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Greetings fellow PU campers. We're brand new to this.  Just bought a new Fleetwood Utah. My question is about anti-theft security of ones PU while out of camp. We do alot of hiking, etc. and are out of camp for hours. Is this really a big issue amongst campers? If so, what are the best products out there to deter this. I read that the wheel locks might be the way to go. What do all of you more experienced campers think. Thankyou :eyecrazy:   :usflag:

mossbacks.........  Hmmmmmmmm


Well we have never had a problem.  I guess it would depend on where you are camping.  If yo want to make sure the PU dosn't go away, wheel locks are the way to go.

Securing the pop up contents from theft is another matter.  When you think about it it's a tent on wheels, so all someone needs is a knife to get in.  We always take the "prized" valuables with us when we leave camp, locking themin the truck.  To be honest we have never had any problems, including lots of camping time back in the national Forest areas of VA & WV.

We had a bungy cord taken once, which we found on the campground road.  I am assuming a child took it and then dropped it.  Most of the time I don't even lock the PU door.  If someone wanted in, I would rather they used the door then cut the canvas.  We don't keep anything of value in the PU.  We don't take a lot of valuables on our camping trips, just a camera and that goes with us.  :)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v513/FishinBC/HerdingTrout.jpg)

Here is our anti theft devise.  Just kidding, we rarely leave them in camp alone.  In fact we hardly ever lock up anything.  Just found that people that camp are generally good people.  We do put a lock on the hitch when it is parked at home.

Quote from: camp2udropGreetings fellow PU campers. We're brand new to this.  Just bought a new Fleetwood Utah. My question is about anti-theft security of ones PU while out of camp. We do alot of hiking, etc. and are out of camp for hours. Is this really a big issue amongst campers? If so, what are the best products out there to deter this. I read that the wheel locks might be the way to go. What do all of you more experienced campers think. Thankyou :eyecrazy:   :usflag:

If you think you need sucurity devices for your RV there are two important considerations:

1.  You should probably not be camping there if you don't feel safe.
2.  Leave all valuables at home.  Only bring what you intend to carry.

Any RV can be walked right into with a screwdriver!  Show me a $780,000 ClassA "entertainers" RV and I'll show you where to get in!  A PU is just a tent on wheels!  There is NO security for your stuff if you are not watching it.  If someone wants it they will have it.  Plain and simple.  Even if you have wheel locks, someone with a winch and a flatbed trailer can take the entire PU in less than 2 minutes.

First of all, I was new to this last year and I joined this site and it is the best.  I had the same security question as you and what I have found is that it is not as big a deal as you'd think.  Just lock the wheel, lock the door and don't camp in any questionable areas, oh and get insurance ;) .  Just have fun

Quote from: David RoderFirst of all, I was new to this last year and I joined this site and it is the best. I had the same security question as you and what I have found is that it is not as big a deal as you'd think. Just lock the wheel, lock the door and don't camp in any questionable areas, oh and get insurance ;) . Just have fun

David, you forgot one. After all that, you go get a tall cool one. It's funny this came up. We were camping at Doheney SB for our SoCal DOG and my wife needed to go get something from the trailer. I had the key. She pop out one of the sides on the door and got in. Then I reminded her I had the extra trailer keys in the center consol. DUH.
 
I have a lock I put on the front of the trailer so they can't hook up a ball and even tho it's easy to get in, we lock the doors when out of camp.
Moose

45 years camping and I have never had anything stolen in a campground.  I camp in the wood,not the hood.

I have been camping for over 30 years both in tents as a kid and adult and for about 5 years now in a PU and have never had an issue with theft!
I mean we take all the sensible precautions and put all the expensive equipment camera, gps,etc. out of sight but lets face it a PU is not exactly hard to get into if someone really wants something.
I suppose not worrying about theft speaks more to the type of people who enjoy camping than anything else

Thanks everybody who replied to my question of PU security. This is a great site with apparently sincere, helpful people.

OK. Theft is not a big issue. I really wasn't too terribly concerned about it........just cautious. We have tent camped for years and never had a problem.

Thanks alot

Most thieves in campgrounds are four legged and furry.  Some can open doors but most don't bother.  Leave the food inside and don't worry about it.  Two legged thieves would not survive very long living off the "valuables" of campers.

well, if not in camp, than at home, do you guys secure you PU?

I don't have a garage or even a driveway, so my PU is getting parked on the street in front of the house. My neighborhood is ok, but I know there are a lot of people that wouldn't travel thru it.

that said, what can I do? ball lock? wheel lock? park cars on either side @ night?

