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Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: Doddy on 15:09:07, 12/03/19

Title: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: Doddy on 15:09:07, 12/03/19
I hike from my Micro camper so it is parked for a full day, maybe more. Is a steering lock the way to go, please suggest a good lock model; or is electric alarm a better bet. Seems to people ignore them if they go off.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: jimbob on 15:28:08, 12/03/19
I hike from my Micro camper so it is parked for a full day, maybe more. Is a steering lock the way to go, please suggest a good lock model; or is electric alarm a better bet. Seems to people ignore them if they go off.
Steering Lock and Wheel Clamp.  Belt and braces.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: ninthace on 16:34:50, 12/03/19
Which is more likely, theft of the vehicle or theft from the vehicle? Steering lock or wheel clamp for the former, electric alarm and immobiliser for the latter. 
Cheap option - I was given a Moor Aware notice while parked up on Dartmoor near Princeton. It is a prominent blue and yellow sign that goes on the top of the dashboard that says “Moor Aware. No valuable items have been left in this vehicle “. It is SWMBO’s job to fish it out of the glovebox when we park up.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: Doddy on 17:06:24, 12/03/19
I have thought beefing up the security might evidence that there is valuables present when there is only sleeping and cooking gear.






Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: taxino8 on 18:14:53, 12/03/19
I use a Disklok and a SafeT Pedal lock on my Land Rover Defender as visible deterrents but also have tracking and additional immobiliser as well
Even if you had the key you couldn’t start it, that’s all obviously cost me a few quid but I think it’s well worth it.

Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: fernman on 18:31:20, 12/03/19
When I leave my car for a few days it is laden with base camp equipment, clothing, etc., and it is a worry.
I put an old duvet cover over everything but that's not going to stop someone doing a window in to see what's there. All I can do is leave my car in a village in full view of a row of cottages and hope for the best.

Rant alert! Having said that, it didn't stop a pair of guys jacking my car up outside my house in a suburban area last year and cutting off my catalytic converter, witnessed by neighbours and captured on three peoples' cctv. It cost me £150 excess and this year's premium has gone up 35%. The insurer will have what they paid out back in no time.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: Petrolhead on 11:53:32, 13/03/19
As others have said, you're never going to stop someone who really wants to get in your car and steal something but if it's a loss of the car that is your worry (trust me, I KNOW!!!) then a disklok is by FAR the best method to deter a would be theif. Their only option to get it off is to cut through it, which would take ages and they would have needed to have brought their power tools along too.

I love my cars dearly so have done a LOT of research into this. Including a chat online with someone who claimed to be a genuine car theif. "Wouldn't even consider attempting a car with a disklok..."

Definitely the best way to go, and at about £80 from Halfords, it's not going to break the bank either.

If you want to go the extra mile, fit a hidden kill switch to the battery. But a disklok will be more than enough.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: Doddy on 13:21:03, 13/03/19
Thanks fellas good advice. Sorry about the typos in the subject area.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: davengf on 13:38:36, 13/03/19
The only thing regarding valuables kept in your van is to have a good look at the interior panels etc in your car to see if there are any hiding places.


I used to go on 4-5 week tours in my van & it was often left in some very remote areas for days. so always worried about what would happen if someone broke into my van or stole my rucksack.
So emergency cash & credit card were taped behind interior panels or under seats. My netbook was stashed inside the rear seat - bit of discrete seam splitting & then repaired with velcro. Other places used were under ashtrays/pockets (they normally are just clipped in) in side panels & behind carpeting in boot.
Not a perfect solution but done the hope that the thieves/vandals would be in too much of a rush to strip the interior of an old camper van & would be content with stealing what was in full view.


You can only go so far though - My car  & 4 others were broken into late one Sunday morning, parked in full view of a row of houses in the middle of town. Thieves hammered a screwdriver through the door into the lock & got a handful of loose change. I got a damaged door panel & a massive shock when I was told how much a replacement door lock was!!
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: Doddy on 14:12:52, 13/03/19

Good ideas davengf.
On multiday walks I have used a campsite and then asked if I could leave the vehicle for a few days- worth a sum to park it near the farm; not always charged if you are using/have used the site.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: taxino8 on 16:35:04, 13/03/19
Good ideas davengf.
On multiday walks I have used a campsite and then asked if I could leave the vehicle for a few days- worth a sum to park it near the farm; not always charged if you are using/have used the site.
I always try to do that, Seathwaite Farm is a good example, the last time I went and asked the farmer, Peter I think he was called, said ok just a couple of quid, I was so grateful I gave him a fiver as even at that it was well worth it.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: fernman on 18:12:42, 13/03/19
I always try to do that, Seathwaite Farm is a good example, the last time I went and asked the farmer, Peter I think he was called, said ok just a couple of quid, I was so grateful I gave him a fiver as even at that it was well worth it.

Huh! A certain camp site I use in Snowdonia has a charge of £8 a day to leave a car there  :(
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: taxino8 on 18:17:15, 13/03/19
Huh! A certain camp site I use in Snowdonia has a charge of £8 a day to leave a car there  :(
That might seem expensive to you in Wales but to be honest I’d pay more just for the peace of mind knowing my car was relatively safe.
The Lake District is very, very expensive for paid car parking in official places, be it National Trust, Lake District Park Authority, etc. Any free spots are normally taken very early on in the day.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 19:31:47, 13/03/19
A far better alternative to an expensive Disklok, is a battery cut off switch.
Its a small connector that is easy to connect to your battery earth lead, and you just unscrew a special terminal that cuts all power to your vehicle.
To reinstall power to your car, you just turn the screw anticlockwise.

There is no chance of accidental  battery drain, and its a cheaper alternative to a steering lock.

