Unfortunately it's a sad fact that caravan theft in Australia is a real issue. The insurance companies say around 500 caravans are stolen each year and the majority are not recovered.
The interesting part is that the average claim value has been decreasing over the last few years. Insurance companies believe the change is a sign that many of the more expensive vans are better protected with good quality security devices.
Caravans Plus has put this quick guide together to show the security options that are now available and highlight their pro and cons.
Coupling locks or tow ball locks are generally the most convenient style of protection. While there are a lot of different trailer locks on the market, the simple principle is the same - to prevent someone else from hooking up and driving away with your caravan. Key benefits of this style of lock are:
The caravan or trailer is secured by limiting unwanted access to the coupling. This is done by inserting a tow ball like device which is secured in place by a lock - generally a locking bar over the top of the coupling. The effectiveness of this style protection depends on the construction quality of the unit. While there are wide range of coupling locks available at different price points you do get what you pay for. While the cheaper lightweight trailer locks may be okay for a small box trailer you probably want a bit more protection for your home away from home.
The higher quality locks have a range of added benefits and provide a greater level of confidence. They are made of with better locks, stronger materials, limit access for drills or angle grinders, and some even have anti-tamper alarms.
Many camper trailers and 4WD Caravans have Off Road Couplings. The Kovix Trailer Lock shown above will also suit Treg style block hitches and Hitchmaster DO35 hitch.
Securing your caravan with a wheel clamp is a very effective way of protecting your investment. With a wheel clamp attached it nearly impossible to move a trailer, and they are very hard for the wrong person to remove. The added strength of this style does come at a cost, things to consider are:
Wheel clamps are not only a great security device, they're also an effective visual deterrent to thieves. Purchasing the right clamp for your Caravan or RV is simple when you have the right features:
A wheel clamp is an affordable and simple investment to protect your caravan. One which many victims of theft wish they'd purchased retrospectively, before the crime was committed.
CIL Insurance executive manager, Andrew O'Hara, says:
"Our experience shows that caravans are more often stolen from storage yards, often in remote areas, or from home addresses when the owner may be away,"
"These thefts usually occur when there is a lack of van security, such as a tow hitch lock, and caravans are facing outwards, making it easier to tow them away."
Peter Wright, executive officer of the Caravan Trade Industries Association (Vic) said recently that "...we have had only one instance in the last three or four years where a caravan has been returned. We think they end up on blocks of land. They don't get found at the end of the day."
Are trailer security locks worth the effort? Let us know your thoughts below.
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44 Comments
Dirk
Good idea to bring this to the attention of customers. Can't believe the number of generators stolen from major rallies. Maybe add some high tensile cables.
Ian
Lock your safety chains back away so they can't be used to loop over a tow ball and your van towed away.
Trevor
Not sure if / how it would apply to a van, but I fitted an off-road hitch to my camper with pin locked in place which limits those that have a suitable hitch to attach it to.
Ian
Remove the jockey wheel and prop on a stand plus fit wheel nut security lock on clamps that dont cover wheel nuts
Ray
GPS tracker. Wont stop theft but may find your van
Steven
The problem with any coupling lock is, that they don't need to use your coupling. They drag it away with your own safety chains wrapped around their ball, then padlocked. It takes minutes
Michael
We have fitted a McHitch to our rig which came with a lock to prevent the linch pin from being removed after we unhitch we replace the linch pin on the van and lock it on thereby making it almost impossible for a third party to tow it away whithout drawing considerable attention to themselves.
Chris
The key is to slow them down, if they really want your van they will just drag it up onto a flat bed, I keep my van behind locked gates with two security bollards fitted.
Robert
Also discuss door security. Many people carry iPads, laptops and other valuable items. My door key also fits my friends van!! We both have fitted extra security devises - visual deterrent also.
Gavin
Hey Robert. What extra security did you apply. Thanks Gav
Wendy
We have had a hitch lock for many years. My husband made it and it works very well. It's very sturdy, small and locked. Probably works to our advantage that it is an older van as well.
Dave
A practice I had in place for years, also two padlocks that attach to the door, (deterrent only), a locked pin on the tow bar, how easy it is to pull the pin and attach to someone else!!! People should be more aware of the "bad guys" out there...
John
So many times l see the coupling type with a cheap Chinese lock on it. Might as well not be there. Emphasize need for lock quality. Thank you.
Annette
Have seen so many camper trailers in front yards and driveways with no lock what so ever. $30 would save thousands as well as a lot of heartache. Thieves will look for opportunity. Why go to the trouble of cutting off a lock when there is one unlocked around the corner?
Gordon,
Please demonstrate options for better door security. One little key don't protect much!
Neil
I pull the safety chains through the tow hitch handle and then padlock them together so the handle cannot be lifted and they can't use the chains either unless a fair amount of cutting is done.
Ken
I agree with Gordon, we need better Entry Door security. Suggest someone designs a sturdy door lock replacement or one that can be added to supplement the existing Door Lock.
David
For $150, also consider hiding a gps tracker. Make sure it is 3G compatible, as the cheaper ones are usually 2G only - which no longer works in Oz. A cheap 365-day expiry plan from Aldi or similar and you can locate your stolen van easily.
Geoff
Well you need to look at this from a thief's point of view and I'll start by assuring you that I am most definitely not a thief! Firstly, a hitch lock isn't much good unless you also secure the safety chains because a thief could just ignore the hitch and rest the hitch, lock and all, on the crossed chains and drive off, albeit slowly. Similarly a wheel lock on a dual axle van can be overcome by using a tiedown strap to lift the wheel off the ground and drive off.
