So how do you protect your van

[wotme]

I suppose it depends on how much you value your van and how much you are attached to it that determines the level of security you use to protect it. If the latest model MHs have keyless entry similar to my car then you are probably aware how venerable it is. I have become quite attached to my old MH and it would piss me off to lose it so as I wont be on the road for a while I'm looking at ways to increase security. At the moment it has a Sigma alarm system, a steering wheel lock, a heavy duty chain secured to the axel, the habitational door is secured with a steel bar from the inside, the windows have pins through the catches. Its not possible to fit a security post but I'm thinking of fitting wheel clamps. I was wondering if there is a simple way to immobilizing the engine, appreciate any suggestions.

 

[9526]

I suppose it depends on how much you value your van and how much you are attached to it that determines the level of security you use to protect it. If the latest model MHs have keyless entry similar to my car then you are probably aware how venerable it is. I have become quite attached to my old MH and it would piss me off to lose her so as I wont be using it for a while I'm looking at ways to increase security. At the moment it has a Sigma alarm system, a steering wheel lock, a heavy duty chain secured to the axel, the habitational door is secured with a steel bar from the inside, the windows have pins through the catches. Its not possible to fit a security post but I'm thinking of fitting wheel clamps. I was wondering if there is a simple way to immobilizing the engine, appreciate any suggestions.

Blimey, where do you live Beirut

 

[TheAleMan]

We literally don't use any anti theft devices on our van, other than the Fiat immobiliser and a tracker for insurance purposes. I lock it up and walk away from it. It lives on our detached garage some 30m away from our house. Oh, it does have chocks under the front wheels as our garage drive is on a slope. Probably get nicked now.

 

[wotme]

We literally don't use any anti theft devices on our van, other than the Fiat immobiliser and a tracker for insurance purposes. I lock it up and walk away from it. It lives on our detached garage some 30m away from our house. Oh, it does have chocks under the front wheels as our garage drive is on a slope. Probably get nicked now.

How exactly does a tracker work, I assume it has an independent power source which keeps it permanently live or is it activated by a motion switch? What sort of percentage did your insurance company reduce your premium by. What I find strange is different insurance companies will either load or reduce premiums if you add a squeaky clean driver to your policy

 

[AXO66]

We have found ourselves being backed into many corners thinking about security Where do you stop.?


so we keep it simple

pedal lock and alarm when out and about.

no valuables left in the van ....ever.( our mantra . Keys, wallet, phones, passports, check.....ok .....lock the van)


dog and external alarm setting when asleep.

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[wotme]

How about having a secret switch in the cab that de-activates a pop up neon sign on the roof saying "This vehicle is stolen please inform the police" Well, I thought it was a good idea.

 

[AXO66]

not a b

How about having a secret switch in the cab that de-activates a pop up neon sign on the roof saying "This vehicle is stolen please inform the police" Well, I thought it was a good idea.

not a totally daft idea,
heard that the baddies change number plates quickly after nicking.
then its just another van on the road.

distinctive decals on the bonnet , back and roof , makes your van quite distinctive and must improve the chance of it being seen and recovered.
( put on list of todo jobs!)

 

[Spriddler]

I have become quite attached to my old MH

I doubt that crims would be interested in an 'old' m/h.

 

[Just smiffy]

I protect my van with insurance....

if someone wants it they’ll have it or do loads of damage trying...

 

[DBK]

How exactly does a tracker work, I assume it has an independent power source which keeps it permanently live

Generally they are linked to the vehicle battery but have an internal battery as well so they can operate if the vehicle battery is disconnected. This does mean they will over time drain the battery but having solar on the roof and a system which charges the vehicle battery as well as the leisure batteries will sort that.
Most systems use GPS and GSM (mobile phone) technology although these can be jammed. Some systems use VHF to get around this.

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[nicholsong]

Ours is parked at back of house, is one of few 'A' Class in the country, is RHD, and will not fit in a shipping container, so is very easily identifiable in this country, and it is a minimum of 100km to a border.

