Gender: Location: Tipperary Posts: 6813 Registered: 02 / 2012 My Motorhome: Knaus Sport Ti 700 UFB Silverline Base Vehicle: Renault Master 150 dci Quickshift
That is what I thought until we took our last motorhome which was broken into in France to a local panel beater that specialize in Motorhomes and caravans. He said that they were a disaster as thieves can pull the bar off the side of the Motorhome resulting in a big part of the side of the Motorhome been broken off resulting in a very expensive repair. We have this one on the current Motorhome But dont know if it is any better
https://www.google.com/imgres?…egUIARCdAg
We have these and they're surprisingly useful as grab handles for getting in despite not being part of the design intent and they don't allow any leverage to pry them off.
My thinking on all these aids is this. If they want in. They’ll get in. There is only a piece of Perspex or 2 1mm sheets of aluminum stopping them from coming in. A couple of whacks of a lump hammer, or for the sophisticated thief, a cordless angle grinder, and they are in. So I don’t bother tbh
My thinking on all these aids is this. If they want in. They’ll get in. There is only a piece of Perspex or 2 1mm sheets of aluminum stopping them from coming in. A couple of whacks of a lump hammer, or for the sophisticated thief, a cordless angle grinder, and they are in. So I don’t bother tbh
It is like the 5 point securely locked door and beside it is a window, a tap with a hammer and the thief is in.
A lock will only keep out an honest person.
I have a milenco door lock, but in reality I know its a piece of piss to whip a perspex window off to any savvy thief...
Dogs are the best deterrent
Correct but you do know the old Sheriff St saying
" can they put out fires Sir. "
A bit stupid of a saying as you can't break in if it's on fire either
The contexts of the saying is that they will keep an eye on your vehicle for you. The threat is that if the dogs are minding it , will they be able to put out the fire , if we set it alight.
panda
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: Wicklow Town Age: 58 Posts: 3057 Registered: 08 / 2014 My Motorhome: Concerto 255 Base Vehicle: Fiat Ducato 9 spd Auto
Anyone got a security alarm fitted on hab door or windows?....I've thought of fitting some sort of alarm.....Dont care about the van per say but paranoid of dogs being stolen
eirebus
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: kildare Posts: 7457 Registered: 10 / 2011 My Motorhome: Dethleffs Advantage Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.3
I have a milenco door lock, but in reality I know its a piece of piss to whip a perspex window off to any savvy thief...
Dogs are the best deterrent
Correct but you do know the old Sheriff St saying
" can they put out fires Sir. "
A bit stupid of a saying as you can't break in if it's on fire either
The contexts of the saying is that they will keep an eye on your vehicle for you. The threat is that if the dogs are minding it , will they be able to put out the fire , if we set it alight.
I know Martin
eirebus
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: kildare Posts: 7457 Registered: 10 / 2011 My Motorhome: Dethleffs Advantage Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.3
Anyone got a security alarm fitted on hab door or windows?....I've thought of fitting some sort of alarm.....Dont care about the van per say but paranoid of dogs being stolen
I've tried stealing your dog's John, they were having none of it
Anchor point motorhomes I have one of these from Anchor Point Motorhomes. Bought around 5 years ago it's very neat and you can lock it from the inside too.
Gender: Location: Tipperary Posts: 6813 Registered: 02 / 2012 My Motorhome: Knaus Sport Ti 700 UFB Silverline Base Vehicle: Renault Master 150 dci Quickshift
When our Motorhome was broken into in France, they tried breaking in the habitation door but failed, they got in the cab door with great ease. they put something like a flat screwdriver in the lock and rocked it up and down resulting on the clip that holds the barrel coming off and they put their finger in and opened the latch. (fiat ducato 2004)
Locks are good, but serious damage can be caused by thieves breaking locks or windows to get in.
I rely on an alarm with with clearly visible flashing LED's as a deterrent.
Originally the LED on my alarm was on the dash and not visible with the blinds closed so I added one each side outside the blinds.
I believe a visible indication that the vehicle has an active alarm is the best deterrent as the thief will move on to simpler pickings which won't bring attention to his activity.
When we got our van, there a switch on the dash that I didn’t know what it was for. Traced the wire back, it was simply wired to an LED in the centre of the dash (but had come loose). Nothing else attached. Just a deterrent I suppose.
Gender: Location: Tipperary Posts: 6813 Registered: 02 / 2012 My Motorhome: Knaus Sport Ti 700 UFB Silverline Base Vehicle: Renault Master 150 dci Quickshift
Somebody sent me this, I know it isn't a Motorhome but it let you know what some thieves are prepared to do to gain access, no security lock could withstand this kind of attack.
https://www.facebook.com/photo…Wj7lP4IFe5
eirebus
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: kildare Posts: 7457 Registered: 10 / 2011 My Motorhome: Dethleffs Advantage Base Vehicle: Fiat 2.3
I had the exact same thing done to a van, albeit the back door, when working and staying in Moy, about 4- 5 years ago. Didn’t get in though. Must have been disturbed
baguette
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: Cork Age: 73 Posts: 2836 Registered: 11 / 2011 My Motorhome: Rapido 963F Base Vehicle: Ducato 2.8 JTD Power
I have a led on the dashboard and in the reversing light
The let in the reversing light is good, but unlikely to be seen by a thief approaching from the side or front. If the curtains/blinds are drawn the light on the dash won't be seen at all, therefore little or no deterrent value.
