Message Forums

We are new to camping .. on all previous holidays we have always been able to secure our holiday home when heading out.

So .. should we be looking to 'lock' our tent when we go out?

We would like to think there is a certain code of honesty amongst campers, but I guess you can never be too sure ...

Should we be locking ipods and mobiles in the car when we head to the beach/pub? Or just hide them well in the tent?

We're not planning on taking very high value items (the 40" 3D plasma screen and silverware can stay at home! ) .... but we would appreciate advice from other campers at to what we should look to do regarding security of our tent and possessions ...

We have a Vermont XLP so 3 'doors' to think about!

Thanks for the advice ...I mistakenly double posted my thread (no idea how I did that!) and have had similar responses from other campers ... guess it's a leap of faith to trust other campers .....but lock my important items in the car!

Quote: Originally posted by poppet156 on 09/5/2012

---

I wouldn't bother locking your tent because if they want to get in they will. However, anything like mobiles, ipods etc I would keep locked in your car.

---

Just lock your valuebles in the car when you go out.  I hav'nt had anything go missing so far.  Touch wood. 

Most people when they leave the tent, make sure the tent is zipped up.  That's about it.

 heath63

Don't lock it.

If they want to seal from a tent they can. If its locked then they will just use a knife to cut open a doorway .

A new Vermont XLP costs £900 you don't want that ruining on top of anything else.

Just take valuables with you/lock them in the car.

Having said that we have never had anything go missing before and that includes stopping on a site thats on a very busy coastal path with easy access and plenty of passers by.

Cheers,

David

I no longer tent camp, but when we did we used the old trick of sticking a dressmakers metal headed knob pin inbetween the teeth of the zip just under the closer. The result is the zip cannot be pushed down to open until the pin is removed, and as its so tiny, and not visible until your very close up, and therefore doesnt scream out to passers by that the tent is locked due to containing valuables, only you know its there and if you make it a rule that adults only enter and leave the tent first/last to close down the zips then kids dont need to know what you have done!

Julia   

My vote goes for the "meet thy neighbours",,(our neighbours left a pan on their stove last year,all we heard were popping eggs and could smell burning, The stove was very near the side of the tent,so we rescued the pan and turned off and moved the stove...) campers we have met would help each other rather than steal from anyone. Have never locked a tent and have never had any problems.

Quote: Originally posted by romany girl on 09/5/2012

---

<!--bmi_SafeAddOnload(bmi_load,"bmi_orig_img",1);//-->I no longer tent camp, but when we did we used the old trick of sticking a dressmakers metal headed knob pin inbetween the teeth of the zip just under the closer. The result is the zip cannot be pushed down to open until the pin is removed, and as its so tiny, and not visible until your very close up, and therefore doesnt scream out to passers by that the tent is locked due to containing valuables, only you know its there and if you make it a rule that adults only enter and leave the tent first/last to close down the zips then kids dont need to know what you have done!

Julia   

---

The only theft from a tent I've experienced in 37 years of camping was when a squirrel got in and helped himslef to our apples.

Never locked a tent, but we take phones, cameras and handbags etc with us or hide them in the car. At night, valuables come in the sleeping pod, anyone getting in there would be greeted by two stroppy terriers and me wielding a large Maglite torch.