Involved about motorhome safety? Searching for methods to guard your campervan from theft? You’re not alone- it’s probably the most frequent questions we receive- the way to preserve a motorhome each secure at dwelling and whereas on the street?
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Motorhome Safety Suggestions
One of many greatest considerations for anybody who owns a motorhome or campervan (together with us!) is the way to preserve themselves, their van and their possessions secure, each at dwelling and while travelling.
Motorhome automobile thefts and break-ins are, sadly, turning into an increasing number of commonplace. When you’re questioning if motorhomes get stolen, the reply is a particular YES.
There are two foremost sorts of theft:
- complete automobile theft (the place the automobile is stolen and infrequently damaged down for components) and
- break-ins, the place thieves are extra thinking about your contents, as a substitute of taking the automobile itself.
It most likely doesn’t come as a lot of a shock that entire automobile thefts are usually carried out by skilled (ie: skilled) thieves, while thefts on the street are, broadly talking, largely opportunistic.
This publish is designed to tell you about potential dangers and show you how to forestall each sorts of theft by exhibiting you among the finest methods to make your camper as tough to steal as doable.
REMEMBER: The intention is for would-be thieves to take a look at your automobile and make a split-second determination that it’s too tough & not definitely worth the threat.
Not obtained time to learn the entire publish?
Right here’s the important motorhome & camper van safety package we suggest:
After all, following the recommendation on this information doesn’t imply you’re resistant to theft- however it’s going to vastly enhance your odds.
Motorhome Safety
There are a number of sorts of motorhome safety we’re involved with:
- preserve your motorhome secure at night time when you’re sleeping inside
- Van safety once you go away it for just a few hours to discover whereas travelling
- Safety of your van while NOT travelling- both at dwelling or in storage
Let’s break down each beneath.
Motorhome Security Whereas Travelling
It’s exhausting to say whether or not vans are extra weak at dwelling or whereas out and about on their motorhome holidays. Definitely, most automobile thefts appear to occur at dwelling, while most possession-based thefts occur whereas travelling.
To begin, let’s take a look at methods to enhance security whereas out on the street, for every of the three foremost areas of concern.
Safety at night time
Staying secure at night time in a motorhome or campervan when you’re travelling can really feel like a problem. When you’re not used to it, it will probably really feel isolating and weak to spend the night time in a plastic/ tin field as a substitute of bricks and mortar. Additionally, all the pieces appears scarier at night- noises and passing automobiles could make you jumpy.
Let’s take a look at this logically.
Once you keep in a motorhome in a single day, you’re usually going to be on one in every of 3 locations:
We’ll take a look at bodily units and tips a bit of later, however let’s assess the ‘odds’ at every location. I ought to level out that we’ve been touring Europe in our motorhome for a number of years and have by no means been the sufferer of theft (contact wooden). I do know that may simply be luck, however we do our greatest to evaluate the chances and act accordingly.
When you’re new to motorhoming, you may be thinking about these posts:
Motorhome safety – forestall RV and camper theft whereas travelling
Most campsites we’ve stayed at have had some type of barrier stopping you from simply driving in. This makes it very tough (though not unattainable) for individuals to stroll onto a web site and steal your van, as they usually want some type of code or key to exit.
After all, there are exceptions, however only a few automobile thefts occur from correct campsites.
Suggestions for camper safety in a single day at aires
Whether or not you’re utilizing a French Aire or staying on a C & L web site within the UK, the dangers are the identical. These areas are accredited for motorhome stopovers, however haven’t any boundaries or cameras for nighttime safety.
The largest threat right here is opportunists- and the issue is that an aire is a identified place for motorhomes to cease at. So the native thieves can swing by each time they need to see who’s arrived.
For my part, some locations are riskier than others. We keep away from stopping at motorway aires for longer than an hour or two, despite the fact that you’re allowed to remain in some in a single day without spending a dime in Europe. There are too many tales of robberies in these areas, primarily by passing truckers or hitch-hikers.
We additionally attempt to keep away from aires close to huge cities. Once more, you’re extra prone to get opportunists or thieves in areas with extra people- that’s simply easy maths. I’m not saying we don’t go to cities, simply that we’ll use a campsite as a substitute of an aire wherever doable.
