frame generators, though most inverter units are light enough to carry.
If your power needs are modest, solar and lithium may cover most of what you use a generator for, and run silently. Weigh up whether you actually need a generator before spending on accessories for one.
What To Buy First
If you’re building up your generator kit from scratch, spend in this order:
- 15 amp extension lead (10m): The one accessory nobody should skip. Buy Australian approved.
- Storage cover: Cheap insurance against dust and dirt during transport.
- Funnel and jerry can: Low cost, saves mess and keeps you fuelled between towns.
- Wet weather cover: Buy before your first wet season if you plan to run in the rain.
- Acoustic or security box: The bigger spend. Worth it if you free camp regularly or worry about theft.
- A 10 metre, 15 amp Australian approved extension lead is the most useful generator accessory you can buy.
- Never use a fabric storage cover on a running generator. Use a purpose-built wet weather cover instead.
- Acoustic boxes cut noise and lockable boxes deter theft, but both must be properly ventilated if the generator runs inside.
- Don’t forget the small stuff: a funnel, an approved jerry can, and a level, dry surface to sit the unit on.
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