Introduction
If you’re considering a long-term RV trip, you’ll want to make sure that you’re as safe and secure as possible while parked in your rig. There are many ways to do this, but we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 most effective ways for any RVer on the road today to make their vehicle more secure from theft or damage when left unattended at night or during the day when they go out into town for some shopping or sightseeing.
1. Install a pin lock.
Install a pin lock:
If you do not already have a pin lock on your manual door, it’s easy to install one yourself and make your RV more secure. First, remove the handles from the inside and outside of your RV door by unscrewing them from their bases (it is helpful to use gloves or work gloves when doing this). Then attach an end cap to each side using screws. Next open up the door so that there is room for drilling holes into it; ideally drill somewhere out of sight where no one will notice if they are walking past your motorhome at night with lights off! Once done, take out the chisel bit on your drill and place four holes into each side of both end caps; these should be evenly spaced between 6-8 inches apart horizontally across each face as well as vertically along its length (so they look like little dots). Now simply put four screws through each dot until they reach bottom edge – but don’t tighten too much! Lastly attach two safety chains onto each end cap so that they run diagonally across middle portion where handle was removed earlier (this may require some creative positioning since chains won’t fit perfectly due shape). Finally pull tight enough so that chain doesn’t move around much but loosely enough so someone could still open door easily if needed without having extra resistance coming from safety chain pulling against their hands while trying turn knob.”
2. Get a hitch or wheel chock.
If you’re going to be leaving your RV in a public space, a wheel chock is a good way to keep it from being stolen. Wheel chocks are small wedges that fit in the wheel wells of an RV or trailer. When parked on soft ground (or even asphalt), they can prevent your vehicle from rolling away and becoming lost or damaged.
Also called anti-theft devices, wheel chocks cost as little as $18 per pair and can be installed easily by anyone with some basic mechanical knowledge. If you have friends who own RVs or trailers, ask if they have any spare wheel chocks that they’d like to get rid of; many people end up with extra ones after installing them just once without ever needing them again! Even if your friend doesn’t have any extras, there are plenty of online retailers who sell them—check out Amazon’s selection here: https://www/amazon/shops/A1D6V2QYQAWU6O
3. Use a door brace.
A door brace is a piece of hardware that you can use to keep your RV door closed. It’s installed by drilling into the bottom of your door and the side of your trailer, then securing it in place with nuts and bolts. This can be done on either side of the trailer, depending on where you want to install it.
You can purchase a door brace at most RV supply stores or online retailers like Amazon and eBay, although they may not be available in all stores across the country due to their relative newness as an option for RV owners (and some places don’t stock these products because they’re not very common). A typical cost for this type of product ranges between $30-$50 USD
4. Install window visors or tinted film.
Install window visors to keep light out of the windows.
Tinted film can prevent light from coming in, but is more difficult to install than visors and will require some maintenance. However, the amount of time and effort it takes to install tinted film pales in comparison with that required to install a new RV door.
Both types of products are inexpensive and easy to purchase online or at your local hardware store. If you’re lucky enough to get a deal on an old RV door, then these items are even less expensive than usual!
5. Invest in a good quality lock and handle set
Get a good quality lock and handle set. A high-quality lock is essential for any RV, but especially sleeping areas like the bedroom or bathroom. You can’t just rely on a simple padlock to keep intruders out of your space as these often break easily and are easily bypassed with bolt cutters or other tools. Instead, opt for one with more security features such as reinforced steel construction, an anti-pry bar for extra strength, and even an alarm so you’ll know if someone has tampered with it. For handles that secure your doors from the inside only (so they won’t open from the outside unless they’re unlocked first), look for ones made of heavy-duty material like metal rather than plastic or wood which tend not to last as long when exposed regularly outdoors year after year without proper care.
When shopping around online or at local retailers near where you live in order find what works best based off their own personal needs (size/style preferences) before purchasing anything; make sure there’s enough room between walls/frames so that screws don’t puncture anything else during installation process which could cause damage over time too – especially if something gets caught under foot while walking around inside room being worked on!
6. Install a deadbolt lock on your door.
A deadbolt lock is an absolute must if you’re going to leave your RV unattended. It’s much more secure than a regular lock and can prevent thieves from breaking into your camper if they’re able to get inside.
The most important thing to remember when installing this type of lock is that it must be a quality product. A cheap deadbolt won’t keep out determined intruders, so do some research before buying one and make sure it has good reviews. Another thing to consider: the manufacturer’s instructions should indicate whether or not you need two keys for the deadbolt (some do). If so, make sure both are with you at all times—don’t leave them in the ignition or anywhere else where someone might be able to find them!
7. Don’t advertise too much about your trip and where you are going, even to the campground staff before you leave.
Don’t advertise too much about your trip and where you are going, even to the campground staff before you leave.
The last thing you need is for someone to know exactly where your RV is parked and how long it’s going to be there. It’s best to keep this information private as much as possible by not sharing it with anyone who doesn’t need it—not even the front desk staff of the campground where you’re staying.
If they ask if they can store some items while traveling, politely decline their offer by saying that these items belong in the RV so they don’t get lost or stolen while driving around in an unfamiliar area (which could happen if someone sees them).
8. Pay attention to ‘hot spots’ for theft when you park your RV overnight at a truck stop, rest area or mall parking lot while you do some shopping.
Pay attention to “hot spots” for theft when you park your RV overnight at a truck stop, rest area or mall parking lot while you do some shopping.
Park in well-lit areas that are near security cameras, if possible.
Avoid parking next to other RVs that are empty and unattended. If any of your neighbors have been broken into in the past few weeks, it’s probably not a good idea to park near their RVs either!
Try to park where there are lots of people around (such as at restaurants) or in areas with lots of vehicles (like car dealerships).
9. Change your habits on how often you go in and out of your RV, where you stow your keys and how long you’re gone when you leave your RV unattended at the campground during the day or evening for a hike, fishing, biking or kayaking adventure further down the road from your campsite.
Lock all doors and windows, even when the RV is parked in the campsite.
Avoid leaving valuables inside, such as cell phones, wallets and purses that you can’t afford to lose.
Turn off the ignition when you are going to leave your RV unattended for more than a few minutes onsite at the campground or during other activities away from your site (hiking, fishing, biking or kayaking adventure further down the road from your campsite).
Don’t leave keys in an unlocked vehicle during daytime hours when there are other people around; especially if you have children with you!
10. You can also prevent theft by installing an alarm system, state-of-the-art GPS tracking device (if it’s not already part of the factory package) and surveillance cameras inside your rig that can be remotely monitored while you’re away from the vehicle in real time via smartphone app technology — particularly if you’re going to be parked overnight at a truck stop somewhere that doesn’t have adequate security lighting and 24 hour video surveillance on site!
You can also prevent theft by installing an alarm system, state-of-the-art GPS tracking device (if it’s not already part of the factory package) and surveillance cameras inside your rig that can be remotely monitored while you’re away from the vehicle in real time via smartphone app technology — particularly if you’re going to be parked overnight at a truck stop somewhere that doesn’t have adequate security lighting and 24 hour video surveillance on site!
There are many excellent options for all three categories listed above. If you decide to go with an aftermarket security system, make sure it’s compatible with your RV’s 12v power supply so as not to drain your battery unnecessarily when its not being used for something else like running lights or appliances like microwaves etc..
Conclusion
Following these tips will help you to make sure that your RV door is more secure.