Motorhomes need at least one LED in the cab area which will be very noticeable when the blinds are drawn.
Something as simple and as cheap as THIS can work as an excellent deterrent.
This looks like my next "Project"
As my is a sliding door van conversion and with the outer Silver screens fitted my initial thoughts were to put one in the sliding door and maybe in the back door behind the internal blinds should be fairly easy to wire to the central locking (Maybe//??)
Whilst typing wonder if I could put on the cab doors after making a window in the silverscreen so they could be seen, again maybe able to wire to the alarm fitted?
Any thoughts folks.
David
TommyS
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: Co Armagh Age: 20 Posts: 2106 Registered: 10 / 2017 My Motorhome: EuraMobil Base Vehicle: Fiat
Can someone explain to me the benefit and practicality of an interlocking cable/ chain installed between the passenger and driver doors? You know the kind people talk of with looped steel cable perhaps that is pad locked on leaving the van unaccompanied?
This no doubt would leave unauthorised access through the two doors very difficult no doubt, but surely just leave the side door (be it the habitation door of a MH or the sliding door on a converted van) the main target.
I think it is widely accepted that plastic windows are a weak point, however most breakins that I read of are by the doors, and often the cab doors as I assume the thief would be more familiar with forcing an entry to a standard cab and has the necessary kit. I suppose people feel more secure at night using the strap method. I would not feel happy with that system unless there was a quick release method in case I had to exit the vehicle in an emergency. It also strikes me that a Fiat/Ford/Peugeot door would be an easier repair or replacement than the habitation door. Parts for Motorhomes can be difficult to source as time goes by. Cab parts less so, I imagine, so I wouldn’t go down the strap road, although I have an A class with 2 vulnerable and expensive doors, so I am working on the least damage theory by not beefing up with extra locks etc.
At the end of the day security is all about layering and also what an individual feels happy doing. I tend to try and pick where I park by assessment of the surroundings and gut feeling. After that apply the layers of security of your choice, leave little of value in the van and then go and enjoy yourself. We only have limited control over events.
At the end of the day security is all about layering and also what an individual feels happy doing. I tend to try and pick where I park by assessment of the surroundings and gut feeling.
Davy
We have had bicycles stolen from the bicycle rack while in a campsite in England. On a site in Hungary someone clipped the chain link fence to get to the rear of the van and removed chains that held the bicycles on but couldn’t get past the big chain. In Czechoslovakia we were sitting outside a cafe with the van parked yards away and watched a group of scroats check the chains that held the bicycles on. Someone broke in while we were sleeping in Switzerland and stole money. My theory now is the more visible deterrents you have the better. I have a chain between the front doors and now an extra lock on the habitation door and an alarm with two visible leds. If someone gets past all that they have the Missus to deal with. I have thought about a sign in a couple of languages stating that anyone that comes in will be met with extreme violence. If they really want in and the opportunity presents itself they will get in. I would not be worried about being trapped in as there are 5 windows that I could get out of plus the habitation door.
I would not feel happy with that system unless there was a quick release method in case I had to exit the vehicle in an emergency.
Good point. I wouldn't pad lock myself in. May be a caribbeaner of some kind would be the thing to use.
I saw a guy with safety belts mounted down on the outside of the drivers and passengers seat base .
He had them modified to be long enough loop trough the steering wheel and connect together, by rotating the wheel he could put them under tension, push the catch and they opened.
He had two of simular fashion trough two D handles on the top and bottom of each side of the Hab, door edges, with draw lock tensioner on one side.
What brought my attention to his set up was ,he had security stickers, between the four sets of bolt heads on the outside. He had a curtain across the pillars instead of window blinds, so his system could be seen. When he left the van he had several fob operated immobilizers on the engine and the stickers pointed to unknown security on the Hab,door.
Completely over the top. It nearly blew his mind when I said my keys were in the ignition.
That is what I thought until we took our last motorhome which was broken into in France to a local panel beater that specialize in Motorhomes and caravans. He said that they were a disaster as thieves can pull the bar off the side of the Motorhome resulting in a big part of the side of the Motorhome been broken off resulting in a very expensive repair. We have this one on the current Motorhome But dont know if it is any better
https://www.google.com/imgres?…egUIARCdAg
A few years ago we met a fellow motorhomer who suffered that exact fate. A huge job was necessary to repair the side of the van.
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