Dennis
I use an Australian made Talon brand pin lock on my towbar tongue to stop it being stolen and a second same keyed pin lock on my Kimberley Kamper, Treg hitch when I am towing and when the trailer is parked separately. Please review the Talon brand as it is very well manufactured and easy to attach.
Graeme
I purchased a Klamp It wheel lock three years ago, shortly after purchasing my off road van, I find it a definite deterrent for thieves. The downside is it is bulky. I also have a high strength padlock that I lock my van coupling with when travelling or when unhitched. These are deterrents only if someone wants your van a portable side grinder is hard to beat. I have also looked at GPS tracking systems but they do not work in remote parts of Australia where there is no signal, careful consideration is required before purchasing.
Wally
I have all of the above plus a GPS tracker hidden which is active all the time, giving me a 24/7 watch on the Van. Also the kids have comfort in seeing where we are all the time while we are away.
Chris
If the data says that "...we have had only one instance in the last three or four years where a caravan has been returned". , does that include those with GPS trackers? Or does it indicate that the thieves are professional enough to be ahead of the technology ?
Stephen
To steal a van all you need to do is to wrap the safety chains around the tow vehicle tow tongue, secure with a shackle and drive off. I have moved vans that had coupling locks when we had to get them away from a rising river due to a flood. Rob the real question that you need to answer for us is, " How many vans with GPS trackers have been stolen and recovered ? " All other type of locks etc are visual deterrents only as they can become overcome. Last year a camper at a remote camp arrived only to discover that he had left his keys to all his padlocks at home and could not gain access to his camper. He went around and asked other campers for help. I used my angle grinder and cut off all his padlocks. His wife was surprised how quick and easy it was to beak into his padlocked camper.
Peter
Around 85% of all crime is what is termed "Opportunistic", so simple things like being careful with belongings, vans etc. Simple visible deterrents like lock wheel clamps are good as they will stop the "Opportunist". If someone really wants "Your" particular piece of property it is much more difficult so a GPS tracker adds an additional tool to catch the thief after the event.
Tony
Using a hitch lock is also not the answer as the hitch can be easily unbolted and replaced with another, even if you pass the safety chains through the handle or the hitch lock and lock them the hitch can still be unbolted and left hanging by the chains and another hitch fitted.
John
I agree with "Tony Oct 4". Van safety chains brought up through the coupling and locked together would have to be a great deterrent. I also have a coupling lock. There's a lot of work to remove some (my) coupling assembly. Great ideas!!
Ross
There are YouTube videos showing how useless coupling locks are!! Vans trailers are still towable by using their breakaway chains attached to the vehicle stealing the trailer!!! Gone in under 60 seconds!! You MUST lock up your chains as well ... I do +coupling lock & high tensile 14mm chains on wheels with class 10 high security padlocks. I put a class 10 padlock to the shorten breakaway chains as well so they cant be used to reach to any tow vehicle. Wheel clamps only way to go for most reliable security but they too are not 100% deterrent to a portable angle grinder. Put enough security items in a thiefs way and they will choose an easier target as they dont have 20-30 minutes to defeat security measures.
Dennis
beside the wheel clamp, is there prevention tools available that suit 5th wheelers?
Lynton
Well done. Like most deterrents a thief may well rather look for a van or boat with no security lock.
Glen
Lock up your safety chains for sure but the thief can easily bring his own length of chain and hook up. Hard to stop them!
Alex
A mate of mine removes one wheel and puts a stand under the axle when his van is parked at home..
Jim
The theif will just bring a spare and a jack
lou
cut the chains of and d shackles put them back on when inuse
Fester
Lou, do you realize that by law (all Aus states) the only place you can have a rated shackle in the safety chain is at the point of attachment to the vehicle ??
Chris
Some great input here folks. What is the best GPS tracker on the market ?
Stephen
Read through this lot (just abot to collect my first camper) and am thinking there is a marker for lockable wheel hubs. Only wat to move it the is with a crane......
Clement
It's hard to find educated people in this particular topic, however, you sound like you know what you're talking about! Thanks chorusmaster (Azucena)
Wendy
This is so scary. Im just about to pick up my new van. I only have a small front area and so easy to steal my treasure. I was thinking wheel clamp and hitch lock but now i think I need to sit out there all day with it. And have good insurance.
Bill
A Guillotine fitted above the ball and a shotgun with a fishing line trip cord (nearly invisible) aimed at it as well slows them up a bit. The guillotine prevents them scratching their heads to figure out there next move and the shotgun ends the argument Also a tiger snak inside sort of fixes break and enters hahaha.
Tony
This entry is the answer... Inexpensive items stolen from the neighbours van, with a modern day addition of my two pitbulls chained to the tow hitch (Of course I train the dogs not to accept food from anyone except me) LMAO
Leon
I like they way you think.
Peter
Food for thought. Should caravan manufacturers get on board and start including theft protection devices on their vans etc. Better done at manufacture than as an after market add-on. Car manufacturers work hard to provide theft prevention devices, caravans can cost as much or more than some cars, but have less protection. I am sure insurance companies would be on board as well.
Christine
My hubby has designed a lock for the legs you can do all 4 but once this is on you can not remove the leg or move it at all great for free camping and you want to go and explore. We are just in the process of marketing it wherever we can