A generator is only as useful as the gear you run it with. The right lead lets you park the genny well away from your caravan so you’re not listening to it drone all evening. A decent cover keeps it dry when the weather turns. A proper box lets you run it in the rain and cuts the noise down to something bearable. Get these wrong and you’ll be dragging a hot generator under your awning every time it drizzles, or copping noise complaints from the site next door.
This guide covers the three accessories that actually matter for a big lap: leads, covers, and boxes. We’ll tell you what to buy, what to skip, and what the safe options are.
Extension Leads for Generators
The single best thing you can do for your ears and your neighbours is run a long lead. A generator sitting 15 metres away is dramatically quieter at your camp than one parked next to the drawbar. It also keeps exhaust fumes away from where you’re sitting and sleeping.
For a portable inverter generator with a standard 15 amp outlet, you want a heavy-duty 15 amp extension lead. Don’t grab a cheap 10 amp lead from the hardware bargain bin. Undersized leads drop voltage over distance and can overheat under load, which is exactly what you don’t want when you’re pulling close to the generator’s rated output to run an air conditioner or a battery charger.
Buy a 15 metre lead rather than two shorter ones joined together. Every join is a potential failure point and a spot where water can get in. One continuous lead is safer and neater to store.
What size lead do you need?
For runs up to 15 metres, a 15 amp lead rated at 10 amp continuous is fine for most caravan setups. If you’re regularly running high loads over longer distances, step up to a heavier gauge lead. The cable diameter matters more than the length: thicker copper means less voltage drop.
Any lead you use should be tagged and tested, and free of cuts or damage to the outer sheath. A damaged 240V lead lying on wet ground is a serious electrocution risk. Inspect your leads before every trip.
Generator Covers
A generator cover does two jobs: it protects the unit from dust and moisture when it’s not running, and it keeps UV off the plastic housing so it doesn’t go brittle after a couple of years baking in the sun. On a big lap where the generator lives in the boot or on the drawbar for months, a cover is cheap insurance.
There are two types worth considering. A soft storage cover is a fitted fabric or PVC bag that goes over the generator when it’s off and cool. These are lightweight, pack down small, and cost $30 to $60. Most major brands sell a fitted cover to suit their models, and a branded one usually fits better than a generic.
~$45
Never put a storage cover on a generator that’s running or still hot. It traps heat and exhaust, can melt the cover, and creates a fire risk. Covers are for storage only. If you need to run in the rain, use a proper vented box (see below).
Generator Boxes & Enclosures
This is the accessory that separates a well-set-up big lapper from someone scrambling to move their genny undercover every time a cloud rolls over. A generator box is a ventilated enclosure that lets you run the unit safely in wet weather while also cutting noise.
There are two main approaches. Purpose-built acoustic boxes are engineered enclosures with sound-dampening foam, proper airflow, and exhaust ports. They reduce noise by 5 to 15 decibels depending on the design, which is a noticeable difference at camp. Expect to pay $300 to $700 for a quality one.
The cheaper DIY-style option is a weatherproof genny box or a modified toolbox with vents cut in. These handle rain protection but do less for noise unless you line them yourself. If you’re handy and on a budget, this is a viable path, but get the ventilation right or you’ll cook your generator.
Whatever box you use, ventilation is non-negotiable. A generator needs airflow to stay cool and to expel exhaust. An enclosed genny with poor airflow will overheat, shut down, and can build up dangerous carbon monoxide. Never run one in an unvented space near where you sleep.
If you camp mostly in national parks and free camps where quiet hours are strictly observed, an acoustic box pays for itself in goodwill. Nobody likes the caravanner running an un-boxed generator through the afternoon.
Other Accessories Worth Carrying
Beyond the big three, a few smaller items make generator life easier on the road:
- A funnel with a filter: Refuelling from a jerry can without a filter is asking for grit in your carburettor. A cheap $10 funnel saves you a workshop visit.
- Spare spark plug and air filter: These are consumables. Carry one of each so a fouled plug doesn’t leave you without power.
- Fuel stabiliser: If your generator sits unused for weeks, stale petrol gums up the carby. A stabiliser keeps fuel fresh for months.
- A parallel connection kit: If you run two smaller inverter generators, a parallel kit lets you link them for extra output when you need to run the air conditioner.
- A carbon monoxide alarm: Cheap, potentially life-saving, and worth having in the van regardless of how careful you are with generator placement.
Carbon monoxide is odourless and kills. Never run a generator inside an annexe, under a closed awning, or anywhere the exhaust can drift into your living or sleeping space. Position it downwind and well clear of doors and windows.
What to Look for Before You Buy
- Correct amperage: Match your lead to your generator’s output. A 15 amp genny needs a 15 amp lead, not a 10 amp one.
- Lead length vs voltage drop: Longer is quieter but heavier gauge cable matters more than length. Don’t undersize.
- Model-specific cover fit: A fitted cover for your exact generator protects better than a universal one.
- Ventilation on any box: Airflow and exhaust routing are essential. No exceptions.
- Weight and storage: An acoustic box is heavy and bulky. Make sure you have somewhere to carry it before you buy.
- RCD protection: Confirm your generator has a built-in RCD, or run an RCD-protected lead for safety.
Prioritise the lead and the cover first, since they’re cheap and immediately useful. Add a box once you know how often you’re actually running the generator. Plenty of travellers find their genny sees less use than expected once they’ve got their solar and battery setup sorted, in which case a $700 acoustic box is money that could have gone elsewhere.
- A 15 metre heavy-duty 15 amp lead is the best-value accessory: it keeps noise and fumes away from camp.
- Use a fitted cover for storage only, never on a running or hot generator.
- An acoustic box ($300–$700) lets you run in the rain and cuts noise, but only buy one if you use your genny regularly.
- Ventilation and carbon monoxide safety are non-negotiable with any enclosure.
- Carry a filtered funnel, spare plug, air filter, and fuel stabiliser as cheap insurance.
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