In addition there is an Alsatian and two Policemen living in the flat below. The iron gate bolt squeaks.

I just hope the above takes care of the situation.

Geoff

 

[The Wino]

I alays park ours up to the wall in front and one of our cars just behind so theyll have to shift the car first. We then have a wheel clamp steering whell lock upgraded door locks and an obd lock.

 

[Nasher]

I've posted before on this subject, does anybody have statistics on motorhome theft compared to other vehicles?

Quite frankly, I think social media (& that includes this forum) has made people paranoid about theft

 

[mushy]

I'm with Smiffy on this one. Its 2004 reg so quite old. I lock the doors and thats that. I dont think it has an alarm, I suppose it has an immobiliser fitted in the factory. Its a wooden shed on wheels, hopefully if it does get nicked the insurance will give me some money and I will get another one.

 

[Captain Pants]

Just take sensible precautions and hope nobody takes a fancy to it. The van decals are fairly distinctive - only a handful of Weinsberg PVC Fire Editions in the UK, so hopefully that acts as a disincentive?
I wouldn’t waste money on fancy security & alarm systems. It seems the low-life is always one step ahead so all you get for your money is alarms going off in the middle of the night and annoying everybody. It’s insured, so if the worse happens, I’ll just go and buy another one!

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[Two on Tour]

Everybody that has replied to this post refers to there motorhome and it's security or lack of it while it is at their home or storage address, but if your van gets nicked while your away in it hundreds or thousands of miles away from home, then when your stood at the side of the road cursing you might well think differently about your MH security.

 

[Captain Pants]

Everybody that has replied to this post refers to there motorhome and it's security or lack of it while it is at their home or storage address, but if your van gets nicked while your away in it hundreds or thousands of miles away from home, then when your stood at the side of the road cursing you might well think differently about your MH security.

No, that’s why you have insurance.

 

[Jev88]

Large Unique decals and hidden kill switches. Simple and underrated theft deterrants.

 

[TheAleMan]

How exactly does a tracker work, I assume it has an independent power source which keeps it permanently live or is it activated by a motion switch? What sort of percentage did your insurance company reduce your premium by. What I find strange is different insurance companies will either load or reduce premiums if you add a squeaky clean driver to your policy

Well if we move off just a short distance nothing happens, but anymore than say 100m (complete guess) we get the inevitable phone call asking for our two secret passwords. So am guessing it's done on a motion switch. As for insurance, not sure to be honest. This was/is our very first and only van, and when we phoned the insurance company for a quote, they said the van had to have a tracker or they wouldn't insure, so that was that. It seemed cheap at the time anyway so didn't even ask for a reduction.

 

[Skez]

On our old van we had one of these fitted in the engine bay. Completely disabled power to everything on the vehicle side. Meant you had to reset clocks etc every time you switched it back on, but very effective, especially when parked or stored for a long while.

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[gus-lopez]

Pedal lock, steering lock, alarm, tracker, always dead locked. When away from house the above + 1/2" stainless stell locking pins through front 'B' pillars into door frame rear doors, dead lock bolts internally top & bottom & rear doors & side door have milenco external door locks. Only way in to the van is through the side door. Fortunately the only actual door lock for a key is on the drivers door the passenger door requires unlocking with a remote & the rear doors are separate system using remote only.

No, that’s why you have insurance.

But it doesn't pay you for the inconvenience ,hire of another vehicle, loss of use of vehhicle until it is replaced, cost of travelling 000's of kms finding another, etc;etc;
Mine isn't protected to prevent theft but to may gain the extra seconds that I might return ,catch them in the act & can then torture & kill them, for days.

 

[gus-lopez]

View attachment 379812

On our old van we had one of these fitted in the engine bay. Completely disabled power to everything on the vehicle side. Meant you had to reset clocks etc every time you switched it back on, but very effective, especially when parked or stored for a long while.

Oh yes forgot them.I have a couple to fit. To overcome the resetting you run a small wire bypassing the switch with a 3A fuse to keep clocks alarms ,etc; running .If an attempt to start it when key is out is made it just blows.