Motorhome/ campervan security when wild tenting
I bear in mind, once we first began motorhome wild tenting within the UK, how terrifying it felt to sleep in a motorhome with out another safety (like a campsite) round us.
Partly, I used to be anxious about being arrested, however largely I used to be anxious about being murdered in my sleep. Or robbed.
So, right here’s the factor.
When you’re wild camping- NO ONE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE.
So long as you haven’t posted it on Fb (significantly, please don’t do this till you’re leaving), then it’s unattainable for anybody to PLAN any type of theft prematurely.
So that you’re dealing solely with passing opportunists. Which implies your job is to make your van appear to be a tough goal to steal.
However the BIGGEST factor we do when wild tenting is to make use of our frequent sense and our intestine. Clearly, we don’t decide a wild tenting spot pondering it’s going to be dodgy, however once we arrive we usually get a ‘feeling’.
We’ve got ignored these emotions twice- and each occasions we’ve regretted it. Nothing occurred to our van, however we spent the night time on edge and never sleeping properly, alert to any downside which could happen. Not the easiest way to spend a night, so take heed to your intestine!
Motorhome Safety Units for Travelling – Making Your Car Motionless
There are some nice techniques or instruments you should utilize when leaving your campervan or motorhome unattended in the course of the day:
- Wheel clamps for motorhomes or caravans
- Steering locks for motorhomes
- Make van undriveable
- Motorhome or camper alarm
- Motorhome safety digicam
- Trackers & Immobilisers
- Enhance Motorhome safety door locks
Let’s look into every of those in additional element beneath.
Finest Wheel Clamps for motorhomes & caravans
Motorhome or campervan wheel clamps are precisely what they sound like- a clamp which matches across the outdoors of your wheel and stops the automobile being moved.
We use one in every of these on the trailer each night time and each time we’re not planning to maneuver for just a few hours. It’s pretty simple to uncouple a trailer, connect it to a different automobile and drive off with it, so a clamp helps deter that.
You will get one to make use of in your motorhome- it received’t cease individuals breaking in, however it’s going to cease the van being stolen.
Steering locks for motorhomes
One other nice security machine to cease the automobile being moved. These are (apparently!) tougher to take away than wheel clamps, and have been confirmed to discourage automotive thieves, so it stands to purpose they need to work towards motorhome theft.
Get the most important, meanest one you can- or the one with the best safety rankings, like this one. We notably like that it doesn’t take up an excessive amount of area when not in use- important in a motorhome or campervan.
Make your camper van undrivable
On our new motorhome, each of our entrance seats swivel. Once we are leaving the motorhome, we flip each seats round and lock them along with a series. This can cease anybody trying to drive the motorhome- they will barely attain the wheel, not to mention the pedals!
The opposite choice is to make use of a Clutch Claw. These implausible units lock the pedals collectively, so the motorhome can’t be pushed. Once more, it doesn’t cease the preliminary break-in, however one step at a time!
Motorhome Alarms, Trackers and Immobiliers
A motorhome alarm system is a superb thought, as is becoming a tracker or immobiliser. If you’re shopping for one with a purpose to scale back your motorhome insurance coverage premium, examine along with your insurer first as they could insist on a particular mannequin or Thatcham degree earlier than they’ll approve a reduction.
Additionally, a phrase about immobilisers. Many thieves now carry expertise which over-rides factory-fitted immobilisers and permits them to steal a automobile with out having the keys. Which makes it much more necessary to have further safety measures fitted.
Motorhome RV security- No-one can steal it if they will’t get INTO it
Your first job is to cease individuals getting entry into your automobile. The three details of entry are the cab doorways, habitation door and van home windows.
You may match extra locks to all three.
Motorhome safety door locks
That is the BEST extra motorhome habitation door lock– as you may lock it from the within in addition to the surface. It’s pointless having one which solely works from the surface once you need it when you’re sleeping- and it’s harmful to have one you may’t unlock from inside!
NOTE: We fitted the Milenco model, which appears to be discontinued, however this one from Thule is strictly the identical.
When you have a campervan with a sliding door, this deadbolt lock comes extremely advisable.
