Caravan security

Mike Harding · Guru

Caravan security

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

At home Mike or in the bush?
Me personally - I anchor the chains between the spacer blocks under my tow hitch (see problems of bolts coming loose earlier in the year - Techies section) & tie them off with a padlock. There is no room for bolt cutters. It means if anyone wants to borrow the van, they need to carry a set of chains, D-links & a suitably long bolt to connect the O-R hitch.

At home under the carport, the chains are locked in the same way & if we're not home, the gates are locked too.
When we go out with the bird club to National Parks, often someone wants to stay at camp so that's not a problem.

Leaving the van along a creek, etc - never if I can help it! Perhaps a land mine under the hitch area would deter some people!

Tony Bev · Guru

I used/use neighbourhood watch on wheels, Mike

I introduce myself to some of the people parked nearby, and ask them to keep an eye open for me

When I had the caravan, I left it in plenty of free camps, while I went sightseeing/shopping

Now I have a motor home, I leave my stuff, table/chairs/etc where they sit, instead of packing up, when I am going away for a few hours

I will also ask my neighbours if they need anything milk/bread etc

If I was way out the bush, with no one else around, I would probably leave nothing

PeterInSa · Guru

In the Bush unattended:

Have a Lock that fits inside the Tow Hitch.

Have wheel Locks that cover the wheel nuts one each side of the Tandem Van, when not in use carried on the spare wheels ( with additional fixes to ensure they do not come apart during travel)

3G/4G Tracker (Telstra Sim) in the van connected to a broom stick aerial on top of winegard TV aerial set up as a Geo Fence., with a Blue Tick Telstra Phone with aerial connection on the Cruiser for Location/Google Earth viewing.

Should also padlock the chains as above but rarely do so.

Unattended in rest areas:
Let nearly RV's know what we are doing and give them our mobile phone number, then just use the tow hitch lock and the Tracker.

Peter

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

I have cameras on solar panels .

LLD · Guru

What amuses me is that buying security chain in the Big Green Shed, a pair of bolt cutters is always there. A camera is after the fact. Too late. If someone wants what you have more than you do, nothing can stop them.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I have been camping for over 50 years - tents, camper trailers and now a van full-time for the past 10 years.

I do a lot of bushwalking when camped and my camp is left unattended for sometimes 8 or more hours a day.

Since having my van, I still bushwalk away from the van and it sits there all lonely until I return - again upto 8 hours later.

Sometimes I have to go into the nearest town for some supplies and again, the van is left all alone - but I do tell it to not talk to or encourage any strangers.

To date, over all those 50 years, I have never had anything stolen from my camp.

I would never leave the van unattended at a car park/rest area pretending to be a camp - I would suggest that is foolhardy.

This is a bit of data on stolen caravans -

"Data from caravan and RV insurance companies CIL, Apia, AAMI, GIO and Suncorp over the past three years shows the theft of caravans and motorhomes has accounted for about two per cent of total caravan-related claims lodged each year. That includes the full gamut of caravan-related claims including those for storm damage, hail damage, road accidents, damage caused by other vehicles and more. But, sadly, insurance figures say nothing about the number of vans that are recovered after being stolen, as the data includes both recovered and unrecovered vans.

While the idea of someone stealing the caravan youve worked hard to buy is concerning, the statistics show the risk is actually quite low. In the 2013/14 financial year, those five companies mentioned above reported 263 caravan theft claims between them, with an average claim value of $19,450. That number reduced to 250 theft claims in 14/15, and currently sits at 211 to the end of May 2016."

https://www.caravanworld.com.au/features/1607/is-caravan-theft-on-the-rise

Cheers - always keep it fully insured anbd take sensible precautions but get on with enjoying the travel - John

Possum3 · Guru

I use a Herc Alloy chain on both sides though the wheels and around axles I lock with a round padlock than cannot be hit and busted - of course the padlocks are under van and difficult to get at . Also van and contents are well insured with CIL. Ten minutes of trouble but peace of mind.

PeterInSa · Guru

Re (Also van and contents are well insured)

Unfortunately our van insurance at Agreed Value $39k is only insured for half its replacement value so would have to find another $40K along with the modifications/customizing that I have made that would take many many hours of effort, so I really do not want to lose it. But if it happens, it happens.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Dont want to jinks myself . Camera is there to prevent ( honest lol ) thieves considering in the first place . Have chains etc . We have motor home . But often leave ski boat which is hell arguably more steal able ! I take the coupling off . Chains around wheels .

Greg 1 · Guru

Friends of ours had their van in a caravan storage facility. Went to get it to go on holiday and it was gone. The staff at the storage place had allowed someone in who had brazenly stolen the van. It has never been recovered. Apparently the staff never questioned the thieves bona fides. Just unbelievable and they denied any responsibility.

PeterInSa · Guru

Greg, a Tracker with the Geo Fence set up, would have alerted them via a SMS when the caravan was moved more than 100m from its storage location.

elliemike · Guru

At home we have to use a Motorised Jockey Wheel. Our Avan Cruiseliner is parked on the front yard (no fence or gate) We park it behind our garden trees and shrubs with the draw bar facing the side fence. If it was going to be towed out it would have to be done "Rear first" turned around and then hitched up. This would take time and be very difficult. Parking the van this way also puts the entrance door to the van accessible to us away from the Shrubs and trees.

When in N.Parks, or free camping we do the usual things, Does the camp feel safe, make contact with our neighbours, etc.

Never had anything stolen in all our years of camping in Europe, North America, Australia and N.Z and also backpacking though Malaysia.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Make sure the chain is extremely solid, ie boat mooring grade. I have a Bosch 10.8 volt angle grinder, brilliant bit of kit!

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes chain the Mrs . No one is game ! Lol no just jokeing !! Aha

Pommylad · Member

I have my silverline parked in forwards with a caravan mover and then its on a jockey stand. If anyone wants to push it up hill backwards and they will also will need to rotate it after pushing it up hill then they can have it and I will claim the insurance. LOL.

Desert Dweller · Guru

Same as Rocklizard we have been bush camping for 45 years and have never had anything stolen despite leaving our camp unoccupied for up to 10 hours per day.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes just dont leave super valuable things . Generators, kayaks etc .

rockylizard · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Yes just dont leave super valuable things . Generators, kayaks etc .

Gday...

Ya dead right AK. But the OP question was about having the caravan stolen.

It is plain common sense, even at home in ya 'secure' urban environment, to not leave 'valuables' visible and easily knocked off - sheds/doors/windows etc all locked up if away ... and at night.

Same at camp - whether a caravan, tent, camper trailer or campervan.

Cheers - John

Mike Harding · Guru

My thanks to all for your replies.

As I no longer have a home I was thinking security in the bush for when I go walkabout.

> I have a Bosch 10.8 volt angle grinder, brilliant bit of kit!

Yeeesss... that could be an issue :)

In reality it's close to impossible to stop anyone who is determined from stealing a caravan but we can make their life a little harder and hope they steal your mate's down the road instead of yours.

I guess a hitch lock, GPS tracker and good insurance will be a reasonable start.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Unfortunately Mike, a lot of burglars also carry battery operated angle grinders/cutters - a copper who lived across the road said "You can have the latest in security doors, even the so called Crim-Safe but it is no match for a battery angle grinder". In a few minutes, a door can be opened, removed.
We were "visited" at home by opportunistic burglars - they didn't get in as the doors were key locked.

All you can do is as you say, "make their life a little harder" & the "job" to take a bit longer.