Security

WARNING!

If you have your Caravan insured, always check the policy documents as you may be required to have particular security devices installed at all times that the Caravan is pitched on site or in its storage location. Failure to do so may invalidate the policy.

There are many options available in Caravan Security. These can range from simple steps that you can take free of charge, right up to expensive tracking systems that you will have to pay a monthly fee for. How far you take your security will depend on your circumstances and how much value you place on your Caravan. Even the cheapest and free parts of security are worth while and will stop some thieves. A determined or professional thief will overcome almost every aspect of security available. Therefore the more security that you have will hinder the thief and therefore may well make look elsewhere for easier pickings.Free SecurityMost of the free security options are purely a case of simple common sense which most people will already do and just take for granted. Some of the points below may not be practical or viable for everyone, so they are merely suggestions on how to increase your security.

  • Ensure all windows and doors are closed and locked correctly.
  • Close any curtains or blinds so that people will not be able to see your valued possessions in the Caravan.
  • Remove all valuable possessions where viable so that should someone break in or steal the Caravan then you have not lost everything.
  • Make sure that the Corner Steadies have been lowered properly. This will deter a thief from wheeling your Caravan away if he has not come prepared.
  • Pitch the Caravan in a location where it is either blocked in or hard to move out should someone be looking at taking your Caravan.
  • If the Caravan is stored in a building like a barn try to make sure that the building is as secure as possible.
  • When the Caravan is in for a long storage period, especially in winter sit the Caravan on secure lockable axle stands with the Corner Steadies down and remove the wheels. If possible do not store the wheels with the Caravan should the thief break in.

The following two points have pros and cons against each of them. You will need to decide which is best if more that one is available to you.
  • Where the Caravan is stored outside try and store the Caravan where it will be well lit at night especially if a security PIR light is available. This may also have the opposite effect of highlighting the Caravan to a passer by at night.
  • In some cases it may be better to store the Caravan out of site. However if someone is aware of your Caravan it may also give them a better opportunity to access your Caravan knowing that they are less likely to be disturbed.
Affordable Security

Some of the Affordable options of security will also be classed as the Premium security options as most things these days come in a vast range of prices dependant on who they are made by, cost to build, features and sometime on how secure they are. The most expensive security is not always the best option.

Lighting

A lit Caravan at night can be a deterrent for some thieves. Security Lighting can be one of the cheapest parts of security. You can buy a PIR unit to wire in to existing lighting for anything from about fifteen UK pounds upwards. Complete security lights are also available for around a similar price. Should you not have an electrical supply near you or you do not want to tap in to an electrical supply then there are also Solar PIR lights available. These work on the basis of a set of rechargeable batteries being charged during the day and allow the unit to be powered at night when the light is required. These are usually bright LED’s that provide the light. Installation is simple in that the unit just needs to be fixed somewhere for the unit to be charged in available sunlight. If you are in a busy location where the light will go on and off all night then the solar option may not be the best bet. It is also possible to get remote controlled lights where you can at least switch these on as you come and go at night. One further option should your Caravan be near to your house is to include a timed light within your house. This will also give you the added security on your house in that passes by will think that someone is at home.

Hitch Locks

There are two types of Hitch Locks available on the market. One is where the handle on the coupling is Hitch Lockcovered so that it can not be opened when hitching up the Caravan. This stops the opening on the socket from being opened properly. However it would still be possible to use an undersized ball to hitch up the Caravan (not securely). The second is where a ball type lock is placed in the socket of the coupling and is expanded, therefore making it impossible to hitch up the Caravan. Both of these options work very well in stopping the opportunist thief from quickly hitching up a Caravan. This type of security is not full proof as it will not stop the Caravan from being moved and if the thief had the correct equipment may be able to disable the lock or still tow the Caravan away using a chain with possible damage to the Caravan or their towing vehicle. A Hitch Lock is an ideal deterrent to help secure the Caravan which many insurance companies see as security measures being taken and therefore reduce the premiums. Prices of hitch locks start from around 20 UK pounds for the socket type, but expect to pay around 50 UK pounds upwards for a good Hitch Lock that covers the hitch handle.

