Best Motorbuys: October 02, 2020

Leisure
Improving your caravan security:
Don’t let the thieves win: make your caravan
an impenetrable fortress!
For some people owning a caravan
is like owning a second home.
Now imagine if someone stole
your home! It is not a nice feeling. But
don’t worry; if you follow these tips and
purchase some amazing accessories
you can make your caravan an
impenetrable fortress.
You can have a lovely time, however if
you are safe in the knowledge that your
caravan in baby proof you will surely be
able to relax a little more. The first thing
to ensure is that you have a working
fire alarm and a CO2 detector (if you
use gas). These aren’t really specific to
babies and will make your caravan safer
for everyone but they are essential if
you are spending time with your baby
in the caravan.
The first thing to think of is the
basics. Most caravan door locks aren’t
designed for security purposes. Any
thief could bust open most caravan
doors and have their pick of your
possessions, but there are special locks
that you can buy to prevent this. The
first thing to remember is that where
possible it is best to leave your caravan
empty. However it is always a good idea
to get a decent lock on your door for
extra security.
It's possible to improve the security
of the existing lock by changing the
barrel of the lock for one that requires
a special key. This makes it very hard to
pick but will not stop a determined thief
and it is wise to pop into your local D.I.Y
store and get yourself a solid metal lock
that is easy to install but very hard to
break into.
Now some thieves may not want to
plunder your beloved campervan,
some may just want to steal the entire
thing. The first step to stopping this
from happening is to buy and use a
wheel clamp. A lot of caravan owners
are using these now a days, but not
everyone. They are not too expensive
and are a real deterrent to pesky
thieves who want to make away with
your holiday home.
When on a caravanning holiday it is
also advised to purchase a brilliant little
piece of equipment called a hitch lock.
This ingenious device attaches to, and
prevents the removal of the towing
hitch bolts. This means that no one can
hook onto your hitch or replace it in
order to tow it away.
Steady locks on the legs of the caravan
are another fantastic addition. If the
steady legs are locked in the downward
position then it is practically impossible
to tow the van away. The beauty of
steady locks is in the simplicity. They
are quick and easy to fit and take up
very little room, which makes them
ideal for use when away from home.
Source – Caravan Planet. See their full yard today at 47/49 Hayton Road,
Wigram, Christchurch. Ph: 03 348 1624. www.caravanplanet.nz
Although steady locks don't prevent the
steadies being wound up manually by a
monkey wrench directly on the bar, it is
a deterrent as this is a very tedious and
long-winded process that most thieves
would not even consider.
A lot of caravan owners across the
country have opted for a security post
in their drive.
These are excellent as they can be
unlocked and dropped out of the way
when you need to remove your caravan,
however once locked in place they are
hard for a thief to remove.
Alarm systems are a good addition and
some caravans do come fitted with
suitable devices. If you are fitting your
own it is wise to remember that most
thieves will know where alarm boxes
are usually placed and will be able to
rip them out as soon as they begin to
sound. So be cunning when you fit your
own. The best place is inside your bed
box (beneath your bed), and under a
plastic box that is screwed to the floor.
This will make it a gruelling task to gain
access to your security system.
The final thing to think about is a
tracking device. Now this will play no
part in preventing your caravan from
being stolen, but once it is it will play a
huge part in getting it back. These are
quite expensive and sometimes require
an annual fee to be paid but they have
an impressive success rate.
Caravanning is a great way to spend
your time off; however it is impossible
to enjoy it without your caravan.
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