Security question

As faar as I can remember we've only had one incident on our MH. We were in it t the time. We were at an old campground, former KOA with the hookups on the wrong side, In Missouri, I think. The site was on side of a hill. Sometime during the night heard some noise. Got up but didn't see anything. In the morning, we were prepping to leave. Saw two bay doors on passenger side slightly ajar. In the mud there were foot prints right next to the MH. We didn't find anything missing but there is quite a bit, of inventory. They had crept right next to the MH not a foot away. No damage to doors. I guess when I got up I scared them off. Everybody has the keys to these doors. There seems to be only two different numbers.

Thanks for the web site.

But now I got to move......:(

We have been full-timers for 8 years and have never had a problem. Only one
park I can remember said we should lock our storage doors. Otherwise, we've
never locked them. A lot depends on where you are.

For the OP: All but the higher end class "A" rigs will open up quickly to a long screwdriver. A company, Fiamma, sells decent locks (called the Safe Door), but one has to order them from the UK, as on this side of the pond, they only sell awnings.

If full-timing, it depends on how you are going about it. If you have a tow vehicle, I'd look into a ConsoleVault, which is a reinforced door that is made specifically for one's vehicle. This will deter crowbars and force thieves to use power tools. In the TT or FW, I'd probably look at a strongbox that can be bolted through the floor to the frame, and put in a hidden location. That way, if the rig gets broken into, the DVD player may disappear, but because the thieves have a prize, they will be less likely to do in-depth scouting for other valuables.

There are also ways to beef up security, although they do make the rig look ugly. A friend of mine welded a steel bar on the inside of the door to his RV and uses a hasp and hockey puck lock that bolts through the door and into it, which seems to be a fairly effective deterrent.

If one has a motorhome, a strongbox is an option as well.

Nothing is 100% though. There is a point where I beef up security, but after that, I just let the insurance company take over. For example, with my generator, I use heavy security chains (not the chains cuttable by the cutter at a hardware store) and locks imported from Germany, but if a thief manages to cut those, I have enough evidence to get a police report and get a claim processed. The trick is similar to outrunning a hungry bear, you don't have to be fastest, just a tad faster than the slowest in the pack. Tweakers want something easy, so if a rig appears well-secured where it appears that it will resist their "master key" (a long screwdriver), they will go find another target.

As for protection, this is a subject that has gotten a lot of threads locked. I would say before doing anything, check the laws of where you are going. Some areas don't care if you have an open carry holster. Others will stick you in jail for a year for carrying a can of mace. Best general RV protection is a big dog.

I keep my gen, tool box and bikes chained until needed. Inside I have an 85lb chessy with a bad attitude and large teeth. We doondock a lot and we sleep just fine with the dog at the foot of the bed and my xd40 on the night stand.

hobbicam wrote:

It would be nice to have a spot where victims could post where they had break-ins.. or vandals if they wanted to. I could see that this would have an immediate benefit for someone like myself so I can cross-off where I don't want to go.

That "spot" would be here.

good subject!.. not talked about too much.. but it is important.

I have had a Rialta for 7 years, very little camping due to limited time and hectic life. Every time I start to think about going somewhere, that is something I think about.. also when I get there, I always think about it.

I came across somewhere on a website that had Wal-Mart camping ratings... had comments of travelers that had stopped off and stayed at Wal-Mart parking. There were scores on traffic noise, spot to camp, safe feeling.. etc.

It would be nice to have a spot where victims could post where they had break-ins.. or vandals if they wanted to. I could see that this would have an immediate benefit for someone like myself so I can cross-off where I don't want to go.

Maybe there is already.. Like I said, I am just starting out... still looking and learning..:)

bjcarpetguy wrote:

I guess it does depend on the area you are in. I remember way back when camping
in the Mt Hood National Forest and Hiking a popular trail. being gone for several hours My ex's purse got stolen out of the car. Did get a call about 6 years later someone found it in a field in Portland.

Oddly, the popular area within driving distance from Portland are commonly known by locals to get hit like this. We lived in PDX for about 5 years and people constantly had their vehicles broken into, although it was mostly on the trails around I-84...

So far in 4 and half years of full timing we have lost zero. Spent two winter in
Quartzite with Generator next to rig, prospecting equipment left out while we were
gone. Spent 3 months in Libby Mt and left all of our stuff out. Sometimes gone for over night.

I guess it does depend on the area you are in. I remember way back when camping
in the Mt Hood National Forest and Hiking a popular trail. being gone for several hours My ex's purse got stolen out of the car. Did get a call about 6 years later someone found it in a field in Portland.

Just for piece of mind, we bought a couple Masterlock Python cable locks in different sizes. Bought them together so they're keyed alike. They don't look like logging chains and the cable dia fits nicely thru the holes in the front jacks. I trust fellow campers and don't feel the need to use em but of we're gone for the night it's $50 well spent.