Making it harder for thieves to steal your RV
I couldn't find any reliable information or statistics about RV theft in the United States. I've never met anyone who has lost an RV to theft. They are not like automobiles which have a great deal of value after being torn down into parts for resale. The RV used parts market is not lucrative enough for thieves to exploit. RVs are usually the target of petty thieves who break-in and steal the TV, VCR and other electronic gear but leave the RV where they found it.RVs probably do get stolen on occasion (and if you have a story about a stolen RV please click on the light blue "comments" below and tell us). If you want to make it more difficult for thieves to steal your RV consider putting a lock on the hitch.
Master Lock makes these hitch locks for Travel Trailers and you can find them in the automotive department of WalMart for around $25.00. No lock will stop a determined thief, but it will slow them down or perhaps make them look elsewhere for an easier target.
Locks are also available for 5th wheel king pins. Receiver hitch locks are another consideration because you take your towing vehicle around town and leave it parked in unprotected parking areas. You definitely want your hitch to be there when you get ready to hook-up and leave so consider purchasing one for your hitch. Receiver hitch locks are available in the automotive department of WalMart.
Helping to prevent you from parting with your property prematurely - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVingLabels: Security
posted by Jim Twamley at
6/27/2008 04:00:00 AM
14 Comments:
If you view my rig from the air you can see the state abbreviation and license plate number in 10inch high, self adhesive, red, reflective letters. Under $50 from a sign/banner shop. All spaced out on an easy to remove plastic sheet. Takes longer to clean the roof area than actually apply the decal. I figure if it is stolen or someone needs to find me it will stand out in a crowd.
By
Anonymous, at June 28, 2008 6:18:00 AM PDT
Good post, Jim.
I do know a couple here in Florida whose fifth wheel was stolen. They had it parked on a lot with a For Sale sign on it. New Year's Day someone hooked it up and towed it off. The police found it a year or so later parked at a campground.
Cheryl
By
Cheryl Norman, at June 28, 2008 6:39:00 AM PDT
We have had two trailers stolen (and one had been vandalized a few months before being taken) while parked in RV storage area of two different mini storage complexes. In both cases it happended in the winter time. We had hitch locks on both trailers--all that was left were pieces of the locks on the ground. Use good quality hitch and wheel locks if you cannot store your RV somewhere where you can keep a close eye on it.
By
Anonymous, at June 28, 2008 9:56:00 AM PDT
This will sound rediculous, but I might welcome this as a way to get my money back on my 2005 lemon fifth wheel. I've spent about 1/4th of my puchase price just getting out-of-warranty repairs done at my cost.
Of course, add the current cost of diesel to fuel up my pickup truck, and this idea becomes even more attractive. My insurance will cover replacement costs, that is, equivalent to a 2008 model.
Just an idea! :-)
By
Fred, at June 28, 2008 11:03:00 AM PDT
RVers who need to store an RV a a remote location should look for a storage facility that primarily caters to owners of boats, RVs, and vehicles.
Look for a storage facility that has as much security as possible including lights, cameras, and gated access that tracks who comes and goes.
Temporary storage facilities are a poor choice because of the high volume of people coming and going. You have a significantly higher possiblity of damage from vehicles coming and going as well as a higher potential of theft.
By
rvauthor, at June 28, 2008 4:20:00 PM PDT
I think the old fashioned way is the best if you're really serious about doing a trailer theft deterrent. Take a wheel off after jacking it up, put a concrete block under the axle to let it back down on. Of course, on heavier trailers, a concrete block may not be strong enough and an appropriate substitute will be needed. I suspect this old trick worked so well because not too many thieves will take the time to go buy a wheel and tire to haul it off.
By
Anonymous, at June 28, 2008 6:04:00 PM PDT
Mr. Twamley,
The "United States" is a proper noun and should be capitalized. I hope you did not have some political statement to make with this so very obvious mistake.
By
sl, at June 29, 2008 7:56:00 PM PDT
sl, How could a posting about stolen rigs be political?.
Skipping your meds again?
By
Anonymous, at June 30, 2008 10:05:00 AM PDT
Has anyone ever had an RV stolen or vandalized from a trailer left at a remote boondocking spot...you know...go into town for the day and come back to your trailer in some canyon and its gone?
By
Anonymous, at July 1, 2008 6:22:00 AM PDT
sl thanks for the editorial correction. My old fingers and eyes sometimes miss obvious mistakes. Thanks for your readership.
Oh, and I am a United States veteran who proudly served my country and would do it again in a heartbeat. One of my sons is an active duty infantry officer. Today is the 4th of July and I proudly flew the Stars and Stripes over my RV. God Bless America!!! Jim Twamley
By
Jim Twamley, at July 4, 2008 7:59:00 PM PDT
A friend of mine had her motorhome parked in a storage lot on a military base where access is supposed to be limited. However, the motorhome vanished and has never been found. It's probably on the other side of the country. These thing can and do happen.
Walking Woman
By
RV Ramblers, at July 12, 2008 11:00:00 AM PDT
2 yrs ago my sister, who was battling cancer at the time, her and another sister with husbands were going to spend the winter in Florida. Both brothers-in-law were talking TT down and had truck problem in small town in Tennessee, had to take to garage for repairs and for some odd reason went to a motel instead of staying in TT. While staying at motel, one AM my brother-in-law had went out to tt to change clothes, went back into motel to get other brother-in-law, came out and tt was gone. Police could not find and motel did not have security camera's in this area. Took months, then they found in back of someone's house who claimed to have bought off someone, well it was cleaned out of everything, they got trailer back and the body itself had one dent in back from backing into tree but the inside was not really damaged just all items removed, even clothes and the all their extra supplies of her medicine. But they were never notified if people were charged or not.
By
rose, at July 12, 2008 1:12:00 PM PDT
Some freinds of ours had a camping trailer stolen a couple of years ago from a gated community. This happened in the camping section of the community and the trailer was a permanent setup; it was never towed but still had tires on it. The camping section is not very populated and one Sunday afternoon 2 men were observed hooking up and towint the camper away from the lot. Interestingly, it did not go out the entrance with a guard gate which menas it must have been an "inside job" because all other exits had locked bars and almost impossible to bypass. Insurance replaced the trailer and the new one has a log chain through the wheels and a hitch lock. The new trailer our friends bought is larger and with a slide so "all's well that ends well".
By
Anonymous, at July 14, 2008 8:55:00 AM PDT
Up around our neck of the woods, the moment snow had disappeared, we began to see the number of thefts to winter equipment flourish like never before. Most of the trailers, snowmobiles etc were only chained up (and at best when they were!) to say hydro/telephone poles or anchored to a post driven into the ground. An easy prey to anynone armed with a portable zip cutter. Here is a link that might help such from happening again. http://www.amplock.com/eng/products.htm
PS: I am by no way related to that supplier. Just happen to know they have some darn good products.
By
Anonymous, at August 3, 2008 1:18:00 PM PDT
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