I've just bought a new swift and am really determined to keep the thieves at bay. Always had a caravan but never a new one before so am anxious about it getting stolen.
It's kept on the drive with an sas wheel clamp at present, but would really appreciate some advice on other best security measures, particularly locks etc as I don't plan on getting a tracker or alarm.
Any advice??
ours is on the drive and it takes me 15 minutes to remove all the security.two wheel clamps/hitch lock/ground anchor and chain front over chassis/ground anchors and chains rear onto legs x 2/alarm/CCTV.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
I got an SAS hitchlock on Ebay for just £8 and thats a nice sturdy bit of kit.
I am also interested in the SAS winter wheels that replace your wheels withsecure steel stands that bolt to the hubs. It has the added benefit of saving your tyres.
Security is fine and the more deterrents the better, but be aware that if they want it they will take it no matter what you do, do the best thing for peace of mind is the best insurance you can manage.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
I will definately be getting an alko hitchlock to go with my sas wheel clamp, and am now thinking of another wheel clamp for good measure. Never heard of the cornerlocks so will be looking into that too!
Hubby parks his car in front of the van all day and walks to work (very thrifty!!) and overnight there are two cars in front of it, so thats my additional security.
Insurance is with the caravan club, but if anyone can recommend a better one, please do.
Security is fine and the more deterrents the better, but be aware that if they want it they will take it no matter what you do, do the best thing for peace of mind is the best insurance you can manage.
I agree with janus. Our niece a few years ago when in Stevenage the thieves without wheels left on carried it over 4 x 6ft wooden fences to get it. Reckon stolen to order. So they went right out of their way to get it.
Round the corner to where we live. The man had a post concreted in, thick chains and big thick bar gate. Then the usual wheel clamps & hitchlock. They sawed right through the post and got through the chains.
Good insurance got him another caravan and he has doen all he can to deter them.
But reading about the tracker, one just moved it to clean behind it and the alarm people were on him fast telling him his caravan had moved and as he was supposed to tell them if he moves it they were on thew ball checking it out.
Suppose its get what you pay for or can afford to pay for. One trackered van got about 10-11 miles down the M25 from home position when stopped by the law,van back with owner in good condition.
Mines got hitchlock, wheel clamp, and a ruddy great ring in the floor at the back chained through the chassis, I also have CCTV covering it now after some little scrote broke into my last one for fun (nothing taken, just everything pulled out of the overhead lockers.)
TBH, with reasonable CCTV so cheap, its not worth not having it IMO, it covers my car and caravan (and front/side path) with another camera at the rear, you can "mosaic" sections that are not on your property, althogh mine covers next doors side of the house, and they are happy with that (CCTV for free i suppose)
My daughter and son in law had their caravan stolen within a fortnight of buying it (I would hasten to add that the AlKo hitchlock was found in a sorry state as was the Bulldog Wheelclamp).
They were paid out and went out and bought another 'van.
Cut to three years later and, for reasons I won't go into, they sold their present van.
We still had the keys and associated stuff from their original van and, before I disposed of them I tried their door key in my 'van.
Guess what? Without too much effort, our door opened.
So the moral is;.
Even if the thieving barstewards don't manage to steal your van, your entry door lock is probably as much use as a chocolate fire guard.
------------- How come when some people visit the fountain of knowledge, they only gargle!!!
Change your car to an Automatic. They're a pain to move without the ignition key!!!.
In addition to pointing in to the drive, can I suggest a good rise and fall security post and as a further suggestion. How about a length of high quality mororcycle locking chain threaded thru the wheels to the chassis. Yes, it could be cut off with a pair of bolt cutters but not if the chain were threaded thru a suitable shaped piece of metal tubing first.
------------- How come when some people visit the fountain of knowledge, they only gargle!!!
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Topic: Caravan security??
