Hi all, we are about to take off on another adventure in July and want to see about adding maybe a towball lock when the van is unhitched.
Have any of you knowledgeable Goeys any suggestions as to a brand, type or even another method of security that is practical?
Thanks in advance.
Vic said
02:59 PM May 25, 2011
Hi FF, I have the type that fits over the tow ball receiver with a wrap around over where you put the lock to prevent anyone cutting it off. There is another similar one you can buy which you can use for both when your van is on or off the tug that should be good too but a bit dearer. You can get the ones that fit inside the towball with a key lock, but horses for courses, I prefer the one that is more visible to deter thieves. Also good to use on the garden trailer at home.
Mind you it is only to deter the opportunistic thieves, it would not stop organised thieves who would just hook a chain around your van etc or use and angle grinder.
Here are a few types to look at, mine is similar to one but has a fold over where the padlock goes and is not seen here. Trailer Cops also shown.
-- Edited by Vic on Wednesday 25th of May 2011 03:05:12 PM
gordon_adl said
03:03 PM May 25, 2011
I think I have the same kind as you vic. They're clever and cheap enough. I have a believe that a lock only keeps the honest people from stealing. If someone really wants my equipment...what's that saying 'where there is a will there is a way'.
Ma said
03:07 PM May 25, 2011
We have the key type one Fly. Will ask Blue when he gets back from fishing and let you know.
DKay said
03:27 PM May 25, 2011
I have just purchased this one - fits inside and is opened with the allan key and then locked.
$50-$60
A friend had the "wrap around" type and it was cut off with an angle grinder. The van was in "secure storage" at the time and he feels it was an "inside job".
This type (pictured) may deter/slow up a thief just that little bit longer (maybe) to be detected.
These gadgets are only designed to stop the "honest thief"
Cheers
Doug
-- Edited by DKay on Wednesday 25th of May 2011 03:30:01 PM
i use the ARK trailer lock ,easy to use about $70.00 from supercheap auto, regards, gary
Firefly said
03:41 PM May 25, 2011
Thanks guys, I will now have a little research and see which one himself will like best of all.
I know it won't stop the real theif but we will be with the van most of the time anyway.
peter and rose said
04:46 PM May 25, 2011
I use a combination of the lock with the wraparound and a good insurance policy If they want it nothing will stop the pro so for peace of mind a good insurance company will at least cover the loss if the worst happens.
Firefly said
04:48 PM May 25, 2011
Couldn't agree more thats for sure. We have it insured but a deterent when we are out there is the best we can hope for the opportunist theif is all any of us can really deter isn't it.
goinsoon said
05:05 PM May 25, 2011
Don't forget the locking pin for the hitch where it goes into the square recepticle
jimricho said
05:30 PM May 25, 2011
Just a suggestion for what it's worth..... check your insurance policy to see what is acceptable and what isn't in the event of a claim.
Firefly said
05:45 PM May 25, 2011
Ahh now thats not such a bad suggestion Jim, thanks for that.
GS, I will leave that up to himself to organise, I am flat out understanding the tow ball mate.
Smokeydk said
07:31 PM May 25, 2011
FF I think these are the best
jules47 said
07:42 PM May 25, 2011
I have that one - but my hubby made it - with hardened steel (he was a boilermaker) - not easy to cut through - and you can't get at the lock because of the way it is made. They aren't that expensive to buy though - he just was like that - why buy it - I can make it better -
Wombat 280 said
07:44 PM May 25, 2011
Smokeydk wrote:
FF I think these are the best
Agree Easy to install very visible . I insure with club marine for my boat and they say it must be a recognized locking system, so as a safe guard keep your receipt just in case it's called into question.. I always scan my receipts of this nature as the normal registered receipt is hardly readable within weeks
gordon_adl said
07:55 PM May 25, 2011
That's the one I've got
Smokeydk wrote:
FF I think these are the best
Firefly said
09:08 PM May 25, 2011
Ok guys, thanks heaps for that, I will go to super cheap tomorrow and grab one AND scan the receipt Wombat, good idea mate, had many a receipt fade on me.
Helena said
09:47 PM May 25, 2011
We have the same one as DK has an allen key to it then a lock key as well Helena.
Vic said
12:52 AM May 26, 2011
gordon_adl wrote:
I think I have the same kind as you vic. They're clever and cheap enough. I have a believe that a lock only keeps the honest people from stealing. If someone really wants my equipment...what's that saying 'where there is a will there is a way'.
I believe some of the thieves just unbolt the whole tongue assembly with the lock on it and bolt their own on it (with no lock), hook up and drive away. Or some simply use a chain to put around yours and hook that up towing it out of sight then sorting it out then........As has already been said will only deter the real amateur.......
jimricho said
06:44 AM May 26, 2011
How effective are wheel clamps?
Firefly said
10:01 AM May 26, 2011
Yeah thats a fact isn't it. But it is just a deterent for any wanna be's and hopefully it will work. Thanks for all your help guys.
Jim I wondered about the wheel clamp as well mate.
Vic said
10:17 AM May 26, 2011
Deleted......reply superimposing.......not sure if its my keyboard as it only happens on GN posts/pm's
When I try to type the next line
-- Edited by Vic on Thursday 26th of May 2011 10:21:09 AM
jules47 said
02:54 PM May 26, 2011
When we first got our van, and parked it on the area at the front of the house we had made, some low llife cut the power lead plug, right at the point where wires go into the plug - took the plug - our old trailer had been sitting in the front yard for about 7 years, with the same plug on it - no-one ever went near it. John made a cage type thing and bolted it to a-frame, closed with a lock, power plug goes in - thieves can't get at it. Shame when we have to think of all these security bits and pieces isn't it?