I have one of those bulky yellow disklocks, but have mislaid the keys to the thing, and replacements are nearly £60.

I agree that if a thief sees as Disklock on your vehicle, he is likely to look elsewhere for a vehicle to pinch, but what if your away from your pride and joy for several hours.

Its easy pickings, but with a totally invisible battery cut off switch, under your bonnet, most thief's would simply give up, if there's no electric going to the vehicle.

A cut off switch costs around £20, a Disklock costs a lot more.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: taxino8 on 19:33:10, 13/03/19
A far better alternative to an expensive Disklok, is a battery cut off switch.
Its a small connector that is easy to connect to your battery earth lead, and you just unscrew a special terminal that cuts all power to your vehicle.
To reinstall power to your car, you just turn the screw anticlockwise.

There is no chance of accidental  battery drain, and its a cheaper alternative tp a steering lock.

I have one of those bulky yellow disklocks, but have mislaid the keys to the thing, and replacements are nearly £60.

I agree that if a thief sees as Disklock on your vehicle, he is likely to look elsewhere for a vehicle to pinch, but what if your away from your pride and joy for several hours.

Its easy pickings, but with a totally invisible battery cut off switch, under your bonnet, most thief's would simply give up, if there's no electric going to the vehicle.

A cut off switch costs around £20, a Disklock costs a lot more.
Would your car alarm still work with this cut off switch?
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 19:40:36, 13/03/19
Unfortunately no, as the isolation switch on top of the battery terminal, will cut off all electrical power to your vehicle.
If your car is fitted with one of these Thatcham approved alarms, then there has to be an electrical source supplying power to it.

You have probably discovered the only disadvantage to a cut off switch, but what's use of an alarm, if your up a mountain miles away from your vehicle, and someone is trying to steal your motor.

It would be far better to foil a thief, who simply cannot understand why your battery appears flat.


If he cannot start your vehicle, he will simply give up.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: fernman on 21:14:41, 13/03/19
Use of the switch must mean you have to reset all your radio presets and bass, treble settings afterwards as well.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: jimbob on 21:50:51, 13/03/19
DA is in the right ballpark, but the best place to fit an isolator switch on a modern (I. E. Post distributor cap) is an isolation switch to the fuel pump.
Then they would need to lift and tow the vehicle away. A doddle to fit and hide switch and no resets needed on anything. If the car is venerable then removal of rotor arm from distributor is still the easiest and cheapest, and best way of disabling the engine.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: Ronin83 on 08:36:09, 16/03/19
Electrify the chassis
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: Doddy on 17:03:59, 19/03/19
I d[/color]  
ecided on a steering wheel Stoplock from [/color]  
Halfords. I was put off the Disklok because of its size and storage room needed.[/color]  
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: KimE on 17:50:35, 23/03/19
In my parts of the wood I leave the keys on a weel or under a rock to dont have the risc to loose them under the walk. The risc of loosing them are bigger than what someone steals the car. Once i hide my keys under my car and it was a snake then i reached for them a hair rising moment but nothing happened. One time i had a 2£ flashlight stolen from the only partly locked car while hunting a friend had his apartment keys and binocular stolen and the carwindow broked the same time so its cheaper to have a unlocked car.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 18:10:38, 23/03/19
I get the worry about losing car keys. I actually did lose mine and my companion’s house key while on the Snowdon Horseshoe and didn’t realise until I reached the monstrosity on the summit. Fortunately, just after I realised the loss a message went out that some keys had been found and they were mine. I later came across the walkers that had found them near the obelisk at Bwlch Glas and handed them in. I was very relieved, as my spare keys were in Southampton and my walking companion’s spares were on the Wirral.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: fernman on 19:00:48, 23/03/19
I lost the keys to the company van while I was doing a recce for a natural history walk that was going to lead a couple of weeks later.
I went back around the route three times looking for them, the 2nd and 3rd times poking in the pathside vegetation with a stick.
The worst thing is not having a clue where you might have dropped them.
Next morning I was up and ready an hour earlier than usual. I disturbed my manager's breakfast with the bad news, picked up a set of master keys with the threat of my dangly bits being cut off if I didn't take care of those, got my wife to drive me to the remote spot where I'd parked the van (I had fears that some opportunist might have picked the keys up near the van and made off with it later), drove to get some new keys cut, drove back to return the precious master keys, and eventually started work.
That was one of many occasions when I was close to getting the sack!
 
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed fo mocro camper
Post by: ninthace on 23:06:19, 23/03/19
Part of my walk starting ritual is to lock my car and say to myself "Here I am locking my car and zipping the keys into my pocket* as I do it.  I always put my keys into the same pocket and zip it up (one of the benefits of Craghopper trousers is a zip up pocket). This ritual stops we walking off and stopping 200 yards down the road thinking "Did I lock the car?"   I do not touch this pocket until the walk is over but I do give it the odd reassuring tap to make sure the key fob is there,


In the event I am not wearing trousers with a zip up pocket I will zip them into my fleece if I am wearing one or attach them to the key clip in my ruck sack (that funny little clip, usually in the top pocket tha you always wondered what it was for).  I each case I say where I am putting the keys as I do it as it reinforces the process. Seems a bit weird but somehow it works.
Title: Re: Steering or pedal lock advice needed for micro camper
Post by: Doddy on 14:58:27, 28/03/19
I have small safe embedded in my camper with a spare key in it. One time if needed I did think at least I could break in and get at the key. I have since thought better of it and now have a spare spare key and the regular car key chained in two locations in my back pack. As you might guess I have had an issue with keys and the thought of being in the dark in some village with no help about has stayed with me.