Do you feel safe in your campervan? You should. Your campervan is an investment, and protecting it should be your top priority. One way to do that is with visual deterrents. Visual deterrents include stickers or license plates that say “no trespassing” or “security cam.”
Anti-theft devices are another great way to protect the campervan from theft because they scare away potential thieves who might think twice about their actions if they know there’s a chance of getting caught on camera!
Finally, always make sure to practice safe driving habits. Follow the speed limit, use your blinkers, and don’t tailgate. These simple tips can help keep you and your campervan safe on the road.
Are you ready to hit the open road? We have so many more tips below to help you be and feel safe in your campervan. Keep reading for more!
Steps You Need to Take to Feel Secure in Your Van
There’s no need to feel anxious about traveling in your van. With a few simple security measures, you can relax and enjoy the adventure without worrying about your safety or belongings. Here are a few steps to get started:
Get a Good Quality Van with Security Features
The first step to feeling secure in your motorhome is finding the right vehicle. A good quality motorhome with all the features you need will reduce stress and frustration on the road, allowing you to focus more attention on enjoying your travels.
Have an Alarm and Tracking System
Don’t leave anything up for chance. Security devices can give both owners and law enforcement a way of identifying motorhomes if they are lost or stolen. They also provide additional peace of mind while traveling by offering 24 hour monitoring.
An anti-theft tracker, like the new Apple AirTags, could help locate your campervan should it be taken without permission or even towed away by mistake.
Park in Safe, Well-Lit Areas:
You might not feel comfortable leaving your motorhome parked at an isolated campground late at night, but it’s best to avoid parking far away from other vehicles.
Don’t leave any valuables visible through windows, doors, or sunroofs. Keep them hidden and secured under lock and key! Also, it would be best to park too close together as this can make you more vulnerable to would-be thieves and vandals.
Take Precautions When Parking in Unfamiliar Places
Be observant of your surroundings when parking in unfamiliar areas. Try to park where there is a lot of foot traffic or near other motorhomes or vehicles. If possible, ask someone you trust for advice on safe parking spots before venturing too far from home.
Stay Alert and Be Prepared to Take Action if Necessary
Travelling can be an exciting experience, but it’s essential to stay alert at all times. Be prepared to take action, if necessary, whether that means being proactive in protecting your belongings or knowing how to handle yourself in a dangerous situation.
With these simple steps, you can feel secure while traveling the open road in your campervan motorhome.
Protect Your Campervan with These Strategies
Now that you know how to make yourself feel safe, here are some tips on how to specifically keep your campervan safe and secure:
Lockdown Your Camper at Night
If possible, put something heavy on top of the door like a few bags, or, even better, one small safe. But if not, make sure to keep it locked and roll down all curtains so no light will attract attention if someone passes by during the night hours.
Remember that inside lights can be seen from outside, especially through tinted glass. Also, remember to switch off any interior illumination when going to bed, such as a television or computer screens.
Install an Alarm System
For extra safety, also consider fitting some kind of alarm system with sensors that can detect movement or if a window is opened or broken and set off a loud alarm to notify you and any would-be thieves that the van is currently being protected.
Park in Busy, Well-Lit Areas
You should avoid parking in remote spots, especially overnight. Suppose you can’t find anywhere else to park. In that case, it may be worth investing in a good quality security camera system that will record activity around your vehicle while you are away.
Lock Valuables Away Inside a Small Safe
This is one of the best ways to keep things secure and hidden at night when sleeping in your van. A good quality security safe should be bolted down securely near where you sleep so that it cannot easily be moved by would-be thieves. You wouldn’t want them breaking into the safe then being able to drive off with everything!
While these kinds of safes can come in many different sizes, they mostly work by having an electronic keypad fitted on the front along with a lock and key. So, if someone does try to break into the safe, you can simply enter the code to release the lock and stop them from getting away with your belongings.
Stay Alert and Aware of Your Surroundings
This is probably one of the most important things you can do when traveling in a campervan, as it will help you stay safe and avoid becoming a victim of crime. If you are constantly checking for anything suspicious, you will be in a much better position to take action and protect yourself and your vehicle.
This includes being aware of who is around you, what they are doing, and where they are going. Trust your intuition and move on somewhere else rather than risk it if something doesn’t feel right.
