Our caravan was broken into this weekend, whilst stored at a farm, a neighbouring van was stolen. They broke our door lock and removed our seat cushions plus a couple of tools from the front locker. Ours is a new van this year, the farmer has removed one of the wheels for us (single axle) and propped it up on wood in case they come back for it. It has the usual lock on the other wheel and the hitchlock. Is this safe/ok to do?? We've also removed the spare, plus the awning that was inside. It's insured and everything just don't want the hassle factor of it going missing. Thanks.
It'll be OK with the axle on a block of wood. I'm thinking of removing my unlocked wheel & replacing it with a wheel without a tyre on it & sit the rim on either a block of wood or perhaps a steel tube. We've had one pinched off the drive & I want them to have to work to get this one.
If you've any doubts about the wood, replace it with a big piece of RSJ with a sliver of wood on the top to break the metalto metal contact.
BB
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please check with your insurance as to removing wheels,one guy some time ago was refused payment because he had removed his wheels.they said no wheels no wheel locks.cost you nothing to ask.i know you said you had left one on.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
It's not unknown for thieves to carry their own wheels.
Sorry to hear about your problems, but frankly it amazes me that people spend thousands on a new caravan and then choose to store it on a farmer's field with, by the sound of it, zero security.
------------- * You never know where you're going 'til you get there...
Most insurance companies seem to say that if the van is left unattended for more than two hours then there must a wheel lock. Not that there must be wheel locks (plural). So if you have one wheel locked and the other off that would not seem to invlaidate the policy. Best check the policy though.
Try winter wheels with a cover over the locks for the wheel you take off.
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
I had an instance where travelers were showing an interest in my van I removed one wheel & fitted this
http://jsbhublock.co.uk/
& put the van up on axle stands
I have a wheel clamp on the other side & a hitch lock
I have had no more probs with worry,s over the van
Unless I've read it incorrectly, the OP is only suggesting the removal of ONE wheel leaving the other wheel on the van with what sounds like the Al-Ko lock in place.
My insurance only requires the fitting of the required security devices,it makes no mention of me not being able to do as I choose with the other wheel. My idea of replacing the unlocked wheel with a tyreless rim sat on a length of steel tube simulating the tyre would make their scummy lives harder because the tyreless rim would be on the hub as per normal complete with locking wheel nuts.
I'd then have, an Al-Ko lock, a Hitchlock with the caravan hitched to an RSJ concreted into the ground in a hole 30 inches deep by 24 inches square & full of concrete. Two leg locks & the jockey removed. Plus, if I decide to do it, the tyreless rim.
Our farm was more secure than our drive. We just had a regular wheel clamp, but now we've also ordered the alko wheel lock, and our caravan from now on is going to be blocked in by builders vans night and weekends, so don't think we'll have to remove the wheel in future. Cameras are going to be put up and new gates. Much happier now. Thanks all.
Quote: Originally posted by rollsroyce on 14/6/2010
hi basilbrush, what a sad world we live in when we have to go to these extremes to protect our vans. i see where you are coming from though.
Hello RollsRoyce, it certainly is something when we need to go to silly extremes to try & keep our property safe. It sickened me when our last van was taken. The scum who took it must have been watching the place & the thought of that makes my skin itch. If this one goes, they'll have to work hard to get it, but I'll not bother with another.
would the winter wheels with locks be an option? they have a plate that locks over the nuts to preven removal, no idea of insurance approval, but it would allow for removed AND locked wheels.
mines outside my house, clamped, hitchlocked, alarmed linked wirelessly to house, CCTV inside the van, and outside, bollard going in this summer, and thats for a 93' van...