Keep Your RV From Being Stolen While You’re Away
Many RVers are concerned about their RV being stolen from the boondocks while they are out exploring away from camp for the day.
As I have shared in past posts, you are highly unlikely to be a victim of crime in the boondocks as criminals are opportunists applying their trade where there is ample opportunity. Not much opportunity for them in the boondocks with RVers randomly spread out in the woods.
For my wife and I, our biggest concern relating to theft of our travel trailer is when we drop it along a stretch of highway while we enjoy a side trip in our tow vehicle to a ghost town or other out-of-the-way place in the middle of nowhere.
Who knows what criminal element might drive by, see our RV sitting on the side of the road and circle around for a closer inspection. Discovering it to be temporarily abandoned, it would only take a minute for a bad guy with a truck to latch onto our travel trailer and head down the road to points unknown.
Following are some methods you might use to make your RV harder to steal in your absence:
Trailer and motorhome owners
- Run a chain through your wheels and suspension system padlocking the ends together. This will prevent your wheels from turning if someone tries to drive off with your RV.
- Leave the jacks down, making the RV less mobile. I quite often put them down to level the RV to keep the refrigerator happy if we will be out exploring for hours.
Trailer locks
- Inserting a coupler lock to prevent someone from quickly hooking onto your RV.
- Lockable wheel chocks. I use these combined with a chain through the wheels and suspension.
Motorhome theft prevention
- Using your power levers to raise the drive wheels off the ground.
- Install a hidden switch that disables your ignition system.
- Use a club or other device that renders the steering wheel useless.
Next time you worry about leaving your RV parked along a remote stretch of highway, in a campground, or in the boonies while you are away for the day, employing these tips will help ensure your RV is still there when you return. Because having your RV stolen is an adventure nobody wants to experience!
See also: 10 Ways To Keep Your RV Safe From Theft
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
No really concerned with so.eone trying to steel our 5th wheel. Install an alarm system. Just like in a house and a car. We have a Mobil camera alarm system that alerts us if anyone triggers a camera. We get an email with video or pictures depending on how you set it up. This way, first they are caught on camera, hopefully you get there liscence plate on camera as well. Then call 911 and report it. Next if they try to get I side, I have an alarm system that will sound o er a part speaker and a strobe light that will be triggered. Think it out, you can always find a way to stop or at least slow down a thief. Of course there is always my favorite……… cut off there hands….
What is the name of your mobile camera alarm system?
You are assuming you are there when it happens. As the story says, it usually happens when you are gone.
Your approach is no better than keeping the porch light on. Don’t get me wrong I think it’s a decent deterrent but it’s not foolproof by any means. Think along the lines of having multiple layers of protection. Like you can’t steal what you can’t move. Wheels, and hitch locks. Change and install better locks on all of your compartments doors, and entryways. Think you get the idea. An alarm system in an RV is more for peace of mind and curiosity of how they did it. The main idea is giving yourself enough time to react, and possibly the police to arrive in time to intervene.
I agree with Gregg other than I say just Shoot them and make sure they can’t talk. To do that shoot them dead and they will not ever try to take anyones property again..
Then be sure to drag their worthless corpse into the coach. Burglary. Self defense. ; < )
You are assuming you are there when it happens. As the story says, it usually happens when you are gone.
Padlocks? Dry ice and a hammer. 2 minutes. Gone.
Big bolt cutter, 20 seconds.
In addition to these recommendations, our insurer required (and paid 2/3 of the cost) that our VR have the TAG system installed which places a dozen sensors/GPS emittors throughout the unit which allows them to precisely track our RV anywhere in North-America.
http://tagtracking.ca/en/why-tag/
So what do you do, Sharee?
I’ve seen people use a bootjack.
a ball lock is the best, They come in different sizes as well, has a 1/2″ rap around stainless steel strap with the ball and uses a ratcheting tooth locking system. Bottom line if they really want it it does not matter what you do, this will slow them down a little more,. the idea of a paddle lock through latch lever is really not worth talking about BAD IDEA..
a ball lock is the best, They come in different sizes as well, has a 1/2″ rap around stainless steel strap with the ball and uses a ratcheting tooth locking system. Bottom line if they really want it it does not matter what you do, this will slow them down a little more,. the idea of a paddle lock through latch lever is really not worth talking about BAD IDEA..
After much research about hidden switches, alarms, etc. Which is great if you have cell coverage. On my truck camper I have had a REVELCO engine kill switch system installed. It is a removable chip. When removed, it kills the starter and fuel pump.