Keep Valuables Out of Sight from Would-Be Thieves
Avoid leaving anything valuable on display or in full view when you are away from your van, especially overnight or during the day when you may be at a campsite or restaurant, etc. If possible, keep them hidden inside a cupboard, safe, or even better locked under the bed!
Remember that would-be criminals will always look for an opportunity to steal, so if they see something tempting, then chances are they’ll try and take advantage of it! Also, don’t leave bags lying around loaded with all kinds of stuff, which makes easy pickings or give would-be thieves access to everything else stored within them.
Important Resources to Have while Living in Your Van
Before you head out on your next adventure, make sure you have these items before you head out.
Pick-Up Extra Locks:
Get extra locks for the doors, windows, or trunk of your van. You’d be surprised how easy it is to break into a vehicle with simple tools. You should look into using two devices on your campervan: one that holds the doors closed when locked (the central lock), and an extra padlock for the sliding side door of the van.
You should look into these just in case someone breaks off the pin tumbler mechanism inside this lock. It’s also good advice to always carry at least one spare key, preferably separate from your primary keys and hidden somewhere private like a safety deposit box or home safe.
Window Security Film
It’s a thin sheet of almost clear plastic you can apply to the outside window glass (or inside if it ever gets cold enough) that will make your windows extra hard to break through. You’ll need some good adhesive tape from an auto parts store for it to work as intended on sliding windows and doors.
Motorhome Security System
Consider installing a motorhome security system if you want extra protection against theft. These devices usually consist of two pieces: one part installed near where your battery sits under or inside the van and another part that goes near the driver’s seat, usually under or within reach of a floor mat.
The battery-based unit will cost you about $300-$400, and it can be set to send out extra alerts in case someone tampers something on the van like a window or door.
Get an Extra Gas Cap
It might sound like overkill, but there are more than enough stories from people who live in their vans who have had their gas cap stolen while they were sleeping.
Another way to prevent this would be to get a locking fuel fill door and extra fuel cap that requires a key.
Keep Your Campervan In Good Condition
It makes sense if you want someone to steal something, leave it out in plain view or let them know where its hiding spot is.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from all those Hollywood heist movies, no matter what kind of security system or device is placed on or around valuable items, people will always find ways around them. So, why make it easy for thieves?
The bottom line here should be pretty obvious, though. Don’t go posting on social media about where you’ll be for the next few days or weeks. Show up at a trailhead and then drive away with your van in full view of everyone.
Lock It Down when Camping
It would help if you changed soon to buy extra-long cable locks so that you don’t have to walk over to your campervan every time before bedtime. This is especially necessary since there have been reports of people taking advantage of distracted owners by following them into their vehicles while they sleep.
This extra step is more relevant if you’re planning to camp along popular hiking trails or near other access points that are known as favorites among day hikers so they can get easy water refills, especially during peak season.
Keep Extra Fuel
This extra step is relevant for those of you who sleep in your campervan or motorhome and don’t have access to electricity. Plus, it might even save you money in the long run.
If you ever find yourself out in the middle of nowhere stuck with a dead battery or electrical system, then at least you’ll know that there’s still some extra gas left inside your tank since there’s about 20 gallons (or two jerry cans) stored separately under the van.
If nothing else, this will give you enough time to figure out why something drained your batteries so fast! Another option would be purchasing an extra-large deep cycle battery, but they’re usually expensive compared to a few extra jugs of gasoline sitting around.
Don’t Leave the Campervan Unattended
You would be surprised how quickly thieves can break into a motorhome or van, especially if they see that extra fuel cap under your seat.
The only time you should ever consider leaving the rig for more than eight hours without being nearby is when you’re attending an event where there are security cameras and staff to keep everyone out. Otherwise, you’re taking unnecessary risks.
And no matter what kind of extra locks or security system purchased online, don’t forget about this one simple tip. It might seem obvious, but people have been known to ignore their first instincts from time to time!
Conclusion
Although it might seem like a lot of extra work, following these campervan security tips can help to ease your mind while traveling and sleeping in your vehicle. From keeping an extra gas tank on hand to locking down the campervan when camping in popular areas, there’s a variety of ways to keep yourself and your belongings safe while living on the road.
Just remember, prevention is always better than cure, so take some time now before hitting the open road to plan out what steps you’ll need to take for a worry-free trip.