Firefly said
04:16 PM May 26, 2011
Yeah its a real pain mate.
Smokeydk said
09:35 AM May 31, 2011
Jim I have a set on my van like these.....any wider tyres and the clamp wouldnt fit.....
if the van was towed.....I guess the clamp would cause a lot of damage to the wheel arches
gordon_adl said
09:51 AM May 31, 2011
I can't help myself. This pic reminds me of the simpons episode where homer is in new york and his car had a parking infringement on it so they clamped his wheel. He then drove it away like that.
Smokeydk wrote:
Jim I have a set on my van like these.....any wider tyres and the clamp wouldnt fit.....
if the van was towed.....I guess the clamp would cause a lot of damage to the wheel arches
jimricho said
06:19 PM May 31, 2011
I guess all one can do is make it difficult for the thieves and be able to show the insurance mob that a genuine effort is being made. I would need a wheel clamp to fit around a 235 x 75 x 15 wheel, a bit wider than a normal "on road" tyre. At present I'm just putting a pin through the hole in the Treg hitch (not the Treg pin) and a padlock through a hole in the pin. The padlock is a type that can't be cut with bolt cutters but I guess an angle grinder would make short work of it.
Gerty Dancer said
07:21 PM May 31, 2011
We do that too Jim, but for leaving the van while we go somewhere remote, will try to get one of Smokey's type, looks good. Thanks!
Hi all, we are about to take off on another adventure in July and want to see about adding maybe a towball lock when the van is unhitched.
Have any of you knowledgeable Goeys any suggestions as to a brand, type or even another method of security that is practical?
Thanks in advance.
Hi FF, I have the type that fits over the tow ball receiver with a wrap around over where you put the lock to prevent anyone cutting it off. There is another similar one you can buy which you can use for both when your van is on or off the tug that should be good too but a bit dearer. You can get the ones that fit inside the towball with a key lock, but horses for courses, I prefer the one that is more visible to deter thieves. Also good to use on the garden trailer at home.
Mind you it is only to deter the opportunistic thieves, it would not stop organised thieves who would just hook a chain around your van etc or use and angle grinder.
Here are a few types to look at, mine is similar to one but has a fold over where the padlock goes and is not seen here. Trailer Cops also shown.
http://www.campertrailers.org/securing_your_camper.htm
-- Edited by Vic on Wednesday 25th of May 2011 03:05:12 PM
We have the key type one Fly. Will ask Blue when he gets back from fishing and let you know.
I have just purchased this one - fits inside and is opened with the allan key and then locked.
$50-$60
A friend had the "wrap around" type and it was cut off with an angle grinder. The van was in "secure storage" at the time and he feels it was an "inside job".
This type (pictured) may deter/slow up a thief just that little bit longer (maybe) to be detected.
These gadgets are only designed to stop the "honest thief"
Cheers
Doug
-- Edited by DKay on Wednesday 25th of May 2011 03:30:01 PM
i use the ARK trailer lock ,easy to use about $70.00 from supercheap auto, regards, gary
Thanks guys, I will now have a little research and see which one himself will like best of all.
I know it won't stop the real theif but we will be with the van most of the time anyway.
If they want it nothing will stop the pro so for peace of mind a good insurance company will at least cover the loss if the worst happens.
Couldn't agree more thats for sure. We have it insured but a deterent when we are out there is the best we can hope for the opportunist theif is all any of us can really deter isn't it.
Don't forget the locking pin for the hitch where it goes into the square recepticle
Ahh now thats not such a bad suggestion Jim, thanks for that.
GS, I will leave that up to himself to organise, I am flat out understanding the tow ball mate.
FF I think these are the best
Agree Easy to install very visible . I insure with club marine for my boat and they say it must be a recognized locking system, so as a safe guard keep your receipt just in case it's called into question.. I always scan my receipts of this nature as the normal registered receipt is hardly readable within weeks
Ok guys, thanks heaps for that, I will go to super cheap tomorrow and grab one AND scan the receipt Wombat, good idea mate, had many a receipt fade on me.
Thanks for all your help guys.
Jim I wondered about the wheel clamp as well mate.
When I try to type the next line
-- Edited by Vic on Thursday 26th of May 2011 10:21:09 AM
John made a cage type thing and bolted it to a-frame, closed with a lock, power plug goes in - thieves can't get at it. Shame when we have to think of all these security bits and pieces isn't it?
Jim I have a set on my van like these.....any wider tyres and the clamp wouldnt fit.....
if the van was towed.....I guess the clamp would cause a lot of damage to the wheel arches
Thanks!
Found some links
http://www.dealsdirect.com.au/p/anti-theft-wheel-clamp-visible-deterrent/
http://www.australiandirect.com.au/section.php/27/1/klamp-it---wheel-clamps
http://mobile.tradingpost.com.au/item/view.action%3Bjsessionid=997B2916B3B2FF611594587FE0FA25BF.tpmserver2-1?item=TyAKoQwlcHsAAAEqJ5wJY358&csAction=refineSearch.action&csNamespace=search&insideMobileShowroom=true
http://www.trailer-wheel-clamp.com.au/
Jim