Your RV Is A Prime Target For Thieves. Here's How To Keep It Safe When You're Not Using It
When you won't be using your RV for a few months and need to stow it away, it's important to protect it from thieves. There are several reasons why RVs present a tempting target for theft, not only is the RV itself valuable, but RVs often contain personal items and furniture that thieves are tempted to steal and sell. To help you keep your RV safe when you're not using it, here's how to secure it.
Prevent Your RV From Being Towed With a Trailer Lock
Trailer locks are your first line of defense against thieves attempting to steal your RV. These locks fit over your trailer hitch and block it, preventing thieves from simply hitching your RV up to a truck and driving away.
Unfortunately, trailer locks are not very secure, many can be quickly defeated with bolt cutters. Additionally, thieves can simply ignore your RV's trailer hitch entirely and attach your RV to a truck using chains. While this is a very unsafe method of towing an RV, it can allow thieves to tow your RV a short distance into a more secluded area, where they can have more time to attempt to defeat the trailer lock or break in to the RV itself.
Install a Wheel Lock or Remove a Wheel
You may be familiar with wheel clamps from their use in law enforcement. In some cities, they're used on cars that are parked illegally in order to immobilize them and force drivers to pay their fines before they can drive off. They also work great as anti-theft devices for your RV. Simply tighten the clamp down on one of your RV's wheels and then lock it with the key provided with the clamp. Thieves won't be able to simply tow away your RV when it has a wheel clamp on it. If they want to move your RV, they'll have to spend a considerable amount of time sawing away the clamp.
A more secure alternative to installing a wheel clamp is to simply remove one of your RV's wheels altogether and store it inside your home. You'll need to keep your RV parked on top of a jack in order to keep it level, but removing a wheel is a great way to deter potential thieves. It's very unlikely that they will be carrying a spare! While removing one of your RV's wheels and replacing it when you're ready to use it again can take some time, it's a good security option when you won't be using your RV for a number of months.
Store Your RV at an RV Storage Facility
Finally, the most secure way of storing your RV is to store it at an RV storage facility instead of at your home. Many RV storage yards feature constant security monitoring and won't let anyone but you near your RV. In addition to keeping your RV safe from thieves, they also keep it safe from other hazards such as inclement weather.
Your RV is a large investment and RV storage facilities are inexpensive, so it's sensible to reduce the risk of your RV being stolen or vandalized. If you'd like to securely store your RV, contact a local RV storage facility such as Drydock Depot RV Boat Storage, and ask about their rates along with what security features they offer. It's the overall best way to protect your RV from thieves.