Simple extra security

[mikebeaches]

We are using outdoor winter storage for the van for the first time. It already has various security items and the storage site has CaSSOA accreditation, but I thought some easy belt and braces extra security might be useful.

After reading lots of ideas on here and looking carefully at the way our Ducato-based van is designed, it struck me that a really substantial motorbike chain and lock might do the trick with the front seats turned to face the habitation area.

I selected a red chain as an additional visual deterrent. It cost £24.99 delivered from ebay.

No modifications required and took moments to fit.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=164212420524

 

[ceejayt]

How would this stand up to a good set of bolt cutters?

 

[WillH]

A thief would simply lower the back of the seat and sit on it.

 

[maison]

Or battery operated angle grinder?

Unfortunately, whatever we try we can only discourage the bad guys. We can only try to make our motorhomes more secure than the next guy/gal. Sad, but there it is!

The chain and lock are highly visual and a sensible precaution.

 

[maison]

A thief would simply lower the back of the seat and sit on it.

Surely that would foul the steering wheel?

It certainly would on our m/h.

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[mike mcglynn]

A thief would just cut through the link with a battery angle grinder .

 

[Jaws]

How would this stand up to a good set of bolt cutters?

Being involved in motorcycle security for many years and knowing the type of lock and chain it is, I am fairly confident in saying it would not stand up to a pair of croppers at all.. But as a visual deterrent it is excellent and a good idea

addendum
Any bike chain less than circa £90 is never gonna be exactly a 'sold secure' item but for £25 it will proly deter the opportunity thief right off !

 

[WillH]

Wind the seat down forward, then you can sit on it. It is so easily done.

 

[Stealaway]

Wind the seat down forward, then you can sit on it. It is so easily done.

Not in my Ducato. My son tried it and failed.
Take a wheel or two off?

 

[mitzimad]

We lock our seat in reverse it doesn't fold forwards so a deferent
If mine went in to storage I would remove a few relays

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[Rimswell Wanderer]

sadly we are in this sort of situation so the more we do security wise the better, I use a Clutch Claw that fits over the pedals and prevents them been used, also use a wheel clamp and will be buying a steering wheel lock that is recommended by Caravan Guard. The one thing but a messing about is remove a road wheel and put the Motorhome on a stand but don’t forget to take the spare wheel away as well, but as I said is a real messing about. The remove a relay that is suggested seems a good idea as well but if your Motorhome is laid up over winter it’s all worth thinking about. Forgot to mention Van Bitz they do an excellent alarm an immobiliser system, not cheap but neither is a Motorhome and I think been a member of Motorhome Fun gives a substantial discount, may be worth asking on this forum. I will take a photograph of the clutch claw and add it later.

 

[Don Campbell]

If your site is CASSOA approved it's supposed to be impenetrable according to the insurers because they seem to think they are the bee's knees, or am I being naive, since many of them seem to be just farms?

 

[Pausim]

I don’t believe anywhere is impenetrable and I don’t know how vigilant CASSOA are about inspecting their member’s sites. My insurance company doesn’t seem to care about CASSOA, just the post code of the storage site.

 

[Sapper520]

Anything is better than nothing.

We’ve got........

Whatever Fiat put on the van.

Milenco High Security Steering Lock (nice bright yellow for show). £65

VinChip Security Pack (a couple of micro dot things and various stickers, with vehicle on National Database). £35, no other cost involved.

Vanbitz Growler......expensive but VERY loud (sorry neighbours, keep forgetting to turn it off before opening the door). £899 (includes 10% discount for being a Forum member).

I may have one or two other little things that I keep to myself.

And of course, both sets of keys are no where near any doors or windows and are well out of sight.

 

[SMB]

Our seats don't swivel but it's a good idea, sure a cordless angle grinder would cut through it (IF they had one) but with the alarm going off as well it could be enough to scare them off.

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[Two Owl Ones]

We are using outdoor winter storage for the van for the first time. It already has various security items and the storage site has CaSSOA accreditation, but I thought some easy belt and braces extra security might be useful.

After reading lots of ideas on here and looking carefully at the way our Ducato-based van is designed, it struck me that a really substantial motorbike chain and lock might do the trick with the front seats turned to face the habitation area.

I selected a red chain as an additional visual deterrent. It cost £24.99 delivered from ebay.

No modifications required and took moments to fit.

Brilliant Idea, any visual deterrent will definitely help deter.

As you know, thieves these days are using new technology to steal motorhomes everyday and they don't always need your keys do they?

I would recommend any motorhomer to get a Thatcham Cat 1 Alarm & Immobiliser fitted. Its a small price to pay for keeping your motorhome. Window Stickers are also provided as a visual deterrent to show you have one fitted. Any potential thieves would have to steal your keys and your alarm fob to start your vehicle. It also has provided us with a substantial discount on our Insurance, which has saved us £150 each year, which soon pays for your alarm and immobiliser.

As an extra precaution for us personally, we have paid a one off fee of £60 for a tracking system plus a £4 per month subscription.

https://global-trackers.co.uk

You can track the motorhome worldwide in real time and set parameters (Geo Fence) around your home or holiday camp etc so many great features that we have had a play with. It provides pinpoint accuracy for it's locations and sends a message to your phone if your motorhome leaves any zone that you have set.

