We are hoping to head off to South of France in August but want to break the journey with an overnight stop or two. However with an eight man tent and all the kit camping for one night is not really an option.
We are concerned however if we stop at a hotel our trailer and all of our camping gear is at risk. We have the usual hitch lock but I am sure that wouldn't take long to get off and if they want our gear they simply have to remove the soft cover anyway.
I recall we once stayed in a hotel with security gates and fencing but wonder if that was a one off.
Has anyone experienced this issue before and can make recommendations.
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In my experience most of the budget chains have security fencing and a gate which is closed at night. I also have a trailer with a soft top and so far, in over 30 years have not had a problem.
Your alternative would be to buy either enough popup tents or small dome tents for your family & stop on a municipal on the way down. Probably cheaper than hotel bills & you would have the tents for subsequent years.
We've camped with a trailer for the last 6 or so years and have never had a problem. We have stayed at lots of different hotels, Formule 1 types. We don't have a hitchlock, just a chain and padlock. My husband did however make a hard cover for our trailer from some pieces of wood which we place over the top, then he bolted some metal ?hasps, I think they are called, two pieces of metal that clip over each other giving you 2 rings for a padlock, to the edge of the trailer and the edges of the metal at each corner. Then we bought some fairly heavy duty padlocks. Then we use the normal trailer cover over the top.
Theives aren't generally that bothered in the contents of a camping trailer, what they want are high value portable items like jewellery, electricals and cash, not some great big hoofing tent and some camping chairs. If you make it even harder for them by a few padlocks etc, then they really aren't going to bother.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
They weren't popups but I noticed Tesco had tents in their sale this week, £12 for a 4 man tent and I think they had other sizes. This was in the supermarket.
Problem with popups is that they can be an awkward shape to pack, particularly if you want get them out for an overnight stop without moving the rest of your gear. Small dome or hiking tents pack down much smaller & might be preferred even tho they do take longer to erect.
Last year we did 2 overnights nights each way, in France using the "Premiere Classe" budget hotels, they all had secure gated parking, I still had plenty of security for the trailer which included, Wheel Clamp, Hitch Lock, 17mm Heavy Chain, Yale High security Padlocks 10mm shakle x 2, CISA High Security SQ Lock 17mmm shakle, Alarm siren Padlock x1 and internal siren motion sensor alarm in the trailer, not to mention locking Wheel Nuts on the 13" two trailer wheels, and locked on spare wheel, OK it may sound over the top, and nothing will stop a determined thief making of with your trailer and contents, but they would have there work cut out with mine, I also managed to get the trailer parked up close to our room, so within earshot, and still hitched upto the car for the overnight stop, fact is you can reduce the risk but not eliminate it, also Trailer and contents were insured, at the end of the day it just ment I could get a goods night sleep, and did not worry about my trailer still being there in the morning. although it is a pain having 10 different keys taking care of my trailers security lol.
Post last edited on 09/01/2011 09:55:25
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Having done both hotels and also used small dome tents, both without problem, I prefer the tent option because if bad wether is forecast before your last night, you can pack away the big tent dry, and spend the last night in the dome tents....much less aggro when you get home!
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Topic: Safe parking for trailer
