How to Decrease Your Risk of RV Break Ins
Over fifteen years ago, the tool trailer for RVLock’s Founder, Cade Harris, was broken into. Thousands of dollars of equipment were gone in an instant. Annoyed, he realized two things about rig door locks at that time. First, just how easily the standard locks on trailers could be forced open with a quick pry. Second, most trailers arrive installed with common key codes, meaning any given RV key could have a shot of unlocking your rig.
In response, he spent years developing a strong, convenient, and stylish upgrade to the standard trailer door lock. Now the leading keyless handle in the nation, RVLock has helped thousands of expert and novice travelers better secure their trailer.
Safety and security is something that crosses every traveler's mind, especially when your home is on wheels. Aside from just upgrading your lock, there are other ways you can decrease your risk of theft or break ins.
If you follow these tips you will become more aware of your surroundings and potentially less of a target.
FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE AREA
First, research the areas you are visiting. Try to get a basic idea of where things are before you even arrive. Familiarity in a location makes you seem confident and therefore less of a target. Look at previous reviews and tips past visitors have posted online at Campground Reviews. Oftentimes, previous campers will leave valuable information regarding the campsite and the surrounding area. You are less of a target when you’re more assertive when navigating the surrounding area.
LOCK YOUR DOORS
No one can deny the safety of locking your doors. This is a simple precaution that can save your RV from getting broken into. Get into the habit of locking your doors both when leaving and staying inside. Breaking a window and doing damage to a rig looks much more suspicious than simply opening the door to walk in.
CLOSE BLINDS AND SHADES SO PEOPLE CAN’T SEE IN
‘Out of sight, out of mind’. If a thief can’t see what you have inside your rig they are less likely to break in. By closing your shades and blinds others are unable to discern if you are inside or not. This decreases the risk of theft by adding an extra uncertainty to your rig as a potential break in.
KEEP INTERIOR LIGHTS ON
Keeping your interior lights on when you go out combined with closed blinds and shades makes it appear that you are home. This makes the theft process more of a hassle because the robber doesn’t have the luxury of knowing that your RV is empty.
KEEP EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON
It is also beneficial to keep your exterior lights on. A rig is less of a target when it is well lit. In addition, parking in a well lit area is a great way to increase your security. A thief doesn’t want to be seen and is more likely to be caught when stealing in a bright area.
BE FRIENDLY WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS
Chat with your neighbors and become friends with them. Talk with them about watching for suspicious activity around your rig and that you in turn will do the same for them. It never hurts to have an extra set of eyes, especially if you go out.
UPGRADE YOUR SECURITY
Upgrading your standard handle to a Keyless RVLock Handle immensely increases your security. Many RVs have keys with little to no variation in the keycode. RVLock products are the highest quality trailer security products on the market and offer thousands of unique key codes. We provide our customers the comfort and security that are so desired when traveling.
At RVLock we highly encourage our customers to take these tips and apply them in your travels. Take extra time to be aware of your surroundings and apply necessary precautions. Practicing these simple tips can greatly reduce your chance of break in and keep you and your RV safe.
Abloy Lock on
Such amazing information you have, to give others. Thanks for enlightening us about it. Please keep sharing such information, that ensures the security of our properties.
Abloy Lock
Marshall Schmitt on
Bought your main door lock for our 2021 Heartland Sundance and it is great. Unfortunately you don’t make locks that will fit our front compartment doors or we would replace those as well.
Amy Saunders on
Hi! I’m sure my aunt could relate so much to this article because she recently made a plan to book an RV from England. I like the idea of keeping our RV well-illuminated inside out to prevent any risk of intrusion. I’m gonna have to advise her to comply with this tip as she tries to find the right company to bring the RV to her place. which https://intransportllc.com/rv-transport
Luke Smith on
I really appreciate your insight when you said that a well lit RV is less susceptible to trespassing incidents. My wife and I are taking the kids for a camping vacation trip next month, and we need to upgrade our RV’s security. Thank you for these helpful tips, we’ll definitely keep them in mind while we look for the best extended deadbolt hitch lock solutions near our area. https://hitchport.com/deadbolt-hitch-lock/
Karen O'Shannacery on
We own a 2020 Artic Fox and replaced the entry lock with the RV Lock. It works very well. We would love to install the cargo locks. However would need a ‘how to’ guide to do the adaptation. Why aren’t those storage areas built with more secure locking systems anyway?
Patricia Smith on
Very disappointed that you do not make a keyless lock for our Thor Outlaw.
Jerry on
Looking forward to RV Locks making compatible cargo lock for a modern fifth wheel. Grand Design and many others have moved on from the version you are still selling to one that does not require as much labor in the factory to install by requiring less cutting.
M DIaz on
Disappointed that RVLock does not make a lock to fit my Thor RV.
Russell Kitchner on
While many of these security tips are useful, I recommend a motion-sensing security light rather than one that just stays on or off. Other campers may not appreciate a light on full-time, and in addition, a potential thief will likely be spooked by a light suddenly coming on as (s)he approaches the camper.
Also, the recommendation to chat up your neighbors could backfire. The very neighbor that you ask to keep an eye on your unit might be exactly the wrong party, and if they know that you are taking a hike for a few hours, or going shopping they have the opportunity to break in and drive off.
Kim Dunlap on
I love my keyless door lock. But I ordered a additional fob and it was damaged in transit. Absolutely love this product.
Duane Hughes on
Hello, could you please give my contact information to Drew Morgan (comment from July 19, 2020) so I can find out what he did to make the compartment locks work for him. I would really appreciate it as I would love to have these on my trailer. Thank you, Duane Hughes
Drew Morgan on
I bought the RV lock for the door, an additional FOB, remote and all lower compartment storage area locks, so everything would be keyed alike. Now, I only have one keg for my RV.
The storage compartment locks weren’t an exact fit, but with a little hands on work, I made them fit the older style locks. Just takes some ingenuity, as they were not plug and play, but I’m happy with the new set up.
Kelly Green on
I bought these for my Winnebago 2401RG. They fit fine and I like them. The remote works great. Couldn’t get the keypad to accept the code so I can’t use that. Wanted to do the storage compartments but I read the reviews and sounds iffy so I haven’t done them yet.
Steve Felix on
I had the same issue but I modified the lock. I bought an L bracket and used it for an extension of the locking mechanism. Had to drill a hole in it to connect to current locking bar and drill a hole in the back of the door, just big enough to screw on to the RV lock. Concept is the same,just extended the locking bar. It works and allows me to use the RV lock.
Steve Judge on
Same problem though I bought locks for my propane doors and front compartment on the GD Reflection 337 RLS From you and they did not work. Stuck with locks I can’t use.