It gives us extra piece of mind as so many are taken these days and never recovered!

Best of luck I'm sure your motorhome and the precautions you have taken will keep it very safe.

 

[mikeandmary]

I remove starter and leisure batteries when ours goes into storage at CASSOA gold site. It won’t stop anyone breaking in though but should still be there when we visit every week.

 

[Pausim]

I remove starter and leisure batteries when ours goes into storage at CASSOA gold site. It won’t stop anyone breaking in though but should still be there when we visit every week.

Does’t help if you have an alarm or tracker, their backup batteries don’t last forever.

 

[NoName]

My Pilote is stored at a CaSSOA site and undercover but I still have a Steering wheel locked cover on it, as well as a very effective alarm.

 

[TheAleMan]

For chains and locks that are up to the task, have a butchers at Almax Security Chains LTD. These are very heavy chains but they are brutes And more than capable... https://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/about-us

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[Two Owl Ones]

Does’t help if you have an alarm or tracker, their backup batteries don’t last forever.

Great point for motorhomes that are in storage for a length of time! A flat battery alone I suppose is a deterrent with no brakes or power steering, plus the immobiliser it couldn't be started anyway

If your motorhome is in storage and the battery went flat or the cable is cut you would receive a notification via text or email and if it was being towed along, you would also be notified and the vehicle would be tracked for 8 hours. There are other trackers where the tracker lithium battery last months to keep you updated of your motorhome whereabouts, which can be viewed easily on your phone.

Only my humble opinion, but trackers should be installed as standard on all motorhomes to be honest with a long battery life. I can just see myself chasing our motorhome to the nearest chop shop

Any anti-theft device (above the standard fitted) is worth a try, whatever helps to make each individual sleep at night

 

[Coolcats]

How would this stand up to a good set of bolt cutters?

Agreed its about making it a bit harder but Chains, locks tend to be easily cut, I have a Japanese Cable cutter it goes through steal cable like a knife through butter very little effort is required.

A You tube demo of bike locks being cut

But something is always better than nothing.

 

[Coolcats]

For chains and locks that are up to the task, have a butchers at Almax Security Chains LTD. These are very heavy chains but they are brutes And more than capable... https://www.almax-security-chains.co.uk/about-us

I suspect the battery operated grinder will cut through them (as per the video above) I took a Tow Hitch lock off in no time with one.

 

[TheAleMan]

I suspect the battery operated grinder will cut through them (as per the video above) I took a Tow Hitch lock off in no time with one.

It more than likely would, but it would take some time and you may have to change blades at some point. They are bolt cutter proof.

 

[Jeffr3y]

I use Pewag Chains both for my Ebike and as extra security break away chain on my Tow bar bike rack.
They are supposed to be bolt cutter proof, although a grinder could possible cut through them but there's the noise and the fact a loose chain is going to be very difficult to cut, whipping about and when eventually cut through who knows where the pieces are going to fly too?
I bought mine at Brindley Chains.
Theres some YouTube Videos about them one is

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[Hagstrom]

My understanding is that CaSSOA are an association of secure storage site owners who pay CaSSOA for accreditation. It isn't in CaSSOA's interests to police their members' security arrangements when their revenue income is at stake.

From my experience of a CaSSOA Gold Site in West Yorkshire, CaSSOA may have had no idea that the on-site, live-in night watchman had been left his post several years without replacement and that the site gates were wide open from 9 -5 every day with no active checking on entry (so that the site was flouting its obligations and failing its Gold status), its simply continued to believe what the site owners told it.

During this time the local newspaper reported two thefts of caravans which had been hoisted over the security fence somehow and driven away. Our van and two others had been broken into another night and bits stolen and damage caused.

In my view, the CaSSOA model isn't fit for purpose.

 

[WillH]

I'm just happy that I can store my van at my house. If it moves an alarm sounds and wakes the street.

 

[mikeandmary]

Forgot to mention that I also have a Bulldog Centaur Fully Adjustable Wheel Clamp as well as removing batteries. Not too bothered about not having an alarm as vehicle is 200 yards away from wardens house, through three electronic security gates. Also, how would I keep vehicle battery topped up keeping the alarm live, week in week out. I’m open to suggestions, unless it’s going for a ten mile drive every week or so, which is not really an option in my case. I don’t think a solar panel would do much this time of year either.

 

[Speve]

mikebeaches Our seats will rotate fully it looks like you have just chained seats above the swivel, so all that would be required in the case shown is to turn both seats forward by rotating in opposite directions, so chain stays in the center but will end up with seats facing the correct way unless you anchore them to the base somehow? Unless you know different of course

 

[Coolcats]

I use Pewag Chains both for my Ebike and as extra security break away chain on my Tow bar bike rack.
They are supposed to be bolt cutter proof, although a grinder could possible cut through them but there's the noise and the fact a loose chain is going to be very difficult to cut, whipping about and when eventually cut through who knows where the pieces are going to fly too?
I bought mine at Brindley Chains.
Theres some YouTube Videos about them one is

Its always about deterrent and delay, so whilst its not impossible to cut through the chain it takes 2 mins rather than a few seconds. so multiple level of deterrent from alarms, trackers wheel clamps chains for chairs Clutch claw stop lock OBD lock will all delay or stop a theft.

Here is another one of the videos of the Peweg chain being cut and its a tougher job than most

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