Motorhome Cab Door safety
You can even get extra cab door locks, though please do measure your doorways rigorously as they don’t match every kind. Moreover, you may carry a locking cab bar, which successfully locks the 2 cab doorways collectively to allow them to’t be opened.
Motorhome storage door locks
One other weak level is doubtlessly your motorhome, campervan or caravan storage door(s). Generally, thieves may even achieve entry into your automobile this manner, wherein case you really want to make further positive it’s safe.
Listed below are some motorhome storage door lock choices which come extremely advisable, however you may after all use the Fiamma door lock above too. Simply keep in mind that you don’t want to purchase the costly model which opens from the within.
Motorhome window safety
Motorhome window safety is a problem. By far the BEST kind of window to have in your van is a sliding one- however, truthfully, most of us don’t have these. You will get numerous window sensors, however only a few sensible units to cease a window being opened outwards. This is without doubt one of the finest motorhome window lock units we’ve discovered.
Motorhome security- tricks to defend possessions whereas travelling
Okay, let’s take a look at the way to defend your CONTENTS (and your self!) from theft whereas travelling. Once more, your location and place you select to cease will have an effect on which technique will work finest for you.
Suggestions towards theft at campsites
The doorway barrier at campsites can be good towards theft of possessions- anybody trying to rob something has to hold it again to their van on the entrance. The place there are usually cameras.
Nonetheless, the unhappy truth is that almost all thefts on a campsite happen from different individuals already sharing the location with you. These are individuals on the lookout for probability alternatives, similar to garments or package overlooked in a single day. The best approach to forestall towards this isn’t to go away something out overnight- together with kayaks, wetsuits, towels and so on.
We try to fight this by placing our moist kayak & paddleboard on the motorhome roof overnight- which is nice so long as it’s not windy!!
When you have an exterior storage field in your motorhome or campervan, be sure it’s locked up securely every night time.
Suggestions towards theft of contents at aires
This can be a powerful one- as most individuals know that you can be leaving your automobile to go to the native city or attraction at some point- in spite of everything, that’s why you’re there. And, sadly, they do preserve watch.
There isn’t any simple resolution to stop towards this. We truly use a spread of strategies to try to cease our possessions being stolen or the van being vandalised while we’re not with it- we’ll get to these shortly. All you are able to do is guarantee your automobile appears at tough to get into as doable.
These further locks talked about above and a few well-placed stickers like these are greater than most individuals have, which makes your van look not definitely worth the effort. We’ve met individuals with ‘German Shepherd on board’ stickers- after they don’t have a canine in any respect, not to mention a German Shepherd!
We’ve got stickers warning those that the motorhome is below digicam surveillance in any respect time (it’s!)
Motorhome safety whereas wild tenting
We very VERY hardly ever go away our van unattended for longer than about half an hour whereas wild camping- and by no means at night time. We would go for a brief stroll, but when we need to experience our motorbikes or go to an area attraction we are going to take the motorhome to an aire or accredited parking place the place will probably be a bit of extra safe- primarily as a result of different individuals are round.
The one exception to this was in whereas we have been touring Norway in our motorhome. That nation is the most secure nation now we have EVER visited, and we merrily left our van along with a street and went off on the motorbikes for a day with out concern. I want in all places was like that!
RELATED: 5 necessities you NEED for wild camping- and a couple of you don’t!
Caravan & Motorhome safety units to guard possessions
Motorhome Safety Digital camera- 12v safety
That is our favorite choice for peace of thoughts. Though the safety digicam received’t cease anybody from breaking in (though we do have indicators within the window saying the van is below 24hr surveillance, so possibly it does!), it WILL enable us to see who the thief was.
We’ve got tried a few completely different motorhome safety cameras and are completely bought on this one. We use it EVERY SINGLE TIME we go away the van. It permits us to visually see all the pieces is correctly. It’s additionally a good way to watch our canine if we’ve left him for a few hours- we like to ensure he’s okay.
(We additionally use these cameras on the boat for safety once we’re leaving it for lengthy durations and we’ve by no means had an issue. All you want is energy, the bottom station and a telephone signal- they’re so easy to arrange and ideal for shielding your own home when you’re away.