Corner Steady Locks

Again there are two types of Corner Steady Locks. The first is just simply a lockable barrel that covers the nut on the Corner Steady mechanism, therefore stopping anyone from raising the Corner Steady. It would still be possible to raise the Corner Steady but only at a very slow rate using something that could grip on to the barrel. Prices usually start at around 20 UK pounds for each lock, so expect to pay anything from 80 UK pounds for a full set. The second option is for where the Caravan Corner Steady nut is inside a tube. These can be found on most modern Caravans. The lock is a pin that passes through the sides of the tube and therefore making it impossible to get to the Corner Steady mechanism. Prices for these start from around 35 UK pounds for a pair of the locks.

Ground Anchors

A Ground Anchor is simply an item where you chain the Caravan to it. These come in various types from portable to permanent anchors. The portable type looks a bit like a big corkscrew where it is screwed in to the ground. The permanent types can be concreted or bolted to the ground and even fixed to a wall. These anchor points are usually quite secure where a thief may opt to tackle the chain and padlock rather than removing the anchor point, so make sure that a suitable lock and chain is used. Ground Anchors usually start from around 30 UK pounds dependant on which type you opt for without the lock and chain.

Security Posts

You will probably have seen Security Posts around your local town. These are usually used by businesses to stop people using their few valued parking spaces that they have. Just using a lock to secure the post in place and when the lock is removed the post can be layed plat, allowing access to the space. Another type of Security Post has been specifically designed for use by Caravans and Trailers where the Caravan is actually hitched up to the Security Post. All of the posts are usually concreted in to the ground where the part that is above ground is then locked in place should you need to remove it to gain access past the post. By using the Security Post designed for Caravans and Trailers, then using a Hitch Lock the security has then been further increased. Prices will usually start around 60 UK pounds for a Security Post.

Wheel Clamps

The main objective of a Wheel Clamp is to stop the wheels from moving very far. Some are designed so that the wheels will not be moved at all and some allow minimal movement. There are several Wheel Clampdifferent types of Wheel Clamps available. The choice available to you will be dependant on your Caravan and the type and size of wheels you have on the Caravan. Not every type of Wheel Clamp will be suitable for every Caravan and wheel configuration. A Wheel Clamp may need to pass through the spokes of the wheel, sit on top of a wheel nut or even fit to the chassis of the Caravan. Some Wheel Clamps may take a few minutes to setup the first time where others will just fit on to the wheel or Chassis in seconds. When you choose your Wheel Clamp you must especially take into consideration the type of wheels you have and if they have hub caps as a Wheel Clamp is no good if it can be easily removed. Prices for Wheel Clamps can start from around as little as 30 UK pounds but can also go up to nearly 300 UK pounds for the models that fit on to the chassis of the Caravan.

Alarms

Caravan Alarms work similarly to house and car alarms. These include PIR motion detectors, vibration, magnetic door / window contacts and even tracking. The very cheapest alarm a remote controlled PIR motion detector will pick up any movement in a 360 degree range. This just runs on batteries and can be purchased for under 15 UK pounds. This would be ideal for a cheap version of security where the alarm can be heard by people close to the Caravan. For where you require an alarm to run off the Caravan battery, PIR, vibration, door / window access detection and seperate sirens, then prices will start from 100 UK pounds upwards. Caravan tracking system will cost several hundred UK pounds to buy. Some of these will require a monthly or yearly fee to be paid and some require no extra fees other than the use of a mobile phone SIM card. A tracking system will hopefully allow you to recover a stolen Caravan rather than become another statistic. In some cases just by having an alarm of any type will deter a lot of thieves. However there may be some cases where the full system with tracking may be required.

WARNING!

All security devices are there to hinder a thief from getting their hands on your valuable posessions. None of these will ever be full proof to a professional determined thief, but they may be enough to put the thief off and look elsewhere for easier pickings. Always seek professional advise from your Caravan Dealer or Manufacturer when purchasing security devices as you may well be spending money on an item that doesn't give as much security as you expect. Manufacturers are always updating their products in an ongoing battle to beat the thief.