STAYING SAFE OVER WINTER
If you’re planning to lay up your motorhome for the colder months, a few simple precautions can help you to keep it secure
Any security is better than none, of course, but an experienced thief can remove a budget lock in seconds, so it pays to buy wisely. Follow our guide to the top 10 security measures for your motorhome, and you will be making life as difficult as possible for any potential intruders if you put your ’van into storage over the winter months.
1 Wheel locks
Motorhome wheel locks come in all shapes and sizes, but bear in mind that in general, the more you spend, the better – and the more secure – your chosen product is likely to be.
If there’s one thing not to skimp on, it’s this – buy the best you can afford. Better still, buy more than one.
These days, there’s a wide range of wheel locks and clamps available, from well-known brands such as Milenco, Bulldog, Maypole and Fullstop. Look for products marked to at least a Sold Secure Gold rating.
Before you buy, do check that the lock is suitable for the type of wheels and tyres that your vehicle has.
In addition, bear in mind that some clamps can be heavy, so they will eat up your payload if you’re not careful.
Finally, stick a note on the steering wheel to remind you to remove the lock(s) before driving off!
2 Trackers
If you store your motorhome remotely, a tracker is a must – it will not only alert you to vehicle movement or the ignition being activated, it will also tell you the battery voltage, so that you can take action if the battery is going flat.
An insurance-approved tracker will typically cost in excess of £400, with the annual subscription fees often topping the £150 mark.
You can buy non-approved trackers for less, but do bear in mind that the police might not want to be involved in recovering a vehicle fitted with an unapproved tracker if its location system isn’t pinpoint accurate.
3 Security posts
Security posts are a lower-cost and relatively effective defence or deterrent against possible drive-away thefts for motorhomes stored at home.
Position your ’van on the driveway and simply lock the post in place behind it. They’re very quick to use, although a professional thief can also remove them pretty rapidly.
However, they could still be enough to convince any opportunist intruders to try their luck elsewhere.
Security posts tend to come in either bolt-down or concrete-in designs, the first option obviously being easier to install, but arguably less secure.
4 Storage facilities
According to insurance company figures, more than half of leisure vehicles are stolen from outside the owner’s home, while just a fraction of that number are taken from secure storage facilities.
This is reflected in the discounts – some insurers offer up to 25% lower premiums if you store your ’van in a secure facility.
Many people keep their motorhome at farms or similarly remote spots when they’re not in use. These sites tend to be cheaper, but some places are so secluded that a thief who does discover a vehicle in storage there will have all the time in the world to defeat any security measures.
For the ultimate level of security, you should consider using a specialist facility that is registered with the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA), and in particular, one that has been rated Silver, Gold or Platinum.
5 CCTV
CCTV has become far more affordable in recent years, and many systems only require a power supply – they don’t need hardwiring into a video feed with cables running around your property.
Cleverly, the latest designs will also link easily to your home Wi-Fi, and the footage can be stored on a hard drive or in the cloud. Be sure to fit cameras out of reach, while clearly overlooking your stored motorhome.
Systems are available from under £100, but generally you will tend to find that the more you pay, the better the camera quality is going to be.
If your CCTV records images beyond your property’s boundaries, you must use it in line with data protection law.
6 Door security
On coachbuilt motorhomes, the easiest lock to compromise is usually the one fitted on the habitation door. This is especially applicable to those with just a single locking point (latch/bolt).
A ‘D’ handle that locks in front of the door can help to provide additional security, as well as aiding the access and egress of occupants.
Door bars and chain security are also available for the cab doors – in effect, linking the driver and passenger ones
together – although we would suggest buying additional deadlocks and/or lock shields before these.
7 Steering wheel locks
As with their motorhome wheel lock cousins, it’s important to buy the best that you can afford here.
Be sure to measure the diameter of your steering wheel before purchasing, to check that the one you’re proposing to buy will fit, and again, it’s wise to look for a product that’s been rated to at least to a Sold Secure Gold rating.
Various types of lock are available, including bars that slot through the steering wheel, and large circular units that are fitted straight over the top.
8 Alarms and immobilisers
Most ’vans have a factory-fitted immobiliser that is extremely difficult to get around without the code from the key. These are integrated into the ECU and the wiring loom, so the days of hot-wiring by cracking the ignition barrel are long gone.
However, professional thieves can copy keys, so it is well worth adding another alarm or immobiliser, often referred to as a ghost, because they won’t know it’s there.
These can be programmed so they won’t unlock the ignition without a sequence of button presses on the steering wheel, or via a code pad, additional key fob or card.
9 Pedal locks
An effective method for preventing theft is a pedal lock system. These stop all three pedals (two in an auto) being operated. Being buried in the footwell, they are also difficult to remove.
In addition, chopping the pedals off makes life hard for the criminal. Their downside is that they rely on warning labels to act as a deterrent.
10 Locking wheel bolts
If your motorhome has no locking wheel bolts, fit a Thatcham-approved set. Don’t leave the key with the factory toolkit – everyone does that and the thieves know it!
Some people add an extra locking wheel bolt, but this isn’t necessary – they only offer limited protection and locking wheel nut defeat kits are widely available.
Alloys are less of a target these days, largely because prices have tumbled. Scrap prices are £5-£10 per wheel, so they’re not such a high-value item for the effort involved in removing them.
They’re also bulky for thieves to carry and store, so most will target something smaller and easier to sell.