When you are on the road, you may not have to worry about anything until something bad happens. And if something unfortunately happens, you will probably only think about what you could have done to stop this tragedy now.
Being careful can go a long way toward avoiding dangerous scenarios during van journeys. Still, carefulness alone won’t always be enough. We know this for a fact. That’s why, in this article, we have come up with some of the best camper van security ideas. Pay close attention to all of these ideas. That’s because your rolling home should be as secure, if not more, than a non-rolling home.
Why Camper Van Security is Crucial
Camper van security systems are important to keep you and your belongings safe and your mind at ease. When you secure your van, you increase the safety of your personal belongings and costly equipment. In remote areas, this also keeps you and your passengers safe. Besides, it is possible to save money on insurance and avoid expensive repairs by taking good security measures. Knowing your van is safe helps you relax and have fun.
10 Camper Van Security Ideas
It’s true that the camper van experience becomes much more pleasant when the vehicle is secured. However, just cherry-picking different security features for this purpose won’t do any good. You need to take the path that is known to actually work. So, let us go over ten of the best campervan security precautions that have been proven to provide a safe van life.
1. Insurance
Realistically, it does not matter how secure your van is. That’s because there is always a small chance that it will be broken into, damaged, or stolen. In order to avoid any such problems, you should get a full coverage insurance policy before you even start driving. This should cover all of your valuables in the van, as well as the problems you might most likely face. Insurance will also protect you against accidents you cause, which is a nice bonus.
2. Wheel Clamps
Wheel clamps are probably the best way to warn thieves away visually, since they can be seen from a mile away. They are more often associated with bad parking. However, you do not have to use the heavy, solid steel ones that you see on cars in the city. It is possible to find alternatives that are light and simple to set up and that work just as well.
3. Window/Door Alarms
If a deterrent, such as wheel clamps, fails to work, surprising a potential thief may be sufficient. Stopping them in their tracks is highly likely if you can time the draw of attention to your van correctly. In fact, that is the whole point of alarms.
Various purpose-built retrofit alarms are available on the market. There are security alarms that can be put on the windows, the doors, or even the whole vehicle. These alarms go off when their built-in sensors sense that someone is trying to break in legally.
Magnets or movement are typically what set off these alarms. Magnetic alarms are usually better than motion alarms because there is a lot of movement in and around a campervan.
4. Security Cameras / CCTV
If you need extra peace of mind while you are not in your van, or if you need to leave your pet in your van sometimes, a security camera will let you see what is going on inside your van through your phone. Many of them will also let you know if anyone moves.
Opting for a camera that has a rechargeable battery and a micro SD slot to store video is preferable. In addition, it should have WiFi built in so you can check on your car from afar.
5. Door Locks
Aside from alarms and cameras, when you hit the road, the most basic thing that will keep your campervan safe from intruders is a lock. Even though your van should have at least basic locks, you might want to add more to protect it. Locks for van doors come in three main types:
- Deadlocks: These are keyed locks, like the one on your front door. Adding deadlocks to all your campervan doors is a good way to keep people from breaking in.
- Slam locks: Anytime you close the door, these locks stay in place and lock your van. You are more likely to leave the van and lock your keys inside, though.
- Van Locks: These are the cheap, scary-looking bolt-on locks that you often see on work vans. They are not very secure, and they do not look good either.
6. Steering Wheel Locks
When talking about locks, steering wheel locks are classic anti-theft security devices. They add an extra layer of security and are a good visual deterrent. When there is a steering wheel lock, it will stop thieves from trying to break in. But if they do, they will need an angle grinder to make any progress.
In addition to the classic bar style, steering wheel locks also come in a more understated round shape that completely surrounds the wheel. You’ll need less than a minute to attach or remove these locks using the key.
7. Gear Locks
We are not finished with the locks yet! Next on this list are gear locks. They are a cheap but very effective way to keep your vehicle from being stolen. These locks do not let thieves take your van out of neutral or park. They work in a way similar to steering wheel locks. Attaching them to your gear stick and handbrake is another visual deterrent.
8. Lockable Storage
Let’s talk about a different version of locking at this stage. It is possible that someone got into your van even though it has locks and alarms. Thankfully, there is one more thing that has been done to protect you: all of your valuables have been locked away.
Lockable storage is a must-have for your camper van. This will keep your cash, cards, IDs, and electronics safe while you are not using them. If you are going for van conversion, make sure that the cabinets have locks built in. You can also add safes and lockers to prefab campervans; just make sure they are bolted in.
9. Immobilizer
Now, let’s talk about a measure that depends on the ‘key.’ And that measure involves installing an engine immobilizer. Immobilizers are standard on new vans and can be installed on older models as well. Electronically, an immobilizer can stop your van’s engine from starting if it does not recognize the required key.
10. Trackers
This is the last line of defense against van theft, just like lockable storage. Actually, these are not anti-theft devices (though a sticker on your van that says “This vehicle has a tracker” will help)—they are just a way to find your car if it does get stolen.
Trackers have GPS that can use an internal SIM card to send the van’s location to an app. However, simple trackers will only let you know where your van is on a regular basis. More advanced trackers will give you a real-time feed and may even let you turn off your engine from afar.
Conclusion
Putting some security features on your camping van is important to keep your things safe and give you peace of mind. You can greatly lower the risk of theft and damage by using good security measures like insurance, wheel clamps, alarms, cams, and different locks. Extra safety measures, such as immobilizers and trackers, give you even more protection. By taking these precautions, you can travel in comfort and assurance while enjoying your camper van adventures.
But how will you fit all these measures into your van without compromising on your preferences? Only a top professional van conversion company can let you achieve that. If you are in Chicago, you can rest this responsibility on Highland Vans. When we convert a van, we make sure it goes above and beyond your expectations. Contact us to see our commitment to van lifers.
