Hi
We keep our van in storage a few miles from home. However in the future we are looking to bring the van home prior to trips away to allow us a swift start to our journey.
We do not have access at the moment to keep the van off road on our property ( although this may change in the future ) however we live in a very quiet cul-de-sac where parking the van outside the house on the road overnight would not be a problem.
This is where i require the advice... I am in a dilemma whether to leave the van hitched to the car or un-hitched ??? , It will have hitchlock and Alko secure wheel lock in place with the wife's car parked hard up against the rear of the van. The van will be facing into the close so the only way to get it out would be to move one or poss both of the cars and reverse it out around a very tight corner.
Insurers don't have a problem keeping it at home 24hrs either side of a trip as long as both locks are fitted.
Hi Jim,Thats exactly what we do if we have an early start, as we have had over the past couple of years. We live on an estate and leave it on the road attached to my car and locked with both locks and wifes car behind to protect and secure it. We once came back from Jersey after VERY long journey home.I was falling asleep as we got nearer home,ended up literally parking car and tt(as we had then) and going straight to bed.I wasn't bothered by then if it got nicked!
We would not have the van at home prior to going on a trip. This is nothing to do with a security issue with the van although I would be worried about having a semi loaded van parked in our street. It is to do with the fact that it would be a signal to those that were interested, that we were about to vacate the house for a period of time.
We keep our van in locked storage away from the house and when we do go away, we do not tow the van through the village where we stay, so no one knows whether we are away or not.
The contents of our house are far more valuable than the van and its contents.
Thanks for the replies.
Our Daughter will be at home whilst we are away and also there will be cars on the drive , lights on and off and most of the time big dog in the house :)
It seems that van hitched is the option ?
We do a similar thing. We park the 'van between 2 cars and secure it with a bulldog hitch lock and Alko wheel lock.
I understand, however, that it is, technically speaking, illegal to leave a caravan on the public highway overnight without lights, the exemption given to cars does not apply to caravans. I have, therefore, rigged up a wiring arrangement with a 13 pin socket into which I plug the caravan 13 pin plug. The attached wire is wired into the lighting pins of the socket and the other end has a 12 volt plug which plugs into the caravan's interior 12v socket and runs the lights. (Before we had a 13 pin socket it was wired to a 7 pin socket. I keep the 'van hooked up to a mains socket in the garage so that the caravan battery is not flattened.
I, always carry this lead with me for emergency use if I had to disconnect the car and 'van on the highway. I have vivid memories of a breakdown on the motorway in northern Spain many years ago. The CCC sent a breakdown man with a very small truck which could not take the car and 'van at the same time. He took the car and son of my family and left me with the 'van on the hardshoulder, just where it began after a crawler lane, at night. My son and I sat on the embankment shining a torch on the unlit 'van's rear reflectors every time a juggernauat whizzed by and expecting it to get rear-ended at any any minute. Fortunately we lasted until Jose, the breakdown man returned!!
A couple of times when we've loaded up at home ready for an early start next morning I've just slept overnight in the 'van! I had to 'volunteer' because none of the rest of the family would notice being nicked! I think I would. If I hadn't done it this way I'd have been getting out of bed every few minutes to check that the 'van was still there.
David
We bring ours home, and leave it hitched to the car, locks on, and my car parked behind it, just like many others have said they do. We also live in a small close, but our son 'house-sits' whilst we're away, and our neighbours keep an eye on the house when he's not there. Our neighbours seem to know when we're away, whether or not we bring the caravan home, and many of them are retired and home all day so we are sure as we can be that the house is being 'minded'.
Yes, we could worry about break-ins - but that can happen whatever you do. My 92 year old Mum in Law has been visited this week by 'someone from the water board' - who came in to 'check her water pressure'! Despite all our warnings she said 'but he looked such a nice young man.........'. Fortunately she's still mobile enough to walk behind him when he was 'checking' and she's not one of these old ladies who hoards money at home, nor does she have many valuables. This time she was lucky and he got nothing - but the experience hasn't stopped her going out and leaving the house. She was having lunch with friends yesterday in the local Art Gallery, and today will be off shopping a long bus ride away in a nearby market town.
Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 03/12/2009
We would not have the van at home prior to going on a trip. This is nothing to do with a security issue with the van although I would be worried about having a semi loaded van parked in our street. It is to do with the fact that it would be a signal to those that were interested, that we were about to vacate the house for a period of time.
We keep our van in locked storage away from the house and when we do go away, we do not tow the van through the village where we stay, so no one knows whether we are away or not.
The contents of our house are far more valuable than the van and its contents.
We used to think that when we stored ours. If you think about it, it is a load of rubbish. If someone is going to burgle your house (which I doubt) then having a caravan there or not will make absolutely no difference at all. Making the house secure and having an alarm, having good neighbours and leaving a car on the drive is more important. We have our van on the front all the time. A car is left and lights are on when we leave the house. Nobody knows if there is someone in or not unless they investigate in which case the neighbours will see them..
Tim above is right it is illegal to leave a van on a public road at night unlit - I guess that might even affect insurance if it was nicked. His lighting idea sorts that out though!
Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 03/12/2009
We would not have the van at home prior to going on a trip. This is nothing to do with a security issue with the van although I would be worried about having a semi loaded van parked in our street. It is to do with the fact that it would be a signal to those that were interested, that we were about to vacate the house for a period of time.
We keep our van in locked storage away from the house and when we do go away, we do not tow the van through the village where we stay, so no one knows whether we are away or not.
The contents of our house are far more valuable than the van and its contents.
