How to Transport a Portable Generator in a Truck, SUV or Trailer Without Damage
Generators spend most of their lives sitting still, and then they have to travel: home from the store, out to the campsite, to a relative's house before a storm, or to the jobsite every morning. A few minutes of preparation keeps fuel out of the cabin, oil out of the cylinder, and a heavy machine from sliding into your tailgate.
Quick answer
- Transport the generator upright. Laying it on its side can push oil into places it should not go and let fuel leak from the carburetor or tank vent.
- Close the fuel valve if your model has one, and for longer trips or any trip inside a vehicle's passenger area, carry it with as little fuel as practical, following your manual.
- An open truck bed or trailer is best. In an SUV or minivan, gasoline vapor shares the air with you, so ventilate and keep fuel to a minimum.
- Strap it down with ratchet or cam straps to solid anchor points, plus a non-slip mat. Do not rely on its own weight.
- Never move a generator while it is running or still hot. After the trip, check the oil and look for leaks before starting.
Why it needs to stay upright
Small air-cooled generator engines are built to sit level. The oil lives in the crankcase at the bottom; fuel feeds down from the tank to the carburetor. Tip the machine and both start moving where they should not.
- Oil can run past the piston into the combustion chamber or up into the air filter and breather. The result can be hard starting, heavy smoke on the next start, a soaked air filter, or in bad cases a hydraulic lock that stops the engine from turning over.
- Fuel can leak out of the carburetor bowl, the tank vent or the cap, soaking the unit and creating vapor in a confined vehicle.
Your owner's manual is the final word. Some manuals forbid tipping at all; others describe a specific side that is safer if you must lay it down briefly. If it gets tipped, see the after-the-trip checks below. For smoke after tipping, our guide to a generator that will not start is a good next stop.
Prep before you load it
- Let it cool completely. A hot muffler can scorch a bed liner, a carpet or a strap. Never load a running or hot generator.
- Close the fuel valve if your model has one. Many manuals also recommend running the carburetor dry or draining it for longer transport or storage. Our guide to fuel shutoff valves and storage covers the parts involved.
- Decide on fuel level. For short trips in an open truck bed with the valve closed, many owners leave some fuel in the tank. For trips inside an enclosed vehicle, or long trips, carry as little fuel as practical and follow your manual's guidance.
- Check the cap and oil fill. Make sure the fuel cap is tight and the oil fill cap and dipstick are seated.
- Unplug and stow cords and accessories so nothing dangles or catches a strap.
- Disconnect propane. On dual-fuel models, close the cylinder valve, disconnect the hose and transport the cylinder separately.
Loading without hurting yourself
Even mid-size portables are heavy, and the weight is not evenly spread. Many open-frame and larger inverter models are a two-person lift, and the manual usually gives the weight.
- Use two people for any lift that is more than you can comfortably handle, with each person on a lifting point, not on plastic panels.
- A ramp makes wheeled generators easy to roll into a truck bed or trailer. Use one rated for the weight and secure it to the vehicle so it cannot slip.
- Lift handles and wheel kits that fit your model make a real difference if you move it often. See wheel kits and lifting handles.
- Never lift by the fuel tank, the control panel or the muffler guard.
In a pickup bed
An open truck bed is the best place for a generator: fumes vent to the outside and spills do not reach the cabin.
- Position it against the front of the bed, facing so that hard braking pushes it into the bulkhead, not into the tailgate.
- Put a rubber mat under it so it does not slide on a plastic liner.
- Strap it to the bed's anchor points with two straps in an X pattern, over the frame or through handles, not over the fuel tank or control panel.
- Tighten until it does not move when you push it, but do not crush plastic panels.
- If the bed has a cap or tonneau cover, treat it as an enclosed space for fumes: keep fuel minimal and close the valve.
- Recheck straps after the first few miles.
In an SUV, minivan or car trunk
Sometimes the generator has to ride inside. The problem is that you share the air with it. Gasoline vapor in a closed vehicle is a fire risk and unpleasant at best.
Inside a vehicle: carry the generator cool, upright, with the fuel valve closed and as little fuel as practical, ideally with the carburetor run dry per your manual. Ventilate by cracking windows. Never carry a running generator, and never leave a fueled generator in a closed, hot vehicle.
- Lay down a tray or heavy plastic sheet to catch oil or fuel drips.
- Secure it to cargo anchors so it cannot become a projectile in a hard stop. Loose heavy objects in a passenger compartment are dangerous.
- Do not carry spare gas cans in the passenger area. If you must carry fuel, use approved containers, keep them upright and secured, and use the most ventilated space you have.
- Propane cylinders should travel upright and secured with the valve closed and plugged, in a ventilated space, and should not be left in a closed vehicle.
On a trailer or hitch carrier
Trailers and hitch-mounted cargo carriers keep fumes out of the cabin, which makes them a good option for campers and RV owners. A few points to watch:
- Check the carrier's weight rating and your hitch's tongue weight limit; a generator plus a carrier can be heavier than you think.
- Use a lockable carrier or a cable lock; a generator on the back of a vehicle is an easy target. Our roundup of generator locks covers options.
- Cover it against road spray and rain with a cover meant for storage or transport, not a running cover.
- Strap it down even inside an enclosed trailer.
Checks after the trip
| Check | What you are looking for | If it is wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Let it sit upright | Oil and fuel settle back where they belong | If it was tipped, give it extra time before starting; your manual may specify how long |
| Oil level | Correct level on the dipstick | Low may mean oil migrated; high or milky needs investigation |
| Air filter | Dry, clean element | Oil-soaked filter should be cleaned or replaced per the manual |
| Leaks | No fuel or oil under the unit | Do not start; find the source first |
| Fasteners and panels | Nothing loosened by vibration | Tighten before running |
| First start | Normal start, light smoke clearing quickly at most | Persistent heavy smoke means shut down and investigate |
Then place it in a safe outdoor spot, far from windows, doors and vents, before starting. If it has sat with fuel for a while after the trip, stale fuel can cause trouble; see cleaning a gummed carburetor.
FAQ
Can I lay a generator on its side to transport it?
It is best to keep it upright. Tipping can push oil into the cylinder or air filter and let fuel leak. Some manuals describe a safer side if tipping is unavoidable; follow yours, and let the generator sit upright before starting.
Should I drain the gas before transporting a generator?
For long trips or any trip inside a passenger vehicle, carrying as little fuel as practical is safest. Close the fuel valve, and consider running the carburetor dry as your manual describes. For short trips in an open truck bed, many owners leave some fuel with the valve closed.
Is it safe to carry a generator in an SUV?
It can be done carefully: cool, upright, fuel valve closed, minimal fuel, secured to anchors, with windows cracked for ventilation. Never transport it running or leave a fueled generator in a closed, hot vehicle.
Why is my generator smoking after I transported it?
Oil that moved into the cylinder or air filter while it was tipped often burns off as smoke on the first start. Check the oil level and air filter first. If heavy smoke continues, shut it down and investigate before running it further.
The bottom line
Move it cool, upright and strapped down, with the fuel valve closed and as little fuel as the trip calls for. Use an open truck bed or trailer whenever you can, keep fumes out of the passenger area, and run through the after-trip checks before the first start. Then set it up outdoors, well away from the house, and it is ready to work.