Whether your tourer is pitched up on site or stowed away in storage, taking a few simple steps to protect it will offer you reassurance, says John Sootheran
HOW TO...
ALTHOUGH THE CHANCES that your caravan will be stolen or broken into are thankfully small, the number of these unwelcome incidents has been growing, so there’s never been a better time to audit your security provisions and check they are all as good as they can be.
Follow our expert guide to the top 10 security measures for your caravan, and you’ll be making life as difficult as you possibly can for the pesky thieves.
Wheel locks
Wheel locks come in all shapes and sizes, but one of the most popular is the Al-Ko Secure wheel lock. This device is smaller and lighter than most other wheel locks, so it’s easier to transport. The receiver is also fixed to the caravan’s chassis, making it a more secure option.
When fitted, the lock receiver is visible behind the wheel and the device slides between the wheel ‘spokes’ before the bolt is screwed into the receiver. Aside from Al-Ko Secure, a wide range of wheel locks is available, from brands such as Milenco, Bulldog, Maypole and Fullstop.
These devices don’t require a prefitted receiver, are often cheaper, and if you have a twin-axle, are much easier to fit – aligning two wheels to the perfect spoke position can be quite a tricky procedure with an Al-Ko Secure lock.
Most tend to clamp around the wheel in a similar fashion, to prevent the caravan being towed. These clamps are generally a lot bigger, and will require storage space in an external locker or your tow car.
Steady locks
Quick and easy to use and store, these simple locks increase the hassle level for any would-be thief, simply by locking the corner steadies in the lowered position, making it impossible to tow the caravan.
Winter wheels
Winter wheels are not actually wheels at all; rather, they are axle stands, which bolt onto the wheel hub in place of the removed wheel.
A potential thief would have to be very motivated indeed to arrive at your caravan with a set of replacement wheels, then try to burn off the device with oxy-acetylene, and hope that the heat doesn’t damage and seize the hub.
Pop your wheels in storage – away from the caravan, obviously – and your tyres will also benefit from not sitting for three to six months under the weight of the van.
Hitchlocks
Hitchlocks are a compact and fairly light security device, and like wheel locks, are considered to be the bare minimum provision by many leisure vehicle insurance companies.
A hitchlock clamps and locks around the hitch-he