I doubt that any levelling system found on an RV should be used to lift the drive wheels off the ground. It is an invitation to bent levelling cylinders, or worse.
I know boon-docking is popular with the readers of this publication, and I understand the benefits of it. Nevertheless, I feel one of the very best anti-theft “devices” is a good campground host. Here in southern AZ, my favorite campgrounds are Forest Service campgrounds that are NOT run by an expensive concessionaire, but by the Forest Service itself. Usually the daily fee is really cheap, like $10 in many cases, but as a retiree, I have the lifetime pass, which gives me many federal campgrounds at half price. I can check if there’s currently a campground host stationed where I want to camp by calling whichever Forest Service division it is in, normally around here it’s Coronado National Forest. The host is usually equipped with means to get ahold of a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) if the need arises.
Arizona State Parks are campgrounds where I feel secure. They usually have hosts, and in a lot of cases, such as Rope Lake State Park, which I like, they also have park rangers. However, the downside to Arizona State Parks is they are relatively quite expensive compared to Forest Service; but do offer more amenities.
The point of locking stuff up, including your trailer’s trailering apparatus if you’re towing an RV, is a point well-taken. Yeah, the professional thief or cartel member (this is the border land) may be able to defeat your defenses, but the majority of thieves are opportunists. They love the quick and easy. Unlocked doors, expensive stuff left out in the camping space, etc.
Lots of good advice from above commenters. Yes some thieves can defeat our defenses. Then I guess that’s where insurance kicks in.
The joke where I used to work when someone locked themselves out of their car was, “anyone know a south-side teenager?” They could quickly and easily get your car open because of their street smarts.
TMI, I’m sure. Don’t let fear spoil your trip, but be wise and vigilant. Look out for each other.
I installer a Verizon “Jetpack” hot spot and a “Blink” security system in our coach. Both require A/C so can only be used when on shore power, but the coach has an inverter that powers the refrigerator while we travel and I am going to plug them into that circuit to see if they stay alive while traveling, at rest stops, or while we take side trips in the road. I have high hopes.
A battery powered saw zall makes short work of a hitch lock or chain unless it is case hardened. I had to cut off a hitch lock that froze up and I was surprised at how easy it was. Maybe something is available that saw proof that I’m not aware of . I think even the big wire locks are probably able to be cut with a Saw zall or large bolt cutter. My dad’s double jet ski double trailer was chain locked and hitch locked and the padlock was cut off the chain. My theft deterrent for my Class A is I wired in a battery cut off switch. but that only is used when it is in storage and is also pretty easy to find. I’d like to also install a better hidden cut off in the engine compartment under the bed or somewhere else that prevents power from going to the starter. I think a thief won’t try to trouble shoot the problem if their hot wiring doesn’t work. If they were willing to do that much work they’d probably have a job and be willing to work to earn money instead of stealing. I don’t have any other suggestions for trailer owners but making a hitch lock that is saw proof or bolt cutter proof seems like it could be a business opportunity. But many people only invest in more security after having a break in or something stolen. Normal house locks and doors are so easily bump key opened or opened with a credit card if not dead bolt locked and easily kicked in it is crazy. So many people won’t replace the cheap locks they have unless something pushes them into doing it. So, that might be why there isn’t already higher quality more secure trailer locks already available.. A boot sounds like a good idea but I suspect they are pretty expensive if they are like the ones the police use..
Most thieves are looking for quick and easy. While no lock is fool proof it will make them look for a easier target. But just remember the job of any lock is to keep a honest person honest.
Curt makes the only hitch lock that really works . It cannot be sawsalled off and bolt cutter won’t work on it . A little more expensive but well worth it
Diamond blade will cut through it.
Not impressed with the picture of the locking wheel chock and the chain. That chain looks easily cutable, and the wheel chock would fall off if a thief temporarily deflated the tires.
Ball locks are worthless!!! The defeat mechanism for them is hanging from your hitch–the safety chains.
A cable through the wheels is what I use but it’s only good to prevent unplanned theft.
I would like to see more articles on truck campers. I would assume that a truck camper is harder to steal because you have to steal the truck. Maybe I’m wrong. Don’t know.
Have you ever been worried about your trailer being stolen? The best way to keep a trailer from being stolen is probably to keep it attached to your trailer. But I’ll show you some simple steps to lock a trailer so it can’t be stolen. The first is to secure your trailer with a link lock and latch lock. , making it impossible for thieves to run away with the trailer. You can install a GPS tracker in your trailer or paint your trailer with fluorescent pigments.
Preventative locking is a simple DIY trailer lock. Installing an alarm system is the greatest approach to keep burglars from taking your trailer.