GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #45 | Page 17

RV FEATURE
Cruisemaster DO35 , a thief will require the specific tow pin to connect to your van . Further , the DO35 takes a bit more time to connect up due to the precise nature of the hitch connection .
Remember : the more time a thief needs to steal your van , the less appealing it will be to them .
Wheel clamps : There are plenty of wheel locks on the market and they all do much the same thing : they stop the vehicle from being moved on its wheels . Some are better than others so research the quality of various models before you decide to buy one .
Leaving your free camp unattended is a security issue .
Hitch locks : These are another good device that will add a layer of complexity to a thief ’ s task . Again , some are better than others . As a rule of thumb , avoid devices that rely on a padlock to operate . A battery powered grinder will make short work of these . The more metal a thief has to cut through , the better .
AT HOME
If you have decided not to store your caravan at a secure storage facility , storing it at home will be the likely alternative . Unfortunately , this presents thieves with lots of opportunities . Here are a few things you can do to make their task much more difficult .
Hitch selection : The good old 50mm ball coupling is extremely popular with caravanners because it is very easy to hitch up . The problem is this makes caravans equipped with ball couplings popular targets .
Further , they do not require any special gear to connect up – just a towbar with a 50mm ball . If you option your van with one of the many offroad-style hitches , such as the
The tight fit of the DO35 hitch lock makes it extremely difficult to cut off with an angle grinder .
Lock all your outside storage compartments if you leave your van unattended .
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