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sooooo lovely little van is now sitting on the drive and it suddenly occurred to me that there is nothing to stop someone actually driving off with it!!!

I've left the feet down as a bit of a deterrent but am now paranoid that its not gonna be there when I get home from work! So what are the best gadgets to buy? I was thinking I ought to get a hitch lock but do I need to buy a specific type as it has an alko stabilizer?

Check with your insurance to see what their minimum requirements are.

You can buy an Alko lock to fit the hitch and get a decent wheel lock,remembering that you will have to take these things with you when you are away.

You could also fit a locking post on your drive.

Having said all that if someone turns up with the correct tools it does not take long to remove any of them but at least you have done your bit.

Andy

Quote: Originally posted by mrshorsy on 25/4/2010

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Do all alko hitch locks fit all alko stabilizers if you get what I mean!!

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Quote: Originally posted by AndyandLynda on 25/4/2010

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Check with your insurance to see what their minimum requirements are.

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Yes whatever you have said to your insurance, so they could calculate your quote needs to be fitted, else you don't have any cover.

So if your insurance was based on hitch-lock and wheel clamp then both need to be fitted.  They may not prevent a determined thief, but at least you will be covered by your insurance.

One of the attractions for those that want to steal vans for a quick profit is that they know that once they have the van away from its original place of residence, it will be difficult to trace because it will blend in with a thousand other caravans that all look exactly the same.

There are 2 ways to stop this. One is use a tracker so that your van can be traced to within a couple of meters.

The other way is to make your van stand out in a crowd.

Now a lot of people will tell you that putting artwork on your van will reduce its value, but I say that if you want to keep your van then you have to personalise it to the point that no one would dare try to steal it because wherever it goes it will atract attention.

My van atracts attention simply because it is small, rare and unusual and so, while it was expensive, no one is likely to steal it unless it was put inside a container and shipped out of the country.

So, if you have pots of money to throw at your van, then a tracker and an alarm is the way to go. If you do not have that kind of dosh, then a few pots of paint, a bit of imagination and some Polka Dots or Large Flowers.

I was once advised to invest in quite a few mid-range devices not 1 expensive one.

The more difficult it is for a thief to take it away the less attractive it will be to them, they like quick & away,

On our Twin axle we have 3 wheel clamps, 1 chain thro wheels & axle, hitch lock, ground anchor, locking wheel nuts, steady loch & a hitch post, also a camera linked to the house system which looks at the 'van all the time, Also put the CRIS number on the roof in large letters, it could help if the van were stolen,

We laso have a tracker, just the original basic Phantom unit.

Luckily we still have the van

Remember "Locks only keep Honest people out!!"

Joe & Sue

If your van has a receiver for an Al-Ko lock on the nearside wheel, I'd buy & fit one of those along with a hitchlock. You can also buy stabiliser locks which fit the rear stabilisers only on my van, they fit in a few seconds using the allen key provided with them.

If your van won't take an al-Ko lock, I suggest you fit a very good wheel clamp. Asking your insurance company what security they require will ensure everything is covered & your local dealer will stock everything you need.

BB

I have an excalibur lock which also fits the alko receiver, but also comes with its own receiver should your chasis not have the alko receiver

This is assuming you have alloy wheels ?

This is £100 compared to over £200 for the alko !

Well have been and bought an alko hitch lock for £88!!! Prob could have got it cheaper if I had time to shop around but needed something today!! Also picked up a cheapish milenco wheel clamp to add to it and that will have to survice for now!

Looked into the tracker but really cant afford that and I guess they are more for people with new vans.