 

[The Coops]

If you have drilled brake discs then a padlock through the disc will prevent the vehicle being driven off as it comes to a stop on the brake caliper, almost undetectable for the thief and hard to work out why vehicle is not going anywhere. Just leave a reminder on the keyring that you have fitted it. For any of you of an entrapanural nature out there why not try developing a motorhome disc lock. I am not claiming any intellectual rights for this as I got the idea off using a motorcycle disc lock....It works. over to you dragons we have all got the time on our hands at the moment

 

[Captain Pants]

Pedal lock, steering lock, alarm, tracker, always dead locked. When away from house the above + 1/2" stainless stell locking pins through front 'B' pillars into door frame rear doors, dead lock bolts internally top & bottom & rear doors & side door have milenco external door locks. Only way in to the van is through the side door. Fortunately the only actual door lock for a key is on the drivers door the passenger door requires unlocking with a remote & the rear doors are separate system using remote only.

But it doesn't pay you for the inconvenience ,hire of another vehicle, loss of use of vehhicle until it is replaced, cost of travelling 000's of kms finding another, etc;etc;
Mine isn't protected to prevent theft but to may gain the extra seconds that I might return ,catch them in the act & can then torture & kill them, for days.

Torture and slow death sounds good, but rest depends on terms & conditions in your insurance policy. It’s equally inconvenient repairing the damage caused by aborted theft attempts, particularly if vehicle has become immobilised. Depends on whether they want to steal your van or just break in and ransack it. The latter is more likely 000s of kms from home.

 

[Two on Tour]

No, that’s why you have insurance.

Yes, but stood on the side of the road in a foreign country, no MH, probably not speaking the language with just your wallet and a mobile phone, Great, this is not a scenario I would particularly relish.

Hope you would have your insurers number on your phone (I suspect most people don't), now you have to sort out a bed for the night and a way to get home. No problem I've got insurance.

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[Captain Pants]

Hope you would have your insurers number on your phone (I suspect most people don't),

I’m not most people, I take all contact relevant information with me including numbers to report stolen cards etc and scans of all important documents - all stored on the cloud so accessible from wherever. I’m not saying it wouldn’t be inconvenient, of course it would but I haven’t needed it yet. I’m prepared, I have premium vehicle, personal and travel insurance which covers just about anything that could go wrong. I also speak a bit of French and a smattering of Spanish.

 

[Two on Tour]

I’m not most people, I take all contact relevant information with me including numbers to report stolen cards etc and scans of all important documents - all stored on the cloud so accessible from wherever. I’m not saying it wouldn’t be inconvenient, of course it would but I haven’t needed it yet. I’m prepared, I have premium vehicle, personal and travel insurance which covers just about anything that could go wrong. I also speak a bit of French and a smattering of Spanish.

Seems odd that your so prepared for the problem if occurs, but seemingly so poorly prepared to prevent it. Maybe I'm just a funny old bugger and would prefer to avoid or at least deter the scum from nicking our van and having the hassle that goes with it in the first place.
If it does happen, then I hope I have a phone signal and my friend Google helps me converse with the natives.

 

[68c]

Jack it up and take a wheel off, suggest one of the driven wheels. Will not go anywhere as the differential will just spin the missing wheel side should they try to drive off. Also stops your tyre getting a flat spot during this lockdown. Alternate wheels each time government reactivates lockdown.

 

[Jewellbags]

Tracker , security posts , wheel lock , steering wheel lock , alarm and errrr these two

 

[Boris7]

Its not completely impossible to get past ANY security device, but these will make almost any "crim" sod off before he beats the security, unless the vans somewhere he can work on it for hours.

Mines parked with the side entry and passengers door tight against a wall and drivers door window has a sign stating keys not on site and don't forget to smile for the camera which has already told me your here.

https://autowatch.co.uk/veh-sec/ghost-2-menu

https://www.bulldogsecure.com/view/bulldog-ca2000-centaur-wheel-clamp/115

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