Wi-fi motorhome alarm system (or caravan alarm system)
That is frequent follow for a reason- it really works! Discover the loudest, meanest, noisiest wi-fi alarm system you may and match it in your motorhome. You need your entire neighbourhood to know one thing isn’t proper and scare the bejeezus out of would-be thieves.
Don’t put it on a delay- any potential thief is out and in in a few minutes tops. You need that factor to be singing
inside seconds of being activated.
Motorhome secure
Sadly, to a decided thief, nothing is foolproof- however you’re reducing your odds significantly when you make it exhausting for them to seek out the objects shortly.
You may truly purchase a devoted secure like this and set up it in a locker somewhere- however please keep in mind the load of those things- you have to take that under consideration in your motorhome payload.
Another choice is to purchase ‘decoy’ tins like these or books the place you may conceal valuables. There are many choices in the marketplace and it’s a good way to cover jewelry or passports when you REALLY can’t take them with you.
Don’t go away a decoy
We all know a number of individuals who journey with a ‘decoy merchandise’- an previous laptop computer or iPad which has no worth to them.
They go away this out on show, or someplace simple to seek out, and hope that the thief will take that and go away, feeling like they’ve ‘received’.
Personally, we by no means go away ANYTHING out on show- the intention is to not get damaged into in any respect, not trick somebody to interrupt in to steal a
dummy.
Different tricks to safe your motorhome whereas travelling
Don’t ever hand over your keys!
No campsite ought to ever ask in your keys (though some might ask in your passport!)
Shut doorways, home windows & vents earlier than you allow
The apparent exception to that is in case you are leaving a canine behind within the motorhome- you MUST go away them some air. If you’re travelling in a scorching nation, please bear in mind how shortly a automobile can warmth up within the sunshine. However in any other case, shut all the pieces up tight.
Take away issues from sight
When you have a motorhome television or a devoted motorhome sat-nav, take away it from view and conceal it someplace secure. Similar recommendation for iPads, laptops, telephones and different digital units.
Safe your motorhome or caravan at dwelling
Okay, now onto the way to defend your motorhome or camper while you’re NOT travelling in it (when you’re residing in a motorhome, this part isn’t for you! 🙂 )
Sadly, that is most likely the time of greatest threat.
The statistics for stolen autos are rising- and motorhome are a simple goal as they’re usually newer, decrease mileage and subsequently their components promote for extra.
Nonetheless, there ARE some issues you are able to do to assist defend your self. We at all times suggest eradicating any valuables from the van and storing them in your house.
Bear in mind, at dwelling you primarily need to defend the VEHICLE from being stolen by skilled thieves- not opportunistic
passing.
Use Safe Motorhome Parking
We’ve got at all times most well-liked to maintain our motorhome in a specialist motorhome and caravan storage yard. It’s a lot safer for it to be away from anybody on the lookout for a simple goal.
You need to retailer it someplace with 24hr CCTV, locked gates and restricted entry (utilizing a keyfob or code) We extremely
suggest someplace with 24hr entry so you may go away everytime you need!
Anticipate to pay round £60-80/ month for storage- however for us it’s definitely worth the peace of thoughts. (Additionally, it’d imply you should buy a much bigger motorhome than you thought because it doesn’t want to suit on a driveway!)
Securing your motorhome at dwelling
When you don’t need to or can’t use storage, you have to discover methods to make your motorhome look as protected as doable in your drive or on the street.
Some choices for this embrace:
- CCTV stickers
- steering wheel-locks
- wheel clamps
- Additional door locks, particularly on the habitation door
- Window locks
- Gear degree locks
Principally, the extra the merrier!
One other good choice is to purchase a sticker along with your registration quantity on the roof, like this, in order that it may be simply noticed by ANPR cameras once you report it stolen.
Driveway publish
Lastly, when you’ve got a motorhome or caravan which sits in your driveway, you may need to take into account a driveway publish like this, which is bolted into your drive, stopping a simple getaway. Becoming safe gates to your drive can be an excellent choice.
I do know no-one likes to consider the potential of motorhome or camper theft, however a bit of forethought and planning may cease loads of potential heartache.
I hope you’ve discovered the following tips helpful. When you have, please share this text with your mates on social media to allow them to profit too.
Head to our motorhome recommendation web page for extra ideas and concepts
Final replace on 2023-09-13 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API