We used to think that when we stored ours. If you think about it, it is a load of rubbish. If someone is going to burgle your house (which I doubt) then having a caravan there or not will make absolutely no difference at all. Making the house secure and having an alarm, having good neighbours and leaving a car on the drive is more important. We have our van on the front all the time. A car is left and lights are on when we leave the house. Nobody knows if there is someone in or not unless they investigate in which case the neighbours will see them..
Oh really???
Gosh I wonder what all the Burglers are Burgling if they are not Burgling Houses?
However you must live in a very boring part of the world if all the houses there have Alarms, Neighbours who are goody goody and a spare car to leave on your driveway. Presuming ofcourse that you actually have a driveway.
We have had a motorhome and a caravan broken into and considerable damage done to both, while they were parked outside on the street. Both were in full view of our neighbours. If they can do that to vans, what could they do in a house if they knew that we were away on a trip?
My views on advertising that my house will be vacant for a while may be a load of rubbish to you, but I am sure it will not be a load of rubbish to everyone else!
Parking Do not park your caravan: • where it may cause an obstruction • at night on a road without lights • in street parking bays as some local laws forbid this • at a parking meter, as caravans are not permitted • unless securely braked or chocked to prevent movement
And finally .... • A caravan stored in its owner's garden may be used as a spare bedroom to accommodate non-paying guests. Friends can bring their own caravan and stay within the garden of a house. • Caravans must have a rear number plate, matching that of the towing vehicle, and illuminated at night. • TVs used in caravans are covered by the owner's domestic TV licence as long the caravan is occupied by someone resident where the TV licence is registered. • Caravans do not have to undergo an MOT test. • All safety regulations for car tyres apply to caravans. Retread tyres should not be used. Radial and cross-ply tyres must not be mixed on the same axle.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 04/12/2009
Quote: Originally posted by johnks on 04/12/2009
Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 03/12/2009
We would not have the van at home prior to going on a trip. This is nothing to do with a security issue with the van although I would be worried about having a semi loaded van parked in our street. It is to do with the fact that it would be a signal to those that were interested, that we were about to vacate the house for a period of time.
We keep our van in locked storage away from the house and when we do go away, we do not tow the van through the village where we stay, so no one knows whether we are away or not.
The contents of our house are far more valuable than the van and its contents.
We used to think that when we stored ours. If you think about it, it is a load of rubbish. If someone is going to burgle your house (which I doubt) then having a caravan there or not will make absolutely no difference at all. Making the house secure and having an alarm, having good neighbours and leaving a car on the drive is more important. We have our van on the front all the time. A car is left and lights are on when we leave the house. Nobody knows if there is someone in or not unless they investigate in which case the neighbours will see them..
Oh really???
Gosh I wonder what all the Burglers are Burgling if they are not Burgling Houses?
However you must live in a very boring part of the world if all the houses there have Alarms, Neighbours who are goody goody and a spare car to leave on your driveway. Presuming ofcourse that you actually have a driveway.
We have had a motorhome and a caravan broken into and considerable damage done to both, while they were parked outside on the street. Both were in full view of our neighbours. If they can do that to vans, what could they do in a house if they knew that we were away on a trip?
My views on advertising that my house will be vacant for a while may be a load of rubbish to you, but I am sure it will not be a load of rubbish to everyone else!
I agree we are not all lucky but I have just looked were you live so I do have the greatest sympathy!!!!!!!
Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 04/12/2009
Quote: Originally posted by johnks on 04/12/2009
Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 03/12/2009 We would not have the van at home prior to going on a trip. This is nothing to do with a security issue with the van although I would be worried about having a semi loaded van parked in our street. It is to do with the fact that it would be a signal to those that were interested, that we were about to vacate the house for a period of time.
We keep our van in locked storage away from the house and when we do go away, we do not tow the van through the village where we stay, so no one knows whether we are away or not.
The contents of our house are far more valuable than the van and its contents.
We used to think that when we stored ours. If you think about it, it is a load of rubbish. If someone is going to burgle your house (which I doubt) then having a caravan there or not will make absolutely no difference at all. Making the house secure and having an alarm, having good neighbours and leaving a car on the drive is more important. We have our van on the front all the time. A car is left and lights are on when we leave the house. Nobody knows if there is someone in or not unless they investigate in which case the neighbours will see them..
Oh really???
Gosh I wonder what all the Burglers are Burgling if they are not Burgling Houses?
However you must live in a very boring part of the world if all the houses there have Alarms, Neighbours who are goody goody and a spare car to leave on your driveway. Presuming ofcourse that you actually have a driveway.
We have had a motorhome and a caravan broken into and considerable damage done to both, while they were parked outside on the street. Both were in full view of our neighbours. If they can do that to vans, what could they do in a house if they knew that we were away on a trip?
My views on advertising that my house will be vacant for a while may be a load of rubbish to you, but I am sure it will not be a load of rubbish to everyone else!
I agree we are not all lucky but I have just looked were you live so I do have the greatest sympathy!!!!!!!
Ooohhh meeeoooowwwww
------------- Those that danced were thought to be quite insane to those who could not hear the music. Angela Monet
So is it legal to keep a van overnight on the road if it has road lights illuminated? Could road lights be bicycle lights velcroed to the outside of the van (to stop the leisure battery or car battery (should it still be connected to the tow car) going flat? Or does it acually need to be the road lights fitted by the manufacturer that are lit up? And if this is the case, what stops us from fitting led 'bulbs' and powering them from the leisure battery to extend the life of this battery? Or does anybody know of another way to keep a van on the road overnight without breaking the law? Your thoughts will be gratefully recieved.
------------- Why am i doing this instead of camping??!!
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Topic: Keeping van at home overnight