I doubt anyone will mess w/ it, but would rather not have it be a temptation.
also, I have noticed new people moving to the hood who lock up everything
and it makes it really obvious that it's valuable, and draws more attention than neccesary.

any ideas would be appreciated.

jim

Hmmm in the 10 years we have been in our p/u  only one thing has been taken and that was just this past summer in Nc was a towel hanging up to dry, and it wasn't even a "good" one... I guess whoever took it needed it more than we did.
So All in all we really don't think theft's much as an issue. Although we like others here would rather some one use the door instead of the canvas.

in 1970, in a nat'l forest campground in arizona, we had some food taken.  we were a young family, we had a small apache falcon tent camper.  due to space we would leave some stuff out at night under the beds.

one morning as dw went to get a baby bottle she discovered the cooler was empty.  the cooler had fasteners or locks that almost preclude and animal ....plus the locks were still CLOSED.

i always thought it was either starving 'flower power' children prevelent at the time.....or possibly an illegal needing a meal.

nothing was taken except food....nothing was damaged.  if they had just tapped on the door they could have had a meal...perhaps more...for the asking... then they would not have had to be thieves

that's the one and only thing we have ever had touched.

camping folks are the best there are.....even the ones that sometimes get noisy don't usually pilfer.

BUT....be reasonable about what u take and where u leave it and u will most likely be fine.  'sides...how do u lock a tent?

in 1970, in a nat'l forest campground in arizona, we had some food taken.  we were a young family, we had a small apache falcon tent camper.  due to space we would leave some stuff out at night under the beds.

one morning as dw went to get a baby bottle she discovered the cooler was empty.  the cooler had fasteners or locks that almost preclude and animal ....plus the locks were still CLOSED.

i always thought it was either starving 'flower power' children prevelent at the time.....or possibly an illegal needing a meal.

nothing was taken except food....nothing was damaged.  if they had just tapped on the door they could have had a meal...perhaps more...for the asking... then they would not have had to be thieves

that's the one and only thing we have ever had touched.

camping folks are the best there are.....even the ones that sometimes get noisy don't usually pilfer.

enjoy yourself

BUT....be reasonable about what u take and where u leave it and u will most likely be fine.  'sides...how do u lock a tent?

Quote from: Fishin BC

Here is our anti theft devise.  Just kidding, we rarely leave them in camp alone.  In fact we hardly ever lock up anything.  Just found that people that camp are generally good people.  We do put a lock on the hitch when it is parked at home.

What kind of Hitch Lock do you use and how is it applied?

                                      Thanks,
                                             Mike
.

Quote from: mike44bxWhat kind of Hitch Lock do you use and how is it applied?

Fishin BC hasn't posted since April 22.  You might get a better response by sending him an email.

Austin

Quote from: AustinBostonFishin BC hasn't posted since April 22.  You might get a better response by sending him an email.

Austin

We're back.  Long story which I will post later.  the lock we use is a simple keyed pad lock through the hole in the hitch latch.

Quote from: Fishin BCWe're back.

WB, Fishin BC!

Austin

There is probably another consideration as well (besides the above mentioned take/secure valuables elsewhere). The security of the camper and car can be augmented by the level of security in the campground. There are, in general, several different kinds of campgrounds with different levels of security, and the incidence of crime in the campgrounds corresponds. There are parks with no gates and no hosts--everyone comes and goes and does what he/she wants whenever. Security is non-existent here, at the campground level. Then there are national forest kinds of campgrounds where you have a "host" on site--security is virtually non-existent here too but at least you have someone to report crimes to after they have happened, if that will make you feel better. There are places like national and state parks where you have an active ranger patrol presence which cuts down significantly on crime in the campground. And then there are the fancy, schmancy campgrounds with gates and guards and .... The more the campground does in security, the less general crime will happen in the campground and the safer your loved ones and valuables are, in general. We have just come back from a month long camping trip where we were, unfortunately, victims of a significant crime in a national forest type park where there were only hosts. We realized in the middle in the night, in the middle of nowhere, that there was no help whatsoever for us except the hosts who were sound asleep and a mile or so away...not a happy feeling. It took the sheriff four hours to get to the campground, and by then the perpetrators were long gone. In the future we have made the decision to try to stay in parks where there is some kind of active uniformed patrol presence (and I am not talking about a host in a golfcart). Will this stop any and all crime? No, but it is another level of security, on top of that provided by putting stuff out of sight, in cars which can be locked, or carrying them with you. Every little bit helps!